~Eighteen Years Later~
"Do you think we'll ever find one of those 'ancient relics' Fenrik talks about?" Lucky asked.
"I have no idea," Noland replied. He was channeling magic to alter the direction of a bubbling geyser, releasing blue liquid into a metal canister he held.
Together on Fenrik's boat, they hovered near a rusted, broken-down construction poking out of the Chemical Sea. It was a place they frequently visited to collect chemicals.
They both wore multiple layers of clothing to shield themselves from the bubbling sprays of the Chemical Sea. Anything was better than nothing, Fenrik taught them. Noland wore heavy cargo pants, multiple shirts, and a jacket with a hood and goggles. Lucky was the same except he also had a cloth to cover the lower half of his face.
Lucky, Noland, and Jade, who stayed behind to tend to Fenrik, were now adults.
"Should we really be risking this?" Lucky said.
"As long as we make it back before the sun hits the sea, we'll be fine. We're old enough and nothing is stopping us."
"Jade will be mad..."
"She's always mad at us. Does it matter?"
"She's always mad at you. There's a difference."
The atmosphere shifted around their boring routine. They grinned at each other through bubbling excitement.
Lucky peered out from their boat and squinted at the horizon. The sun had risen on the far side of the mountains but had yet to crest the peaks.
"We have an hour at most?" Lucky mused.
"Enough time for us to check it out," Noland replied, pausing the stream of liquid to remove the canister and seal it. He placed it under straps at the rear of the boat next to two others. One had a clear liquid, this one was light blue, and the last was red which bubbled harshly inside its container.
Swapping places, Lucky took to the rear of the boat. He extended his hands and an air current flowed out, propelling their boat forward in the Chemical Sea.
Noland stood at the helm like a captain, making callouts to steer clear of anything that might indicate an eruption. It took ten minutes before they arrived without any incidents.
Rusted with metal pipes dripping clear liquid, the structure stood on four thick metal beams. There was indication that there may have been walls at a lower level but they no longer standing. Its top floor hovered a mere few feet above sea level.
"What are the chances?"
"Not very high," Noland admitted. "Fenrik probably got to these when we were younger."
"So why..."
"To start making our mark! This is our beginning! Come on, do you really want to scavenge scrap and fill cannisters forever? This is our chance to make it into the middle city!"
"True. Or we can save up for medicine the normal way," Lucky said slowly, gesturing at their sealed canisters. "It would only take a few months to save up the money we need for Fenrik's medicine."
"Yeah but Fenrik might be dead by then," Noland said, eyeing the structure eagerly.
After tying the boat off, Lucky stared at his expression with a frown. "You look more excited than concerned."
"If I wasn't concerned then I wouldn't have suggested this expedition," Noland answered. "He's made it through worse though. Remember the time he was coughing up orange mucus and the doctor said he would croak? He made it through that."
"And if this isn't that time?"
"Don't be negative. Besides, it's as you said before we left: we can use the profit to get him fixed up. Also, why can't I think about what kind of lives we can have if he doesn't need it? Real meat and a safe life where we don't have to risk ourselves every night. Can you imagine it?"
Lucky nodded. They were one of the crews that would depart every night to scavenge the Chemical Sea. The number of mutilations, tears of grief, and boats that never returned was unnerving and kept them on edge.
But they never found the danger. Never spotted anymore more dangerous outside of these toxic bubbles.
Bubbles like the one rising next to them. Noland raised his hand and a large blue wave erupted in a crescent arc. The bubble shimmered ominously before bursting, spraying the shield and emitting harsh hisses, but none of it touched them or got into the boat.
A faint shimmer attracted Noland's attention. Lucky attempted to do the same but it was the size of a dinner plate in comparison. Lucky cursed and shook his head when some of it hit his protective gear and Noland snickered.
Deciding not to linger anymore, they hauled themselves out and into the construct.
