Saltwater was an interesting medium to Vel. To her, saltwater seamed to react to her mana with less of a snap. It felt almost sluggish, something that Vel had brought up to many other [Water Mages] over the years. She hadn’t met anyone who disagreed with her until Max. When asked, Max said he felt no difference.

“All water moves the same to me. I can tell what kind of water it is, however. Saltwater feels heavier. When water I pull from the air feels the lightest. “

Vel could only shrug at this. Either Max had such a deep understanding of his magics, which she doubted, or Max simply couldn’t tell the difference between types of water. Vel knew exactly what Max was talking about when he mentioned saltwater was heavier. She knew all too well the power difference between [Saltwater Mages] and [Water Mages]. Saltwater hit harder. It weighted more. It stung when it touched open wounds. It was a simple fact that, on average, the former of was a stronger class.

Of course, it came down to individual classes and their boons, but any affinity affixes could easily change the power dynamic of a class. Max’s class [Tidal Mage], for example, increased the speed and power of water-based projectiles. The same idea applied to [Saltwater Mages] in the since that controlling saltwater gave their own specialized boon.

But none of that really mattered in the grand scheme of things. Battles to the death often ended with outsmarting your opponent or countering key spells. Class boons rarely decided the outcome of a battle. Theorizing about the best class possibility was that of a scholar, something Vel always had little interest in. Vel was an interesting case in the circle of mages. Most everyone knew her because of Lester. She was on his team and often left to the shadows where she thrived. She’d carried out assassinations, burglary and even arson in her younger days. She’s protected lives of important [Diplomats] and fought off ruin and destruction of many towns.

A large spout of water launched out of the water, carrying a muscular one-armed young man. Along with the man came a few fish and one very confused stripped shark. Sand and seaweed also rained down, creating an outlining dent in the sea floor. A small gasp sounded from Clammy as Max tumbled in the air. Max, however, didn’t panic, he simply blinked back to the water. He appeared with his knees already underwater, causing him to bob up and down until his treading caught up with his momentum.

“Not cool!” He yelled at his aquatic dragon, lizard, snake, monster friend.

To the other, who couldn’t hear Emi, Max looked like a crazy man as he suddenly burster out laughing. Presumably she said something rather humorous to the Lost Lord. Vel wasn’t too sure how to feel about Emi. She had seen her fair share of bonds and familiars over the years. None of them even came close to Emi’s level of intelligence and forethought. The closest was Icarus, but he had been on Nava with Lester for multiple centuries.

Emi was something different. She was hardly a common bond. That much was obvious. When she led them to Max and Bishop during their fight with Buzluc, Vel was sure that Emi was emanating an aura. It was weak and uncultured, but it was there, and it was nothing like Max’s. Bond often share abilities and levels with each other. That is a rather common practice between bonded fighters, but Vel had never heard of a bond using their partner’s aura. Let alone have an aura of their own.

Vel enjoyed watching the kids play in the water. The ocean was cold and crisp this time of year, but that didn’t seem to dissuade Max and Emi. Clammy also seemed rather excited to swim in the cold water. Most likely because she had never seen the ocean. Reep was guarded, like usual. She sat with Bishop and Vel on a blanket on the beach. Reep hadn’t talked much since leaving Esmel. Bishop had told Vel what happened on the wall with the emotion eater. Vel only knew of hardened adventures shrugging off mental attacks like that. Vel shared Bishop’s idea about Reep speaking with a specialist.

It wasn’t until sunset that Max and Emi finally had enough. Clammy had long since retreated to the safe refuge of the warm beach. Max, who wore a impish smile, plopped down besides Reep. Vel recognized the technique he was implementing on a small patch of sand before the group. Water gathered and pulled off Max’s skin and swimwear. It seeped into the sand and oversaturated the once dry grains. A small quagmire formed, lowing the affected area by a good bit. The water was drained away leaving a small hole, which Max filled with branches and sticks from his inventory. Pretty soon a fire was started, and fish was being roasted.

It was things like that that put Vel off. Causal displays of finesse and power. No mage with Max’s experience could have even hoped to pull that off. Max had only been on Nava for a few months. He should still be learning the basics. He shouldn’t be saving cities and fighting monsters that even gave her fear. Was it that he was a Lost One? Or was he special in other ways?

Watching Max grow reminded Vel of her own upbringing. The rise and fall of the Deep Strider Clan. The monopoly of water-based healing, one of the best mercenary regiments money could buy and the struggles of a young girl longing for a different future.

