Double Congratulations are in order, Soul Traveler. You have advanced TWO levels and have now attained Level Nine!

Multi-colored fireworks burst behind the screen’s announcement. Caleb inhaled, feeling euphoric as he imbibed the electrically-charged air. Finally, the announcement faded away and he got to look at the new lines of text.

Individual-Specific Specialty ‘XP Edge’ enhanced by 33% (20)

Craft with Iron: Two additional spells available for individuals ranked up through Level Nine:

New Spell: Sense Value of Coinage (15)

New Spell: Align Metal Object (18)

Weathermancy: Two additional spells available for individuals ranked up through Level Nine:

New Spell: Increase Ambient Humidity (13)

New Spell: Decrease Ambient Humidity (13)

Oh, come on! Caleb thought, deeply annoyed. I haven’t gotten a single spell under Weathermancy that does me the slightest bit of good. The iron-specific spells don’t look like they’ll help a damn right now either. Worst of all, I still don’t know what XP Edge does!

From off to one side, he heard Shaw’s gruff voice.

“Dost thou recall what I said earlier, unicorn? That whatever condition afflicts Caleb, it did not look painful. I take that statement back. He hath suffered discomfort right now, I would bet.”

“I’d be willing to bet that as well,” Tavia replied, from off to Caleb’s other side.

He ignored them for a moment as more text boxes popped up in his Quest screen. The text flashed ominously in all red lettering.

WARNING: Completion of escaping Irongrasp Island aboard a sailing ship has triggered an additional Veteran Adventurer’s-Level Quest. New Veteran Adventurer’s-Level Quest:

Attempt to escape a squadron of the Myrkur’s Naval Arm, the Sea Vipers.

Quest difficulty initially decreased by 25% due to a shortage of undamaged ships in Deephold Port.

However, quest difficulty has been subsequently increased by 100% due to determined pursuit by Lord High Captain Delacroix in the Sea Viper’s flagship, the Stone Angel.

Lir and Danu’s Helpful Hints:

Engaging in Veteran Adventurer’s-Level Quests are not recommended until at minimum a dual character class is attained, with both classes at a moderately high level. Encountering the Stone Angel is highly likely to lead to confrontation and violence. Avoiding this ship is highly recommended due to the results of aforementioned confrontation and violence. We humbly suggest trying not to die while you’re attempting this level of quest.

“Great, just great,” he muttered, as the lightshow died away. He wiped away the screens with a flick of a finger.

The unicorn and griffin exchanged a puzzled look.

“Yes, I’m back amongst the living,” Caleb sighed. “I just got some bad news. Delacroix’s coming after us in his frigate.”

Shaw made a leonine snort. “The news is not that bad, methinks. T’was somewhat expected once we escaped his clutches.”

“Shaw has a point,” Tavia added. “I think we have the size of the ocean in our favor, too. The odds of him striking out randomly and spotting us is miniscule.”

“I wish that were the case,” Caleb said. “But Delacroix or his sailing master are going to know how to use the wind. And more importantly, how we need to use the wind. So he’ll have a better-than-even chance of catching us.”

The unicorn cocked her head at him. “I don’t understand any of that, Caleb.”

“Both us and the Lord High Captain are using sailing ships, which makes the direction and speed of the wind all-important. Delacroix won’t be striking out randomly – he’ll be picking between two or three narrow points of the compass to sail, because he knows that we’ll be doing the exact same thing.”

“That may be,” Tavia allowed, “But I still don’t understand.”

“I am a creature of flight,” Shaw said impatiently, with a lash of his tail. “‘Tis obvious even to a fledgling. Thou hast little hope of sustaining flight into the wind without effort. Thou shalt always be at speed with the wind at thy tail or flank.”

“Well,” Tavia flared, “I am not a fledgling.”

“True, thou art less experienced than one.”

