Throne of Gods

For the next seven days, the two crew members focused intensely on preparing for the battle ahead. They meticulously readied their weapons, checked their supplies, and finalized their battle tactics. The Red Rose Pirates worked on strengthening the Avalon ship to ensure it was ready for the conflict. They made several important modifications, including adding a protective spell around the vessel. In addition to the spell, they reinforced certain sections of the ship with thin iron plates, carefully welded into place to offer extra protection without compromising the ship's speed.

The science team, meanwhile, devoted most of their time to refining the device that Leo had suggested. They found the idea intriguing and quickly set to work. The first part—the steam engine—was relatively easy for them to construct, as the necessary technology already existed. But the next phase proved far more challenging.

The first three days were spent on constructing the piston mechanism that would create the vibrations needed to drive the sound-producing plates. The experimental devices kept breaking apart during testing. After many failed attempts, the team finally discovered the perfect balance between materials. They found the exact amount of brass and steel that offered the right balance of strength and resilience to withstand the forces involved without breaking under pressure. The pistons would need to vibrate the plates at a controlled rate, and the right material combination was crucial for this.

The next three days focused on designing the amplification chamber—a critical component that would ensure the sound waves didn't dissipate. This part of the device was more complex, the chamber had to contain the sound, focusing and amplifying it so that it could travel over long distances without losing power. Again, the team encountered repeated issues, experimenting with different materials and geometries. But after several adjustments and modifications, they finally settled on a design that could effectively capture and amplify the vibrations without distorting the sound.

Meanwhile, Leo had been focusing on creating a new spell specifically for amplifying sound. He was far more skilled now than when he first arrived, and after a week of focused effort, he felt confident in his ability to create the spell. Unfortunately, no one had attempted anything like this before, so Leo had to invent the spell from scratch. He researched existing spells that had similar concepts. For example, he found a spell that increased the power of fire spells below C rank. Using this as a foundation, Leo created a spell with three circles, a rank B spell, that could amplify sound in a similar way, but it had to be tailored to the specific needs of the experiment.

When the day of the experiment had arrived, the team was ready. They had carefully positioned a large metal plate a thousand meters away on the water's surface. The goal was to send sound waves toward it from the island, testing whether the sound could travel such a distance and still be detectable. The challenge was to achieve this without the interference of water resistance, which could distort the sound.

The team assembled the device while Leo stood by, watching the plate in the distance. Two members of the group were stationed near the plate, their job to observe it for any signs of vibration.

"Which one of these do you think will work best?" Rohesia shouted to Leo, pointing to three different funnels—each with a slightly different size and shape.

Leo studied them carefully. After a minute of thought, he pointed to the middle one.

"We need the waves to be focused, but not so much that they don't spread out at all. The sound needs to reach every corner of the water, so I think this one is our best bet."

Rohesia nodded and the team went to work, installing the selected funnel onto the device. After ten minutes of careful adjustments, the machine was ready.

They positioned the device so that it pointed directly at the plate, which rested a kilometer away on the water's surface. Meanwhile, the captains—along with Briva, Laid, Yevlan, and Miriam Aylin, a B-rank member of the Red Rose Pirates, gathered to watch the experiment unfold. They settled into their prepared seats, awaiting the results.

The twins double-checked the device, ensuring everything was in place. Leo gave a single nod, signaling that they could begin. Just before the machine sent out the sound, a magical barrier formed around everyone present, protecting them from the powerful vibrations. The device then began to vibrate, but to everyone's surprise, there was no sound.

Leo smiled to himself. The first step in creating low-frequency sound had been achieved. The pistons were vibrating as planned, but the plate in the water was unresponsive. They still had a long way to go.

Leo wasn't worried. The next step was to activate the amplification spell. With a wave of his hand, the spell flared to life, enveloping the device in a burst of magical energy. The vibrations immediately intensified. The earth beneath their feet began to tremble, and the sound emanating from the device became so powerful that it seemed almost visible, as if it could be seen in the air.

Three seconds later, the group stationed by the plate in the water raised a white flag, signaling that the experiment had been a success.

The group of scientists cheered, some of them embracing one another in excitement. The twins, filled with joy, jumped onto Leo in their enthusiasm.

"We did it!" they cried.

"Did you see that? The sound was almost visible. It was amazing!" Raymond added, grinning widely.

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Leo nodded, his smile wide, but he didn't lose focus. "We still need to test it underwater," he reminded them. The device had worked in the air, but the real test was whether it would function the same way under water.

"I'm sure it works. We're celebrating tonight!" one of the twins exclaimed.

Leo chuckled, feeling the weight of the past week's hard work. After all the effort, a bit of celebration was well deserved.

…

When they returned to camp, Leo slipped quietly into his tent. The celebration was planned for later that evening, and he still had several hours before nightfall. He lowered himself onto the crude bed—a frame of rough wooden slats covered with a stretched cloth—and let out a slow breath as he sank into thought.

With a flicker of concentration, he extended his awareness into his domain. In an instant, his perception split, part of him remained anchored in the tent, while the rest drifted above the spectral landscape he ruled.

He checked on the three people that were now pledged to him.

Liam had joined the festivities back home. His family's attitude toward him had shifted entirely—now warm, accepting, even proud, of course that was all acting. Liam himself behaved as though he had finally come to terms with everything that had happened.

