It felt like the sky couldn't get any darker as Fina looked outside. The window of her bedchamber—prison, really—offered a clear view of Valua's inky skies. The clouds, locked in a state of smoggy sickness, filled the air to the point that the Yellow Moon would sometimes disappear from view entirely. She couldn't tell which of those clouds were naturally occurring side-effects of the moon's voltaic might and which were pollution from the Upper City. The Valuan capital of Riqueza teemed with mechanical marvels that nearly matched the old world—electric lamp posts, a railway that circled the entire city, moveable bridges and automatic gates—but they lacked elegance and efficiency. The Valuans didn't live in harmony with their mother moon; they lived in a competition with it. Each of their inventions seemed based on one idea: the moon's power was something to seize greedily. The result was a curtain of pollution that irrefutably draped over the land.

Fina looked at it all, sadness filling her eyes to the brim. The Upper City might've looked like a sparkling paradise at first glance but it was a monument to greed and excess. This was made more obvious by another fact: the Upper City was only one half of Riqueza. Another half, a towering heap of broken stone and dingey metal homes, sat across from the Upper City. The two were separated by a murky lake whose waters occasionally radiated xanthous energy. An entire portion of Valua's peoples were living in abject squalor. Fina looked at it, little more than a broken heap in the distance, and felt her heart nearly break entirely. What she wouldn't give to heal this sickly place. Instead, she was a prisoner, locked away like some terrible secret.

Which was why she was so shocked that her quarters were more than comfortable. The room, situated in a distant wing of the Imperial Palace, was clearly meant for visiting dignitaries or other important guests. It held a large bed, reading table and bookshelf, and even a fireplace that could light with a nearby button press. Under better circumstances, she might've resided here as a welcome envoy. Instead, she'd been kept under guard for days on end. The door was locked and a powerful magical ward further sealed the threshold. The first time she attempted to dispel it, a potent sigil had formed that retaliated with enervating magicks. There were entire days where she struggled in vain to obviate the ward but she invariably found herself drained of energy. It only opened once each day when meals were brought in.

What shocked Fina more than anything else in this arrangement was how quickly she'd accepted her new normal. Or at least part of it. There wasn't a moment she didn't yearn for escape but she eventually stopped her attempts to wrest the door open. The days started to blur, each passing moment weighing upon her. There was nothing but solitude and dark skies. So different from the warm sunset that she watched with Vyse and Aika. Wherever they were now felt impossibly far away.

Fina brought a hand to the translucent silver bracelet on her wrist and began to stroke it. There had to be something she could do. A moment would present itself where someone would drop their guard and she'd be able to do something. Anything. The question was, even if she escaped her quarters what would come next? Would there be any way to free Captain Dyne and the others? Were they even alive?

She felt the air stir. Fina always had a particular sensitivity to magicks and was able to sense even their most subtle affectations. There were near-imperceptible changes that signaled spells. In this case, she sensed a pressure near the door dissipate. She turned in time to watch as the telltale energy of the warding spell faded away. It wasn't so different from any of the other times the spell was removed save for a tingle of familiarity that she knew all too well. Fina walked away from the window and towards the center of the room. There was a loud click as the door unlocked and Rami, silver hair glistening beneath the room's moonstone lamps, entered. He regarded Fina with a cold eye for a moment before it faded into something softer as he affected a small smile.

"They tell me that you've stopped your attempts to tamper with the ward," he said calmly. "Was my magic really so hard for you to erase? Elder Halos trained you better than that."

Fina narrowed her eyes. "Your magic," she repeated softly. "Why are you doing this, Rami?"

Her friend—if he could still be called that—turned towards the door and beckoned to a servant who nervously skittered into the room. She placed a tray of soup on the table before leaving and closing the door behind her. Rami gestured to the tray.

"You should eat."

The young mage scoffed bewilderedly. "That's what you came here for? To tell me to eat?!"

A flash of frustration cut across Rami's features before he dismissed it and sat at the table. Fina hesitated a moment before finally joining him.

"I came here to help you," he said. For a wonderful moment, Fina felt a hint of hope. "They'll be taking you to an audience with the Empress today. Tell them everything you know. Answer any question they ask."

Fina shook her head. "We can't tell a soul about why we're here," she said firmly. "It's too dangerous."

"They already know," Rami snapped. "About the crystals! About the Gigas! I told them, Fi! You are going to help us find them."

"Why would I do that?" Fina's reply came quickly. "You told me these people crave war. If they wake even a single one of those beasts, it would be disastrous."

"There's only one way I can guarantee your safety," Rami said seriously. "And that's if you cooperate."

Fina blinked. She was dumbfounded. Rami had been sent before her to the surface with the same goal she had and yet somehow here he was entangled in the ranks of a vicious empire. At every step of her journey thus far, the Valuans had proven themselves a cruel people. Where was the sweet boy she knew all those years ago? What happened to turn her dear friend and hero into this?

