Chapter 482 - Captain Hadbur

Thanks for the feedback on the last chapter. Makes things so much easier for me getting a general consensus like that, and is just useful for me to think on for the future. Today's chapter is still not quite where I'd like it but I didn't want to keep you waiting another day. I will probably come back to edit this once I'm on top of my release schedule again and finalised Book 6, but if I do so now I'm going to completely lose momentum.

Hump took a seat on the far side of his and Celaine’s shared quarters, legs crossed, the Book of Infinite Pages spread across his lap. With so many new spells to learn, Hump had neglected his soul training more than he should have. He’d obtained the Spirit Forge technique just before the warlock invasion of Elenvine, yet it had sat largely untouched, overshadowed by the more immediately demands of not dying.

Now that their journey to Urandel had almost concluded, it was time more than ever to use the peace aboard the skyship to return to deeper work.

THE BOOK OF INFINITE PAGES

Spirit Forge

Enhancement | Internal Essence | Tier 6

Description

Through repeated refinement, the soul condenses into a dense, stabilised core, its once-fluid structure forged into something enduring. Hardened walls contain the growing pressure, allowing for greater essence flow without collapse. With each cycle of essence that passes through it, the soul is tempered further—strengthened, solidified, and shaped into a vessel capable of more. It is in this vessel where a domain can be forged.

Origin

The River and Waves

Spirit Well

Spirit Overflow

Notes

y.403 – Nithrand – To those who dare forge their spirit anew, know this: you now stand at the precipice of greatness, where brilliance and ruin share the same narrow edge. To press onward is to invite the flame of change. But should you endure, should you temper your soul in the crucible of your own making, you may yet rise to the heights of the old. Push further, and shape not only your power, but your dominion over essence itself. Bend the world to your will.

Dinner was still a while away, so Hump and Celaine retreated to their shared quarters to train. At least, that was the plan…

Hump felt a gaze on him. He opened one eye to see Celaine staring at him from the door.

“What?”

“You were serious about retiring to our quarters to train?”

“Obviously! What did you think I—” Hump cut off as Celaine raised an eyebrow. “Celaine! Who do you think I am? A diligent wizard such as myself wouldn’t mislead a lady. I’m offended you would even suggest as much!”

“It was strangely forward of you. Emilia went red as a lobster.”

“Women!” Hump shook his head. “Always jumping to assumptions. It was just an innocent suggestion.”

“Oh. Is that so.” Celaine took a seat across from him. “Better get started then.”

Hump cleared his throat. “But now that you bring it up…”

Celaine’s soul manifested, shadow engulfing her side of the room. There was enough space for each of them to work without disrupting the other, though the sheer intensity of her magic still bled into the air.

“Erm, Celaine?” Hump called, voice strained from the weight of her soul.

“Training.”

Hump scrunched his nose and glanced at Nisha who watched him from the edge of the bed, one eye open. “What you looking at?”

Nisha huffed, smoke coming out of her nostrils.

“Are you really giving me attitude too?”

She closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

Hump drew a deep breath and did his best to regather his focus. Still, looking at Celaine, her form barely visible through the shadow that surrounded her, he couldn’t help but be impressed. Her progress was striking. Since Owalyn’s possession, something fundamental had shifted in her. She’d explained it to him before—Owayln had used her body as a conduit to perfectly channel powers much like her own. It had given her a vision of what her future control could be, and she’d been chasing it ever since. Now, as she sat across from him, the shadows curled and twisted around her like living tendrils, the air heavy with her intent, Hump felt the beginnings of a domain. It was only subtle—so subtle that if he had not experienced them before he would never think of it, but knowing what he did, he couldn’t mistaken it.

Her will was more than influencing the world, it was twisting it to one of darkness.

Hump, for his part, had taken a rougher road to reach his point. Soul trauma had forged his foundation—surviving the dragon’s imprint, resisting the gorger’s torment, and standing up to Owalyn’s pressure had all forced his soul to change. To grow. It was a trial by fire, and while it had strengthened him, the scars were still there. He was glad Celaine didn’t need to go through that.

Yet for all the power he sensed in Celaine’s soul, it was small compared to his own. Now that he had formed a Spirit Forge, it was more clear to him now than ever. His soul was pushing toward a new threshold. His soul manifested naturaly now, even without conscious effort. The room grew thick with the pressure of it, dense enough that Celaine’s shadows had to fight for space.

The wavy exterior of his soul was long gone. What was there now was far more condensed—a sphere of energy that ebbed and flowed within him. With each ripple, his soul became a little denser, and with focus, he could advance the affect. Temper it. Harden his soul like iron. The technique was fairly clear in the path forward. If he was to advance, he needed to continue to condense the essence of his soul. If he did so, and lived long enough to see it through, eventually he would form his domain. He was so close now, he could sense it.

It was a difficult process, especially when trying to avoid influencing his environment when he’d first reached this stage. The force of his soul had thrown the room around, sprouted grass, formed mounds of earth, and sparked fire in the air. All of which he suspected the captain of the ship would likely prefer to avoid. If he failed, the lich’s phylactery would make a good alternative place to train, but the essence there wasn’t as rich and lacked the usual essence balance. It was better here. And he’d already used the Time Stop Hourglass today.

