Arsha stirred a few hours later. She stretched and looked around her quarters, her memories of recent events returning to her mind. She then saw a note on her nightstand with her hairpiece in its box. It was brown now. She picked up the note and read it aloud. \u201c\u2018Your rose is all drained of mana. You can have it store mana once it\u2019s red again.\u2019 …Doggone, she wasn\u2019t kidding. Still, I feel a lot better now. I wonder where my boys are?\u201d She headed to the comms terminal. \u201cComputer, locate Foresna and Gorfanth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cForesna Falshenda and Gorfanth Steelhorn,\u201d reported the computer, \u201care located at Barmek\u2019s Bar and Grill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d bid Arsha. \u201cHey, did Marshii check me over? I thought I heard her voice before I fully went to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDr. Borontho did perform a medical examination, confirming the intruder\u2019s findings,\u201d answered the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI better call her before I head to Barmek\u2019s,\u201d declared Arsha. She then connected a call to the sick bay. \u201cIs the doctor in the house?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoctor\u2019s right here,\u201d replied Marshii\u2019s voice. \u201cEnjoy your nap?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI certainly feel better,\u201d answered Arsha. \u201cYou need me to come over to sick bay for an examination?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d prefer it,\u201d affirmed Marshii. \u201cNeed to make sure you\u2019re not still affected by excess mana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cComing over,\u201d declared Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, looks like you\u2019re all clear,\u201d declared Marshii once the examination was done. \u201cThough, I have to admit, seeing you in a good mood without your rose, kind of weird.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNoted,\u201d muttered Arsha. \u201cI don\u2019t know how long it\u2019s gonna take for the rose to return to its usual red state, but I\u2019m willing to let it be for a while. In the meantime, I need to talk to the bridge crew, see if there\u2019s anything new.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot a bad idea,\u201d affirmed Marshii. As Arsha got up from the bed, Dalengor came in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCaptain!\u201d she cheered. \u201cAre you fully rested?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure am,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCould you get Foresna and Gorfanth off the bridge?\u201d asked Dalengor. \u201cI doubt they got special dispensation from you when you were napping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeft Barmek\u2019s to explore the bridge, did they?\u201d muttered Arsha. \u201cOn my way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Foresna and Gorfanth were near Malak\u2019s station. \u201cMr. Falshenda, Mr. Steelhorn,\u201d growled Malak, \u201cI must protest your unauthorized presence on the bridge!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, what\u2019s this one do, Mr. Molak?\u201d asked Foresna as his finger inched towards a button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease, sir!\u201d yelped Malak as he grabbed Foresna\u2019s hand. \u201cThat\u2019s a torpedo launch initiator, and…and it\u2019s Malak, not Molak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, this chair\u2019s pretty comfy!\u201d chuckled Gorfanth as he sat in the Captain\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also mine,\u201d called Arsha as she entered the bridge. Everyone stood to attention. \u201cWe\u2019re not undergoing an inspection,\u201d she assured. \u201cAs you were. Now, you boys,\u201d she pointed to Foresna and Gorfanth, \u201coff the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, come on!\u201d protested Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t give you special dispensation just yet,\u201d interrupted Arsha. \u201cThere ARE areas of this ship for civilians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFine, we\u2019ll use them,\u201d grumbled Foresna. He then pecked Arsha on the cheek. \u201cGood to see you up and about,\u201d he purred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGlad to BE up and about,\u201d replied Arsha. Foresna and Gorfanth then left the bridge as Arsha sat in the Captain\u2019s chair. \u201cAny messages?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA call from Rokalla at your earliest convenience,\u201d answered Shalvey. \u201cNo mission details. He said he was fine seeing the bridge crew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCall him,\u201d directed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCalling…channel open,\u201d reported Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn screen,\u201d declared Arsha. Rokalla appeared on the big screen and saw the bridge crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood afternoon, Endeavor<\/em>,\u201d greeted Rokalla. \u201cI trust things are well so far?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs well as they can be,\u201d remarked Arsha. \u201cA lot of my crew had relatives on the Skyshell<\/em>. I\u2019ve given them some time to reflect and mourn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ve found something that may help them lift their spirits,\u201d declared Rokalla. \u201cThe Endeavor<\/em> is invited to the Over-union festival and during that time, Lardeth will undergo the Tour\u2019s End Ceremony. I believe he\u2019ll want to move to your ship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019d be happy to have him on board!\u201d cheered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn Over-union festival!\u201d giggled Denstra. \u201cThat would be so fun and just what we need after the fight!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was talking to the Captain,\u201d muttered Rokalla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you\u2019re still sore about that time when we were cadets!\u201d grumbled Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy record was stained forever, thanks to you!\u201d snapped Rokalla. \u201cI still remember the sleepless nights of scrubbing out the base with a toothbrush!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we can just walk away from recollections,\u201d called Arsha, \u201cwhen is the Over-union festival?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt starts in two days and will last a week,\u201d replied Rokalla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect,\u201d giggled Arsha. \u201cHey, before you go, can you tell me anything about a Sorsha Longbark?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat recluse?\u201d asked Rokalla. \u201cYeah, she\u2019s part of the oldest living Elf family in the Realms. She usually sells her potions anonymously. How they get to their destinations, I can\u2019t fathom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s snuck onboard the Endeavor<\/em> twice now, but she was only interested in the millions of years\u2019 worth of mana that was stored in my rose,\u201d answered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought there was something different about you,\u201d remarked Rokalla. \u201cSo, she stole it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, I loaned it to her and she drained the mana off,\u201d explained Arsha. \u201cIt should be fully regenerated now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m going to be at the festival,\u201d revealed Rokalla. \u201cMaybe you can tell me the story there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt might become convoluted, but sure,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cIn the meantime, I need to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAaaand, that\u2019s it,\u201d declared Sorsha as she completed her new device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, this should increase natural mana collection?