"They're not your people," Fina said adamantly. "You know what happened to the Old World, Rami. We need to bring the crystals home. That's the only way anyone will be safe!"

Rami sighed disappointedly, pushing away from the table and striding toward the window. He looked up at the moon. "Do you remember when we were little, Fi? I would look down at this world…"

"For hours," Fina finished.

"Do you know what I saw?" Rami's voice grew bitter. "I saw a world made of glass. Fragile and helpless."

Fina stood. "We came here to help it," she said softly. "Rami, there's still time.."

The young man rounded on her. His face was screwed up in pain. "I promise you," he said. "If you do what the Elders ask, you'll do more harm than this entire empire ever could."

"I don't understand."

Rami took a ragged breath and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Tell them," he said. "If they ask where the crystals are, tell them. My job was always to scout ahead and prepare for your arrival.."

He locked eyes with her. "But you know," he observed. "If you want to live… and if you want to save this world… you'll tell them."

Fina shook her head. "You know I can't do that."

Rami removed the hand and paced, trying to find the words he needed that would break through Fina's stubbornness. He prowled back and forth like a ragged dog until he finally spoke again.

"Lord Galcian has a plan," he finally admitted. "If we can get him the crystals, this fragile world can finally know order. All you need to do is.. "

Fina started to back away. There was such a deep devotion in Rami's voice that she instantly understood what was happening. The young man paused as his counterpart narrowed her eyes in disappointment.

"He sent you," she said knowingly. "You came here because you were told to.."

Rami paused. The softest flicker of shame touched his features before he spoke.

"He thought it would be better this way," he said plainly. "We hoped that you'd listen but I can see there's no changing your mind."

"No," Fina said with a shake of her head. "I will not let history repeat itself."

They looked at each other. Two friends who had found each other after nearly a decade. The only two of their kind in the entire world. It was clear that even though they were right next to each other, there was an irreconcilable gulf between the pair. The warrior and the priestess. Rami's conviction for his new master stood equal with Fina's devotion to her duty. It hurt Fina more than anything she'd ever known.

"Your soup's gone cold," Rami said darkly. Fina kept her gaze locked upon him.

"Go back to your master," she said. "...Ramirez."

A flash of rage rippled through the man's features. He raised his hand sharply as if to strike Fina but at the sight of her fear-stricken face managed to stop himself before it was too late. He lowered his hand slowly before exhaling a tattered breath.

"We will find them," Ramirez spat. "One way or another."

The air grew cold between them and it felt like an unspoken eternity passed before the sound of muffled voices by the door drew their attention. Ramirez narrowed his gaze, wondering who would have the arrogance to intrude. He expected a presumptuous servant or perhaps even a guard sent by Lord Galcian bearing some form of news. When the door opened, however, he was faced with someone else entirely.

A young man with fine blonde hair entered the room, sweeping gallantly by the guards posted outside and stepping forward with confident and well-practiced strides. He wore a deep lilac ensemble of the finest materials—a silken vest and matching cravat, white gloves, a feathered cap that bordered being too dapper—which was covered in part by a gleaming armored chest plate. His soft blue eyes glanced from Fina to Ramirez, taking note of the woman's fearful expression.

"Enrique.." Ramirez muttered the name with deep annoyance. "What a.. welcome surprise."

A white-gloved finger roze in reply as he reached the pair. "That's Prince Enrique to you, Vice-Captain," he chided. His voice was light but held a deceptive sliver of authority. "Is there a problem here?"

Ramirez shifted his weight, giving the man a perfunctory bow. "No, Your Highness," he said. "Lord Galcian merely wished that I check on the prisoner."

Enrique looked at him with concern.

"Our guest," he corrected.

"Of course, Your Highness," Ramirez intoned. It was clear that he was displeased with the man's presence although if Enrique was aware it didn't seem to bother him. The prince looked over Ramirez' shoulder at Fina.

"I'd like to speak with her," he said.

"The Empress has called for an audience," Ramirez noted. "Our guest is required to stay here until that time."

"That's fine," Enrique said chipperly. "She and I can speak here."

"Perhaps I should stay," Ramirez suggested. "To ensure your safety."

"That won't be necessary."

"I insist," Ramirez said. "She is more dangerous than she looks."

Enrique's features shifted into a bemused smile. "Shall I repeat myself, Vice-Captain?"

"No," Ramirez answered. "It's simply my duty to worry about your safety. After all, it would be a... shame if something were to happen to you."

The affected concern in Ramirez' voice edged upon the lines of sarcasm. The prince gave a light chuckle and once again looked to Fina. He smiled at her and, to her surprise, an ease fell over her mind.

"We'll be alright," he said while still looking at Fina.

Fina wasn't sure if she was permitted to speak. She elected for a quiet nod. Enrique raised his hand in something of a dramatic shrug as he turned back to Ramirez. "There we have it. I'll be quite safe."

"So it seems," Ramirez said. He didn't move.

