The next day, Maeryn had just finished ushering the handful of personally-selected holy magic candidates onto Stonewing when Elder Alric called her over. Alric had been Head Elder for as long as Maeryn could remember, and was well known for his level-headedness and decisiveness. She could still remember the way he’d called for their society to find a way to resolve the Mist problem eight years prior.

  “Whether through steam or sorcery, we must make it work, or our civilization is doomed!”

  She held an enormous amount of respect for the man… even if it was a little tarnished by the fact that Maeryn had ended up needing to go on a desperate journey of her own. The Elders had had eight years, and her team had not only identified the source of the problem but figured out a working solution in a matter of two months.

  Even so, despite some conflicted feelings, Maeryn still had no interest in antagonizing the man. “Head Elder Alric,” she greeted. “What can I do for you?”

  “Heroine Maeryn,” Alric returned, nodding his head respectfully.

  Maeryn flushed, taking a half-step back as she gestured frantically at the Elder. “There’s no need for that! Depths and damnation, I hate that title!”

  Alric chuckled heartily as he straightened up, a mischievous smile playing at his lips. “Then perhaps we can dispense with formalities? Call me Alric.”

  Maeryn sighed in relief. “Yeah, okay. Alric.” She bit her lip a bit, not quite sure how it felt to be addressing one of the leaders of her people so informally. “Gonna need some time to get used to that.”

  “I felt the same way when I became an Elder,” Alric confessed. “Just keep at it. It’ll come eventually. In any case, I need to ask a favor.”

  Maeryn instantly straightened up, her eyes focusing on Alric as she gave him all of her attention. “I’m listening.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Alric’s eyebrow rose, but he ultimately chose not to comment on her sudden intensity. “It’s nothing too difficult. Just…” Alric coughed, looking a little embarrassed. “It appears that the Purify Mist stone tablets you provided only work for a time. According to the alchemists, there seems to be a set amount of Mist they can handle before the enchantment breaks down. So, on your way back, if you could bring back another shipment, that would be enormously helpful. And, ah… it would be nice if we had at least one Geovan who could use holy magic so we can make them here instead of having to import them from Cloudreach.”

  Maeryn nodded with a sigh. She’d heard plenty from people who didn’t think she was listening about that particular issue. “Why is it only Zephyrians can use holy magic?” they’d ask. “Do those bird-brained bastards think they’re better than us?”

  Racism sucked.

  “I’ll do my best,” she promised. “It’s not like I don’t have any interest in learning it myself, you know. Who knows, maybe I’ll become the first Geovan to get it.”

  Alric’s lips lifted at the prospect. “You do realize that would only solidify your title of Heroine, right? You’d probably become the Holy Heroine.”

  Maeryn let out a long, heartfelt groan. “No, no, no. I refuse. You’ve convinced me. I won’t touch holy magic.”

  The Head Elder laughed right to her face. “Yes, you will,” he retorted fondly. “You’re too stubborn to let some title get in your way. Otherwise you never would’ve taken matters into your own hands to begin with.”

  Maeryn made a disgruntled face but didn’t dispute the point further. After all, he was right. “Have you been talking with my parents?” she accused.

  “Well, of course. I had to get to know the people who raised our Heroine, after all.” The gentle teasing in his tone did nothing to stop the flustered blush that erupted across her cheeks.

  Thankfully, she was saved by one of her best friends, Frankie, as the pilot poked her head out of the airship. “Hey, Captain! We going anytime soon or what?”

  “Right then! I’m gonna get going now, we can continue this conversation never!” Maeryn rushed into the airship, doing her best to ignore Alric’s all-too-audible chuckling.

  She quickly shut the door and hurried to the cockpit, where Frankie and Peter waited for her. They were both airship engineers, and served simultaneous roles as pilot and mechanic on Stonewing. Maeryn trusted them implicitly, especially after their shared adventures across Zephyria.

  “Get us in the air, Frankie. Take us to Cloudreach.”

  “Aye-aye, Captain.”