A few hours passed when Nishari perked up and hopped down from the bed. Shortly afterward, there was a knock at the door. Hump withdrew his soul then opened it with Grasping Hand.

Emilia poked her head in, looking apologetic. “Sorry to interrupt. Acalin and Tamira are here.”

“Acalin and Tamira are here,” she said.

They stepped outside and joined the others in a private lounging area.

Acalain was already seated, Tamira at his side, Hump’s own party facing them.

“You wanted to see me?” Acalin said.

“Yes, thank you,” Hump said. “I wanted to ask about Captain Hadbur. He came to find me.”

Acalin sighed. “I knew I should have told him. What did you say?”

“I told him the truth,” Hump said. “We’re invited for dinner tonight. I think he will want to see for himself. I wanted to know if I can trust him before that. Who is he?”

Acalin frowned. “He is a famed dungeon capturer, firstly. The skyship we’re on right now was claimed from such a place, along with many of his weapons. He is powerful. While he often works for my family, he is not beholden to us. If anything, it is up to him to choose his clients.”

“He is a man you must respect,” Tamira said.

“I can respect him,” Hump said. “The main thing I care about is whether he will get in our way. We are going to Urandel for a purpose. I can’t let this man interfere with that. The stakes are too high.”

“You may find things go far more easily if you cooperate and do as instructed,” Tamira said.

“It would certainly be easier,” Celaine mused, smiling at him.

“I’m happy to cooperate,” Hump said. “The trouble will come if someone decides to stand in our way.”

Acalin went into detail on dinner for Hump and his party. From the sounds of it, the affair itself was fairly relaxed, though the company might not be. A few famed pathfinders would be there, a priest, nobles, and even a Holy One. Hump appreciated the effort Acalin put into making it sound important, but at the end of the day Hump saw it as a gathering a mid-ranked adventurers. Captain Hadbur might be equivalent to silver, but the rest of them were not. Those with power in this world were simply lacking.

That made the captain even more interesting. What was special about him that allowed him to advance a tier when the brand kept so many locked to their ranks?

***

The dining hall aboard the Crown of the Winds was more luxurious than Hump had expected for a ship, at least based on the one time he’d been on one on the way to the Infernal Halls. It seemed skyships had far more privileges thanks to their size. The floor was dark, polished stones, carved with geometric patterns and inlain with thin veils of various essence stones that pulsed with essence. The furniture was all fine stone, polished and engraved, with plush cushions in deep reds and golds. There were even plants growing in carved planters along the walls, little vines curling toward the slanted windows.

Seated at the head of the table was Captain Hadbur, who was every bit the large personality that Hump expected from the owner of such a vessel. He was tall compared to most altari Hump had seen, with long hair the colour of scarlet flame tied back behind his shoulders. His eyes burned faintly with that same essence—most likely a fire user—the pupils narrow like a predators like the other altari. He wore flowing silks in white and crimson, a curved sabre at his side sheathed in an ornate scabbard. Even seated, there was a presence about him. Confidence without arrogance.

The rest of the hall was empty but for a few of the captain’s crew. There were six of them, dressed in similar fashion and all carrying their weapon of choice, whether that be bow, spear, or something else. Hump could tell that they were skilled, even if they lacked Captain Hadbur’s clear power—most likely, at least some of them were his party members for when he went dungeon delving.

There was one more, a priest from the look of them. Older than the rest, and separate from the conversations.

“Now then,” Hadbur said cheerfully. “I’ve come to realise that you misled me, Young Master Acalin.”

The crew stopped their conversations and all turned to look, seemingly surprised by the captain’s use of their holy tongue.

“I was told you’d figured us out,” Acalin said, keeping his tone calm. “My apologies, captain. I did not mean to offend you, but I didn’t think it was my place to speak of it.”

Hump dismissed the illusion with a flick of his hand. A shimmer passed over him as his true appearance emerged—his brown hair, battle robes, and Cloak of Protection. More importantly, he was very clearly human.

“What are you?” the priest said. “You are in the Maker’s image.”

“What?” Acalin said, looking at them.

“They are smaller, but the resemblance is there,” the priest said. “How can this be so?”

“We come from the same world,” Hump said. “It was your Maker that brought us here after we passed through the veil of ours, and now we seek to return. We were advised to go to Urandel for that.”

“Advised by who?” the priest asked.

“Loften.”

“Hearsay. The Maker has not revealed himself for centuries. Not even to us priests. You speak falsehoods.”

Hadbur gave the priest a sharp look. “Enough, Priest Valen. You are a guest on this ship as much as they are, and this is no interrogation. I believe you, Wizard Humphrey. Acalin vouched for you, but I prefer to trust what I see for myself. All of you are like this?”

“My party and I,” Hump said. “The five of us. I would prefer to maintain their illusions. It’s time consuming to reestablish them all once they are broken.”

“My apologies, Captain,” Bud said. “I am Robert of Blackthorne. I wish I could introduce myself to you with my proper face, but it would make our stay on your ship more difficult for Hump.”

“You are welcome on my ship, otherworlder,” the captain said. “Though I must ask, what is your purpose in Urandel? There are channels we will need to go through to ensure your arrival is legal. Smuggling people outside of the kingdom is trouble enough. I suspect the five of you will be an even more serious affair.”

“We seek the High Priest of Loften,” Hump said. “It is related to our return home. That is all I can tell you.”