In a hidden workshop tucked away on the lower levels of the city, Kaelen pulled off a heavy canvas sheet, revealing his greatest creation.
It was unlike any ship they had ever seen. It had a hull made of lightweight metal and enchanted wood, sails woven from threads of condensed wind, and propellers that could spin in any direction.
"The Zephyr's Blade," Kaelen announced proudly. "I've been designing it for years. It's not just for flying between islands. It's built to sail the currents of pure magic. To go where the air is too thin to breathe, where the laws of physics start to… bend."
Lyra walked around the vessel, running her hand along the smooth hull. "You built this alone?"
"With a little help from some friends in the docks," he admitted. "But I never had a reason to launch it. Until now."
"We're going to need a crew," Lyra pointed out. "The journey will be dangerous. We'll need people who can handle both technology and magic."
"I know just who to ask," Kaelen said.
Two days later, they met CAPTAIN REEVE at the highest tavern in the city. Reeve was a man who looked like he had been carved from wind and weather—leather skin, eyes that missed nothing, and a grin that suggested he'd broken every rule at least once.
"You want to fly into the Storm?" Reeve laughed, taking a long drink from his mug. "Most people are trying to fly away from it, lad."
"Most people don't know that the storm is trying to tell us something," Lyra said, meeting his gaze. "We need someone who knows the hidden routes, who understands how to read the sky when the charts fail."
Reeve studied them for a long moment, then slammed his mug down on the table. "Alright. I'm in. The pay is risky, but the view is probably worth it. Besides, Ironclad's been getting too strict for my taste. A little adventure sounds just right."