Steady as we go 4- Learning on the Sea

Left alone on the deck with the knowledge that maybe he wasn’t that great at magic, Wilkes chewed his lip. Pauline’s form grew distant as she flew away. Her wings were indeed for more than just show. Watching the redhead glide through the air, as free as the clouds in the sky, a deep pang of jealousy took hold. One day he would be that free. Instead, he found his feet firmly on the ground. Only able to steal moments of freedom. Maybe that was the lesson Zephyr had found for himself. How to be truly free.

Once she was out of sight, Wilkes focused on the sky alone. The infinite expanse of it, sprawling over him. The clouds in the sky mocked him as they drifted by, as free as they were. He grit his teeth, clenching and unclenching fists at his side. There was nothing to be done but wait. To train, to learn more about the magic roiling inside him. The wind would be his, the clouds would be his, the fury of the storm would be his. And with that he would smother the sky that mocked him.

Things clipped along calmly for a time, Rangpar rounded out his turn at the helm following along the planned course. The orc wiped his eyes drowsily while Wilkes shuffled into the spot at the helm. They didn’t exchange words, there was little to be said during shift change anyways. It was a cloudy night at sea, meaning what little Wilkes could see beyond the dull brown of the deck was the choppy foam of sea before it dropped to a deep inky black. Squinting towards the horizon, he tried to keep a steady line. The water was a bit rougher now, and the darkness left him relying on his other senses where he could. The whistling of the wind led him, matched with his own intuition. Captain Tellish’s boots thumped up the stairs as the boards creaked gently. Giving the old sailor a nod he settled in for what he believed to be a long conversation.

“Evening captain.” Wilkes said, keeping the wheel steady as they moved along. A grunt was the greeting he got in return. “Come to keep me from sleeping on the job?”

“Aye lad, rather not wake to us another three days off course after the prissy naval officer told you to drive us three off in the first place.” Jonah spat taking a small sip from his flask. Wilkes heard him flick the bill of his cap, straightening it back out after hours of wear. It was a simple thing, black all the way through. A round bill typically blocked the sun from getting directly in his eyes was adorned with a copper colored braid. Wilkes now knew that was a remnant from his time in the navy. The matching watch and chain were the other matching bit of evidence. “Figger I’ll tell ye a story from when I was your age, and fresh outta naval training. Before I met brucie boy.”

“I’m all ears, though my hands and eyes are busy.” Wilkes said, smirking as the captain groaned in annoyance.

“Of course lad. Of course. Right, it was the summer. Hadn’t even met my sweet salima yet, I’ll tell ye that one after. I was the only recruit out of Thellin. Mostly because I was the least important part of the old fishing crew back in my day.” The captain paused to wait for a comment that never came. “Hnn, thought you wouldn’t believe that. That or yer only pretending to listen. Ah well. Like I was saying, being the wash out of the fishin crew meant that when the navy came knocking I was all but handed over. They gave me a magical assessment and found I was an advanced class in fire and wind, with no abilities in any other element. Essentially, I was a powder keg that hadn’t found a lit match yet. Combustion magic is what they called it.”

“They name specific kinds of magic like that?” Wilkes asked, trying to keep his curiosity at a surface level. He had been wondering about it since his own assessment.

“Just the ones that can cause unique effects when you slam enough elements together in one person. Someone with all four except for fire is considered a creation mage, while everything except water is destruction. There’s literal thousands of combinations so I don’t quite remember ‘em all. Wasn’t where I was focused. Speaking of focusing, when they found out about my combustion magic, they stuck me in a shock troop team. I was meant to rock up where things were getting rowdy and with a group of three others. Bruce was one of ‘em, but I’m skipping ahead there sorry lad.” The captain rubbed his forehead beneath his cap. “Memory of it all is getting a bit fuzzy as things go on. Do yourself a favor and avoid slamming yer skull against too many things.”

“You were telling me about your early naval training and I think about to talk about your early magic training once they pinned down what kind you had?”

“Aye I was lad, good instincts. Right after they taught me how to not lose a finger handling a firearm, and the basics of being part of a crew they reviewed me for a magic unit on account of my aptitude and subtype. I was trained to cause hot points in the atmosphere almost like the charge in a firearm. Meant I was the only one slinging lead in a rain storm.”

“So when you told me about burning down that island…” Wilkes interrupted before trailing off.

“Aye. I used magic to do it. Haven’t intentionally used any since.” Jonah said sharply. “Point is, combustion magic is used in one of two ways. How the navy taught me, and how I’ve seen a few others do it. Explosions like that are useful in rock quarries on the mainland, let ye do the work of a whole team by yourself, but ye run the risk of caving yerself in if ye go willy nilly. It was blasting in a rock quarry where I met Salima.”