"That will be enough, Vice-Captain," Enrique added with an extra modicum of command.

Ramirez brought a fist across his chest in a salute, bowing enough to show deference but perhaps not as much as etiquette demanded. Only one man commanded his full respect and it certainly wasn't Enrique. He chanced one last look to Fina before walking towards the door.

"Give my regards to the Lord-Admiral," Enrique added precisely. Ramirez paused.

"Perhaps I will," he said suggestively before affecting one more nod and shutting the door behind him. Fina audibly exhaled; it both hurt and relieved her to watch him leave the room. Enrique walked to her and placed a kind hand on her shoulder. The woman stiffened nervously before finding it within herself to relax.

"Are you alright?" Enrique's question was a balm that Fina wasn't aware she needed. "You're rather shaken."

Fina pondered over her answer before nodding plaintively. "It was… not easy to see him."

"Because you know each other," Enrique said. He removed his hand from her shoulder and took a full step back that she might have some space. Fina looked at him nervously.

"He and I.." She didn't finish. There were no good words to be found.

Enrique smiled. It was a somewhat sad thing.

"Where are my manners? I am Enrique Luis Alonso Mateo Vázquez, Crown Prince of Valua. On behalf of my people, I apologize for any mistreatment you've endured during your stay."

"My name is Fina," came the reply. The young mage gave a formal bow worthy of her Elders. Enrique chuckled somewhat in amusement. "I've not been... harmed but I assure you I am not here by choice."

The prince nodded. "Such was my worry," he said. "I was informed that you were rescued from pirates but the situation seemed amiss."

"I wasn't rescued," Fina explained nervously. "Your people took me against my will. The pirates were helping me. Sheltering me."

"Until you could continue your mission?" Enrique's question cut deep. He absolutely knew more than she was comfortable with.

Fina frowned. "How much has Ramirez shared?"

"Plenty," Enrique said seriously. "I know that you are both Silvites, one of the last of the people who lived under the Silver Moon in the Old World. I know that you've been sent on a mission to find the Moon Crystals. And I know that's because the crystals grant control over the Gigas. Great beasts of insurmountable power.."

Fina sighed disappointedly. "We were supposed to tell no one," she said sadly. "Yet he has told so much to such a dangerous people."

Enrique gestured to the table and sat down. Fina soon joined him.

"I have a theory, Fina," he offered. "That we have similar worries about these crystals."

"I'm unsure of that," Fina said diplomatically. "Everyone I've spoken to here seems set on acquiring the crystals regardless of the harm it might cause."

"That's why I'm worried," Enrique offered genuinely. "The Gigas heralded the end of the Old World. I fear that recovering the crystals would spell ruin for my people. When I voice this fear to my mother, she ignores me."

"Your mother is the leader of this country, yes? The Armada attacked me when I arrived and attacked my friends. Is this your mother's will?"

"Yes and no," Enrique said. "She has been taken by grief for ages. For my part, I think we're on the wrong path."

"Grief? What happened?"

"My father died," the prince explained. "There was a war. Our nation was facing a shortage of moonstones; my father didn't wish to fight but the nobility exerted pressure until it was unavoidable."

The young man sighed. "My father was acting as the Lord-Admiral of the Armada," he said. "Until his flagship was destroyed in the midst of a battle. I remember my mother before that day. She was a stern woman, yes, but there was kindness as well."

"Until she lost something she cared about," Fina said intuitively. "Was that truly enough to change her?"

"It was," Enrique said. "She grew more paranoid. Saw threats in every shadow. Galcian was all too eager to stoke that fear. And then the Armada discovered your friend.."

"I don't know if he's that anymore," Fina conceded sadly. "He's very much changed from the boy I knew."

"Perhaps there's cause for that," Enrique mused. "He was found seven years ago and came into the service of the Lord-Admiral at the time, a man called Mendosa. Until there was an incident.."

"What sort of incident?" Fina could hardly imagine what could have affected Ramirez so deeply.

"He killed Mendosa," Enrique replied coolly. "I can only speculate as to why but instead of facing execution, the new Lord-Admiral… Galcian… took him into his service. After that, Ramirez opened up about his mission."

"I feared that he died down here," Fina said. "In some ways, I think he has.."

Enrique nodded. "I admit, Fina, that I am afraid.."

"Of the Gigas?"

"Of us," Enrique clarified. "Of the deeds we would perform with such creatures at our command."

"Everything would end," Fina affirmed.

"Then we must dissuade my mother from this course," Enrique said. "You understand the situation better than anyone, even Ramirez. There's no way she could ignore your words. I'm sure of it!"

Fina hesitated for a moment.

"Ramirez said that I'd be killed if I didn't cooperate," she explained darkly. "He said that if I wanted to live, I should speak of everything I know."

Enrique sat in silence for a moment as he considered this. "They need you in order to find the crystals, yes?"

"That's hardly reassuring," Fina shot back. "At best it means that I'm a prisoner again."

