As Drifter had expected, the repairs for the Mid-Day Shadow took more time than usually expected, for the hull damage was, as he told Knife of the Ocean, extensive and bordering on sinking had it not been for the solid water that patched up the holes. Thankfully he had the support and assistance of some helpers from the settlement and thus considerably reduced the effort.
Days passed inside the manse and Drifter went on with the repairs even while the helpers were resting in their homes. The monotony of the activity changed completely several days later when an unexpected guest arrived at the manse. It happened while he was busily hammering planks of wood on the now open hull.
"Captain Kalaman?"
Drifter turned towards the source of the voice that had broken the dull chorus of hammering and pounding that echoed throughout the manse and almost dropped his hammer on the ground. His mouth gaped open at the sight his eyes trailed.
A woman.
Not just an ordinary woman, but a woman of such bedazzling beauty that he thought a goddess from Yu-Shan suddenly fell on their manse to break the dullness. Her beauty was beyond compare and all Drifter could put to describe her was - unworldly. The workers, however, just gave one brief glance at her in unison, then returned to their tasks on the ship repairs.
"Y-yes? May I help you?" Drifter cried, jumping down from the platform from which he hung to face the enchanting woman. You are a Solar, Drifter, don't let her beauty intimidate you. If she's one of those Deathknights they've been warning you about...
The woman, much to his surprise, stared blankly at him then crossed her arms.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" she asked. To Drifter's ears the questions sounded more like impositions. Apparently this is a woman who is used to getting what she wants and doing things her way.
"Uhh, my name's Drifter, milady. Drifter Against the Vast Eternity. I'm, uhh, new around here." Drifter said, his mind failing to produce words in front of the woman. Snap out of it, Drifter, you are a Twilight! A chosen of the Unconquered Sun as one of Creation's best thinkers! Don't let her outsmart you!
"Captain Kalaman's got himself a new carpenter?" the woman asked. "What are you supposed to be doing here?"
"I'm the Captain's new shipwright, milady, not his carpenter. I make ships, not houses. There's a difference. I'm currently in this manse to conduct repairs to the Mid-Day Shadow." Drifter said. This woman has some sense of humor. Better watch my tongue.
"Whatever, it's still the same." the woman said, waving Drifter's explanation away like some unpleasant smoke. "You don't look like any of these men anyway - at least, in terms of your... abilities. You do look like them, though. You must be one of us as well."
"Excuse me?"
"Akira Silverwing. You'd do better to remember that name, carpenter boy." the woman said, throwing her most aristocratic posture and winking at Drifter.
Who does she think she's calling carpenter boy?! Drifter just bit his tongue to avoid a nasty retort. So she's Akira...
"Akira Silverwing... you must be the other woman they're talking about." Drifter said. "The one who went down in Luthe. How was it there?"
"None of your business, carpenter boy. I'd suggest you continue hammering away there." Akira said.
She turned her back on him, transformed herself into a majestic swan that embodies the same level of beauty as her human form, and flew out of the manse. Drifter scowled at her, then with heavy breaths returned to pounding at the wooden planks, the force slightly greater than before.
"Sir Drifter?"
"What?!" Drifter snapped, turning back to the source of the call. He then toned himself down, as Lilac, Captain Kalaman's personal assistant, stood at the dock where the Mid-Day Shadow was being repaired. "Oh, it's you Lilac, what brings you back here? I thought you were with Captain Kalaman and the others!"
"Y-yes, Sir Drifter, but he requests for your presence and of Miss Akira as well." Lilac said. "I was told that Miss Akira would be here, according to the Infallible Messenger she sent the captain. Might I inquire as to where she is?"
"Flying around out there." Drifter said coldly, hammering back at the plank he was holding. "If Captain Kalaman wants her to come as well you're not getting me to call for her. Why would we be called for anyway?"
"Apparently the Captain has information as to how the Ark of First Light can be repaired, and it will require an intact First Age engine. It is fortunate that they managed to identify a possible location of one in the Isle of Shadows due south, but the danger that it entails may require assistance from the others. Thus he requests for you and Miss Akira's aid as well."
"Certainly, I'll be right down. How are we to get to their location?"
"The Resplendent Dolphin, sir. I am sure you are aware of its existence?"
"Oh, yes, of course."
Drifter hammered down the final plank for the day, dismissed the workers, then went to Lilac.
"I'll just gather some of my things before I go." Drifter said. "I do not know where that conceited woman went off to, but I'm not looking for her."
Lilac smirked.
"As you wish, Sir Drifter. I'll charge myself with the task of locating her. Please board the Dolphin when you are prepared. It is docked just beside the dry dock where the Mid-Day Shadow is."
"All right, thank you."
Days passed inside the manse and Drifter went on with the repairs even while the helpers were resting in their homes. The monotony of the activity changed completely several days later when an unexpected guest arrived at the manse. It happened while he was busily hammering planks of wood on the now open hull.
"Captain Kalaman?"
Drifter turned towards the source of the voice that had broken the dull chorus of hammering and pounding that echoed throughout the manse and almost dropped his hammer on the ground. His mouth gaped open at the sight his eyes trailed.
A woman.
