Unbound

The storm raged around them, the Manaships cutting through it like a sharpened blade. Clouds spilled in their wake as lightning crashed across the bow, shaking them as the Manaships crested then rode down the trough of storm winds and towering cumulonimbus clouds. Thunder rolled so loudly it vibrated Pit's chest and made his beak ache.

They banked left, their wind ward plowing a chunk out of another cloud. Foggy mist sprayed in their wake, diffused so immediately by the rain that it almost looked like the sea that surged far below. Most of the soldiers had moved below decks as they'd set out into the storm, but a few clung to the wales, where the lip of the railing gave them a solid purchase as the ship wove between lightning strikes. They all bared their teeth, gritting against the onslaught of violent weather.

"Faster," Pit barked ecstatically, his tongue lolling in the breeze.

He was having a blast.

They’d been traveling for hours now. When he wasn't enjoying the surge and swell of the rough skies, Pit was exploring. A’zek was huddled beneath the deck, claiming that he wanted to nap, but really he just hated flying. Pit didn't get it, but then he didn't have to. He was happy for his friend to find comfort where he could.

Pit was too curious for that.

The Arclights and Chanters were still bustling around the vessel, inspecting every inch of board and rope and taking scads of notes in those metal-bound books they all carried. Loquis told Pit that the things were waterproof, as was the ink being used, a development from the Alchemical Lab that the scholars and mages had bought up immediately. Though he didn't bother with the written notes, Pit nosed around, too, and the ship had turned out to be extremely interesting, even if he didn't understand all of what he saw. Thankfully, Loquis was eager for an audience.

"These are enchanted lanterns," the Half-Orc said, pointing to the triangular metal shapes that bobbed along the railings and guy wires. They were made of mithril but contained a bright piece of illumination that was very similar to the freestanding magelights Pit was more used to seeing. Loquis made a gesture, and one of them floated into his palm, where it hovered. "You can summon them from all over, and they'll hang around you, lighting up your way.”

“Whoa!”