Marco had been released from house arrest after further investigation cleared him of wrongdoing. He had returned to his usual work, but there was a new tension in his movements—a sense of waiting for something he didn't yet name.

Alina had spoken openly to her community about everything she'd witnessed. After Arlasan and the others examined her account of the prayer, they decided—for the time being—to allow Alina to continue her devotions to him. If all went smoothly, they were prepared to build an altar dedicated to this new god.

Not everyone shared their openness. A faction devoted to the Goddess of Nature viewed these practices as dangerous heresy. Their resentment was growing steadily, and Leo found himself at a loss for how to address it.

His connection to the domain had deepened over the past month. Now he could maintain awareness of both realities simultaneously—his body in the tent and his presence in the ethereal plane. The dual perception had the unexpected benefit of slowing his sense of time. He used those long hours to study new spells, refine old ones, and finish the domain's foundational book.

With that work completed, he could finally say with certainty that this place belonged to him entirely.

After some time spent observing and reflecting, Leo let the domain fade from his senses. He opened his eyes back in the tent and took a moment to reorient himself. The sounds of laughter and clinking mugs drifted in from outside. He pushed aside the flap and stepped into the open air.

When Leo stepped out of his tent, the camp had already transformed into something almost unrecognizable. Strings of lanterns swayed overhead, casting pools of warm light across the sand. Someone had dragged a salvaged ship's wheel upright into the center of the gathering, decorating it with colorful scraps of cloth and sprigs of herbs. The aroma of roasted meat and spiced bread curled around him, rich enough to make his mouth water.

A shout rose from the crowd. Arthur, stood beside a table piled high with bottles. He lifted a mug in salute. "There you are! Thought you'd hide in that tent until dawn."

Leo approached with a faint smile. "I was just…thinking."

Arthur snorted. "Thinking's for tomorrow. Tonight, you celebrate."

Leo raised an eyebrow, he never saw Arthur like this.

Briva and Laid were nearby, each holding cups. Briva's hair glowed in the firelight, and she gave Leo a nod of quiet approval. Laid, ever the more exuberant of the two, stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder. "You should be proud. I've never seen anything like what you've built."

"It wasn't only me," Leo said. "Everyone contributed."

"True." Laid raised his cup. "But you're the only one who looked like he might pass out from exhaustion halfway through the week."

Before Leo could reply, Selina appeared at his side. She was in lighter clothes than usual, her red Rose insignia pinned neatly over her heart. "You did well," she said, voice blunt but sincere. "You made something that can change the odds. That matters."

"Thank you," Leo told her.

The twins materialized next, as they always did—moving as if tethered by an invisible cord. Rohesia grinned and held out a cup. "Drink this. We've decided you're not allowed to stand around looking solemn."

"What is it?" Leo asked, eyeing the amber liquid.

Raymond leaned close, conspiratorial. "Mostly rum. Maybe a little something else. You'll find out."

He sighed and accepted the cup, decided to keep his age to himself. Of course under this young body was a twenty nine years old man. The first sip was enough to make his eyes water. Around them, laughter and music rose in waves. A fiddler and a drummer had climbed onto a crate and were testing out a lively tune that set people's feet tapping.

Yevlan drifted over, his hands tucked behind his back. "I heard you were reluctant to join in," he said mildly. "Are you reconsidering?"

"Apparently I have no choice," Leo said, glancing at the twins.

"Good." Yevlan's smile was the smallest crease at the corner of his mouth. "You deserve a night without worry."

Miriam Aylin arrived carrying a plate filled with food. "Eat," she ordered. "You look like you've lived on air for a week."

Leo realized he hadn't eaten properly in days. He took the plate gratefully and started with a slice of peppered bread. "Thank you."

Nearby, someone shouted in triumph. A dice game had begun at a low table. Laid and a few of the Red Rose pirates—including Selina—were already deep in competition, slapping coins down with fierce determination.

Briva gestured to the makeshift stage where a group was preparing to dance. "When's the last time you did something for no reason except that it felt good?"

Leo considered it, and the question landed heavier than he expected. "I don't remember," he admitted.

"Then tonight's as good a time as any." Briva lifted her cup in a quiet toast.

He moved among them, finally letting himself relax. Each person he passed clapped him on the back or raised a glass. Arthur recounted a half-true story about a storm they'd survived, gesturing grandly. Selina rolled her eyes but listened. Miriam laughed and leaned her head briefly on Yevlan's shoulder. The twins tried to pull Leo into their banter, teasing him whenever he hesitated.

When the music finally began in earnest—a quick, driving rhythm that had no chance of being ignored—people started to dance. Rohesia seized Leo's hand before he could protest. "One dance," she insisted.

He looked around for help, but no one came to his rescue. Even Arthur only grinned, raising his mug as if to say good luck.

Resigned, Leo let Rohesia lead him into the circle. The lanterns overhead seemed brighter, the music louder, the laughter deeper. For the first time in months, he felt a small, solid warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with duty or fear. It was something closer to belonging.

As the night wore on, the worries he usually carried slipped further away. The machine, the spells, the uncertain future—they could wait. Tonight was for the people who had built something extraordinary together, and for the rare, fragile peace that came when they allowed themselves to celebrate.