Jack returned back to the place his team mates were waiting. It was still protected by the spherical barrier of Sanctuary Field.
He quickly retuned back on his Steamrune Hoverboard and reverted back to his human form.
Reina looked at him. Her eyes were searching his face for any sign of injury. "Dear?" She whispered. "How is it?"
"It's done." Jack replied. Offering her a faint smile. "Aella is safe. The threat is extinguished."
Chloe, still sitting behind Reina on the [Lightning Hoverbike], looked shaken. Her eyes were open wide as she took in the scorched earth.
"That wasn't like anything I've ever seen." She murmured. Clutching Sparkle to her chest. "It was even more devastating than the battle against the demons."
"Let's go." Jack said calmly. "The explosion will have alerted every transcendent beings in this island. We need to be on the water before more troubles come up. Love, maintain the illusion."
They immediately moved with practiced efficiency. The trip back to the docks was a blur of high-speed hover-tech and aerial maneuvering. Blanketed by Reina's illusionary cloak of invisibility.
When they reached the Ocean Wanderer, the crew was already on edge. The tremors from Lady Kaelan's final act had even reached there. It rocked the ship heavily. And the docks of Naoville were in a state of almost uncontrolled pandemonium despite being late at night.
As they stepped onto the deck, Reina removed her illusion. Their presence instantly stabilized the atmosphere.
"Argust!" Jack commanded. His voice was carried clearly over the noisy docks. "Cast off. We aren't staying here any longer. Set a course for the outer currents. We're heading for Barrentree."
"Understood, Captain!" Argust Osprey quickly replied and moved to his post.
...
As the ship pulled away from the dock, the lights of Naoville grew smaller. They were not the only ship that left that night. Many others also decided to leave. Unwilling to face the risk of staying in the island with such potential threat.
Soon, the chaotic shouts from the port faded into the rhythmic thrash of waves against the hull. Jack watched the shoreline until it was nothing but a darkened silhouette against the night sky. And after he made sure no other ship was in sight...
"Rune! Drop the disguise!" He gave a command.
The mechanical fairy immediately responded. It glowed an intense purple color. A thick, illusory wave began to roll out from her body. Coating the whole ship. Causing it to tremble slightly.
Then, the Ocean Wanderer started to shift. Its regular sails, mast, figurehead, and hull began to distort, shimmer... and then unravel.
The plain white canvas of the sails turned black and shredded. Turning into gloomy and slightly translucent rags. The normal-looking wooden hull faded. Replaced by old, rotten timber, encrusted by barnacles.
The beautiful mermaid figurehead let out a silent, sorrowful wail and was frozen in the midst of it. The name 'Ocean Wanderer' on the stern shifted into the 'Silent Mermaid'. Carved in bone-white script.
The Ocean Wanderer was no more. It was now the Silent Mermaid. A silent and swift ghost ship. A spooky, mysterious vessel covered with purple flames and white mist.
Jack turned into the internal communication system and gave the next command. "Argust! Full stealth mode."
"Stealth mode activated, Captain!" Argust's voice immediately replied.
Within seconds, the ship turned translucent, vanishing into nothing. They were now essentially parts of a ghost. Unseen by external radar or naked eyes. Completely invisible.
...
Once the ship was steady, Jack gestured to Reina and Rune. "Come. Let's see how our guest is holding up."
He pulled out the common hand-mirror and used his [Mythical Mirror Realm]. Bringing the two to the Mirror Mansion.
Inside the pocket dimension, the atmosphere was silent, serene, and bright. As always. It was a stark contrast to the night sea they were in before, or the hellish landscape they had left behind in the island.
Jack took Reina and Rune to the bedroom where he put Aella in.
She was still there. Unconscious. Lying on a soft, comfortable bed. Her breathing was shallow but steady. The [Mysterious Faewitch] bloodline she possessed had begun to knit her injuries and exhaustion together.
However, it was obvious that the toll of her Mountain Manifestation summoning would not be recovered soon. It was evident in the faint, unstable energy fluctuation she emitted.
Rune, the fairy guide, drifted next to the girl Her body was emitting a soft, soothing amber light. One that bathed the girl in the color of warmth.
Reina walked to the side of the bed. Her expression softened. Her long time charity activities in Lonestone had brushed away most of her cold and hard past. And Aella somehow reminded her of her grim childhood that turned her into a heartless assassin in the Night Salvation Association.
She reached out. Brushing a stray lock of hair from Aella's forehead.