The ferry to Hunlun Isles was a long a boring three hours. An occasional dolphin or whale spout would be seen in the distance, but the journey was long and slow. The ferry itself was a vessel maintained by the Deep Strider Clan. Through large donations and political sway, the Deep Strider Clan had long since been the reason for such a ship to even be made. The Isle of Hunlun was a medium sized island with various private islands that housed the powerful families of the isle.

There was technically a government within the isle itself, but everyone knew that the true leaders were the Striders. Without the revenue their exploits made, the isle would be nothing more than a land mass off the western coast of Salarin. However, the use of water healing magics along with a very powerful army for hire, the Hunlun Isle quickly became a hub for war and healers.

Being one of the few powers that could rival Salae, the Striders quickly made non-aggression pacts with the major cities and factions on Salarin. It came as no surprise, however, when the Striders started breaking their vows. Wars were fought over centuries, claiming many lives. Eventually new heads were promoted, and peace came. But the Striders had left a message, one that will be echoed for many years to come; Do not mess with us.

Veline sat on the ferry watching the waves be magically pushed away by the ship’s operators. It took a great deal of power to actively steer and propel a ship using only water magics. A power that Veline currently did not possess. Veline had vowed never to return to Hunlun, but she was a Strider and Striders break vows.

Veline was once a prospecting healer, stationed under Master Inds, the resident chief of healing and Veline’s father. He was a proud a sour man who opted for shows of power and respect rather than care and love. He pushed Veline away all those years ago forcing her to eventually leave her home. It came as no surprise to her when she received a letter from her mother. Veline’s sister had died, and a funeral was being held.

That is why she broke her vow. To see off what was left of her sister. Her sister didn’t have the same gift in healing that Veline did. In fact, she didn’t have any gift in magic at all. Veline always regretted not standing up to her father about her sister’s livelihood. It was guilt that she would have to live with for the remainder of her life. Her actions were what caused her sister to die.

Veline’s sister, May, was a warrior. After her lack of talent was discovered, May was quickly sent off to join the mercenary corps. She learned how to handle herself, fight with honor and glory, how to take lives, and how to be useful to the Striders. She returned home after her training was complete with high marks and a recommendation to the elite platoon known as the H’kai. Veline remembered the join in her mother’s eyes when May told her family of her success. She also remembered the contempt that her father showed.

Veline, meanwhile, was learning under her father’s tutelage. He was strict and quick to punish. She worked in a relatively small clinic as the main branches were too important for a novice to mess up. People from all over the world came to the Hunlun Isles in hopes that the rumored miracle water could heal their wounds. They would spend their entire life savings at a glimmer of hope. Sometimes it bore fruit and they left the Isle reborn, and sometimes the hope was too late, and nothing could be done.

Veline’s father had transferred himself to the clinic she was stationed at. Under the pretext of “teaching the next head of healing” Veline was beaten and abused. Every mistake was a lashing, and every success was an irritated grunt. She worked for close to three years before her father finally thought it time to move her to the larger clinics. Something that was unheard of. Normally, novice healers worked for a minimum of a decade before moving along to the higher priority patients. Veline was a mere level 14 when the decision was made, she didn’t even have a second class.

She never understood why her father didn’t want her to activate a second class. Was he afraid she would take a combat oriented secondary class? That she would leave him in order to follow in her sister’s footsteps? Did he know a secret task she needed to do to unlock a powerful class? Could that have been how he rose to power so quickly? He was the youngest chief healer in the history of the Clan, after all.

The main clinic was nothing like the others. This was where sick and dying congregated. Hundreds of bodies sat in front of the armed fence, hoping that their number would be chosen. The main clinic chose it patients by a simple lottery. Many died waiting for their number to be randomly picked, others would lose hope. Some called it rigged, other called it immoral. Whatever it was, however, scared Veline.

She didn’t have the experience needed to deal with the mental stress the clinic gave its residents. She didn’t have the power needed to continuously heal like many of the others. He father made her cast until her last mana, often times making her pass out from exhaustion. She worked though headaches and migraines, pain, and nausea. She hated every moment of it. She wanted out.

She begged her mother, a frail woman with an uncurable sickness. Growths were forming all over her body. Most were internal, but others changed the once beautiful woman into nothing more than a sick mass of flesh. Veline’s mother didn’t it let stop her from being happy, however. How could it? She had a daughter serving in the H’kai, her other daughter was on path to becoming a chief! Sure, her sickness was slowly killing her, but that didn’t matter. She had lived.

Eventually the pressure got to Veline. She simply couldn’t handle the stress of being a healer. She was simply too young, too ill equipped. She brought up her concerns to her father. He was quick to turn to physical punishment. The next day, she went back to the clinic. She spent the next 6 months working in the clinic, until she was chosen to head to war. The Striders were bought. Their mission was a simple eradication of a congregation of Orcs in the Yepu Plains.

