Algernon Black || The Rise of a God ||

(Chapter 98) Petty Old Pirate

"Why are we at this place, Loy?" Beal asked, nearly toppling down the ship's unloading dock from the weight of his backpack. From Merra they had chartered to a small chains of islands known as God's Key and docked at the most populated isle. It was small, only a few miles wide, and relatively flat, but every one of the numerous ports was docked in a diverse range of ships in the various different architectural forms of their varying homelands.

Loy discerned over fifty different countries' flags and more arriving.

"Because there's entertainment to be had," he replied, smiling.

Selice eyed Loy. There had been a change in him since Merra. And all for the better, like a great load, had unlifted from his shoulders. Caught in her thoughts, Selice neglected to watch where she was going, and was greeted by a face full of planks carried by a brawny seaman.

Loy saved her from a very painful collision while Cal in his distractions smashed face-first into the lumber. The wood crashed to the ground, which Beal presently tripped over.

Selice turned to help but Loy promptly steered her away. "Just leave them," he said, a vein pulsating in his neck for all the turmoil their carelessness incited.

"But..." Selice quietly demurred, watching as the sailor screamed at Beal.

"They'll be fine," Loy replied and as soon as Cal stood up to his full height the man stopped his shouting.

"Is it always this busy?" Selice asked. There wasn't a man or woman who wasn't at work hauling around supplies or offloading a ship. The only clearing was around the 50-foot statue of the god darkness stood blockaded.

"Only this time of year," Loy said, still clutching Selice's wrist.

"What happens during this time?"

"The warning waves of winter." Loy looked off to the island's hub. Selice wasn't tall enough to see it yet over the crowd until Loy guided her closer.

"What's that?"

Loy turned to her, finally noticing he was still holding onto Selice's hand. He smiled to see that she hadn't removed it.

"See for yourself."

Selice's pouted at his coyness, and because that rare smile of Loy's stroked her neck in a tingle of heat. But that was soon overtaken in awe upon witnessing the town's center.

A cylinder reticello glass tower, as tall as a lighthouse, sat at the center of town. The inside was a constantly alternating pattern of sparkling jewels that spiraled and spun with the wind, discharging sparks of light in all directions. It was a kaleidoscope of sorts. Loy had come upon it a while ago in his travels and knew the contraption would be along the lines of Selice's interest. Which it overwhelmingly was, as Selice wandered around the entire structure, devising blueprints in her mind of how the mechanisms operated. Four alloy groves in the ground, like train tracks, spiraled from the tower, but too many people walked by for Selice to see how far out they extended.

"This is amazing." Selice gasped, halting to stare up at the tower's top that resembled an unbloomed flower.

"Wait till you see it working," Loy remarked, before ushering her along once Cal and Beal had caught up with them.

With the crew in tow, Loy led them through the island. It was small enough to cross to the other side in under 30 minutes. Where shops, restaurants, and inns lined the island's rim. Some of the restaurants even had balconies jutting over the edge so one could dine over the sharp cliff side. Loy passed all of these and opted instead for the passage cracked in between two aging buildings. It was so narrow Cal had to budge himself through and nearly smooshed them all into the cheery door. Spider webs decorated old brass hinges and Selice could just barely make out the sign above the entrance, Marve the Marble Maker.