5.

Lynn examined the deck. Men scurried about in an attempt to get everyone onboard before the scheduled leaving time. Lynn had arrived at dawn with a servant he had been gifted by another family who still thought gaining favor with his house might be worth something. The servant appeared to be a rather dopey boy whose facial focal point emerged as two enormous pimples sprouting from his forehead like lopsided horns. Together they had claimed one of the twelve small cabins and begun waiting for the other applicants to arrive. The servant boy had promptly disappeared the moment Lynn dismissed him.

He held in his hand a book of parables he picked up a few days previous, happily surprised by the contents. One of the parables had even been allegedly written from the mouth of the great hero Silvis although Lynn had his doubts on the authenticity. Stamping Silvis’ name on anything immediately increased its popularity tenfold and historical accounts of Silvis never implied he held a great interest in literature or parables. But still, the book still contained a few fascinating comparisons.

A newcomer boarding the ship caught his eye. Lynn arrived early for two distinct reasons. The first of which was that he despised stressful situations. He would never run when he could walk, yell when he could whisper, or stress when he could relax. Following his philosophy, he always reached locations early whenever possible. The second reason was that he wanted to see each of the other eleven applicants. Only a maximum of six of them would be permitted to remain on the island and he needed to be one of those six. They were supposed to be the elite. The cream of all nobility. They were also the only people in the country permitted to be taught the Mystic Artes.

That being the case, the majority of the applicants this year appeared lackluster. Lynn had spent the last few days doing extensive research about each of their families' histories as well as compiling his own list of interactions with them over the years. Soon into his studies, he realized his lack of interest about rumors and playing court politics left him at a disadvantage. Still, he managed to scrape up a bit of knowledge about each applicant.

Ivan and Lilian Quartz were a brother sister combo who may have presented a challenge if they didn’t stumble over themselves in rage every time a slight insult bruised their fragile egos. Urahia Diamond might have been sharp in his prime but now he was declining in health and rumors circulated that the elderly man contracted a disease of forgetfulness recently. Quinton Silver was a known brute whose presence still befuddled Lynn. Dreme was a sullen girl who was an illegitimate of the Aquamarine family she remained largely an enigma for Lynn as the Aquamarine family, like most noble families, kept their illegitimates quiet unless there seemed some political gain by revealing them. Kaylin Garnet, a distant cousin of Richard Garnet who had asked Vivian to dance at the ball, came from a long line of disappointments. Likely the family hoped to pull themselves out of their slump with her rise to Silvian Island but Lynn remained dubious of that. Zac Heliodor was known at court to be delusional and extreme, not an excellent combination when paired with copious amounts of studying.

Still, a few applicants intimidated him. Fitz Jasper was another unknown and he looked almost too young to be allowed entrance to Silvian Island. Lynn’s first impression of the boy labeled him as eccentric and rather silly but he knew from the family’s reputation that the Jasper family would only enter an applicant if they were serious. Nyx Opal was a social outcast but she was said to understand anatomy better than anyone else in Neo Regnum. A sought after surgeon since she had barely become old enough to be considered a woman. Alexis Jade was the daughter of Alexi Jade, the most talented military strategist in the modern world. Finally, there was Vivian Topaz. She couldn’t even be considered a rival as she had immediate acceptance as a Natural Mystic.

As if summoned by his thoughts, Vivian stepped on the deck of Haven Finder looking overwhelmed by everything in sight. Her dress, which under normal circumstances might have been lovely, appeared gritty as if she ran through a muddy puddle. She kept frantically checking herself as if afraid to have forgotten something important behind. Two burly guards followed her onboard with an enormous trunk held between them. They were directed below deck to by a spectacled attendant who appeared to fit the stereotypes of a scholar studying at the Silvian Library than Vivian did. Lynn made eye contact with the flummoxed Vivian Topaz for a just moment and it seemed she would approach him but then her attendant began speaking to her, guiding her attention away from him. The two of them followed after the guards below deck, likely seeking out the last available cabin.

Finally, now that Vivian had arrived, the sails unfurled and sailors began shouting to one another. Everyone was aboard. Applicants first leaned against the railing, shouting their final farewells as the ship left the harbor.