Enrique nodded. "Yes, although you and I together could change my mother's mind. It might be the only way to stop any of this."

"We could run," Fina said. For a brief moment, the simple suggestion seemed to ignite possibilities in Enrique that he'd not even begun to consider.

"I fear we would not get far," he finally said. He was trying to convince himself more than Fina. "I know it is... unreasonable of me to make requests but I ask that you speak truthfully to my mother today. Can you do this?"

Fina hesitated for a moment. Ramirez' warnings rang in her ears until she found the strength to nod.

"I can," she said. "But you need to accept that might not be enough.

Enrique looked at Fina seriously. "I will make you a promise: so long as I draw breath, you will not be harmed while under the Yellow Moon's light. I swear it."

Fina managed a smile. "Thank you."

The prince stood from his seat. Fina followed suit, if only because etiquette seemed to demand such a thing for a prince. Enrique bowed.

"There is a path through this," he said reassuringly. I am sure of it."

He made a polite exit and although Fina was left alone, for the first time since arriving in Valua she did not feel it. Where uncertainty had claimed her, there was a faint flicker of hope.

Victor Dyne wouldn't break.

It had been days since he was separated from his crew and placed into solitary confinement. His cell was cold steel and left barely enough room to lay down when the night approached. His only clue to nighttime was a slight chill to the air. Otherwise, the hours drew on and bled into each other like paint drops mingling into a brown slurry. For a time, he'd only known isolation. Then, he knew pain as the Valuans moved on to torture and other attempts at coercing him to speak.

Today was a special occasion. While other sessions of 'enhanced interrogation' were carried out by steel masked prison guards and their imposingly large but equally anonymous warden, the master of ceremonies today was none other than the Lord-Admiral of the Imperial Armada. Galcian loomed above Dyne like a dragon, smirking imperiously at the pirate. Dyne's arms and legs were chained against a nearby wall, loose enough to let him dangle but tight about the wrist such that he'd begun to bleed. He bore the scars and bruises of many days' mistreatment and lifted his head until he could look Galcian in the eye.

"Here for a little fun?" Dyne's question held a sliver of rebellion. It was a taunt. A way of showing that he hadn't lost all control. Galcian said nothing for a moment. He simply examined Dyne with surgical precision until, at last, he spoke.

"If you must know, I'm actually quite disappointed," Galcian said smoothly. "To hear talk of Meridia's Blue Storm, you are a giant of a man with a demonic crew at your back. Claiming our ships at will."

"Truth's always less than the stories," Dyne said. He chuckled until it morphed into a sputtering cough.

"Very much so in this case," Galcian replied. "I had such hope for you. But what did I find when I sailed south? A complacent man whose kingdom was little more than one meager village and who surrendered at the first chance he was given. Hardly the rogue of legends."

"You wouldn't understand," Dyne countered.

"I don't care to understand," Galcian said firmly. "Because the truth is this: your sentiment was your downfall. All I needed to do was squeeze slightly, make one little threat to your spit of a village, and you tossed yourself at my feet."

"You would have killed them."

"Yes," Galcian confirmed. "Which brings us to a lesson, Victor Dyne. There is only one thing that you can place your trust in and that is power. You let other things hold power over you: a family, a village… and in the end, it doomed you."

Dyne shuffled until he stood somewhat taller. "What would you know of it? You're subject to that too; an empress, a nation."

Galcian smirked once more, leaning forward to grab Dyne's chin tightly.

"Do I look like a patriot to you?" The man's voice was brimming with darkness. "Do I look like an empress' lapdog to you, Victor Dyne?"

There was a pause as Dyne explored the questions' ramifications in his mind. Finally, he gave an answer.

"No," he managed. "Which raises more questions than anything else."

"Get used to disappointment," Galcian said. "In what little time you have."

Dyne nodded his head in acceptance. "Is that what this is? You wanted to bring the news yourself?"

"To see your face," the Valuan affirmed. "To see what a pirate lord looks like when he's told he has one more day to live."

"Get used to disappointment," Dyne said with a choking laugh. "I always knew this day might come."

Galcian took a step away and brushed his hand against the side of his pants. He glanced over his shoulder.

"There's been some question of what to do with you," he said. "It's not every day we catch a deserter of such renown. What was the ship you served on again?"

"The Pyxsis," Dyne answered. It was clear he held no love for the vessel.

"Second Fleet," Galcian noted. "You abandoned your crew to join the Blue Rogues. "Right in the middle of a raid. I wonder what you saw in that moment..."

"Something better," Dyne said quickly. "Better than a life of service on some ratty gunboat. Roberts and his crew weren't cogs in some machine. They were free."

Galcian chuckled darkly as he turned to look at Dyne once more. "And yet your old captain is long since dead and you are in chains," he said. "If your freedom led you here, what use was it?"