“Really? She said she knew you from a workplace once, I had figured you met her while in a port.” Wilkes said

“Well, assuming only gets ye as close as ye can guess lad. But nah, I met me sweet Salima during a cave in. Another group had gotten trapped, I was blasting away at the rubble and she was hauling the scrap. Watchin’ her put all that supple muscle to work lit my heart ablaze. Took out for a night of drinkin’ and ended up spendin’ the rest of my life with her. I’m a right lucky bastard.” Jonah said, sighing fondly as he sipped his flask again.

“Hmm, suppose I’ll be talking about Beatrice shooting me in the woods to the next generation of sailors then.” Wilkes joked and Jonah let out a belly laugh.

“Right you will, whether they pop out as me grandbaby or not.” Jonah slapped his knee as he leaned against the railing near the helm. In the dark light, Wilkes saw his eyes shine with glee. “Speaking o’ grand babies, how soon can I expect one? I know ye two go at it like rabbits, but I figure yer playing smart fer now. At least til she walks the aisle and to yer home.”

“Aye, playing as smart as we can. And as for giving you a grandbaby, you better ask your daughter rather than me. Not sure I can look you in the eye and talk to you much about it.”

“If yer gonna be sheepish about yer time with my daughter, how the hell are you planning to tell me about the other women she’s gonna have you pull in? Especially the lil oracle down below.” Jonah drawled drily “Playin’ coy is far from yer strong suite lad.”

“Ye got me. Most of what I’ve done with Meryl is kiss her through her veil though. It’s far from physical.” Wilkes admitted

“Life with oracles rarely is. It’s a cruel fate y’know; to be the one reading everyone else’s. The greatest warmth they usually get in the touch of their gloved fingers to a palm they’re readin’. I pity the poor thing.” Jonah admitted. “Had an aunt who was an oracle. The navy came on behalf of the reagent and just took her away while she was still toddling. Only reason I ever heard about her is because my pa kept trying to sail out and find her.”

“Oh. I didn’t know Cap’n. Did he ever find her?”

“No. All he found was the bottom of a bottle and a reason to slam the back of his hand against me ma and me. But that’s just how the cards were dealt I guess. Er, how fate was woven. Load of horse shit if ye ask me.” Jonah said, taking a long drag from his flask this time.

“Not to be an ass, but why’re you telling me all of this now Captain? We’ve known each other for years, and I’ve been with Beatrice for months.”

“Because it’s one of the first times I’ve managed to talk to ye without either of us storming off or doing something reckless. There’s a lotta me I see in ye, trying to give ye the talks I wish my pa had been sober enough to give. Make sure ye gotta the good outta my run on this world rather than the bad.” Jonah admitted, taking his hat off and running a hand through his hair. The visible graying at his temples was beginning to creep onto the top of his head. “Besides, outside of Rangpar, the closest thing I got to a son. Not from a lack of tryin’ though.”

“Well… I’d be glad to be yer son. Maybe I’ll walk Bea down that aisle and we’ll be the new mr. and mrs. Tellish.”

“If you want. I’d rather ye find a name of yer own. Mostly because Erik already asked me to take the Tellish name.” Jonah said with a sly grin. “Though, I suppose ye can both be my sons on paper. I already heard enough rumors spun about ye both being my bastards and apprentices.”

“Wait, some people think I’m courting my half sister?”

“Yes, but they don’t go sayin’ it aloud. Fear of somebody smashing an ale glass over their head is a good lip shutter.”

“You mind if I ask you some things about the navy then?” Wilkes hazarded the question

“Only if it’s about how they taught magic. Ye got plenty of life to live before you walk through their doors.” Jonah said, narrowing his eyes cautiously.

“It was actually. Pauline is keen to teach me some of the basics. She said I had astounding potential and almost no skill.” Wilkes said. He hated lying to the captain, and thanked the gods he could stare at the horizon instead of him. The man had just called him a son in every way but blood, and he lied. The knot in his throat faded as the captain began to hum while deep in thought.

“Hmmm, if I hadta guess, yer problem is ye’ve got too much oomph is how I’d put it. Yer too busy putin’ yer all into every bit of magic ye use. It’s like yer pulling every line like its’ got a full net on the opposite end. Done good stuff fer yer stamina long term sure, but all or nothin’ castin’ is gonna make ye predictable. Sometimes ye need a match, not a bonfire.” Jonah said “Like I bet ye used just as much mental effort punchin’ that hole in the storm that ye do flinging a gust of wind. I can help ye with the wind part of things, but I don’t see ye as the combustion type. If ye were I could help ye more.”

“Pauline said I’m likely a storm mage. Water, Lightning, and Wind.” Wilkes offered, the captain whistled at that.

“Three elements. Did she tell ya why that’s a big deal?” The captain asked, leaning against the railing as he was, a small swirl of wind formed over his left index finger. The first bit of intentional magic he’d done in decades if he had been telling the whole truth. He moved away from the railing, summoning a mote of fire in his right hand. It looked like a hot coal from beneath a cooking pot. It slowly drifted through the air before riding the swirl of wind he had made opposite it. “Elements don’t like to coincide in people. Each element you can learn to master gives you a bit of dominion over the naturally occurring sources. It’s why thellin hasn’t had a bad fire in over twenty years, thanks to your’s truly. It’s also how I knew you had magic long before you showed it off. I felt you smacking the wind around.”