"Poor child." She sighed. "To carry such weight at so young an age. It's cruel."
"The world isn't designed to be kind, Love." Jack responded calmly. "That's why we're here. To make it more... kind and fair. No matter how small the impact will be."
He observed Aella with a clinical eye. "And she's a survivor. She won't break easily. The syndicate tried to break her, and she gave them a tomb instead."
Aella's eyes fluttered. Then she opened them wide. They were quite normal looking eyes. Big and brown. Nothing that showed her deadly power.
"Where..." She croaked. Her voice was dry.
"You're safe." Jack said. Stepping into her sight. He didn't loom. He kept his posture open and non-threatening. "You're in my Mirror Mansion. A different... place from the Shipmount Island where we've found you."
He smiled and introduced himself. "I'm Jack. These are my partners, Reina and Rune. Nothing can harm you here."
Aella sat up. Her movements were stiff. She looked at the walls of the Mirror Mansion. Then at Jack, Reina, and Rune.
Her gaze sharpened. The [Mysterious Faewitch] bloodline she possessed instinctively detected that the two had no bad intention toward her. Something that she had never felt from anyone other than the nature and her mother.
Remembering her mother, the girl's eyes started to show pain and sorrow. Yet, no tears came out of them.
"They had my mother's body." She whispered. Her voice was trembling. Not with fear, but with a lingering, white-hot rage.
"They used to." Jack replied calmly. "But you've made sure they paid for it. The syndicate members are dead. But their leader's last explosion turned everything there to ash. Unfortunately, that included your mother's body."
He paused for a moment and then continued. "In a way, it might be a good thing for your mother's soul. In my hometown, dead people are cremated so that their souls could reach heaven faster. Or hell, if they are evil." He calmly lied.
Aella blinked. She looked at the calm, smiling Jack with mixed feelings. The girl instinctively understood that he had a good intention, but a terrible skill for comforting others through words.
She looked back at her hands. Still trembling from the residual power of her awakening. "They wanted the power from my bloodline. Do you want it too?"
"I have my own powers." Jack replied easily. "And they were already too much. I don't need yours to make it even more complicated. Don't worry, Kid. We don't save you for your power."
"They wanted a tool. A weapon." Reina added gently. Sitting beside her and taking her hand. "But you are a person, Aella. Not a weapon. Your power is great, but it isn't the only thing you should depend on."
The girl looked at Reina. Seeing the genuine warmth in her eyes. The tension in her shoulders dropped. Even for just a fraction. This was the first time after her awakening that her body wasn't coiled for flight or fight.
"What happens now?" Aella asked.
Jack pointed at the spatial window. Showing the night sky and the sea that was stretched out to the horizon.
"Outside this place, we are at the sea." Jack said calmly. "I am a ship captain. My crew and I, at present, are treasure hunters. Heading for Myriad Island Archipelago. You can join us into the ship once you are recovered enough."
He looked at the little girl. "But now, you rest. And... you aren't a prisoner or a slave here, Kid. If you want to leave, just tell me. We'll drop you to the closest island."
"If you're willing, you can be a part of our crew." Jack continued. "Your age doesn't actually meet the minimum requirement. But, you power is more than enough to override it. Of course, joining us is not all great. You need to learn a lot of things. And you need to be ready for danger. Because in our ship, we don't just run away from the monsters. We hunt them."
Aella looked at the big man. Speechless at his blunt honesty. But she also felt relieved. She could feel that Jack told her the truth. For the first time, she felt that she might have found the place she truly belonged.
She nodded. Slowly.
"Love!" Jack said to Reina "Accompany her. But, keep her rested. I need to check some things first."
"Of course, Dear." Reina replied. Already smoothing the blankets.
Jack walked to a different room in the Mirror Mansion. His mind was racing through the possibilities. He had Aella now. He needed to make sure no one could recognize her. And it meant... disguise.
He could try the classic, easiest disguise first... outfit, hairstyle, hair color, plus fashion glasses. Reina could add a little of her illusion when she would be in public.
The next problem was her power. How could they disguise that? Reina could probably coach her about the teleportation thing. Disguising it into something similar to Reina's [Absolute Blink].
As for her Void Flame, she needed to practice controlling it. And he could try creating some steamrune gadgets that would help her focus on manipulating it. A gun, or a lightsaber, or an armor. That should be interesting.
Jack pulled the [Mystic Voodoo Doll] from his inventory. Turning it over in his fingers. It was a creepy looking straw doll.
"Now, let's see what this one is really capable of." He whispered.
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