Dyne remained silent. It hardly seemed worth explaining to Galcian. The two were simply far too different for it to matter. Galcian, for his own reckoning, didn't really care what the answer was. The point was made. Whatever Dyne had gained the day he'd exchanged his life on the Pyxsis for the life of a Blue Rogue had been lost. Galcian had claimed it as easily as plucking fruit from a tree.

The Valuan leaned close once more. "Tomorrow, you and your crew will be brought to the coliseum," he said. "Thousands of people… stupid and mindless people… will cheer as your heads are cut from your bodies. Your pirate friends and all of the fools who ever dared admire the 'Blue Storm' will understand how weak you were in the end."

The cell door creaked open and Dyne watched a blonde man walk into the room and a bow before Galcian. He couldn't help but think of Fina in that moment and how he'd failed to keep her safe.

"Ramirez," Galcian said curtly. "Report."

The faithful man rose to his feet. His eyes were fixed longingly on Galcian.

"I've sent word to the admirals to gather as per your instruction," he said. "And visited the prisoner."

Galcian raised an expectant eyebrow. "Well?"

"As I feared, she refuses to listen to reason," Ramirez disclosed. Dyne narrowed his eyes.

"What have you done with Fina?"

Ramirez rounded upon him, moving fast as any beast and hurling a punch that slammed against Dyne's jaw.

"That's none of your concern, mongrel."

Galcian raised a lone finger before addressing Dyne. "She is safe," he said. "For now."

"She's one of.. them, isn't she?" Dyne's question hung on the air before he asked another.

"Silence," Ramirez growled before striking Dyne once again. Fresh blood trickled from the man's mouth.

"Enough," Galcian said plainly. Ramirez fell into place once again. "Let him sit here with his questions. Let him bask in his failure. One final day to reflect on how utterly and completely he has lost."

The pair left without another word. Dyne was left alone; for all he attempted to struggle against his chains, it was impossible to break free. And while he didn't fear his own death, his heart filled with worry. For his wife. For Fina. For his son. It was as Galcian said it would be. Far worse than any other torture.

The meeting room was filled by the time Galcian arrived. His loyal Vice-Captain took up residence in a corner of the room, watching each of the Armada's admirals with a wary eye. If there was one thing that he and Galcian agreed on, it was that none of them could be trusted. From the most capable of commanders to the most self-serving of nobles, the admiralty of the Valuan Armada posed a unique roadblock to their plans even if they had their uses. Some could be controlled through flattery and manipulation, others were predictable enough that their actions could be anticipated. Ramirez worried that the melting pot of egos was far too contentious to deal with; Galcian begged to differ. While they could not be trusted, they still had their uses.

Galcian regarded them all for a moment. The craven Admiral Alfonso, stalwart and stubborn Admiral Gregorio, frivolous Admiral Vigoro, devoted Admiral Belleza, and the eccentric Admiral De Loco. Each served his purposes well enough either through misplaced loyalty to their country or devotion to their own personal gain. A lesser man would struggle to contain their clashing personalities, but not Galcian. As if to make the point apparent, he cleared his throat and all of them waited expectantly for his words.

"Admirals of the Valuan Armada," he stated flatteringly. "Let me first offer my gratitude to each of you for assembling on such short notice. I assure you that the news is of the greatest import. Let it be known that we have successfully captured a citizen of the Silver Civilization with the knowledge we require, as Empress Teodora requested."

Gregorio shifted in his seat. He was the oldest of the admirals, serving as commander of the Second Fleet ever since his brother Emperor Mateo granted him the office in the years before the Valua-Nasr War. He was a reliable soldier, Galcian found, even if his morals were overly burdensome.

The old admiral's heavy armor creaked as he leaned forward.

"You're certain of this," he asked cautiously. "I'd been given to believe the opportunity had passed. Even accepting your Vice-Captain's… unique heritage."

Another man, younger and dressed somewhat casual in little more than a blue vest and black undershirt, stroked his chiseled features with excitement. "So we finally have what we're looking for," he said in a swarthy baritone. "Which one of you pulled it off?"

At his seat across the table, Alfonso gave a sneering titter and opened his hands wide. "Look no further, Admiral Vigoro," he said theatrically. "While you were off playing war games, I crippled the Silvite's ship and captured her. Alas, I was betrayed by my very own Vice-Captain and she was taken from me."

"A woman," Vigoro said with clear interest. Once a mercenary with an insatiable appetite for violence and other gross comforts, he'd fallen in with the Armada after Galcian's appointment as Lord-Admiral.

Gregorio took all the information in patiently. "If it's as you say, the Empress will be pleased," he noted. "And if she might be persuaded to share her knowledge, all the better."

Vigoro chuckled licentiously. "What else can you tell us about her? How old? Is she good looking?"

The young woman sitting beside him gave a heaping sigh. She flicked some of her burgundy hair aside and looked at her fellow admiral with abject disgust.

"Can you never cease your salivating?" Her question brimmed with annoyance. "There are more important matters at hand."

