Is it okay to abandon my daughter…? I could tell from her words that she had always known I would go ever since her birth twenty minutes ago at least. And she accepted it wholeheartedly. On the other hand, the storm fiend ‘knew’ it would live if it killed me, regardless of how untrue that notion was or the ramifications therein. My daughter is likely blind to the details… or does she have some semblance of them from birth? It’s not like I’m tricking her. I’m just letting her do what she wants. To take her with me would be akin to pulling the rug out from under her.

  But still… is this really okay?

  “How…” The Quartz Witch shook, “How do you mean it involves me?”

  “My daughter wishes to stay here. Initially I intended to tell you all to report whatever you wish because I don’t want for you to meet trouble after giving me a hand, but… I am not so na?ve to think that the Gandeux, especially Earth Vein, wouldn’t flock to this place to study my dear Lazulei.”

  Do I really… have a daughter? How weird. Cira looked at her and the brightest smile she had ever seen was returned. Goodness… I should really be asking myself, am I okay parting with her?

  I couldn’t take Pita. She’s stronger than him, but still not enough to be exposed to the dangers that await me. Not to mention, she has yet to reach her first birth-hour. A year of hardened life experience would still leave her as a one-year-old child. So what if she’s smart enough to talk already? It’s unreasonable no matter what excuses I make.

  Try as she might, her own justifications failed to make her chest warm like the look in that child’s eyes. She couldn’t bring Lazulei along, but staying would only invite greater hardships. To be together with her own daughter was impossible.

  I didn’t want… it to become like this. Why is everything always so hard?

  Young as she was, Lazulei had chosen independence. She wanted not just to live, but to thrive.

  What does it mean to be an island… truly? Cira almost found out but could only ponder the matter at this point. Could she even be taken away without crumbling? If all I had to do was move a mountain or ten, would that not be a reasonable measure to take if it meant personally making sure my daughter grew up to live the life she wants—

  But what she wants is to stay here… Moving a mountain or two—what would I do, return it to the aether? Let it fall into the sea?

  Paradise was one option, but the girl was clear about not wanting to leave. Cira surmised it had something to do with the sky and her place within it. Had she not felt similar pride as Fount Cira, she may have pried for curiosity’s sake.

  Enchanting her daughter would not feel much different than corrupting the flesh of the commoners that she did as a young child, so turning Lazulei into something like Breeze Haven was completely off the table. There were probably ways to teleport an island if she spent the time to investigate, but it would be a purely selfish deed. Beyond that, to take her along as purely a greater spirit would mean separating her from the earth all together. Lazulei the island would be no more. Cira felt that was cruel beyond words.

  Lazulei would become like a disembodied soul no better off than those who wandered the Last Steps. I may as well return her face to the aether so that her empty shell may follow me.

  God dammit.

  Why did I do this?

  Dad? I’d even take advice from a recorded projection.

  No, is it not selfish to regret my actions at her expense merely because it’s overwhelming?

  Am I not the worst sorcerer who ever crossed these skies? I can’t be the worst mom too.

  “Mama…?” She looked up at Cira with fluttering eyelids, growing less translucent by the minute, “What’s wrong?”

  Shit, can she feel my feelings?

  Cira turned to Quartz expectantly, who blinked in surprise and started sputtering under the pressure.

  “W-we don’t have to tell anyone anything! The three of us saved this island!” She shouted in a fluster, “Right girls?”

  “No.” Cira replied. “That won’t work. The deeper your lies, the easier they will be to uncover. I’m correct in assuming your friends would be eager to visit, yes?”

  She looked nervous then eventually broke down, “Correct… Madam Silver would likely come herself. I’m sorry, but… There’s nothing known to Lady Nimara which would dissuade her when she wants to take action. I hear she even goes toe to toe against the entire Third Order.”

  “Nonsense.” Io spoke, cutting into the emotional catfight in the making, “As powerful as this petulant witch may be, I’m sure she is equally as arrogant. Have I not heard you refer to her as some manner of adjutant? The very title implies there is someone above her, at least to some degree. Whether she answers to a king or is merely bound by the collective yet fleeting whims of the people, such a person must be embroiled in politics. Is she willing to sacrifice her station for something like this? Remarkable as it is, I’m not so sure. Those who have lived for a very long time do not readily abandon everything. Even if she discovered Lazulei, would this discovery be more valuable to her than all she spent centuries building in these skies?”