Not just an ordinary woman, but a woman of such bedazzling beauty that he thought a goddess from Yu-Shan suddenly fell on their manse to break the dullness. Her beauty was beyond compare and all Drifter could put to describe her was - unworldly. The workers, however, just gave one brief glance at her in unison, then returned to their tasks on the ship repairs.
"Y-yes? May I help you?" Drifter cried, jumping down from the platform from which he hung to face the enchanting woman. You are a Solar, Drifter, don't let her beauty intimidate you. If she's one of those Deathknights they've been warning you about...
The woman, much to his surprise, stared blankly at him then crossed her arms.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" she asked. To Drifter's ears the questions sounded more like impositions. Apparently this is a woman who is used to getting what she wants and doing things her way.
"Uhh, my name's Drifter, milady. Drifter Against the Vast Eternity. I'm, uhh, new around here." Drifter said, his mind failing to produce words in front of the woman. Snap out of it, Drifter, you are a Twilight! A chosen of the Unconquered Sun as one of Creation's best thinkers! Don't let her outsmart you!
"Captain Kalaman's got himself a new carpenter?" the woman asked. "What are you supposed to be doing here?"
"I'm the Captain's new shipwright, milady, not his carpenter. I make ships, not houses. There's a difference. I'm currently in this manse to conduct repairs to the Mid-Day Shadow." Drifter said. This woman has some sense of humor. Better watch my tongue.
"Whatever, it's still the same." the woman said, waving Drifter's explanation away like some unpleasant smoke. "You don't look like any of these men anyway - at least, in terms of your... abilities. You do look like them, though. You must be one of us as well."
"Excuse me?"
"Akira Silverwing. You'd do better to remember that name, carpenter boy." the woman said, throwing her most aristocratic posture and winking at Drifter.
Who does she think she's calling carpenter boy?! Drifter just bit his tongue to avoid a nasty retort. So she's Akira...
"Akira Silverwing... you must be the other woman they're talking about." Drifter said. "The one who went down in Luthe. How was it there?"
"None of your business, carpenter boy. I'd suggest you continue hammering away there." Akira said.
She turned her back on him, transformed herself into a majestic swan that embodies the same level of beauty as her human form, and flew out of the manse. Drifter scowled at her, then with heavy breaths returned to pounding at the wooden planks, the force slightly greater than before.
"Sir Drifter?"
"What?!" Drifter snapped, turning back to the source of the call. He then toned himself down, as Lilac, Captain Kalaman's personal assistant, stood at the dock where the Mid-Day Shadow was being repaired. "Oh, it's you Lilac, what brings you back here? I thought you were with Captain Kalaman and the others!"
"Y-yes, Sir Drifter, but he requests for your presence and of Miss Akira as well." Lilac said. "I was told that Miss Akira would be here, according to the Infallible Messenger she sent the captain. Might I inquire as to where she is?"
"Flying around out there." Drifter said coldly, hammering back at the plank he was holding. "If Captain Kalaman wants her to come as well you're not getting me to call for her. Why would we be called for anyway?"
"Apparently the Captain has information as to how the Ark of First Light can be repaired, and it will require an intact First Age engine. It is fortunate that they managed to identify a possible location of one in the Isle of Shadows due south, but the danger that it entails may require assistance from the others. Thus he requests for you and Miss Akira's aid as well."
"Certainly, I'll be right down. How are we to get to their location?"
"The Resplendent Dolphin, sir. I am sure you are aware of its existence?"
"Oh, yes, of course."
Drifter hammered down the final plank for the day, dismissed the workers, then went to Lilac.
"I'll just gather some of my things before I go." Drifter said. "I do not know where that conceited woman went off to, but I'm not looking for her."
Lilac smirked.
"As you wish, Sir Drifter. I'll charge myself with the task of locating her. Please board the Dolphin when you are prepared. It is docked just beside the dry dock where the Mid-Day Shadow is."
"All right, thank you."
******
"Why does HE have to ride along with us?" Akira Silverwing asked irritably, as she, Drifter, and Lilac traveled through the Resplendent Dolphin. "Can't carpenter boy just make himself a wooden ship and follow us?"
"This is the fastest way to reach Captain Kalaman, Miss Akira." Lilac said. "He wishes that the two of you reach the Ark of First Light safely and immediately."
"Oh, great. Just you, me, and carpenter boy for the next few hours." Akira said, rolling her eyes. "Remind me to scold Captain Kalaman for not choosing his people wisely!"
Drifter scowled at her.
******
"Ah, thank goodness you have arrived." Naar Kalaman said, as they boarded the Ark of First Light a few hours later. "We have gathered information that a First Age engine capable of restoring the Ark's original state lies somewhere in the Isle of Shadows. Our current objective is to verify whether this is true or not, and if ever true, retrieve that engine to start the repairs of the Ark. I hope you are prepared, Drifter, this might be your first experience in dangerous explorations such as this."
"Nothing can't possibly be worse, Captain, I've already had a taste of that." Drifter said.
Drifter then strayed close to Knife of the Ocean and Azure Heart of the Sunrise while Akira Silverwing paraded herself in front of Captain Kalaman, showing the things she had learned in Luthe.
"Had a good time?" Knife of the Ocean asked, nudging Drifter and pointing at Akira.
"Shut up." Drifter said, scowling and crossing his arms. Knife and Azure just laughed at him.
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