"You'd do well to listen to Admiral Belleza," Galcian said. The woman blushed ever so slightly before finding her composure again.

"Besides, you'll find that she's quite the opposite," Belleza explained. "Rather demure. Her name is Fina, and she's currently being escorted for an audience with Empress Teodora at the palace."

A cackle resembling a braying rooster reverberated through the room as Admiral De Loco laughed across the table. He was the strangest of the admirals and looked it. He'd been sickly most of his life, the son of a near-nobody noble, developing his intellect as his body grew frail. In time, his genius caught the interest of the Armada's engineering and research division. With fresh resources, he didn't just develop new weapons for the Empire. Among his first achievements was fashioning a hermetically sealed pilot's suit that he wore nearly every waking moment. He sneered at Belleza from underneath the suit's glass helmet. His wild eyes were hidden by large goggles, his face cut into a jester's grin.

"Our chief of intelligence strikes again," De Loco said with faux-respect. His voice carried through a speaker on his chest. "Tell me Belleza, was it bribes or your wiles that earned you that information?

"If you focused on anything but your experiments, you might learn a thing or two," she said simply.

"It matters little," De Loco said imperiously. "But so long as we have the Silvite, we should also learn more than the Moon Crystals' whereabouts. Technology, magicks, physiology. Everything.."

Galcian cleared his throat once more. The admirals fell silent.

"There will be time for these things soon enough," he said. "For the moment, I will report to the Empress and await the order to start our search. Our new… ally shall aid us in finding all six crystals. However, there is another matter…"

The Lord-Admiral's steely gaze fell upon Admiral Alfonso.

"You lied in your report about the Blue Rogues' attack on the Cygnus," he said. "I hereby strip you of command over the Mid Ocean fleet. You will be assigned indefinitely to a post in Ixa'taka. I'm sure you and Admiral De Loco will have plenty to talk about on your way to the continent."

Alfonso stood in shock, his face screwed into bitter fury. "You think… that I lied in my report?" He affected a pitiful laugh that did little to hide his anger. "Whatever gave you that false impression?"

"The Blue Rogues released your crew following the raid," Galcian said. "It took scouts some time to find them but upon their return to the capital, your men gave a full and accurate report."

"This is outrageous! Wait until the Empress hears of this!"

Galcian showed no change in his features.

"Let's be clear about something," he said darkly. Alfonso immediately grew quiet. "I don't give a damn who your parents were or how close you are with the Empress. I care about capability. I care about how well you do your job. That stands for any of you."

He continued to stare Alfonso down. "The world views the Armada as invincible. Our power must be seen as absolute. Showing any signs of weakness is unforgivable. Ponder that during your time in Ixa'taka."

Alfonso relented as Galcian's cold stare seemed to bore into his very soul. "Yes, my lord."

"This meeting is over. Resume your normal duties but be prepared to depart upon a moment's notice."

The admirals rose and gave a quick salute. "Yes, Lord Galcian."

Galcian gave a slight nod to Ramirez. The young man pushed off from his wallside resting place and joined his master as they left the room. The pair set off down the hall and prepared for their audience with the Empress. Alfonso followed quickly in a huff, trailed by De Loco. The latter man seemed all too eager to return to whatever work was waiting in his laboratory.

That left Gregorio, Belleza, and Vigoro. All three lingered in the room, each regarding the others cautiously. After a pause, Gregorio fell back into his seat with a weary sigh.

"What's on your mind, old-timer?" Vigoro's tone was just serious enough to tell the aged general that even her felt some uncertainty about what had transpired. Belleza said nothing. Instead, she walked towards a nearby fireplace and stared into the crackling flames.

"I know we have had differences in the past," Gregorio said diplomatically. "Disagreements about tactics or conduct. But you two have served with distinction for some time so I will speak plainly. I am unsure what to think of this Moon Crystal business."

Belleza hummed in thought. "It is fantastical," she conceded. "But everything thus far has proceeded as Lord Galcian has said. That includes the girl's arrival."

"If it is true," Gregorio began. "We are dealing with power unlike anything within the fleet. If used rashly, these creatures might even lash out against Valua and her citizens."

"Might makes right," Vigoro said. He took a seat and kicked his feet up on the meeting table. "If the crystals exist, which I guess hasta be the case, then we should have them."

"I agree," Belleza said. She turned away from the fire to look at the two men. "It's too great a risk to leave them be. What if the Nasreans were to find one? Once they learned what it is, they would immediately turn it against us."

Gregorio closed his eyes for a moment. "I'm not saying we shouldn't find them," he elaborated. "I'm in full favor of keeping these weapons from our enemies. But the temptation to use them would be far too great. These are ancient weapons; it's not the same as a new ship or cannon."

"What are you suggesting?" Belleza knew the answer but asked the leading question regardless.

"I love this nation as my brother loved it during his reign as emperor," Gregorio affirmed. "But it has been a dark span of decades. The Empress is forever locked in mourning and the Lord-Admiral is… overly fascinated with these crystals."