Lynn watched as they sailed past the city. All of the citizens on the shore celebrated the biyearly Tide Festival. An event that only occurred when the water level rose to cover the Silt Sea, an uncommon phenomenon. Likely, as part of the festivities, many citizens feasted on crab and halibut today for the first time. A small part of Lynn felt envious, foods from the ocean were a delicacy and they tasted the part. No chief was ever brazen or foolish enough to burn or ruin halibut or crab so every dish was prepared with exactness. It was ridiculous to envy the people; the Tide Festival was one of the only rare occasions when common citizens received the opportunity to eat any sea creatures besides clams and oysters. It was too difficult for fishermen to go out fishing with the normal tides but today there were hundreds of skiffs disappearing into the horizon in an attempt to obtain the underwater meats. He, on the other hand, had access to fish almost whenever it pleased him. Still an expensive indulgence, even for him, but always an option.

Lynn zoned everything out as he focused on his reading. Finally, the sailors approached him and asked him to retreat below deck. Glancing about, Lynn realized his fellow applicants must have been bored after the city disappeared in the distance, now only he and the sailors remained above deck. Promptly, he refused the request to move down below. He enjoyed the atmosphere of Haven Finder with the salt in the air and the sun shining from above. The sailor simply shrugged at his refusal and went back to work.

Lynn remained on deck for several hours lost in thought long after Neo Regnum disappeared. The sailors soon learned to ignore his presence and worked tirelessly around him. The sun began to descend toward their destination, leaving pink smeared clouds behind as it fell. The chill of night finally brought him back to reality. He made his way down below deck. While navigating the narrow interior passageways toward his small cabin he encountered Uriah Diamond.

Lynn attempted to hobble past unnoticed but the elderly man began speaking.

“You’re the Jet boy, correct?”

“I am,” Lynn said. He had encountered the lord on a number of occasions in the past and so he knew what was coming.

“I’ve heard a great deal about you. I knew your father. He was a friend of mine years ago. Did you know that?”

“I believe you’re speaking of my grandfather, Ander Jet. I’m unaware of any relationship you might have maintained with my direct father.”

“That’s right, Ander. He and I used to prowl about the town always searching for new girls to woo. I was always too picky about who I picked up but not Ander. He didn’t care the slightest about their birth so long as they had a pretty face. One time he and I came back from a dance when a group of ruffians approached us. The leader of them, a man with jowls like a lethargic goat, accused your father of stealing his lady from him. They came after us and let me tell you, it was ten against us two because we had left our guards behind in a moment of youthful recklessness. But, by the time the sheriffs had arrived they had to pull Ander off the fellow.” Uriah Diamond took the moment to chortle to himself. “Ander managed to break several of the boy’s teeth out. Half of the group fled in fear while the other half were bruised and bloody on the ground. I barely did anything at all but I still managed to obtain more scrapes and beatings than Ander. He only had a single black eye. He wore that bruise like honor itself. I don’t believe I’ve ever met a man so disappointed about a wound healing. You know Hans, you look to be the spitting image of him.”

Lynn sighed, Hans was his father’s name. “I’ve been told as much.” Although both Ander and Hans Jet both still had two legs, two arms, and two eyes. Even dead, they remained more complete.

“But you would have to shave that terrible hair off your face to be exactly in their likeness. Ander would never be seen bearded. That man was as fashionable as could be. He always put gobs of grease and other such things into his hair. Then, to counter the smell, I swear he must have taken rose baths every night. A good man. It’s a pity your father died. All the good men die. I suppose that’s what happens when you get old though, your friends all pass on and leave you behind. Even with a beard, I know he’d be proud of you though. I never would have imagined his son going out to Silvian Island alongside myself. But you should still cut that hair off your face. You look more like a mountain man than a scholar.”

“I will most definitely take your words into consideration. Have a lovely evening Lord Diamond.” Lynn slipped past him and was able to continue his path towards his cabin.

Lynn found the door unlocked which irritated him. He kept extremely valuable books in there, many of which contained his personal notations. Irreplaceable. The boy servant should have locked the entrance into the room when he stored everything.

Lynn was unsurprised to find the boy himself passed out on the second bed. A lantern burned on the writing desk, further fueling his irritation with the boy. The lantern, if left unattended, could have easily fallen due to the rocking sea and caused the boat to go up in flames. Lynn considered waking the boy and lecturing him, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. More of an inconvenience to him than the boy. He had already used up too much of his time on deck, lost in thought and reading parables, he needed to begin his studies in earnest once again. No one knew how Silvian Island eliminated the candidates, it was a closely guarded secret, so he needed to prepare for anything. He hoped his mind might make up for any physical disadvantages.

Hours passed. Lynn lost himself in his studies. He began by reviewing arithmetic, he had long since surpassed arithmetic and moved onto more advanced mathematics, but the basics were often the most forgotten. He then studied the histories of Neo Regnum and its surrounding nations. Lynn examined a section of fifty years that occurred two hundred to one hundred fifty years ago. Moving past that, Lynn resumed his studies on each of the families of the candidates more thoroughly. He was reading about the founding Mystic of the Garnet family when his eyes finally drooped closed. The rocking of the boat soothed away his cares and brought him deep into the oblivion of sleep.

