Ruin & Reliance

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “No, I intend to investigate the incident without jumping to conclusions. Unlike you, who have already concluded that it is not your fault, prior to any investigation,” Paden said.

  “I’m here to gather evidence. Join me if you want,” Fantine said.

  Ximenez was recording all of this into his book, without forming any conclusions of his own. Since he was not a Kazofen drinker, he could not personally investigate the cause of the crystal city’s ruin. He could only record what others said and did, but not that it was correct.

  “The central bank was given lightkeeper crystals with the city’s design. They should tell you what you need to know,” Niven said.

  “Partial information is useful; yet, it can be misleading. Only a close inspection can satisfy our needs. I have no intention of accusing you of anything. If you are innocent, that is all well and good. If you are at fault, there will be financial consequences. Of course, you can file an appeal in that case. However, I anticipate the report within just a few minutes. There’s no need to trouble yourself at the moment,” Paden said.

  ~~~

  Carmelita applied her some of her power of light to probe the crystal ruins of the fallen city once again. She applied most of her power, however, to watching Logres move about in the darkness. She didn’t trust him in the least, and that was before Paden’s warning.

  Zeta began inspecting the crystal rubble scattered about the island’s coast, probing deeply into the low-level structure of the shattered sapphire that once formed the city. She looked for the direction of shearing to indicate the source of the destructive power that devastated the crystal city – whether it collapsed under its own weight or was impacted by an external object or energy. She sampled hundreds of sapphires, inspecting them from many directions, and found the same answer in every case: the sapphires were suddenly fractured by an external force. They were soundly formed and assembled. Zeta was immensely disappointed and saw a single peculiarity: a yellow-green substance that adhered to some of the sapphires. She touched it to inspect its low-level structure and found it to be something other than gemological, but nothing that could be attributed to the constructor. It didn’t answer her question with the answer she had been hoping for.

  “How are things looking?” Efisio asked.

  Zeta suddenly regained a bit of hope: perhaps she could describe to Efisio the low-level crystal formations she saw, but in high-level geometric terms, and let him calculate the cause for himself. He was clever, and would likely be fair. If Efisio could find a way to pin the blame on Fantine – even with a small probability – that could work to her advantage.

  “Inconclusive. Let me have your opinion. I’ll describe the geometry of what I can sense in the low-level crystal structure and see what you can determine,” Zeta said. She took a notepad and a pencil from her coat pocket and began drawing the crystal structure in careful detail.

  Under the cover of darkness, Logres moved about in the crystal city’s ruins, probing for illusions. Any false light would have been dispelled by his powers of darkness, yet none was to be found.

  Carmelita feared that Logres was growing eager to kill again. She couldn’t read his thoughts, but she found his body language disturbing, especially considering the fact that she was the only person around who could see his body hidden in darkness. If she blinked or turned away her powers of light from the stealthy assassin, Logres could betray and kill in that moment with a throwing star or dagger. Logically, she would be the first person he would kill, since then her powers of light could not be used to warn the others. He knew that, and she knew that he knew it.

  Efisio watched as Zeta drew her sketch of the low-level crystal structure of the city’s ruins. He analyzed it geometrically and said: “Seems clear to me. The crystal structure didn’t fail on its own. Something external collided with it. The shear direction and the fracture lines don’t indicate internal weaknesses. Let’s get back to the ship.”

  Zeta’s heart sank, but she couldn’t do anything to change the outcome. If she lied and reported incorrect information about the crystal’s structure, the central bank would file a claim against Fantine. However, Fantine would appeal the conclusion and finance her own investigation. Zeta would be reprimanded and be forced to pay for the cost of the bank’s legal proceedings when her own report was refuted. Fantine would win this time. She’d have to make a mistake eventually, but not today.

  Efisio and Zeta headed back to the Second Consideration. Carmelita followed and watched Logres as he went first, still hidden in the darkness. The escort of fifty (50) combat troops surrounded the officers as they boarded the ship, although Logres was well ahead of that group.

  When they were back on deck, Carmelita said: “Show yourself, Logres. We’re here to give a report.”

  Logres eased his powers of darkness so that everyone on board could see him.

  ~~~

  While standing on the deck of the Sandstone Cutter, Paden drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from his vial and was energized with the powers of telepathy and empathy. He sensed the thoughts of his returning crew members on the central bank’s ship, less than one hundred (100) feet away on the other side of the same broken pier. He probed the thoughts of Efisio and Zeta to learn what they had determined about the crystal city’s destruction. He also probed the thoughts of Logres, to be certain that the assassin was still willingly working for him, and no longer hidden. Paden probed Carmelita’s thoughts to learn if she saw any signs of hostility in Logres while he was cloaked in darkness. Paden knew that she feared the assassin as much as he did, and was reading his body language for hints of betrayal while hidden. Regarding the investigation of the crystal city’s ruins, Efisio and Zeta had concluded that external causes were to blame, and that Fantine’s constructor was not at fault.