The floor had a film from chemical sprays, painting the floor like a petri dish of colors. Outside of that? It was barren. Dusty metal cabinets, scrap metal hazardously strewn about, nothing all that awe-inspiring outside of dusky and brittle vials and alchemical tools.
"I feel the profits raining down on us," Lucky said sarcastically.
Widening his pouch, Noland returned an annoyed glare before they began searching the place. All the cabinets and drawers were openable. Some were noticeably broken into by force.
Nuts, bolts, screws, and rollers. That was everything they could find.
"Jade's going to be mad," Lucky commented again, jingling his pouch of metal bits and bobs.
"Yeah," Noland sighed and kicked a drawer shut. It doesn't stay on its rollers as it caves inward, crooked. "This place has been scavenged."
Their attention snapped to when they heard dangerous creaking coming from the cabinet Noland kicked. Immediately they backed away quickly as the floor beneath it caved inward.
They expected to hear the sound of debris impacting chemical waters. Instead, there was nothing but more threatening groans from a weak structure.
The two of them exchanged glances before carefully approaching. There was some kind of caved-in compartment underneath the cabinet. Noland grabbed the cabinet on one side and Lucky pushed from the other to heave it off.
"What are these?" Lucky asked, arching a brow.
"Pills."
"Oh god, not more pills."
"Shut up! I doubt they're the same as what we take."
Several pristine-looking bottles, unmarked, were next to an unmarked book. Lucky picked up the book and opened it. "I can't understand any of this. Maybe Jade can?"
"Hurray! I'm not going to get my ass beat!"
"Nah. You still are," Lucky grinned.
"Yeah. But why only me? She never beats you up."
"I'm just Lucky."
Noland snorted. "Yeah, you sure are. Let's split the bottles just in case."
"Hold onto the book," Lucky nodded, handing it to him.
After pocketing the bottles and feeling a sense of pride and excitement through giddy conversation, they made their way out.
"We took too long," Lucky said grimly, pointing at the approaching sunlight on the Chemical Sea.
Several hundred meters behind the blinding sea, the chemicals began to bubble and sizzle furiously. And further out? Boiling chemicals bubbled that bubbled a meter or two higher and could tip the boat were approaching.
"Shit, let's go! Full speed ahead!"
"But Fenrik said-"
"We can slow down after we round the scrap mounds!"
Exchanging brief nods, they took off. The sharp edge of the sunrise was closing in as Lucky propelled with every bit of magical energy he had. Noland raised his arms and stopped chemical sprays with his magical shields as they whenever they edged too close to geysers.
Unfortunately what couldn't be stopped was a geyser from underneath that rocked the boat. The two of them gripped the edge firmly as the back of their boat was hurled lurched a foot into the air before splashing down. Noland broadened his shield as much as he could but it still got in.
"Lucky!"
"I'm Lucky! Clothes saved me!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah!"
They patted themselves down nervously and let out a sigh of relief before continuing onward. After rounding the massive mounds of scrap that served as a marker for the two-thirds waypoint, their reckless speeding slowed.
In the distance, the piers and city edge could be seen through a dense smog. Green and orange lights illuminated the towering city and the tower, at the very top, glowed its usual amber colors. The remainder of the trip was completely more calmly. Noland navigated without needing to use his magic to shield them as often and Lucky continued to propel the boat.
At the pier, two heavy metal ropes with hooks dropped down. They attached it to both ends of the boat and Noland shouted, "Clear!"
A sharp click and a rough jolt made them grip the boat's edge anxiously. The boat slowly rose, clearing the Chemical Sea. Just in time, too, as the sun's warmth had reached them and the sea was beginning to sizzle and bubble furiously beneath them.
Noland and Lucky exchanged triumphant grins, their giddy excitement returning as if the life-threatening scenario had never happened.
"Mention the haul?" Lucky whispered.
"No, not yet! Let's wait- Hey... Jade!"
Their boat jerked to an abrupt halt. Jade stood on the pier next to a pulley system with her hands on a giant handle, glaring furiously at them.
"We're back!"