Ravenna awoke to the relentless desert sun p through the open window of her chambers. The oppressive heat of Jo Isnd g to the air, making even the early m unbearable. Dressed in a thin, sheer nightgown that g to her skin, she pushed the sweat-soaked hair from her forehead and reached for the silk fan at her bedside. The rhythmic hum of her maids moving about the room was a familiar fort as they prepared her for the day ahead.

  Once dressed, Ravenna ied her refle in the polished silver mirror. Her attire was bal and practical, a nod to her station and the unfiving climate. A sleeveless silk crop top hugged her torso, embroidered with intricate golden patterns that shimmered with the light. The deep royal purple of the fabriplemented her striking midnight-bck hair, casg in loose waves over her shoulders. A flowing, high-waisted maxi skirt pleted the ensemble, its soft folds moving gracefully as she turhe skirt featured discreet side slits, a hint of practicality for swift movement while maintaining an uated elegance. Gold jewelry—bracelets, earrings, and a thin circlet—added subtle ats to her anding presence.

  After a light breakfast, Raveered her study, where Hughes and Viight Captain John awaited her. They rose from their seats and bowed respectfully before she gestured for them to sit. Spread across the table was a detailed map of Jo Isnd, marking key areas and potential vulnerabilities.

  Hughes began, his tone measured but urgent. "Yhness, as per your orders yesterday, we have devised preliminary deferategies. While we ck specifics about the enemy's size, we must assume they will outnumber us signifitly."

  Ravenna nodded, her sharp gaze fixed on him. "Proceed."

  John leaned forward, pointing to the map. "There are three primary locations where enemy ships dock: the southern port area, the eastern beach, and the western coastlihe port is the most obvious choice, as it is the primary dog point for vessels. However, the ongoing renovations give us a strategic advahe inplete structures and demolished ses be used to our be. We propose setting up obstacles—rge rocks, submerged spikes, and oil traps—to slow their approach. Oheir ships are weakened or immobilized, our forces deal with the remaining attackers on nd."

  Ravenna tapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair, sidering the pn. "Go on."

  "If they aim for the eastern beach," Hughes tinued, "we have a natural advantage due to the dista would take their forces several hours on horseback to reach the city. We could set up ditches, barriers, and traps to dey their advance. With the element of surprise on our side, this could reduce their numbers and potentially intimidate them into retreating. This also gives us time to send a messeo the imperial pace for reinforts."

  John took over. "The western coastline presents a different challehe narrow, yered roations create a natural bottleneck, which we exploit. A smaller force of fifty to eighty knights and militia could hold them there, buying us crucial time to prepare defenses or call for aid."

  Ravenna cpped her hands lightly, a gesture of aowledgment. "Your strategies are sound, but new developments require us to revise them."

  Both men exged gheir curiosity evident. Ravenna leaned forward, her voice calm but firm. "You’ve seen the eam engines being structed, correct?"

  "Yes, Yhness," Hughes replied. "We based these pns before they were pleted. We were going to suggest incorporating them into our strategies."

  "Good," Ravenna said, her tone sharpening. "Here is what we now know: the ining force sists of a crime syndicate and a noble house w together. They are sending a fleet carrying approximately 500 knights and 300 meraries disguised as pirates. Along with their soldiers, they are transp 2,000 sves, likely intending to dispose of them here."

  Both Hughes and John visibly te the revetion. The magnitude of the threat was now clear. John broke the silence. "A fleet of that size… It will be a signifit challenge. Likely a dozen or more ships, if not more."

  Ravenna nodded solemnly. "Precisely. But here’s the crux of our strategy: I do not want to sink their ships or let them escape. We must rescue the sves and assimite them into our city. This means we o disable the fleet without destroying it ht."

  Hughes furrowed his brow thoughtfully before speaking. "Yhness, if I may, what about the crossbow design you showed me before? Is it plete now that the steam engines are operational?"

  A sly smirk curved Ravenna’s lips as she reached into her desk drawer arieved a crossbow, pg it oable with a sharp k. "If you hadn’t asked about it, Hughes, I might have sidered firing you," she teased.

  Hughes chuckled nervously, gng at the on. "Well, I suppose I asked just in time then. Does it work as you envisioned, Yhness?"

  Ravenna leaned back, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Yes. These are spring-powered crossbows, capable of being preloaded with six small steel-tipped bolts, which then be fired in rapid succession without needing to be manually reloaded after each shot."

  The crossbow was unlike anything John hes had seen before. pact yet sturdy, it featured a sleek meism where six bolts could be ied into individual slots. The innovation y in its use of pre-tensioned springs, which allowed for rapid firing by simply pulling the trigger repeatedly, eliminating the need for manual cog after every shot.

  "This innovation," Ravenna tinued, running her fingers along the polished wood of the crossbow, "was made possible because of the steam ehe bcksmiths worked tirelessly through the night, designing a meism that haream power to produce critical pos like precision springs and other parts needed for mass produ. With this breakthrough, we were able to manufacture several of these crossbows within hours; they are w on produg more as we speak."

  John picked up the on, examining it closely. "These springs are remarkable. In crossbows, we rely on thin wires to store tension, but they ck durability and efficy. These ‘springs’, however, hold tension longer and with far greater reliability, if what is said here on the report is true. It’s an era-defining adva."

  Ravenna nodded. "These crossbows are small enough to be wielded by a single soldier ahal enough to pierce through most armors, thanks to the steel-tipped bolts. They’re also light enough to ensure mobility otlefield."

  John whistled low under his breath. "Steel-tipped bolts that pierce armor and six rapid-fire shots without reloading... This could ge the course of warfare, Yhness."

  Hughes, however, wore a more cautious expression. "While the design is ingenious, there is one signifit issue," he said, gng between Ravenna and John. "We haven’t tested these crossbows in a live bat sario. none of our soldiers have trained with them, using them in bat will be..."

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