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Wilkes asked

“I figured it was best to see what you could learn first on your own, then give you proper instruction when the time came. Or better, never have you learn much beyond the accidents. Keep you from becoming the navy’s target.” Jonah admitted. The dancing inferno over his finger roared for a moment before making a loud popping sound. It fizzled out after that. “Sorry. Lost concentration.”

“It’s fine, wasn’t too loud.” Wilkes said, the ship rocked hard as the waves got a bit rougher. He cut hard into the wake after, smoothing out their voyage. The wind was picking up, but it was headed south east. They may have to anchor, or start making their own wind.

“Hmm, how about this, first practical lesson. Help me guide this current gust where we need it rather than where it is?” Jonah asked, a wide grin on his face. He stretched a hand out lazily, his palm flat towards the sail before them. “What’s that incantation you always favor? For the sake of freedom, surge along my chosen path. Soar past under my will. Strong Gust”

The following burst of wind was stronger than Wilkes had made on his own. Jonah’s wind filled the sail despite the resistance. The ship picked up speed, even with the waves crashing against them. Wide eyed Wilkes beheld Jonah in a new light. He had added five words to the incantation and nearly doubled its efficiency. “Ye think that was fancy? Watch this lad!” Jonah clear his throat, and raised his other hand.

“Old friend of mine! The one who fills sails and guides the rainclouds to barren fields. That which whistles along our casual stroll. Do me a favor, and I’ll pay the toll. Move this ship with a grace befitting your nature.” Jonah spoke a much longer incantation that Wilkes ever had. A verifiable ball of wind swirled in his hand now, as white as the clouds in the mid day sun. It floated out of the captain’s hand and sat between the mast in the sail, continually pushing them forward. Their pace was doubled, and the waves could hardly provide any resistance to them.

“Woah.” Was all Wilkes had to offer. The questions forming in his mind left his tongue tied briefly.

“So lad, lemme ask ye. Are you gonna keep slamming yer shoulder through every door ye open, or are ye gonna start twisting the door knob?” Jonah teased, taking another sip from his flask. “Will say, I did miss usin’ magic.”

“How did you make the wind that much faster? When did you learn to make a wind ball? Can you do other things with wind like that? Can you run on the wind?” Wilkes peppered the captain with questions.

“Precision for mana conversion gives the element better results. I learned it when ye were a twinkle in yer mother’s eye. I can combust the wind ball by combining a fire mote with it, like ye saw before with the cinder and the whirl. No I cannot run on the wind, I never was good at the contact stuff. I was a range caster first and foremost. Is why I hadta learn to throw such a good punch, no clue how to cast close to myself without getting blown up too.” Jonah answered the series of questions in order. Another cinder hovered over his finger now, slowly circling like like a gull circling the ship.

“Captain, Do you think I could learn to launch a water ball full of lightning?” Wilkes asked, thousands of ideas layering themselves in his mind. If the captain could command wind like that, and he knew fire to the same effect it posed one question. What could wilkes do with water, wind and lightning?

“If ye can learn to make a water ball and how to summon lightning, yeah.” Jonah answered drily “I’m not good at the inventive side of magic. I learned the simple ignition stuff from fire, and the shaping stuff of wind. Just happened to be talented enough in both to cobble together combustion. I wasn’t a prodigy then and I ain’t one now.”

“Can you explain your thought process for it? Every scrap of knowledge is useful.” Wilkes said, hoping to learn something more.

“Right, I guess I’ll explain the pressure system. Fire wants to expand, that’s it’s innate deal. Wind wants to move along a planned course. When I’m doing combustion stuff, I make the wind circle the fire. Acting like a lid. The fire rapidly expands by consuming the wind and some of my mana, until the wind can no longer follow its directed path and it pops. The wind then whips the fire outward in every direction.” Jonah explained “So if you can picture the way you want the wind to move before casting, and give precise enough incanting, it should help ye do things better. I think.”

“So to combine elements I need to understand what both elements want?”

“Well yeah, think of it like telling the lads what to do. Gotta understand not just what work they prefer to do, but how they do it. Makes them better than the sum of their parts.”

“Start small then. I need to figure out how to use water and lightning sooner or later.” Wilkes said, stroking his chin while letting the ship coast along on the wind ball.

“Good luck. Took me two years of study to figure out how to get wind to respond to me, fire was my first element.” Jonah said, when Wilkes deflated he laughed and clapped the younger sailor on the back. “ I am turning in for the night now. If the wind ball drops out, picture like when you swirl a drink in yer hand. That kind rotatin’ image in yer mind will guide the wind better. G’night Wilkes.”

“Thanks Captain. Good night.”