  Quartz was startled and shook like a leaf upon being addressed directly by Io, but after a few moments she looked into the distance. “Hmm… You bring up some good points. Truth is, I don’t know how old she is or how great her attachment to these skies may be. She was my teacher as a young girl almost three-hundred years ago, but records of her within the Mystic Skies are blatantly scrubbed clean. The Gandeux is not nearly old enough to know of times before that either.”

  “In your personal opinion based on all your experience…” Io leveled with her, “Do you think this island would pique her interest?”

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  “If Lazulei didn’t contain the element of earth, I wouldn’t be so sure, but the Silver Witch once slaughtered the Haluron family in an evening, one of the Great Decadin of the Gandeux, for their rights over the island on which a silver well exists. Stories go that the name Haluron was stricken from libraries across multiple skies in a matter of months. Not even I had ever heard the name until Madam Silver mentioned it to me over tea one morning. I don’t know what pull she holds, but she’s one of the few paragons that could easily make a move on Porta Bora. Honestly… I wouldn’t put it past her to harvest—er, I mean come looking for a spirit’s gift in order to take action in lieu of her involvement in politics. There would be no sacrifice. I see no downsides for her in this situation.”

  “Shit…” Cira clenched her fists. “I don’t have time for more enemies.”

  Nanri… Why is your mother so cruel? No… selfish? Is it greed? Whatever the deal is with the Silver Witch, I can’t tread lightly. If I care for my daughter, I have to really think this over.

  “Dear niece of mine.” Uncle Io held a shit eating grin that would even make Jimbo jealous of its effortless projection of snark, “Let me give you a piece of advice from one who spent a thousand years pondering. She will arrive… Or at least she will try. There is nothing you can do to stop that. Those you care about—your daughter—regardless of if she finds value in it, this witch will come looking. This is to your advantage as you can predict it assuredly. Make her look like a fool. Don’t wait for her to renounce herself or haphazardly try to force her into such a situation. Give her everything she wants. You have already caught her in your net.”

  While Cira scrunched her forehead trying to figure out the complex wisdom this old man offered, Quartz alone seemed to widen her eyes in awe.

  “That’s… That’s it!” She shouted before shrinking down under Io’s grin.

  “Please…” Cira spoke, “Continue.”

  “Lazulei… She’s the island right…?” Though she initially sounded confident, the subject matter caused her to pause and look to Cira for confirmation. After a thoughtful nod from both her and Lazulei, she kept fleshing out her thought process, “Well… I can hardly understand what happened here myself. How in the world could I explain it to my master? The fact is… You have given birth to a greater spirit.” Cira winced, “These are things spoken of in legend. I do not doubt Madam Silver has encountered them since they’re real, so… She will surely treat it as she does any other discovery. Even if it takes a week or thirty years, she will reach her goal. You need to allow her to reach it.”

  “What?!” Mana flared up as the sky grew brighter again and Quartz tensed up, waving her hands violently.

  “No, no! It’s not what you think! You know she is coming, but the goal she desires rests in your hands.”

  Cira suddenly covered her mouth, her eyebrows raising in realization. “You… You’re right!” The witch further shrank as Cira grabbed her shoulder with a bright smile, leaving Lazulei to be dragged along by the sleeve. “Do you know what this means?!”

  “Wha—” The witch turned pale, “N-no… I’m sorry!”

  “Nanri’s stupid mom doesn’t even know what’s happening here! She sent Quartz to this place without a clue in the world. You three will tell them all about what you saw, but…” Cira grew a sinister smile as a laugh died in her throat, “That hag dare treat her own daughter like a hapless lamb then come for my own to satisfy her greed for power? Thank you, Io, Quartz, Little Mudrock, and Shale… It seems my code was lacking in depth.”

  The three witches shuddered. Lazulei with sparkling, yet uncertain eyes hid behind Cira’s robes again, but Zuzarel backed off upon realizing the primal fear she felt was due to none other than Cira.