It seemed mere moments before he was awoken by a cough. He glanced about sleepily and was surprised to find a spindly woman standing in the doorframe. He cursed silently at himself. Last night he had silently judged the servant for leaving the door unlocked. Now, he found himself at fault for the exact same transgression.

“Yes?” Lynn sat up slowly, leaning heavily on his right arm.

“Lord Lynn Jet of the city of Nornex?” The woman spoke with an air of indignation, as if she was above him.

“Yes?” Lynn repeated.

“Lady Topaz has requested your presence for a midday meal.” The moment the woman said it Lynn realized she was the same attendant Vivian had been speaking to the day prior. She simply wasn’t wearing the spectacles.

“I suppose I don’t have anywhere else to be.” Lynn said. “By any chance, have you seen my servant? He’s a boy of about fourteen, brown hair, pimpled face.”

“I have noted him in the past; however, I have not seen him recently.”

He felt exhausted. The chore of dressing himself alone already seeming to sap energy from him before even beginning. “Kindly send him to my cabin if you notice him.”

“I am not your handmaiden Lord Jet. Your serving boy is none of my concern. Lady Vivian will be expecting you at her cabin within an hour.” The attendant spun on her heels and exited the cabin.

Lynn rubbed his beard and sighed once again. There was a part of him which considered just continuing to wear what he had on. However, even he was not uncouth enough to wear slept-in clothes to an appointment with a lady. He began pulling off his clothing from the previous day. He unstrapped and restrapped the wooden leg to his mid-thigh stump as he changed pants. After four years of practice, at least he had mastered.

It took time but eventually he was clad in fresh, ill fitted, clothing. His trousers were too short and his leather jerkin felt more akin to a corset. It was the result of living very sparingly for the last four years. After the fall of his house, thriftiness became a mandatory skill as he used his family’s savings. The majority of their money had been in Nornex and became irretrievable but they had a few other assets he liquidized. If he was sent away from Silvian Island he needed a cushion to fall back to. He wanted to keep contingencies in place just in case. But the results of his contencies were a boy servant who didn’t follow through with his responsibilities and clothing that was a bit too tight. Inconvenient but survivable.

Lynn hobbled out of his room, holding onto the wall for stability on the swaying boat. He cursed himself as he realized he had forgotten to ask the attendant which cabin was Vivian’s. There were a dozen different options so he made his way to one of the closer ones and knocked.

The door creaked open slowly. The light from the hall showed the occupant standing in the doorway of her lightless room. Her black hair disheveled and gaunt eyes glancing about in a frenzy. Lynn recognized the girl as Nyx Opal. An introvert by nature who never attended social functions, always somehow managing to weasel out of them, but he had still noticed her standing in the shadows at the ball where her grandfather had been assassinated.

“Lady Opal. It’s a pleasure to finally speak to you. I have heard a great deal about you before. Your work in the world of medicine has been outstanding.” Lynn figured that politeness was the ideal attitude to have toward his rivals until he knew more about them. And he did have a measure of respect for the girl. Only a year older than himself and known across the nation.

Nyx Opal’s eyes narrowed. “Is this an attempt to recruit me? I am going to Silvian Island to study and nothing you can offer will stop me.”

Confused, Lynn inched away awkwardly. “Ah…I’m Lynn Jet. Another of the candidates for Silvian Island….”

At that Nyx Opal’s eyebrows short upward. “Jet! I know that name!”

“I should hope so? I’m one of your rivals to study at Silvian Island.”

“You are? Never mind that, it’s obsolete. I want to examine you personally. The notes lacked so much. Details so vague. Take off the clothing.” Nyx Opal opened the door wider, her quivering pale hands reaching towards him greedily.

It took a moment for Lynn to process what she was demanding. “Ah. Unfortunately, I cannot do that right now ,Lady Opal. I’m flattered you are interested in my...situation, but it has to wait for another time. I have a commitment. I came by to ask if you are aware of which cabin is Lady Vivian Topaz’s?”

“Nyx. My name is Nyx. Nyx. Others are called ‘Lady Opal,’ very redundant.” She waved her hand violently at her comment. Then she blinked her eyes several times and cocked her head. “Are you embarrassed? People avoid nudity. At least when people are alive. Dead people don’t mind so much, they just smile. I always forget. But I still want to see it. Hmm…what if I discarded my clothing as well? Then, we would be in equal positions of embarrassment. Or I could blindfold you? Then it would be just like you were alone…only I would want to touch the tissue and bone too. That wouldn’t work. You might notice my probing. Hmm….”

