Cane paused at the top of the courtyard steps and touched the falconer rune on the back of his hand. His pupils glowed amber as his vision stretched westward, piercing distance through Pudding's gaze.
A lone ship floated a few miles up the coastline, tucked into one of the many quiet coves.
"Perfect."
Telamon, already halfway down the steps, glanced back. "Intel?"
"Yes, sir," Cane replied. "There's a ship anchored north—maybe five miles up the coast."
Ignasius gave a low, humorless chuckle. "They're bold. I don't think the Academy scares them."
By the time they reached the wagon, Dhalia and Clara had arrived, each with focused expressions. As if on cue, Fergis yanked back the tarp.
Selene's eyes narrowed instantly. "Merfolk hybrid. Like me."
"Remove their hoods," Telamon ordered.
Fergis didn't hesitate. In one smooth motion, both hoods came off.
Skye blinked into the sunlight, then glared at the group. "What is the meaning of this?" She scanned their faces, failing to recognize anyone. "Where's that damn blacksmith?"
Nephrim wasn't as blind. His gaze stopped on Telamon, and color drained from his face.
"Archmage… I'm not sure what this is, but I assure you—it's all a misunderstanding."
"Archmage?" Skye's voice cracked. Confidence faltered.
Telamon's tone was level, unforgiving. "My student claims you are part of the Twisted Snake crew. A slaver ship."
Skye recovered quickly. "No. We're with the Deep Blue merchant fleet."
Cane stepped forward, his voice calm. "Look closely at me."
She hesitated.
"A few months back—you pulled me from a dinghy. I was half-dead. You dragged me aboard and dropped me in a slaver's cage, between Neri and Captain Rhiati."
Skye didn't recognize the cadet standing before her—but the memory was too specific. Too correct. Whoever he was, he'd been there.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she lied.
Ignasius glanced at Telamon. "Is she lying?"
"She is," Telamon said simply, eyes never leaving her.
He turned to Cane. "Did you have something in mind?"
Cane nodded. "Our group wants to take down the Twisted Snake. We want the mission."
"It's too large for a single team," Telamon replied. "But we'll send two teams to support you."
Cane looked at Fergis. The grin and immediate nod were answer enough.
"Fine," Cane said. "But I'm in charge."
Telamon's lips twitched with amusement. "Of course. This will be a nine-hundred-point mission. Three hundred to each team upon success."
Cane studied the list of participants and their skillsets, eyes flicking from name to name. "What kind of Academy support is available?"
"Water-repellent rings," Selene replied, producing a weathered oblong box from her satchel. Its hinges creaked as she opened it, revealing a neat row of pale blue rings.
"I'm not familiar with their use," Cane admitted.
"Slip it on—it does exactly what the name says. It repels water." She handed one over. Cane turned it in his fingers.
"This isn't metal," he noted.
"Blue coral," Selene said with a faint smile.
"I see… anything I should know?"
"It forms a barrier between you and the water," she explained. "But it draws on your personal energy. Limit use to a few minutes or you'll collapse from exhaustion."
"That's more than enough time," Cane said thoughtfully. "Is that it?"
"One more thing—buoyancy. You won't be able to submerge, and if you somehow did, you'd be breathing recycled air inside the barrier. Suffocation would follow shortly."
"I should've talked Neri into giving me that fish suit," Cane muttered. "It didn't have any of those issues."
"You've worn one?" Selene's tone shifted, curious. "Those are rare. What's the nature of your relationship with my half-sister?"
Cane laughed, leaving the question unanswered as he turned back to the roster. He recognized the first name immediately—Siya, the one who had scribed the psi-runes for his team.
Roster:
Siya: Telekinetic (Psi)
Provo: Archer (Wood)
Ginzo: Knight (Non-Human Shapeshifter)
Elliad: Healer (Water)
Yuta: Melee (Water, Merman Hybrid)
Zio: Mage (Lightning)
Fumi: Range (Stone)
Tiri: Healer (Water/Wood Hybrid)
"We'll need team comms," Cane said, glancing up just as Selene handed him a small bag.
"Twelve psi-bracelets," she said. "We use them for larger raids. They function like psi-runes—just touch them."
"Will this affect our current rune link?" he asked.
Selene nodded. "Yes. It'll mute your team rune while you're wearing the bracelet. The effect ends once it's removed."
Clara:I'm here.
Dhalia:Sorry I'm late.
Cane:You're not late.
Cane raised his voice to address the students gathering nearby. "Alright, looks like we're all here. I'm Cane. We're running a nighttime water mission. First—everyone needs to remove their battlerobes."
"You already did mine," Siya said. "Still need it?"
Cane nodded. "Yeah. Just a quick adjustment."
He shrugged off his own robe, holding it in both hands as he submerged into the material. The adamantium-glacial weave responded instantly. With a subtle push, he shifted the outer layer—darkening the glacial blue fabric until it appeared black.
He emerged and pulled the robe back over his shoulders.
"After I upgrade each of your robes," he continued, "you'll get two support items. Then we'll go over the strategy."
From his storage ring, Cane withdrew a thick roll of gossamer-thin adamantium, its threads shimmering like silk and steel fused by magic.
