The party sat there, eating and drinking along with the crew of the Blue Locust 2. Aralynn looked up at the stars, still winking and dancing above them in the heavens. A light breeze blew across the deck of the airship, and Aralynn's hair fluttered in the wind.
She gently blew the silk-like strands out of her face. It was strangely peaceful here. High, up in the sky where the worries of the world below couldn't touch her.
In the flickering light of the magical fire, she could tell that the blood stains from earlier had been scrubbed clean.
Even though the journey wasn't over, Aralynn allowed herself a moment of respite.
- - -
"Alright," Celran called, clapping his hands once. "Time to clean up. Let's get these tables and stools stowed below in the cargo hold."
Everyone got to work. Kursk hoisted the heavy pot and carried it off to the kitchen, leaving behind the soft, magical flame still hovering in the air. It radiated a gentle warmth and cast flickering golden light, blanketing the crew in its tranquil glow as they passed furniture down the stairs, piece by piece.
Once everything was cleared and secured below decks, Captain Celran gathered everyone around the fire.
"It's certainly been a journey," he said. "I want to thank each of you for coming along. I won't lie- I definitely didn't expect you all to be worthy of our escort at first, but you have more than proved that. Tomorrow, we'll be making port at Escus- a trading hub in the clouds, and one of the busiest airship ports in the region."
He glanced toward the railing, to the starlit sky stretching endlessly beyond it.
"Once we offload cargo, our paths will split. Where you go from there is your choice: go adventuring near the port, climb down the mountain to other cities, find work escorting other ships- it's all up to you. When you are needed, the Brass Hand will reach out to you. So, to end our journey, I ask that you join me in prayer for our last night together here on the Blue Locust 2."
He took off his tricorne hat, holding it over his heart as he bowed his head. The crew followed suit, and the party mirrored them with respectful silence.
"Lord Zephyr," Celran began. "We thank thee for thy blessings, as we leave behind the embrace of earth, our mother, and soar into thy windswept halls. We ask humbly for thy continued favor as we greet the dawns ahead."
He then added, voice softer: "Even though they might never set foot in thy domain ever again, I ask that thy bestow upon these brave adventurers of the righteous Brass Hand thy blessings, so that they may go about their lives in safety, and in the end find everlasting peace."
After a stillness and pause, Celran placed his hat back on his head. Kursk snapped their fingers, and the flame vanished in a puff of golden embers- replaced by the warm circles of light shed from night-shift lanterns.
But the lanterns weren't the only lights in the night sky.
From the darkness, shapes emerged- enormous, gliding forms that shimmered like spirits. A pod of Montoths: vast, manta ray-like creatures, the edges of their fins glowing with bioluminescent stripes, drifting silently alongside the Blue Locust 2.
They pulsed rhythmically- soft blues, pale greens, and ghostly silvers- undulating like streaks of celestial paint. One swooped low, its fins outstretched, casting rippling patterns of light across the ship's hull.
They circled the airship in slow, weightless arcs- then, as suddenly as they appeared, their lights dimmed. With one last, graceful ripple, they vanished into the night.
Cozith stood, entranced by the encounter.
"Montoths," she whispered. "Perhaps Lord Zephyr truly is watching over us."
Celran nodded, still staring at the sky where they'd disappeared. "Perhaps," he murmured. "But let's not let our guard down just yet. We're not going to have another day like today. I'll be assigning night shift watches shortly."
Aralynn raised her hand. "I'll do it. I had rest earlier- it's only fair. Besides," she said, "I'd like to take a chance to clear my mind."
Hadarai also raised his hand. "I'd like to volunteer, too. We dwarves don't need that much sleep."
Celran nodded. "I'll leave you two to it, then. Good night." Celran stood up and left with the rest of the crew. Cozith thanked the party once more, then followed suit. So did Amon, Grango, Derrick, and Perona, who all wished Aralynn and Hadarai a good night.
- - -
"So. Do you want to talk about it?" Hadarai asked, leaning against the sturdy rail.
"Talk about what?" Aralynn asked.
Hadarai turned and sat down on the stairs by the quarterdeck. "Earlier. With the inspector." Aralynn noted that the inspector had been untied from the main mast- she assumed that Celran had locked him in a cell or room below. "If it's too personal- which I understand- then no problem. However, for a lot of people I know, talking about their experiences helped them heal."
Aralynn stood in the night sky, the cool breeze flowing over her clothes as she paced back and forth. Eventually, she halted. "There's a lot that I want to talk about, Hadarai. With the entire party. It's just- not now. The time isn't right. You must understand, I truly wish to tell my story, but if I do… then that could place me in potential danger, and my sister as well."
"I understand. As a follower of Allegiance, I will always respect you if you choose to keep your secrets. There is always a time for everything." Under the lanternlight, Aralynn noted that Hadarai looked remarkably tired, as if he was a young dwarf that carried many centuries of burdens. His eyes scanned the horizon. "Where is your sister now?"
Aralynn turned away, her eyes unreadable. "I… don't know. The only thing that I can assume is that either the empire has her or another country does. I want to find her, I truly do. But I have no direction in life, with no place to start." She paused. "Have you heard of a place called the Qyllon-Violae's Tower?"
"... Can't say I have," Hadarai replied.
Aralynn laughed and continued. "Fair enough, though I do think it's rather well known. I read about it when I was small, and it's mentioned all around the empire. It's the one place that the empire can't afford to piss off- a tower where the smartest, most devoted, most talented and most powerful individuals and mages in the entire world reside on a tiny island off the coast."
Aralynn turned back to Hadarai. "They say that it's even patriated by two elder dragons: one gold and one silver. If, someday, I can travel there, prove myself worthy, and get an audience, then someone there will be able to help me find my sister."
Hadarai nodded. He sadly noted that when talking about her sister, Aralynn deliberately chose not to believe or mention that her sister could be dead. He sighed with a heavy heart. "What's your sister's name? I could pray for her. I'm sure that Astrea, the goddess of Allegiance and Law, might find some way to bless her."
"Thank you for going so far, but there's no need. I trust in my sister herself that she's safe- she was always stronger than me. As for her name…" Aralynn trailed off as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking up towards the stars.
It was in that exact moment that thunder struck close to them, and Aralynn instinctively turned towards the sound. Among the storm clouds, Aralynn caught sight of a winged beast, easily keeping pace alongside them.
First, she assumed that the Montoths were back. However, the silhouette was much, much, much too large to be one. As it drifted by, Aralynn glimpsed a powerful, sleek, and prismatic body, powerful and rippling with silver scales, its wings beating powerfully as it effortlessly sailed alongside them.
Four sleek and tough limbs stretched out beneath its body, and a massive eye, reflecting all the colours and hues of the rainbow, stared back at her, seated underneath the crown of a massive dragon's head.
Aralynn stared at the silver dragon, cloaked in clouds, soaring alongside them. She opened her mouth and whispered her sister's name- aloud, to Hadarai, but mostly to herself. "Rhys. Rhys Faewind."