Interlude - Airship

Interlude - Airship

Airship

Naha watched Zach as he sat on the ground his eyes closed, his hands in front of him as if they were trying to grasp something in front of himself. After a few minutes he finally sighed and opened his eyes, disappointed.

What are you trying to do? Naha asked.

Zach turned to look at her, for a moment almost looking like he didnt expect her to be there, but then he recovered.

Im trying to make a skill, Zach said. Though I dont even know what I need.

What kind of a skill?

I I need something to help me understand time. My strike is too powerful, too much of a drawback. I need something simpler.

What about your Time Blade?

No, he shook his head. It it is too rigid, Time that it uses is set. I am trying to understand something broader.

And you arent having any luck? She asked.

Zach shook his head. It is elusive. It came so easily to me before, but now I dont know why I cant do it. When I escaped the prison I felt filled with might, with power, I reached and grasped whatever I wanted. And now that is lacking. My willpower has recovered, I feel that my strength is back to where it was back then, but something is missing and I dont know what.

Naha had tried not to talk too much about the past. Most of the last three years they had spent getting to know each other again, looking after Hiro, trying to find a way to help him. He hadnt spoken much about how he gained all those skills, aside from telling her that he simply made what he wanted, which was insane.

Perhaps it is something else then, Naha suggested. Keeping him occupied by anything was always better than letting his mind wander. It often wandered too far down the spiral.

I dont know what it can be, Zach said, clearly frustrated. I need to know.

What about do you remember what parts of yourself you locked in those skills that you made or evolved?

She had tried to ask him about that once before, but he had gotten distracted by Earth Essence. It was something that she needed to know in order to help him more.

Hm I remember, Zach said, but she wasnt convinced.

Do you remember what you sealed before the prison? Naha asked.The source of this content no/v(el)bi((n))

Zach blinked, then spoke. I want to protect those that I care about, those that I love, always. I will never stop trying to be better. I will always move forward. I will fail, but I will never stop trying to do good.

Naha was glad that he remembered at least that. She hoped that by reminding him about it, he could try to anchor himself, to if not remember his past, at least remember what he wanted to be.

Naha suspected as much. The man was obviously trying to make their situation better than it was. The demand wasnt high, but she didnt comment.

He led them to the end of the warehouse, up on the walkway and to three berths.

Here they are, beauties all, Zarke said. There were small plates filled with information about the ships in front of each one, alongside the price, but she first took a look at the ships themselves.

One was immediately out of the question, it was the rightmost one, too large for what they needed and far too expensive. It was a white airship, shaped like an arrow, sleek and made out of some kind of metal. She saw defensive and offensive arrays lining its surface, and the two crystals at the end of it that probably were what made it fly. Different types of airships achieved flight in different manners. If she wasnt mistaken, those were some type of air or wind-crystals, under the right circumstances they would be able to carry a ship up into the air. It was a closed form ship, which made it defensible. It was over two hundred meters long, and probably just as wide at its widest point. And it was far too costly. They had enough wealth to buy it, it wouldnt bankrupt them. But she was reluctant to pay 25k Immortal Essence for it. It was a flying warship, a small one, probably not up to par with the better ones out there, but still.

The Wind Arrow Mark III, Zarke said. It is a fifty-year-old design, but its drive makes it able to keep up with many of the modern and far lighter airships, plus it has several powerful tier 7 arrays both for defense and offense.

That was powerful, for an airship.

That isnt really what we are looking for, Naha said. Something smaller, and faster is our preference.

Zarke looked disappointed for a second and then shook his head. Im never going to sell the damned thing, he sighed, but then led them to the other two.

These ones were much better choices. One was of them was obviously a luxurious mobile palace. It was a circular platform, perhaps 50 meters in diameter, with earth layered on top of it and a small house built at the back. The front was taken up with a beautiful garden, colorful flowers and one tall tree with bright blue leaves. Beneath the platform were the actual airship components. Four large turbines which would provide thrust, along with a series of arrays attached to them. She saw no defensive or offensive arrays, but that didnt mean that it didnt have them.

Herondy Garden, Zarke started. It has two powerful defensive arrays that can cover the entire ship, also one that can create a weather sphere, no weapons, but it can be fast in short bursts. A good ship if you are looking for a mobile home. The house comes equipped with everything that you need, furniture, kitchen, even a waste removal system.

Before he could continue Zach stepped closer to the railing and narrowed his eyes. That tree, what is it?

Zarke blinked, but then immediately covered his surprise with a smile. Good catch, Zarke said. It is a special tree that grows only in the Heron Dale Valley, it increases the quality of Life Essence around it, making healing easier when near it. The entire line of these ships had been envisioned as mobile healing houses, in the early stages at least. It was later decided that there wasnt too much profit in trying to sell to healers, there were too few of them that traveled around. Still, the trees remained a key component of the airship design. It will still benefit anyone on board, giving them a slight boost to healing effects.

That was impressive, and useful. She saw Zachs eyes glimmer and she realized that the tree had drawn his attention. She caught his arm and pulled him away. And the last one? She asked as she led Zach to it, Hiro hurrying to follow behind them.

Ah, Braums Legacy, Zarke grimaced. I dont know if you want that thing.

Why not? Naha asked.

It was the simplest looking of the three. It had the general shape of a human built water faring ship. Made out of wood, with a curving narrowing front and wider back. It was perhaps only ten meters long and less than half that wide. It was not a large airship. But she saw that the back part held a small raised and covered area on top where the controls were, and it had a door that led inside that raised area and probably below deck as well. It had two sails as well, both in sections like a fish fin or a strange wing, and attached to the sides of the ship instead of the center mast that a traditional ship would have. All in all, it didnt look impressive, at first glance. Naha however, could tell that the ship was made out of quality high grade wood. Plus, she could see a large exhaust looking things at the back, with two large boxlike metal attachments that were probably arrays.

Well, it is an Essence sink for one, Zarke answered. It runs on Essence crystals, mid-tier ones, and very specific ones. It requires anything sky related. And it has exactly zero defenses, all of its arrays are for maneuverability and speed. Now, dont get me wrong, it is fast, probably one of the fastest things in the skies. But without any defensive arrays well, few people can survive a trip in it at full speed. Unless you have over five thousand endurance, it will crush you like a grape under a foot. Few can make use of its full capabilities. True, it is a human design so it is also capable of traversing on water, which can save you some Essence, but it isnt nearly as maneuverable on it as it is in the air.

She looked at it with a different expression now. That much speed would let them get places faster. True, with Hiro they probably wouldnt be able to go as fast as they wanted. Unless they figured out a way to protect him. But it wouldnt be a problem for her or Zach.

She looked at the price, just over 8000 Celestial Essence. Still expensive, and would be more expensive with the fuel that it needed. Though the auction was always filled with air related Essences, and they werent exactly strapped for funds.

Naha turned to look at Zach. So, what do you think? Which one do you like?