Upon the Flying Ship: Rewritten Records of the Illiterate Author

Chapter 4

Surrus looked at Liblie. "So, do you know where the ship came from?"

Liblie raised her eyebrows. "The kids been asking weird questions?"

"No. Just, after hearing Fyeuin's story about Zolotaya, I decided to figure out where the DSS came from and who built this gigantic floating ship."

"Well, there were two creators of the ship: Arcana aqnd Hulda. Arcana was a Mage, and Hulda was the mastermind: a ship Mage."

"Sorry, what Mage?" Miyana furrowed her brow.

"Ship? You know, boats and the like-"

"No, the other one."

"Mage."

"Just Mage? No way-"

"Yeah, you heard me right. Basically, a magic Mage. I just find it redundant."

"How did her powers work? Sparkles and glowy smoke?"

"No. Have you read "The Laws of Physics" by Pen Name?"

"Oh, I've heard of her, lovely theorizer." Surrus nodded.

"Well, that book talks about a world governed by a bunch of math equations called the 'Laws of Physics'. One of the variables in these equations was energy, also defined as the 'ableness to do stuff', if I'm not wrong."

"I mean... our world is described as very similar to that one, right?"

"Yeah, but magic allows us to do a lot, using very little energy. That world had no magic, because it doesn't fit into the math equations. Anyway, Arcana's power is literally "ableness to do stuff", though it seems like it was her enabling other objects to do stuff. Many artifacts were enchanted by her."

"Okay. Wait, did Arcana enchant the ship?"

"Yes. But that's the end of the story. Don't skip ahead." Fyeuin drawled from the doorway.

"She's back!" Miyana cheered.

"I am back. And nice to know you guys know the basics of the ship you've spent nearly half your life on."

"Oh, come on, Fey! Nobody knows history, what can you expect of us?"

"I know history. Whatever. Do you want to hear the story of the making of the DSS?"

"Is it sad?"

"A little. We can begin with Arcana. As a Mage, she worked mostly for the West Northlean Crown, but traveled to South and North sometimes. On a trip to South 'Leans, Arcana met Hulda, who was beginning her work on her Grand Ship, the reason why Arcana was sent there in the first place.

Hulda's story is that she had been working for South and Island, sometimes East, building ships. She had been perfecting her craft for a while, and this seemed like the last ship she'd ever build. Hulda was aging, and this was before Doctor Vivi invented the potion that would allow for magic to replenish much faster and better. Her magic was running out, and she knew her reserves wouldn't last for much longer. Her last project would be the DSS - who knows what that stands for?"

"Drunk Sad Settlers?"

"Dead Salty Sisters?"

"Dramatic Sissy Salmon?"

"Can I give up on all of you?" Fyeuin looked at Liblie. "Please, Liberty. Free me from this horror story."

Liblie nodded. "I know. Drastically Sorry Statistics."

Kota raised his head. "Dangerous Super-Ship?"

"Kota, my saviour! Thank all your lucky stars for being smarter than these people who think they're being funny. You're not being funny, people." Fyeuin turned around. "I'm leaving. Bye."

"Wait! Fey, please, we're sorry!"

"Forgive us! Liblie isn't a good storyteller! You can't ask us to listen to HER tell us the rest!"

Liblie glared daggers at Pteppic. "Shut it and keep it shut."

"Fine," Fyeuin whipped around and sat back down. "I shall continue the story of the DSS.

Arcana, upon seeing the plans for the Great Ship, told an aging, tired Hulda that the ship could be so much more, but that the cost might be both of their lives. Hulda agreed, but first asked Arcana to run the story past the South Crown, who had commissioned the ship. Arcana explained that the Great Ship could be used for the good of the whole continent, and the lax, 'have-fun' type South Crown agreed. This project would be like a peace agreement for the five kingdoms, and Arcana came back with good news.

Around five years later, the ship was finished. It rocked in the harbor, shiny and new and enormous. Arcana and Hulda made the last round through the ship, blessing it and checking for mistakes. The DSS was perfect. They stood around the crystal, which back then was just a big, heavy, sparkly rock, and Arcana opened the floodgates keeping her magic back. The crystal was first to rise, pure starlight dancing around in the center.

Hulda collapsed first, as Arcana first drained her of her magic, energy, and life force. Her life would grant the ship a resemblance of life and semi-autonomous steering. Arcana's death, just moments later, allowed the ship to fly, be changeable, and the Home Crystal to work.

And please tell me you know this... Who was the first DSS captain?" Fyeuin looked expectantly at the counselors.

"Prince Thunder." Kota quietly whispered.

"Aww, Kota, come on! I was hoping someone else would answer!"

"I'm sorry for knowing basic history." he said.

"But, there was no way Hulda had so little imagination. Why name a ship "Dangerous Super-Ship?" Pteppic asked.

"Legend says that Hulda was asking little kids what they would name such a big ship, and upon hearing "Danger" and "Super-Ship" from two separate five-year-olds, she decided that the acronym 'DSS' sounded cool. Therefore, Dangerous Super-Ship."

"I would not trust a five-year-old to name my ship."

Fyeuin shrugged. "Legend is legend, Ptep. Wanna write your own version? Have fun selling it to the masses."