“Watch your words, you featherheaded–”

“Enough, you two,” Caleb said tiredly. “We don’t have time to waste time arguing, not when the Sea Vipers could be busy–”

Suddenly, they heard a faint cry from above. One of the lookouts perched on the fighting top platform halfway up the vessel’s mainmast pointed dead astern. The other waved and called down to them.

“We think we see a sail!”

“You think?” Caleb shouted back. “Are you sure, or not?”

“It’s…difficult to tell. We can’t be sure, Captain.”

Shaw, Tavia, and Caleb all leaned over the steerboard rail. Together they looked back towards where Irongrasp had slid into the ocean only a few minutes earlier. The stiff breeze blew into Caleb’s eyes, making him tear up.

He squinted as best he could. But the glare of the triple full moons off the water at this angle made it tough to make anything out in detail. All he could really see was a blue-white expanse of shimmering light.

“Those youngsters have damn good eyes,” he grumped. “I can’t see anything.”

“Neither can I,” Tavia said.

“Bide a moment,” Shaw put in. His great eagle eyes peered out over the sea. “I see an occasional flick of movement within the light. ‘Tis possibly a scudding cloud. Mayhap it is a sail. If I am to trust mine own wings, I could settle the matter.”

“I recommend against trying to fly just yet,” Tavia warned. “My magic has not yet knitted your flesh together. At least wait until morning.”

“There’s another way to settle the issue,” Caleb said. “I need a spyglass. That’s a small, handheld telescope. Should allow me to make out what’s behind us, one way or another. And that’s something that would be kept in the captain’s cabin.”

“I’ll help you search,” Tavia volunteered.

“A cabin sounds too cramped for my tastes,” Shaw lay back down on the deck. “I shall remain here and continue to rest my wing.”

Caleb nodded and headed back up the steps to the quarterdeck, Tavia in tow. A second set of steps at either side by the rails led up to the afterdeck. Set smack between was a wide wooden door marked with a dark blue shield and a silver stripe.

“A single stripe is what the Myrkur use to indicate a Komtur’s rank,” Caleb mused. “It’s likely that the Sea Viper use the insignia for ‘Captain’.”

“That would make sense,” Tavia agreed.

Caleb tried the door handle. As he expected, it was locked. He touched the metal plate below the handle, covering the keyhole, and concentrated. A few seconds, his Craft with Iron spells opened it with a click. Caleb pushed his way inside.

He let out a low whistle as soon as did so.

The interior was a single ‘great cabin’ that spanned the width of the ship. Heavy beams held up the roof, which also doubled as the floor of the afterdeck above. Since the Spitfire was only a moderately-sized vessel, the room wouldn’t rival a studio apartment. Still, Caleb was sure that this would easily be the largest single-person berth on the ship.

Three rectangular windows set at the stern let in a warm glow of light. Bronze cranks at the base of the frames allowed each pane to be opened or covered over with wooden hatches in case of bad weather.

Several pieces of polished-to-glistening furniture had been built into the steerboard wall. These included a bed, wardrobe, and a fold-down desktop. The bed had been neatly made, with some type of mattress topped by matching dark blue sheets and blanket. Oblong pillows decorated with tassels completed the set.

The larboard side had been left more open, with set of high-sided wall shelves containing books and a watertight case labeled MAPS & LOGS. Other items had been crammed onto the shelves as well: nautical instruments, an hourglass filled with red sand, multiple inkwells, and a sheaf of quill pens. Cloth-lined bins held pieces of a modular table and a set of movable panels.

Best of all, the interior smelled faintly of freshly cracked coconut.

Tavia looked around, apparently impressed. “This is quite nice. I wonder why one side is so sparsely furnished compared to the other.”

“See the panels in those bins?” Caleb pointed to the wooden containers, then towards an inch-wide groove that had been cut into the floor. “You assemble those along this groove. That splits the cabin down the middle into the captain’s private quarters and an area for dining or holding conferences with the officers on duty.”

“Some of these titles might come in handy.” She trotted over a few steps to peer at the books’ spines. “At least a couple are logbooks.”

