Prometheus watched as the sailors ran around the ship, the hustle and bustle was somewhat calming to him. He could have adjourned himself to his lab to work but he preferred to tinker in public, in the sunlight. Prometheus could not help but smile as he worked. For the past month there have been constant meetings and interrogations trying to discern Prometheus’s allegiance to Xerxes, information on the other countries, and constant bickering as to what was the best way to undermine the other countries while Prometheus served on the council. Today was the first time he had been able to be on his ship, with his crew, as an independent man. He had no idea when he was going to see his family again, and he preferred it that way. His sister was the only one he had any sort of connection or affiliation with so leaving them behind was no big loss in Prometheus’s eyes. He basked in the sun with content while continuing to tinker with his project. Sailors went to and fro, staring at the Prometheus with confusion. They rarely saw their captain outside of his lab and in that time they never got to see him tinkering, he would often work in private in order to protect his work but after the month he had he no longer cared. He wanted to spend time with people who were not his parents, even if it meant some of his ideas were at risk.
Prometheus pondered his work for a moment. For a while he had been working with different materials, including obsidian, to create a new kind of storage device that could hold multiple magical objects while also suppressing them within the bag; making the object easier to conceal in a sticky situation. He had been making great progress until recently when his bag started to struggle with holding onto its magic. It may keep its inventory for a time but it would always lose it and everything inside after a few hours. At this moment Prometheus was something he was not often; stumped. He sat there, staring at the materials, waiting for them to speak to him about their place and purpose but they just laid there inanimately. It frustrates Prometheus to no end. He was used to being frustrated with people, they are impulsive and rude and frankly boring to him, parts had never let home down, inventions were always his most trusted ally. But at this moment he felt a deep sense of betrayal, he wanted nothing more than to cry but the logical side of him could not justify shedding tears over parts. Prometheus was so engrossed in thought that he did not even have time to notice the shadow that looked down on him.
“There is no way the magic will be able to stabilize with these materials,” A voice said next to Prometheus. He stumbled back a bit, shocked at the voice, next to him was a hooded figure in light black armor. For a moment Prometheus prepared to attack but then realize who the man was.
“What would an innate magic user know about the arcane process?” Prometheus asked in a smug manner.
“Enough to know that the materials you are using while they may appear to hold enchantments well are to rigid,” he replied. “If you plan to store other magical items inside this magical item it will throw it off balance, the materials would not be able to conduct that much magical energy.” The hooded man pulled some fabric from out of a satchel at his waste.
“Here,” he said, handing it to Prometheus. Prometheus took it quickly at hastily. It was a long piece of black fabric, similar to the one the man was wearing.
“What does this do?” Prometheus asked in inquiry.
“In Niepe we call it ashefell, it’s a special material that doesn’t absorb magical energy,” He knelt down next to Prometheus, “But it also does not dispel enchantments. When we first discovered it we thought it was useless, luckily Meryn and I researched it and found out it could hold an enchantment without displacing the arcana within it.”
“So the enchantment would not dispel even if it comes into contact with other magical artifacts,” Prometheus said excitedly, “I cannot believe I am saying this, but this is actually helpful Varithorn.”
Varithorn nodded and sat down next to Prometheus, “‘that was helpful?’ I was expecting at least a thank you.”
“Then you expected to much,” Prometheus said with a smile. Varithorn laughed a little and slapped Prometheus on the back. Prometheus winced a bit.
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“I asked you never to touch me,” Prometheus said shrugging off Varithorn’s hand.
“Right, my mistake.” Varithorn said removing his hand. They sat in silence for a bit, Prometheus working with his parts, Varithorn enjoying the breeze from the ocean. Sailors came to and fro carrying boxes and supplies for the trip ahead. Prometheus did not mind Varithorn’s company but he also was confused by it. They had spent much time together but it was never Varithorn’s habit to simple sit with him, it was clear that he wanted something. Prometheus thought for a moment, trying to discern his will, then he got an inkling of an idea. Prometheus turned to Varithorn.
“You need my permission don’t you,” Prometheus said suddenly. Varithorn turned towards him. Even though his face was covered he could still tell that Varithorn was looking towards him, though why his face was still covered was another mystery to Prometheus.
Prometheus continued, “To see her grave. You are not able to walk into Xerxes so you need my permission.” Varithorn was quiet, pondering, but eventually nodded.
“I do enjoy our time together, but yes. If it is possible I would like to see her,” Varithorn answered. He had a somber look on his face as he talked. Prometheus had been so absorbed in his current predicament he had not thought about how his sisters death might have affected others, Meryn’s death was hard enough for Prometheus, the circumstances were harder, but for Varithorn it had to be just as rough if not more so just in another way. Prometheus felt something aching inside him, a sort of pain in his chest. Could it be empathy? He shrugged it off as something he needed to get checked out at a later date.
Prometheus sighed as he stood up and dusted himself off. “Very well, do you have your pass key?” Prometheus asked.
“Of course,” Varithorn answered, “but why would I need my pass key?”
“The Dauntless have not exactly retained their wit since you were last here,” Prometheus answered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small round device with a strap to go around his hand. The center of the device was glass with metal inlaid throughout its structure, similar to the web of an arachnid. Varithorn pulled out a similar device and also put it on his hand. Prometheus called out across the ship:
“Meep!” he said. A second later the doors to the captains quarters opened and a small automaton about a foot tall sped across the deck towards Prometheus. It was not the most put together creature, wires and parts were clearly visible through its chassis, but he had always been a loyal assistant to his master. He hobbled over and stopped right at Prometheus’s feet. He turned his head and looked up at Prometheus, his eyes glowing blue, circulating between glowing bright and then dim; Prometheus meaned to fix that electrical issue.
“Open a door to Thanatos’s Mortuarium,” Prometheus said. Meep nodded and turned himself towards an open area on the deck. He extended his hands forward, as if he was preparing something, but instead of anything happening, instead Meep suddenly shut down becoming lifeless. Varithorn and Prometheus looked at each other.
“He really is not your best work,” Varithorn said chuckling. Prometheus kicked Meep in a back softly and the automaton whirled to life. Electricity and white energy flowed through him until suddenly a rune appeared in the air ten feet away from him. The rune dissapeared for a moment but then a white fog appeared in its place, filling a small space until it encompassed a 7 foot by 4 foot area. Suddenly, the fog was sucked by a great force of air, being pulled into nothingness, creating a white doorway to walk through. Prometheus and Varithorn stepped through the doorway and almost instantaneously were not where they once were. Similar to stepping through a doorway, going from one room to the next, but instead of rooms it was different spaces. Where at one point they were on a ship with open air, they were now in the entry way of building. As they stepped through, the door closed behind them, making any trace of the ship disappear. The room they were now in looked like the entrance to a doctors office or some sort of government building. The walls reflected the magelight being reflected from above. The floor is made of smooth material that Varithorn could not place. For a nation known for its desert and primitive nature the building looked pristine and clean. Not ornate or filled with culture, moreso like each part of the building was made for efficiency over aesthetic. In front of the two men was a small desk with an air nyvind was flipping through documents of some kind. He looked up to see the two men, unphased at their sudden appearance. His eyes immediately went to Prometheus. Prometheus nodded his head and held out his pass key, Varithorn followed suit. The man put out his own hand with a similar device on it, he held it towards theirs and everyones devices glowed blue for a moment. After a second the passkeys turned green. The man gestured towards the hallway and went back to his reading. Prometheus was used to the non-chalant treatment of the people of Xerxes, even though he was now the heir. His many sins had been made known to the people so a place of esteem was no longer his to hold.