  “It appears my resolve has been insufficient lately.” The Auld Sprig appeared in Cira’s right hand. “Silver Witch… Nimara, was your name?

  “Come. do not falter. Let not uncertainty nor centuries of scruples prevent you from attaining your prize.” Black smoke wisped into the sky overtaking the dark streams of storm from below. As if building on them, it seemed a sinister cloud of imminence blotted out the sun.

  “A prize you will find, upon this island of mine. A single star shines in these eyes, yet you are not satisfied? While another arises, upon her life would you contrive?”

  A cage of dark smoke which somehow glimmered formed around the island like magic circles intwined within themselves, and the three witches stared in awe, despite the shaking of their legs. Even Io could not help but make a disgusted face.

  “Aether… I don’t have time for your ways.” The orichalcum staff appeared from the ground and even Cira struggled against its weight. “I am extracting a present for the Silver Witch.”

  Just like the three crags of Paradise, a pylon of stone appeared, but with a gushing waterfall flowing from each peak. The brutal waves of earth mana forced the witches to hold their breath getting used to the pressure.

  It took a fair amount of effort and enchantment, but Cira worked it to a point where earth mana was generated consistently. She almost couldn’t believe it. Perhaps its temporary nature allowed it to work so effortlessly, but Cira had effectively recreated a mana pylon in the real spatial realm.

  “This monument shall become a part of her aura,” Cira snickered, “While it shall also serve as the mark of her indignity.”

  Cira was out for blood, but not to such a degree that it may upset Nanri. This was her mother after all. No matter Cira’s opinion and the woman’s vile nature, her daughter was sure to have deep feelings toward her.

  That hag… You will find what you’re looking for—at least you will think so. This monument will grant you the power over earth you wanted, and all of that which you don’t. You won’t even know it belongs to me until the day we meet. Please… I urge you to make the trip.

  Cira was neither encanting nor declaring any longer. Simply stewing in anticipation of days to come.

  “Quartz.” She said in a stern tone. “Nothing changes, but you will tell those above you that Lazulei emerged from this monument in the center of the island. The rest of the truth is yours to relay.”

  “Is… is that all you ask of me?” She blinked, sharing confused glances with the younger witches.

  “Well, no… Truth is, you’ve only finished one half of the job.” They each rose off the ground on disks of earth, “Now has come the time for you to assist Little Mudrock with her half of the bargain. Return the island below to its previous state before someone stops you… and I will be satisfied.”

  Quartz looked at her, but there was a certain pain in her eyes. Not disappointment, or at least not outwardly. She looked deeply hurt, but it was an old pain.

  “I… No, we will make it so.” She spoke with the tone of a beaten dog, but there was a glimmer of hope.

  “Quartz Witch.” Cira spoke, cracking a slight grin when she looked up like a scared child. “You’re not as bad as you make yourself seem. If you haven’t lived this long in search of a new path forward, then why resist the cycle in the first place?”

  They flew toward the shore as Quartz was left dumbstruck, but Mudrock frantically waved her arms.

  “Wait!” There was desperation in her eyes. “I’m… You keep calling me Little Mudrock, but…. I’m the Mudrock Witch! Remember that!”

  “Hah.” Cira chortled, “Mudrock is an island, and you are but a girl.”

  A book appeared before Cira and attached itself to the Mudrock Witch like a magnet as they finally disappeared into the sky below.

  “I think it went well this time.” Cira said, turning back to Zuzarel and Io, “They should be fine, right?”

  “As fine as anyone who crosses your path can hope to be, sure.” Io shrugged and noticed Lazulei glaring at him.

  “Mama.” She tugged at her robe, “Is he really okay?”

  “Eh,” Cira shrugged back, “He’s alright.”

  “Are you sure you can count on them? From what I’ve heard, this Earth Vein is basically your enemy, isn’t it?” Io suddenly spoke seriously, “I would not take a master of witches lightly if I were you. Witches have always been notoriously devious, even in my days. Unless she is purely satisfied with this farce of a relic, she will certainly investigate the spring. Even if she is satisfied too, if she’s anything like the witches I used to know, she will turn this island inside out.”

  “Let her try.” Cira only laughed. “She will find that no gift comes freely.”