"Tread carefully, Gregorio," Belleza warned. The old man chuckled in spite of the admonishment.

"Your devotion is splendid," he praised. "But in this matter, you cannot let your heart be your guide."

"He's got you there," Vigoro said brazenly from his chair.

"Whatever do you mean?" Belleza shifted her stance, hands playing with each other.

"Your infatuation with the Lord-Admiral," Gregorio said. "He is a capable man and very shrewd. I grant that. And you have achieved much for someone so young; he was correct to appoint you a command… But he's not a man given to sentiment. You'd do well to remember that."

"It's not like that," Belleza insisted. "I simply believe your worries to be misplaced."

Vigoro snickered. "Now, now. Even if the Lord-Admiral won't have you, my bunk is always open."

Belleza took a step towards Vigoro, hand slipping towards her side. With a blur of motion, she brought a blade to Vigoro's throat. The brash lothario chuckled lowly.

"I do like women with a little fight in 'em."

The knife danced near Vigoro's throat before Belleza pulled it away.

"One of these days," she said. "It's going to get you killed."

"Stop this," Gregorio commanded. He drummed his fingers on the table. "At the very least, we can agree that the Gigas pose certain risks. Even with the crystals in our possession."

Vigoro shrugged. "There's two kinds of people in the world," he explained. "Those with the boots and the dumbasses getting trampled. If we wanna keep wearing the boots, we need to find the crystals.

"So there ain't much choice here," he said plainly. "If there's a problem, we fetch the largest cannon we have and blast the damn thing's head off. Simple as that."

"Agreed," Belleza added. "Our orders must be followed. In the event of an issue, we simply resolve to a quick response. Lord Galcian doesn't appear to believe that necessary and I'm inclined to agree. The creatures obey whoever holds the crystals."

Gregorio heaved another sigh. He stood up and walked to a nearby window. The nation, his beloved nation of Valua, slept silently under dark skies. To his estimation, the land looked more fragile than ever.

"Then I pray we never have cause to use them."

Fina never could have imagined the sheer opulence of the Imperial Palace's throne room. The massive hall was the single largest room she'd ever seen, far greater than even the Hall of the Elders back home. White marble floors, somehow touched with golden flakes, reflected an image of such pristine perfection that it was like looking into a mirror. Monstrously large windows flanked by fine velvet drapes allowed just enough moonlight to cast into the hall and mingled with candelabras and moonstone lights that brightened the room like a sunlit field. Huge columns supported the roof, bearing royal crests and other heraldry. It was all completed by a massive red carpet that cut down the room like a river leading a path towards the throne.

Of course, this was not a cordial audience. Fina walked at Galcian's side with her arms bound behind her in silver locks that coursed with yellow magicks at the slightest hint of resistance. Ramirez stood behind them both, keeping a close watch on Fina lest she make a single misstep. Not that she could run far if she wanted; their makeshift walkway was flanked by an indulgent cadre of royal guards whose glimmering steel armor held a purple shade. Each of them were armed with spears. There was no doubt in Fina's mind that any attempt to run would be met with the most swift response. For a moment, she longed for her quiet stateroom prison. At least there she didn't risk sudden death with a single misstep.

"The Lord-Admiral Galcian Abrantes Ortega and his estimable Vice-Captain Ramirez Plata," a guard called out by way of proclamation.

Fina allowed herself the slightest hint of bemusement at her fellow Silvite's clearly counterfeit name although it faded quickly. Another sign that Ramirez was no longer the man she knew. The young woman allowed herself to look up at the throne before her. Placed upon a raised floor, it was made of the most resplendent gold. It was, in fact, so meticulous and magnificent that Fina wondered if this world had outdone the indulgence of the Old World. An aged woman sat upon it, grey hair fashioned with pearls and wearing a large purple dress with a high collar and whose silk caught the room's light at just the right angle. Enrique stood to the throne's side at just enough remove that he might be ignored.

Galcian and Ramirez knelt in formal reverence. Fina followed suit lest she incur anyone's fury. The Empress looked at Fina with a sublime mixture of amusement and royal boredom.

"As you have requested, my forces have captured a Silvite," Galcian said. He rose to his feet. "I am sure you will be pleased to know that the girl, Fina, will be able to assist in locating the Moon Crystals."

"Excellent," Empress Teodora intoned. Her voice cracked like a rusty wheel. "You have yet to fail me."

The Empress rose and walked forward to the top of the steps that separated her perch from the rest of the hall. She examined Fina with the same disaffected eye that she might have regarded a fine vase with. The young girl nervously looked to the side.

"So, this is what a Silvite looks like," she said. Her tone made it clear that she considered Fina no better than an interesting animal in a menagerie. "Such a beautiful girl. Her clothes are interesting as well... A fine specimen…"

Teodora hummed, her haughty gaze affixed on Fina. "With your help, we will take a step into a better future," the Empress intoned. "One where the Valuan Empire spans the entire world."