“I promise you my nudity has nothing to do with my resistance currently,” Lynn said. The conversation exhausted him. “You can examine my body to your heart’s content at a later date, I have been examined by plenty of experts before, I’m quite acclimated to it by now. I need to keep my appointment with Lady Topaz at the moment. Do you know where I can find her?”

“I don’t know who that is. There is a girl who lives next door who wears strange spectacles and a boy across the hall who has an abnormally large bone structure. Is one of those Vivian Topaz? I attempted to speak to both about their defects, but they didn’t seem capable of speaking at the moment.”

“Close enough. Thank you Lady-I mean, Nyx. That was incredibly helpful.”

Nyx proceeded to disappear back into the blackness of her room, her door clicking closed. Lynn went to the next door over and knocked. It took a moment before the door swung open revealing a lantern lit cabin. The interior was pristine, everything perfectly neat and orderly. It seemed as if every item had its place assigned to it and was in the exact intended location. Vivian sat at a table inside while her attendant held the door open.

Vivian glanced about and smiled sheepishly. “Lord Jet, I’m glad you could make it. I wanted to talk with you. You can sit right there.” The girl gestured at the seat on the other end of the table.

Lynn took the seat. “What do you need from me Lady Topaz?”

“Well, I um…I was hoping to get to know you better. We’re going to be spending the next few years together.” The girl looked away from him as she spoke.

“Not necessarily. You will be studying the Mystic Arts while you are at Silvian Island. I, on the other hand, am uncertain whether or not I will be examining Mystics.”

Vivian looked at him confused. “I don’t understand. Aren’t you also going to be studying to become a Mystic? I thought that was why people came to the island.”

Silence followed for a moment. “I believe your knowledge of the island has a few holes.” Lynn gave the attendant an accusatory glare. “Though, I suppose the information wasn’t something to concern you about. You’re guaranteed a position on Silvian Island as a Natural, complete citizenship to the island even. However, only five others will be allowed to stay. A total of half. The other six will be kept away from Mystics and will only be permitted to study in the lower levels of the library for the next two years until they will be sent away at the next Tide Festival.”

“Oh…I didn’t know I was taking one of those spots too,” Vivian said. She looked genuinely distraught. “I’m so sorry. I thought everyone was already accepted. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No. Whatever test they put us through will most likely be solitary. I appreciate the gesture though.” Lynn paused for a minute. “What is it that you would like to know about me Vivian Topaz? I am certain your attendant has amassed an abundance of information about me, along with every other nobel on the ship. My presence is not necessary.”

“Oh yes, Ida please go and retrieve our meal.” The attendant bowed her head and exited the cabin. “Thank you for the reminder Lord Jet. I’m sorry if I offended you the other day. I should have asked your family’s name before I spoke. My status is far beneath those of the Jets. If I insulted your honor by rejecting the bet, I can make a request now.”

Lynn sighed internally. That was not what had irritated him but at least the girl was trying. She hadn’t consciously insulted him. Just given that terrible pity. “Any strife I had that day was a result of stress. You’re not to blame in the slightest. And your status is actually above mine, you’re a Mystic. Even foreign kings bow their heads to Mystics. What is your request for me Vivian Topaz?”

“I-I want to be your friend. That’s my request.”

“I decline.” Lynn used his right foot to tip his chair back. “Do you have any feasible demands?”

The girl stared at him, stunned. Her cheeks gained a great deal of color and Lynn noted a tear trickle down her face. “Wh-What do you mean declined? Do you actually hate me that much? What did I do to make you so angry with me? You never want to be friends? Why?”

“Friendship is given, not taken. What you’re currently asking me to do is pretend to like you. Is a forced friendship any sort of true friendship? It will only breed contention and toxicity. I promise you that path will end with me despising you, and you questioning whether or not I ever truly enjoyed your company. I don’t hate you currently, Vivian Topaz. Not in the slightest. That is why I need to decline that demand. You seem like a lovely girl and it is entirely possible that we could become friends in time, do you want to jeopardize that?”

“I suppose not.” Vivian hesitated. “Just who are you, Lord Jet?”

“Currently? Just a cripple lord whose power is an illusion. However, I aspire to be more. It’s who we will be, not who we are, that matters to me. Now, who do you want to be, Vivian Topaz?”

Vivian Topaz gave him a smile. “I already told you that. I want to be the friend of Lynn Jet.”