For some reason Veline didn’t mind knowing that her father pulled strings causing her to be chosen. She didn’t mind being severely under leveled. She didn’t even mind the possibility of dying. She was leaving the Isle for the first time. She would spend the next few months without the constant eye of her father. She was happy.

The Orc’s were nothing compared to the might of the Striders. Even without the H’kai, the Orc’s were dismantled in just a few battles. Veline had a low-pressure job because there simply weren’t that many injuries. A few slashes and broken noses, but nothing more life threating then that. There were deaths, however. But the soldiers that Veline looked after were the ones that were brought back to their headquarters. Veline was in no way to participate in combat healing. She would get killed, even her father knew that.

During her time away from the Isle, Veline learned many things. She slowly figured out her affinity with shadows. She learned of other cities and towns. She learned that many couldn’t make the journey to Hunlun. She learned about adventures and their renown. She learned to be happy. But as most things do, her trip ended. The army headed back to Hunlun, pulling Veline along with them. However, in a blaze of confidence and defiance, she ran away.

She moved from town to town, taking small solo adventuring jobs. She healed the sick and dying. She made a fair bit of coin, allowing her to travel further and further away from the west coast. She finally accepted a second class, and her life looked positive. She thought of her sister and her mother with guilt and sorrow, but she also knew that they would be understanding. They both saw how her father treated her. Hells, her sister lived through it before becoming an elite.

But eventually a letter found her. May had died in battle. The letter was written by her mother, Veline guessed that she had sent it without her husband ever knowing. The funeral was being held in a large military graveyard. One that was a privilege to be buried in. The mass funeral for all of the soldiers killed in action was set to happen in one month time. Enough time for Veline to travel back. She debated with herself for many hours but in the end, decided she must attend.

It took a big chunk of her savings to navigate to Hunlun. She would have to take on jobs on her way back. But that was the life of a low ranked adventurer. The Isle seemed to be in an uproar from the moment she stepped on soil. A guard check point had been set for all visitors, something that was not implemented last time Veline was on the Isle.

The forced her to answer questions, identify herself and even submit to a preliminary screening. It was obvious to Veline that they were looking for something specific. It wouldn’t be until decades later that Veline first learned the name Vast Empire, but looking back on it, Hunlun was one of the first to really know the Empire’s danger.

Hunlun was much the same as she left it. Other than the increased military presence. Palm trees mixed evergreen bushes and shrubs. Rocky plateau with sediment lines showing the age of the island. Cliffs and valleys stretching long past any useable and inhabited land. Building unlike any Veline had ever seen. Clay walls with slanted roofs that towered high with many layers. Bright reds and blues were used in an abundance giving the island an unnatural warmth. One that would only be reprimanded by entering the slums.

Hunlun had a secret they wished to protect. With all of the injured and dying, slums had to have been created to house everyone. Guards forced anyone who stayed out past clinic closing time into what Veline could only describe as cages. Long tunnels were created under ground, stretching far into the wilderness of the west end of the island. Carved out rooms with outwards locking doors were where everyone who wasn’t a permanent resident stayed. Of course, if you had money, you could stay in one of many taverns but for most…

It was a black spot on the history and longevity of Hunlun, the leaders knew. They actively worked to reduce the number of people living in the underground but simply couldn’t keep up with he demands. Maybe that was why the army was going into more battles as of late. Maybe that was why May was destined to die, to pay for expansion.

Veline’s family lived atop a large overly grassy hill. Lush and purposefully overgrown greenery blended the home into the nature of the background. Imported white stone and long pillars of brick made up the foundation and styling of the opulent mansion. A small gravel pathway leads the way for any and all who visited. Inviting as the pathway looked, and as homely as the house may seem, Veline knew better.

The painted wooden steps were made by a [Carpenter]. One that mysteriously disappeared soon after the completion of the house. Veline never knew why the man was randomly gone, just that other similar occurrences have happened. It seemed that every time a contractor or service man came to fix or change something about the house, they would fall off the face of Nava. Again, Veline only made the connection years after she had already left.

It was mid-morning when Veline first stepped on the patio of her once home. A short and stout butler opened the door on her first knock. He wore the traditional servant attire of Hunlun. Red droopy robes with deep floral designs. He was balding, something that Veline was sure would get him fired one day.

“Where’s Itchen?” Veline asked, referencing her old maid.

“Disappeared one day.” The butler said with a roll of the eyes. “Can I help you?”

