Part 1: The Assignment
The tension on the white sands of the Sapphire Crag was palpable. The base was being dismantled. But instead of loading a ship, the Eclipse members were feeding crates into a swirling, violet vortex hanging in the center of the clearing—the Teleportation Waypoint Luna had stabilized.
Sylvia Rain sat on her log, clutching her coral staff, watching Caelum gracefully levitate a heavy table into the portal. "So elegant," she sighed, adjusting her recording crystal.
"Focus," a cold voice snapped.
Sylvia jumped. Elian was standing over her, looking at the press badge pinned to her silk dress.
"Sylvia Rain," Elian said, consulting his mental database. "Daughter of Marcus Rain, head of the 'Aetheria Chronicles' media network. You're a reporter."
Sylvia straightened her posture, regaining her professional dignity. She wasn't just some streamer; she was the heiress to the biggest information broker in the Tower.
"Investigative Journalist," Sylvia corrected sharply. "My father sent me. You've been making a lot of noise, Elian. Killing Kings, humiliating the Dynasty. My father thinks the world is ready to see the real Eclipse Guild. He wants the exclusive rights to your adventure log."
She stood up, brushing sand from her dress.
"I'm here to offer you a deal. You give me access to document your conquest, and the Chronicles will spin the narrative in your favor. We turn you from villains into legends. That is... if you cooperate."
Elian stared at her. "You want to tag along? We are going to places where the cameraman usually dies first."
"I am a top-tier Hydro-Weaver," Sylvia scoffed. "I can take care of myself. I just need your permission to board. I am not here to join your little club; I am here to work."
Elian paused.
The Dynasty was painting Eclipse as criminals. Having the Rain Media Group broadcasting their victories could weaponize public opinion against Thorne. It was a useful tool.
"You want the story?" Elian asked. "You want the exclusive on how we break the Sky-Kin?"
"Yes," Sylvia said, her eyes gleaming with the prospect of the scoop.
"Fine," Elian said. "But on my ship, there are no passengers. If you want the footage, you have to survive the journey. And you pull your own weight."
"One test," Elian said. He threw a gold coin into the raging Aether-Stream. "Orion isn't here to steer. Prove to me that bringing you along won't result in me having to fish your corpse out of a river. Retrieve that. Without getting wet."
Part 2: The Weaver's Dance
Sylvia looked at the white-water rapids. It was dangerous, and frankly, beneath her pay grade. She was here to film, not fetch.
But she felt Caelum watching her from the portal. And she knew if she walked away now, she'd lose the biggest story in the Tower's history to some other outlet.
"Fine," she huffed. "Watch and learn."
She stepped onto the water. She didn't sink.
[Skill: Surface Tension]
She glided out to the middle of the roaring stream. A wave crashed toward her; she split it with a flick of her wrist. She spotted the coin, but a whirlpool opened beneath her.
"Gotcha," Elian whispered from the shore.
"Panic or adapt?"
Sylvia didn't panic. She spun her staff, encased herself in a Bubble Sanctum, dove into the whirlpool, rode the centrifugal force to the bottom, grabbed the coin with her hand, and shot out of the water like a cannonball.
She landed back on the sand, perfectly dry, her hair still camera-ready. She tossed the coin to Elian.
"Content secured," she said smugly. "Do I get the interview now?"
"You get a spot on the ship," Elian corrected.
"Probationary access. Try not to die."
Part 3: The Veil of the Turtle
"Elian, wait."
Just as Elian turned to signal the departure, Luna grabbed his arm. She looked at the massive, mossy form of the sleeping Dragon Turtle in the river, then at the empty clearing they were leaving behind.
"We can't just leave the Crag exposed," Luna argued. "This is our secondary base. If the Dynasty finds the Turtle while we're gone, they could capture the island. We need to fortify."
Elian nodded. "You're right. Lock it down."
Luna turned, scanning for help. Her eyes landed on Sylvia, who was adjusting her camera settings.
"Hey, Reporter!" Luna barked. "I need you to help me set up the mana-pylons for a perimeter barrier."
Sylvia blinked, looking affronted. She placed a hand on her chest. "Excuse me? I am here to document history, not dig holes in the mud. My contract does not include manual labor."
Luna glared at her. "You want to travel with Eclipse? Everyone works. Grab a shovel."
Sylvia opened her mouth to argue, her pride bristling. This was ridiculous. She was going to file a complaint with her father.
"Caelum!" Luna called out, ignoring Sylvia. "I need your mana manipulation!"
Caelum floated over, smiling gently. "Of course, Luna. How can I be of service?"
Sylvia's attitude did a complete one-eighty. Her eyes lit up as she saw the handsome elf approach.
"Actually," Sylvia interrupted, stepping forward with a bright smile, flipping her hair. "I suppose... capturing the process of base fortification would be good B-roll footage. For the documentary, of course."
She practically skipped over to help Caelum, leaving Luna rolling her eyes.
"Caelum," Luna asked. "Do you know of any Magic Engineering that can conceal the island? A barrier isn't enough. I want this place to disappear."
Caelum tapped his chin. "A Mist-Cloak Array... yes. But to build a projector strong enough... it requires a Master Craftsman to forge the core."
Caelum turned his head toward the beach.
Kael was hauling a massive crate of iron ingots on his shoulder. He was covered in soot, sweat dripping from his beard, panting heavily.
"What?" Kael growled, seeing them stare. "Why are you looking at me, Pointy-Ears? Can't you see I'm busy?"
Caelum smiled charmingly. "We require your hammer, Master Dwarf. Only you can forge the core for the illusion."
Kael grumbled about being overworked, but the challenge of forging a massive illusion core piqued his interest. "Fine! But you owe me a drink. Move aside!"
While the rest of the guild finished the transport, the unlikely quartet worked. Kael hammered the anchors, Sylvia (trying to impress Caelum) poured mana into the channels, and Luna directed the flow.
Finally, Caelum carved a glowing symbol into the main anchor.
"A Lure Rune," Caelum noted. "It emits a sonic pulse that attracts deep-sea schools of Aether-Fish. The Turtle will not need to leave the island to hunt; his meals will swim right to him."
"Self-sustaining security," Luna approved. "Activate it."
HUMMMMMM.
A wave of distortion rippled out. From the outside, the Sapphire Crag shimmered and vanished, replaced by an illusion of empty ocean.
Part 4: The Transit
"That's it," Luna announced. "Base is secure, hidden, and guarded."
"Let's move," Elian commanded.
One by one, they stepped into the Violet Vortex. Sylvia hesitated, clutching her camera, but Caelum offered his hand.
"Shall we?" he asked.
"We shall," Sylvia breathed, taking his hand.
The world twisted and snapped.
They reappeared instantly in the freezing cold air of the Glacial Spire. Sylvia gasped, shivering immediately in her silk dress as the sub-zero temperature hit her.
"Welcome to the main base," Elian said.
They were standing on the icy dock. Looming above them was the Obsidian Leviathan. Titan was waving from the deck, holding Naya and Noya. Roger was perched in the crow's nest.
"Captain's back!" Roger shouted. "And he brought... the press?"
"Get on board," Elian ordered. "Orion, warm up the engine. We're going to the Aerie."
"Aye, Captain," the spectral voice echoed.
Elian stood at the helm as five Wind-Drakes descended from the clouds to escort them.
"Eclipse!" he shouted. "To the sky!"