\u201d asked Jokorah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the theory,\u201d replied Sorsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t you people go forward with certainty?\u201d complained Johgo as he ate a pear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCertainty can only get you so far,\u201d remarked Jokorah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, yeah, whatever,\u201d muttered Johgo. \u201cHonestly, a group of primates learns how to make tools at a faster rate than your own and all of a sudden, they think they\u2019re the ones in charge!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShould have harnessed fire!\u201d teased Sorsha. \u201cNow, the next thing we…we…er, Jokorah, is this an illusion of yours?!\u201d The three weren\u2019t in Sorsha\u2019s cottage anymore, the walls were way too pristine and metallic for that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, no, it isn\u2019t!\u201d gulped Jokorah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere in the jungle are we?!\u201d yelped Johgo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re actually OVER the jungle,\u201d corrected a voice. \u201cWhere you\u2019re IN right now is inside a Dauntless<\/em>-class vessel, specifically, its bridge.\u201d The three whirled around to see Arsha sitting in the Captain\u2019s chair, her bun once more decorated with her hairpiece. The three stared at the grinning Arsha. \u201cNo need to stop with your usual banter on my account,\u201d chuckled Arsha as she waved. The three still stared, making Arsha a little uncomfortable. \u201c…You really don\u2019t handle surprises all that well, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour face doesn\u2019t handle surprises all that well!\u201d snapped Johgo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Okay, so a monkey decides to do a \u2018your face\u2019 joke,\u201d muttered Arsha. \u201cI know about you, Ms. Longbark, but I don\u2019t know about your friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cForest Dragon\u2019s called Jokorah,\u201d introduced Sorsha, \u201cthe monkey\u2019s Johgo.\u201d Johgo climbed up her robes and perched himself on her shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just wanted to talk to you for a bit,\u201d explained Arsha. \u201cYou know Rokalla?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat Orc? What about him?\u201d asked Sorsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe told me that, for a while, you stole stuff,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cAnd, from what I\u2019ve seen, you haven\u2019t exactly given up that habit after the trial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI BORROW things,\u201d snapped Sorsha. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ve noticed that I return stuff now. Speaking of which, I\u2019ve got the mana contained, but my resources in disposing it are rather…lacking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, you saved my bacon when we first met face to face,\u201d recalled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPurely by accident,\u201d remarked Sorsha, \u201cbut I\u2019m glad I could help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t help but notice that you\u2019ve picked a pretty hazardous area to make a home in,\u201d mused Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m a recluse,\u201d answered Sorsha. \u201cI like doing my own thing with no interruptions, especially when it comes to selling potions on Realmnet. Look, my time is precious, so, what do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI want someone to give my own alchemists another pair of eyes to check their work,\u201d replied Arsha, \u201cyou want to be paid to do your own thing. So, want a job?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI gave you my business card!\u201d protested Sorsha. \u201cYou could have just called!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI could have,\u201d conceded Arsha, \u201cbut, considering you boarded my ship twice and caught us unawares, I figured I\u2019d show off what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA job?\u201d asked Jokorah. \u201cLike, an actual paying job?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYep, and she can be as reclusive as she wants!\u201d confirmed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think I can work with that,\u201d mused Sorsha. \u201cSo, you said another pair of eyes for your alchemists?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike you,\u201d explained Arsha, \u201cthey\u2019re trying to find new potions to make for a body to take.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think I can work with that,\u201d replied Sorsha. \u201cAs long as the money\u2019s no joke.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect!\u201d cheered Arsha. \u201cWe\u2019ll just need weekly progress reports from you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot it,\u201d affirmed Sorsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSee you later!\u201d bid Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoes this mean you\u2019ll finally fix your roof?\u201d asked Johgo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHush, you!\u201d snapped Sorsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m just saying,\u201d continued Johgo, \u201cthe jungle gets extremely wet whenever it rains and I can\u2019t stand the sound of a leaky roof!\u201d The three were then teleported off the bridge and returned to the cottage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow,\u201d sighed Arsha, \u201cto check on Samuje.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arsha had connected with Marianes again to get the story. \u201cI\u2019m sorry to say,\u201d sighed Marianes, \u201cthe battle\u2019s traumatized her. She\u2019s now scared of even boarding a Realmfleet ship. She\u2019s resigned from Realmfleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDamn,\u201d sighed Arsha. \u201cWell, I can\u2019t really blame her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure who to blame at the moment,\u201d remarked Marianes. She fixed Arsha with a hard glare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour sister and her ship and crew will be avenged, I promise,\u201d assured Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPart of the Kurontar Sea feels Realmfleet is to blame for being so fool-hardy in their approach to Oyed,\u201d countered Marianes. \u201cThey feel a more ideal solution than a blind siege should have been concocted. I\u2019ll do what I can to assure my people that Realmfleet can still be trusted, but there are people who suffered a war and lost. I believe we freed them from the Mega-sharks a while ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI still remember helping your kingdom free Roomeela and her people from slavery,\u201d hissed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re the part that disagrees with Realmfleet\u2019s decision,\u201d continued Marianes. \u201cDo what you can to help me prove them wrong. Marianes out.\u201d The call ended and Arsha groaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, that could have gone better,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arsha stirred a few hours later. She stretched and looked around her quarters, her memories of recent events returning to her mind. She then saw a note on her nightstand with her hairpiece in its box. It was brown now. She picked up the note and read it aloud. \u201c\u2018Your rose is all drained of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,95],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-2-the-rise-of-living-metal","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2765"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2766,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2765\/revisions\/2766"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n