Veline pushed her way past the man, ignoring his shouts of warning. She strolled straight up the spiral staircase to the first door on the left. It was ajar slightly, allowing the sunlight from the heavily windowed hallway to brighten the room. Her mother watched her enter the barren room with a pleading smile on her face. The room itself only had three pieces of furniture. A bed, a nightstand, and a single chair that from the thin layer of dust, hadn’t been used in some time.

“Veline.” The woman said in a gentle and loving way.

“Mother.” Veline echoed in a similar fashion.

“You look stronger.”

Tear’s took place of a reply, and a powerful hug soon followed. Feelings and regrets that Veline only knew on the surface overwhelmed the young girl. The butler, learning who Veline was, slowly and quietly closed the door. The hug soon ended and panicked apologizes soon followed. Veline explained why she had to leave, how her life had gotten better and how she should have been there for May.

Veline’s mother visibly cringed at the reminder of her daughter’s death. The next few hours questions of why the H’kai had been activated and why the island was under much stricter lock and key were asked. Simple explanations of politics and hostilities were all that was given, but again, Veline didn’t find out the real reason until much later.

Her mother asked her what she had been doing in the past few years. Tales and stories of heroic and daring adventures of Veline were told. She might have over exaggerated here and there but seeing her mother’s smile was worth the small lie. Darkness slowly began to fill the night air. The lights of the city began to disappear, and the front door opened. Inds was home.

Inds was once a strong well-built man, but the harsh years really took a turn on the once youthful man. He was wrinkly and hunch backed. Grey splitting hairs sparkly populated his scalp and tied with his dark beady eyes, he almost looked inhuman. He was worn and his age was finally showing though. His past had finally caught up to him.

“Veline.” He muttered. “Who allowed you in?”

But before she could speak, her mother answered.

“I did. Do you not think it is time to start anew? Do you want to have both of your daughters gone from your life? Is it not a bad enough that the one you pushed away early in life is dead? Do you want the one that escaped you to remain gone?”

The old man thought for a long time, to the point where the others became worried. With a big huff Inds spun on his heels and walked out, saying nothing.

“Mother…”

“I’m sorry Veline. I thought… I thought that he would change. Especially after…”

“I learned long ago that he doesn’t care about me. Only the Clan. I understand.”

Her mother said nothing but nodded, having already seen the same thing. Veline left a few minutes later and found lodging for the night. The funeral was scheduled for the next day. Huge crowds of family members and friends slowly trickled into one of the outer small islands. Small row boats powered by water magics ported small groups of passengers to and from. It was slow, but a tradition.

During the entire service Veline’s father didn’t once look at her. His message was clear, she was dead to him. The funeral was beautiful and full of emotion. Many old friends met with Veline, asking her about were she’d been, what she was up to, or why she was back. She was soon back on the ferry, leaving all of her troubles and thoughts behind. She would miss her mother, but seeing the island, seeing the troubles it brings to everyone, she knew she couldn’t go back.

The closest Adventuring Guild was a rather small rural frontier town. Gold and silver were among its greatest exports, along with prime leveling fields full of decently high-level monsters. Except Veline didn’t want to kill monsters. She wanted to get as far away from Hunlun as possible. But end the end, she needed gold.

After a quick discussion with the Guild representative, she was signed up to defend a large eastward traveling caravan. A perfect job in her mind. The trip would be long and slow, but she would get to see parts of the world she normally would journey. The money portion wasn’t too bad itself.

“Mage! Gather on me!” A gruff caravan leader shouted the morning of departure.

Veline and a shaggy haired smiling tall human gathered up. Veline couldn’t quite place the strange clothing the man wore, but having lived on the Isle for many years, she was used to this sort of thing.

“Alright. There's two of you’s on this trip. Make sure one of you’s are always wake and on guard. Last thing I need is sleeping mages. I’m paying for protection, not for tavern tricks. Work out a schedule between you’selves.”

The leaver left and causing the shaggy haired man to stick out an arm.

“Hi. I’m Lester.” He saw the strange look Veline gave his extended arm, he slowly retracted it. “Sorry, I’m trying to get used to the customs on this planet. What’s your name?”

“Velin- Vel. I’m Vel. What kind of mage are you? I’m a water primary and shadow secondary.”

“Shadow huh? That’s good because I’m a [Light Mage]! I wonder if we can synergize, Can I make your shadows stronger? Do you know? Can you make a shadow blade? Like this?”

A blinding saber of light shot from Lester’s hand. It flicked and sparked, burning a shallow cut into his palm.

“Damnit!” He shouted. “I’m still working out the kinks.”

Vel could only smile, thinking how long this trip was going to be.