  “I have fortunate news, architect. Whatever the cause of the city’s destruction, our investigation concluded that you are not to blame. Your constructor assembled the city properly. Our problems lie elsewhere,” Paden said. He signaled to his thirty (30) troops and they escorted him and Teruo off of the Sandstone Cutter and back to the Second Consideration.

  ~~~

  “That was quick. I knew that you weren’t responsible for this,” Niven said.

  “So did I. The important part is that the central bank believes it. If they had any way or reason to blame you, they wouldn’t hesitate,” Captain Arata said.

  “Then we have a different problem. I still want to know what happened. I don’t want to have another city collapse. If I know the cause, I can design reinforcements against it,” Fantine said.

  “Then you should investigate for yourself,” Captain Arata said.

  “That’s the real reason why I’m here,” Fantine said.

  ~~~

  Fantine headed down the boarding ramp of the Sandstone Cutter and Niven followed her onto the damaged pier.

  The Chronicler Ximenez drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to slow time and thus to perceive fast moving events as if they proceeded more slowly. He also applied the power to himself, so as to extend his life. He followed Fantine and Niven closely.

  Niven reached out to hold Fantine’s hand and help her walk along the broken pier, and Fantine did not refuse the assistance, using his steady hand for balance to avoid stepping in the gaps in the planks. However, after getting onto the island proper, she quickly withdrew her hand. This little detail was not missed by Ximenez and he recorded it into his book.

  Fantine and Niven walked side by side and approached the wide field of sapphire rubble where the crystal city once stood. Fantine was startled by the conditions of her former work, and the number of dead bodies shredded by what must have been a tempest of sapphire shrapnel.

  Ximenez recorded all of this into his book – at least, what he could see, which was the rubble visible to anyone with unassisted vision.

  Fantine drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from
her vial and was energized with the power to manipulate and examine crystals and stones. She touched the broken bits and shards of sapphire to search for signs of shearing direction and changes in hardness, tilt angle and temperature that could have triggered the failure. She agreed with the conclusion that an external force of immense magnitude struck suddenly to shatter the city’s crystal. However, the nature of that externality was essential to understand. She noticed a yellow-green substance that appeared to be melted onto some of the sapphire bits and then examined it at a low level, finding that it had some crystal structure, but was not gemological.

  “What do you see?” Niven asked.

  “Let me draw it out,” Fantine said. She took a notebook and pencil from her coat pocket and began drawing a diagram of the low-level structure of the sapphire shards. Then, she began drawing what she could of the structure of the yellow-green substance.

  Ximenez copied her drawing into his book and asked: “What is it? What does this mean?”

  “Besides the shattering impact – and I still don’t have an explanation for that – I can see that the temperature of the sapphires was suddenly increased, but not as high as the melting point of sapphire. It was high enough, however, to melt this yellow-green substance onto some of them,” Fantine said. She held up a shard of sapphire with the yellow-green substance adhering to it.

  Ximenez took the shard into his hand and felt its texture. It was cold at the moment. He recorded this observation into his book and held onto the shard as part of the historical record.

  “It cooled down since that time, but the yellow-green material – which is not gemological, it’s something else – is now fused with it. This may be important. Other than that, it’s the only peculiar thing I see. Nothing else is apparent,” Fantine said.

  Fantine then took more of the sapphire shards from the ground – some of which had the yellow-green substance melted onto them and most of which did not – and placed them into a satchel she carried over her shoulder. “Let’s get back to the ship,” she said.

  “That’s all?” Niven asked.

  “I have to do more analysis of the debris and apply some modifications to the constructor. The sample of sapphire shards is going to take me time to examine closely. At some point, I might even have to go to Emeth to do additional research. There’s nothing more to learn by staying here,” Fantine said. She led the way back to the broken pier, and Niven reached out his hand once again to help her balance and avoid its missing planks and holes.

  Ximenez followed closely and saw that the architect was slow to withdraw her hand this time, not letting go of Niven’s hand until they walked up the boarding ramp and stepped onto the deck of the Sandstone Cutter. Little details mattered, and he wasn’t sure whether it was growing affection or simple distraction. He recorded his observations into his book, but not his questions.

  “What did you find?” Captain Arata asked.

  “It’s time for me to go back and modify the constructor again,” Fantine said.

  “Modify it do what?” Niven asked.

  “To build a more resilient structure – something that can flex with a sudden impact. I’ve been considering various designs for years now. There are several prototypes, but nothing even close to reliable, or I would have built something substantial, even by hand, without the constructor,” Fantine said.

  “Under the authority of the Chronicler’s Oath, I need to return to Emeth and give my report. However, I intend to remain with you,” Ximenez said.