**
"Good thing we're not pressed for time," Fergis said from his seat, arms folded behind his head.
The full raid team was gathered around a long table at the center of the room, their battlerobes stacked nearby. Cane worked at a separate bench under the watchful eyes of Ignasius, Selene, and Telamon.
He heard the comment but didn't answer.
Even with advanced Metallurgy, some things still required patience. Outside, the sky was bright. Plenty of time left before their midnight departure.
Eventually, he returned the freshly enhanced battlerobes to their owners and picked up a small pile of support gear.
"Clara, can you pass out one ring and one bracelet to everyone?"
Clara bounced up with a grin, her freckled face lighting up. "Absolutely."
Cane addressed the group as she moved between them.
"The ring repels water. We'll be swimming to the ship."
Zio raised her hand immediately. Her wild, gravity-defying hair gave her a slightly electrified look. "What if you can't swim?"
Cane didn't hesitate. "Then you're out."
Zio's eyes widened. "I—"
Cane broke into a grin. "Kidding. The ring creates a pocket of air around you. You won't sink, and you won't drown."
Zio narrowed her eyes, half-smiling. "Why would you say that with such a straight face?"
Cane shrugged. "Thought you'd realize I was joking."
She exhaled, visibly relieved. "You've got to warn a girl. Drop a bomb like that—at least smirk or something."
"Noted," Cane said.
Fergis leaned sideways, murmuring to Dhalia. "He just teased the Queen of Storm. Bold."
Cane continued, "Second item is a comm bracelet. It'll override any psi-runes you're already using—so your team link will go quiet until you remove it."
He waited until the last items were handed out, then turned back to the table. "Alright, who here's Wood Elemental?"
Two hands rose: a slim, pale archer with blonde hair and a quiver slung over one shoulder, and a staff-wielding woman built like a mountain, her short brown hair sticking to her damp temples.
"Tiri and Provo?" Cane asked.
"Tiri Amon. Healer. Also melee," the woman replied without hesitation.
"Provo Shaw," the archer added. "Wood and range."
Cane nodded. "The hull of the Twisted Snake is wooden. Can either of you get intel on their numbers and locations once we're in position?"
Provo raised a hand. "If I can touch the hull, yeah. I'll be able to read their positions."
"Perfect," Cane said. "We'll assign duties once we're on-site."
He slipped on his own comm bracelet and tapped it.
Cane: Mission starts in seven hours. We hit them at 1 AM—right after their midnight shift change.
Siya:What do we do 'til then?
Cane:Whatever you want. Just be back here two hours before go time.
Fergis fell in step beside Cane, who was walking and whistling with casual confidence. "Where we going?"
"I'm going to the Brenner place to pick blackberries," Cane replied without missing a beat.
"Funny," Fergis said dryly. "Where are you really going?"
Cane slid off his darkened battlerobe and tucked it into his ring. "Told you. Blackberry patch."
Fergis sighed and handed over his own robe. Cane stashed that too.
"Fine. Why are we picking blackberries?"
"A number of reasons," Cane said, still striding forward. "One, the whole town turns out for it. Two, it's a good way to relax before a mission."
"Is there a three?"
"Yeah," Cane said, grinning. "I love blackberries."
Fergis nodded solemnly. "So, we're not picking. We're blackberry eating."
Cane smirked. "See? You get me."
—
The blackberry patch wasn't a patch at all—it was sprawling. Dozens of acres of low hills covered in dark, heavy clusters of ripe fruit. Groups moved among the rows in pairs, trios, whole families. Tables lined the path, stacked with cider and fresh bread. Smoke drifted from cook fires where someone was slow-roasting game for the evening feast.
"There they are," Cane said, spotting Sophie across the field with another girl wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Mira Brenner, clearly.
Sophie turned just before they reached her, her face lighting up. "You made it!"
Cane nodded, accepting her hug and the quick, sweet kiss that followed. Her lips tasted faintly of fruit. "You've been eating berries."
"Just a few," Sophie replied innocently, sticking out a purple-stained tongue.
"Ferg," Mira greeted with a nod.
"Ma'am," Fergis returned politely.
"We can only stay a couple hours," Cane said. "Academy business later."
Sophie handed him her bucket, and Cane moved toward the nearest bush. "Thanks for coming," she said sincerely. "Need a demonstration on how to pick?"
Cane snorted. "Am I a child?" He reached out confidently, gripped the nearest cluster—and promptly crushed them all into pulp.
Sophie just smiled, patient as ever. "Well... if you're sure."
Cane stared at his dripping hand. "Maybe a quick refresher."
She stepped close, guiding his fingers. "See? All held by a single stem. Pinch and bend—then pull."
He nodded, eyes not on the berries but on her hand still wrapped lightly around his. "Oh… I see."
Then he pounced.
He swept her up with a sudden grin and kissed her deeply, her mouth still flavored with juice and laughter. Around them, pickers paused to clap and cheer, adding whistles and good-natured hoots to the moment.
When Cane finally let her go, Sophie's cheeks were pink, eyes bright, and breath just a little short.
"Worth the trip," Cane said.