"Such is your will," Fina replied meekly. Not a promise of aid but a neutral way of avoiding the woman's displeasure.

"It is," Teodora said with gross glee. "Yet, you seem sad. Why do you not rejoice with us? With your knowledge, all who oppose us shall fall. Their islands will be reduced to ash and dust."

Enrique chanced a step towards his mother. "Mother, we should reconsider this course," he said firmly. "There are troubles amongst our own people. An empire that does not listen to the plight of its people is destined to fall… These crystals will lead us to ruin!"

Teodora didn't even look at her son. "Enrique, we have spoken of this and you still have much to learn, she said. "You cannot walk the path of an emperor and concern yourself with petty worries. Our nation will not be secure until our enemies are dealt with."

"Mother," Enrique replied carefully. "What use is an empire if we sacrifice our souls? Our own land is sick. Inequality grows daily, the nobility schemes as commoners die. It can't continue…"

"Don't you understand?" Teodora's voice wavered with a strange sadness. "I am building this empire for you. There are so many threats in the shadows, Enrique. They must all be brought to light and put to the sword. The Gigas will help cleanse the lands.."

Enrique stepped forward again and into his mother's view. "This is not what father would have wanted."

The room grew silent. It was as if he'd walked up and slapped his mother in the face. She turned on him, face wrenched into such fury that Fina feared she'd order her own son executed. "How dare you…"

"Mother…"

"Leave," she ordered. There was only a moment's pause before she repeated herself in a wild shriek. "Now! Leave!"

Enrique gave a nervous bow, eyes darting to Fina before he stepped back. It seemed that even he would not test his mother's rage. Teodora heaved a ragged breath, once again looking to Fina.

"Now, young lady," she started coldly. "We know there are six crystals underneath each of the moons. We know they will grant control over these… ''Gigas." You will tell us where to find each crystal."

Fina stood up straight. "Your son is right," she advised. "These creatures will destroy you. If you awaken even one, your empire will be cracked into dirt and ruin."

"Do you think we are so ignorant of their power?" Teodora could hardly believe the young woman's presumption. "That power is exactly why Valua must possess them. You will tell us when to find the crystals and you will do it now."

"I would rather die before I tell you," Fina said firmly. Her voice held no fear and it rang through the room with a surety that Teodora could never match.

"What did you say?" The Empress' cheeks burned red with anger.

"Humans must never control the Moon Crystals and the Gigas ever again," Fina stated. "Petty dictators like yourself brought destruction to the Old World. You will not do so again!"

At her back, Fina sensed Ramirez shift ever so slightly. Galcian dismissed the man's motion with a single finger.

"You dare insult me? Me?! The Empress of the great Valuan Empire! Here in my palace?" Teodora cut a glance towards her guards. "Kill her!"

Enrique stepped forward again. "Mother, think about what you are saying," he soothed. "You can't kill her!"

"Of course I can," Teodora said. "My word is absolute."

At this Galcian spoke. "I advise against it, Your Highness," he said. "We require this woman if we are to find the crystals. After that is done and if you desire? She will die."

"I am begging you to believe me," Fina shouted. "The Gigas' power should not be underestimated."

Ramirez finally acted. He struck Fina hard on the back of her skull. She fell to her knees, the room spinning.

"Quiet," he growled. Perhaps it was a trick of her hearing, but she could have sworn there was a minute hint of worry in his voice.

"Very well," Teodora finally said. "You will live for now, child. However, I will ensure you see firsthand what awaits those who defy me. Tomorrow, we shall head to the coliseum. I'm given to understand you were found alongside some foul air pirates.."

"They… are good people," Fina managed to choke out. She looked up to see Teodora, whose cruel visage was still seething with anger.

"Well, you can sit and watch as these 'good people' die. Then you will understand what happens to all who defy me." She offered a glance to Galcian. "Was there anything else, Lord-Admiral?"

"There was," the man intoned smoothly. "Doubtless, the reports of Admiral Alfonso's cowardice have reached your ears. As such, I make a humble request: that my Vice-Captain be given the rank of Admiral and take command of the Mid Ocean fleet."

Teodora looked at Ramirez. The man's face was unreadable. "You swear to uphold the demands of that rank, and to serve us and the nation of Valua?"

"I do, Your Highness," Ramirez said coolly.

"Then it is done," she said. "Admiral. And my first order is one I extend to the entire fleet including the Lord-Admiral: find me the Moon Crystals. I will not tolerate failure."

Galcian bowed. "As you command," he said.

"Now," Teodora pronounced with a gesture to Fina. "Get this animal out of my sight."

Ears ringing and vision still blurred, Fina felt herself forced to her feet and half-carried away. The throne room wavered in and out of her awareness. Whatever courage she'd found before had been replaced by a fresh fear: unless something miraculous happened, Captain Dyne and his crew would die tomorrow.