  “Yes, I agree. Let’s do that now. A trip to Emeth – to the Eleventh Hall – may be just what I need to do some crystal design research,” Fantine said.

  ~~~

  Captain Arata returned to the wheelhouse of the Sandstone Cutter. Inside, he drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from his vial and was energized with the power to listen to the sounds of the stars. He learned their positions and paths and then used this information to plot a course. He pulled levers to raise the anchor and retract the boarding ramp. He then sailed the ship eastward across the Kazofen Ocean until reaching the Glivoran Trail land bridge. At that point, he pulled levers to pivot the ship’s masts and sails to its sides and elevate the vessel to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. He steered the ship and traveled eastward over the land bridge, returning to sea level in the Medathero Ocean. From there, he sailed a short distance southward and docked in Emeth. He pulled levers to drop the anchor and lower the boarding ramp.

  Captain Arata walked out on deck and met with Fantine, Niven and Ximenez.

  “We could be here a few days, Captain Arata,” Fantine said.

  “I’ll await your return. However, please remember that my expenses are increased, because of the security forces I had to hire. Their price is ten (10) platinum coins for this month,” Captain Arata said.

  From the darkness, three (3) men appeared around Captain Arata, proving their presence and service.

  “Of course,” Fantine said. She removed a book from her coat pocket, turned it to a blank page and wrote onto it a financial transfer note for twenty (20) platinum coins and then signed it. She removed the page from the book and handed it to Captain Arata. “That will cover you now, and in advance for next month,” she said.

  “Thank you,” Captain Arata said.

  Ximenez recorded all of this into his book, as well, including the appearance of the men. Whether they were concealed by darkness or false light, he could not be sure, however.

  ~~~

  Fantine and Niven left the Sandstone Cutter and entered the City of Emeth, followed closely by Ximenez. They walked across the center of the city, heading toward the Eleventh Hall. Along the way, they overheard chatter about other difficulties concerning the Port of Illumination constructed around Haza’Kedro’Maral Island.

  “Why was the city evacuated?” Fantine asked when she overheard the most startling details of the discussions.

  “The sun worshippers were trying to steal the children that lived there. A song warned them away,” a woman said.

  “We’ve got more problems than I expected,” Niven said.

  “Which means we have to solve whatever problems we can as best we can. That city didn’t collapse. There was no structural failure. There was a failure of respect for the lives of other people. I can’t change that. I’m here to fix the things I can fix,” Fantine said. She continued walking toward the Eleventh Hall. Niven and Ximenez kept pace with her.

  ~~~

  Before reaching the Eleventh Hall, Ximenez changed direction and headed toward the Library of Tedorik. The Verifier Alyona was standing there, waiting for reports.

  Ximenez handed over his book of events to Alyona – along with the shard of sapphire which had the yellow-green substance adhering to it – and she began examining the written record to assign a level of confidence to it.

  “I see nothing immediately alarming, trustworthy Ximenez. Our alchemists will examine this sapphire and the substance adhering to it. Here is your new book to take on your next assignment,” Alyona said. She gave a new, empty book to Ximenez and he went on his way.

  ~~~

  Fantine and Niven did not wait for the Chronicler, but kept walking toward the Eleventh Hall. However, Ximenez caught up with them because they had already told him where they were going.

  Ximenez entered the Eleventh hall alongside both Fantine and Niven, waiting to see what they would research. Fantine then began the long process of perusing the various writings inscribed on the many panels along its multi-level walls in search of architectural insights to improve her own designs.

  Niven stayed close to Fantine, holding her hand if she needed as she walked up and down the steps to the different sections of the walls where the knowledge of ages was inscribed.

  ~~~

  On board the Second Consideration, Paden gave his orders: “Shinju, sail the ship back to Haza’Kedro’Maral Island so that we can give our report to the central bank.”

  Paden followed Shin
ju as she walked across the deck and entered the wheelhouse. Inside, she pulled levers to raise the anchor and retract the boarding ramp. Shinju then took hold of the ship’s wheel and sailed it southeastward across the Kazofen Ocean until reaching the Glivoran Trail land bridge. At that point, she pulled levers to pivot the masts and sails to the sides of the ship and elevate it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude.

  Shinju steered the Second Consideration southeastward across the land bridge and returned it to sea level in the Trerada Ocean. From there, she sailed the vessel southeastward until reaching the Farmer’s Road Land Bridge. At that point, she again pulled levers to pivot the ship’s masts and sails to the sides and elevate it to one hundred twenty (120) feet of altitude. Shinju steered the ship southeastward across the land bridge and returned it to sea level in the Pirovalen Ocean. She then sailed the Second Consideration eastward, eventually passing through the western gate of the Port of Illumination to reach Haza’Kedro’Maral Island in the center of the constructed crystal city. She steered the ship alongside a pier and pulled a lever to lower the anchor.

  “Come with me so that we can deliver the report,” Paden said.

  Shinju pulled a lever to extend the boarding ramp and then followed Paden as he walked out on deck.

  Paden then led Shinju and the other bank officers and the guards off of the Second Consideration and onto the island. Paden entered the Trading Center One building and met with an unfamiliar officer – a female, who appeared a bit younger than Governor Lux, but old enough to be experienced. He announced himself, saying: “Officer Paden, Loss Prevention and Fraud Investigator.”

  “I am Governor Aranka, successor to the former Governor Lux. What is your report, Officer Paden?” the woman asked.

  “I have recently returned from Yihartec Island in the Kazofen Ocean. We were dispatched to investigate the reported collapse of a constructed city there. The central bank financed the project, and Fantine designed and assembled it,” Paden said.