“You can bet that I’ll be looking at them later, then.”

Caleb went over to the wardrobe and swung open the doors. The faint scent of pipeweed accompanied neatly hung sets of dark blue clothing. A trio of swords still in their scabbards bumped against the inside of one door.

Now, this is definitely something I’ll be going through, he marveled. Assuming I can get some of this clothing to fit, I can ditch this smelly Guardsmen’s outfit.

Something else rattled in the door. He pulled out a fist-sized bag made out of heavy cloth and secured across the top with a leather binding. It clinked as he opened it and poured some of the contents into his palm.

A shower of bright gold coins filled his hand. Caleb let out an excited breath as he took in the sight and felt the chill of the metal pieces against his skin. He held up his palm and squinted at the coins, but nothing happened.

That’s funny. I thought that one of my new spells was Sense Value of Coinage. Why isn’t that working for me?

Annoyed, he brought up his character sheet. He noted to his surprise that his alignment had finally changed from In Flux.

Name: Caleb Ledger Level: Nine Class: TBD / Wizard Base Alignment: Neutral Individual-Specific Specialty: XP Edge - Enhanced 33% (20) Wizardly Sub-Specialties: Weathermancy, Craft with Iron Existing Buff / Debuffs: Abilities Reduced 5% by hunger. Potential Buff / Debuffs: TBD Unspent XP 980

He gestured to move past the main sheet and then zoomed in on his Craft with Iron spells.

Craft With Iron: This field of magic that allows a wizard to innately sense and influence small bits of metal. Extremely useful in resetting compasses, locating spare nails, or repairing navigational tools. (3)

Spells available for individuals ranked up through Level Nine:

Magnetize Needle

Locate Metal Shard

Hold Metal Shard

Mend Forge Crack, Minor

Extend Forge Crack, Minor

Sense Metallic Weapon’s Qualities (6)

New Spell: Sense Value of Coinage (15)

New Spell: Align Metal Object (18)

He continued zooming in until he looked at a single line.

New Spell: Sense Value of Coinage (15)

Caleb felt out of options, so he held up the handful of coinage to the words.

Nothing happened.

That’s funny, he thought. I had a hunch that touching a bunch of coins to the words Value of Coinage would do something. After all, the number following the spell has the exact same golden color…

He blinked. Of course.

Caleb moved the coins to touch the number instead of the words.

A soundless flash, and most of the coins in his hand vanished. When he glanced at what was left, a quartet of windows popped up.

Sense Value of Coinage: This spell allows the user to take in the total value of a stack, bag, chest, or any other container of coins at a glance, so long as it is open. Continued practice of this spell will allow the user to sense the approximate value of coins even in closed containers.

Value of contents in hand: 3 standard gold crowns.

Congratulations, Soul Traveler!

You have unlocked your first Extra Value Bonus Content. Your EVBC will give you extra knowledge about spells, abilities, or other topics that are rare, hard to find, or unique to you as a person. Doesn’t that feel special? Remember, each bit of EVBC you get is yours to keep permanently, even through a tragedy like an untimely death.

Lir and Danu’s Helpful Hints:

Magic can be a most useful skill. Practice, practice, practice! Magic can also be useful in avoiding confrontation and violence. You know of course what this tends to result in. We hope you do not begrudge these trivial amounts of gold in exchange for this knowledge. Rest assured that your contribution to our pantheon allows us to continue the operation of the universe, such as it is.

“Such as it is,” Caleb muttered. “Yeah, I’d really like to have a word with you two about that someday.”

“Did you say something?” Tavia asked, from across the room. The unicorn’s hooves made dull clops on the wooden floor as she continued to search the bookshelves.

“I was just complaining. Apparently, even in Avalon, there are in-app purchases.”

She looked over to him, frowning. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“It’s…you know what? Never mind.”

Caleb shook more gold into his hand in order to gain his next vital bit of knowledge.