The next morning was a flurry of activity as I transferred designs from Memory Palace to books, finished up the last of the corridors behind Tetherfall, and made arrangements for Bevel's next couple weeks of lessons.

While I wasn't ready to open the door to the bathroom, my decision to set out to check on Nexxa did require some preparation.

That said, it was mostly for travel.

My people were as safe as could be, locked down inside as the Howl raged without. The greenhouses were producing far beyond what I'd expected, even without a full set of enchantments in place. Something Xoth was slowly working to add to. Vetrov had even connected most of them, much like we'd done with Tetherfall and Verdant Point. She'd probably be finished and on to her next project by the time I returned.

At the rate we were going, I was rethinking the potential deal with the Shaper's guild. They wouldn't have much to offer us by the time the Howling season was over. And what they could offer would be worth a lot less.

A rather anxious Alister had spent the morning walking Tamrie and I through projected yields, use of supplies and a half dozen other things. Most of the meeting was spent with me reassuring the man that I’d be back in a couple weeks, despite his numbers saying we’d be fine until summer while Tamrie kept casting glances in my direction.

After that was done, I got to spend a few minutes with Inertia, going over her latest work with balloons. Some of her ideas had me tempted to stay, but I’d already committed.

Inertia had finally managed to make more Forgehearts, now that we knew about the hot springs. She'd whistle-hiss-laughed about it for a full hour after she’d found out, according to Tresla, constantly shaking her head at herself for missing the signs. Then she'd got me to build a way into an active lava chamber. One she insisted remain under her control while she was inside. Only then did she produce another half-dozen Forgehearts from hearts she'd been saving in my ring.

Most of those had gone into upgrading Soaring Wolf. I'd decided to rename it after the latest round of upgrades, since it was effectively a new artifact at that point. I'd also worked my magecrest into icons on both wings and given it a proper howling wolf themed appearance near the front of its new enclosed canopy.

Flying through the storms would've been challenging, even if I did have my upgraded Shield, Aegis of the Undying. Nice as it was, it wasn't strong enough for me to call it that, even after my modifications. I could run it, but it took a solid third of my mana to activate, and then ate up all of my mana regen besides.

What it was, was really good for getting me through the clouds, both up and down. And once I was above them, I could switch to my first Order shield spell for long term flight.

With eight Forgehearts powering the thrust, it meant I'd be making excellent time. It should only take me three twelve hour days to get there. Which… okay, that was a lot of flying. But according to the maps, it was roughly equivalent to a couple thousand miles. That was almost as wide across as the continental US. I'd known Ro'an was big, but the distance between me and Nexxa was still shocking.

Spellford, the nearest city in Terra Vista, was around five hundred miles away. That they could make it to us in less than a week was astounding, and spoke to the speed of their enchanted ships. At first it had me questioning why they were bothering to come to my territory. What was in the lands between us that they'd skip right over them? And what else was around me? The 'sheep' who lived in the vales of the Frost Riven proved there were plenty of people. They just weren't active on the international stage.

As I’d made my preparations, Tamrie had told me that those lands were indeed occupied. The reasons varied, from actual cannibals to incredibly isolationist nations. The most common problem, especially closer to me, were the powerful monsters. Balthum hadn't exactly done much for his own domain, nevermind the neighbors. And there hadn't been much of anyone else around to do anything either, not outside the borders of Terra Vista.

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The Frost Riven had been the other local power, and, well, Vaserra was still getting them back into shape.

"Soar," the clanking voice of Inertia said, drawing me out of my thoughts. She stepped next to me, running her hand over the heavily modified glider. She hadn't been satisfied with just boosting its power and flight time. She'd completely redesigned the wing to increase lift, enclosed the head of the cockpit using transparent stone similar to the stuff I'd used in Mount Aeternia and had replaced the entire frame with the most durable air Affinity bone we had. Most of which had come from the awakened wyvern.

Then, after all of that, she'd gotten Xoth to enchant it to the gills. All so she could surprise me.

Which was why I’d felt the need to make my own improvements.

"Return," Inertia said, placing her heavy hand on my shoulder. Then her gaze lifted, her eyes whirring as they shifted to grant her clear vision despite the storm raging just outside the workshop doors. With an especially loud clank and an uneven release of steam, she added, "Them. Safe. Keep."

"Thanks Inertia," I said as Tresla came running inside.

"What was that?" she demanded, pointing a finger at Inertia.

Inertia shrugged as she slumped slightly, her entire form stilling for a few seconds. After, she started shifting again, whistle hissing at Tresla, whose shoulders slumped. "Fine, but you know you're not supposed to say so much at once."

Inertia nodded, then turned towards me, holding out her fist. "Friend."

"Definitely. Friends. And thank you… for keeping them safe, but for everything else too," I said, bumping my fist against hers.

"Take care of yourself, Perry. And don't take too long, else this one might get restless and come look for you," Tresla said, patting Inertia's leg.

Inertia nodded, squeezing her fist and causing it to create a screeching noise.

"Got it, will do," I said, giving Tresla a quick hug as well.

Then I turned towards the side of the room where the others were waiting to say goodbye. It was just Tamrie, Calbern and Bevel. Everyone else I'd already said my parting words to.

"I would prefer to accompany you, master Perth," Calbern said, unable to keep the frown off his face.

"I know. But I'm going to be up and down through the storm, and I can't stay close enough to keep Aegis up on you," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Besides. I’m not going to be totally alone. I’ll have Neta with me.”

At her name, the rope-cat decided to make her presence known, poking her head out to receive her scritches from both me and Bevel.

"I know you’ll keep an eye on Bevel for me while I’m gone. Don’t want her getting up to too much mischief,” I teased, ruffling her hair.

"Nu uh, you said I need to keep an eye on uncle Calbern," Bevel said, even as she stepped forward to hug my leg. Neta took that as her cue and wrapped around me again. Was amazing how often I forgot she was even there.

"Well, that's cause we all keep an eye on each other. It's not one way," I said, patting her head before she pulled away.

"Really doing this, huh?" Tamrie said from beside her, reaching up to rub at the sapphire in the hairpin. "I… Sure enough, you’ll give more notice next time?"

"Yeah, I…" I swallowed, reaching over and taking her hand, giving it a squeeze. I hadn't been able to explain that part of the rush was because of how I was feeling about her. "It's been too long. Nexxa should've at least sent me a letter by now. The Captain was able to contact us via Spellford, but she hasn't been upriver since the Howling season started. I've been putting this off too long as is."

"Know all that," Tamrie said, which was true. She was the one who'd given me all that information, by way of Vetrov, in the first place. "Just figured you'd give us a bit more notice, is all."

"Sooner I leave, sooner I'm back," I said, unable to meet her eyes.

Tamrie nodded, her fists clenched at her sides.

I opened my mouth, wanting to say more, to apologize or…

Instead, I ruffled Bevel's hair once more, nodded to Calbern, and waved to all of them as I moved over to where Inertia was pulling Soaring Wolf outside.

When she'd first named it, the name had felt pretty needless. Afterall, it'd been the same as the rest of the gliders, for the most part.

Now… now it really was something unique.

I choked up as I looked back. Calbern, Tamrie, Bevel and Tresla all waved back. Was I really going to leave them all behind, just to go check on my sister… a sister who… wasn't even mine? And who might not even want me?

Inertia's hand came down on my shoulder, and I looked up into her eyes. She patted me surprisingly lightly then spread her arms and wings to the side and said, "Soar!"

Only this time, she wasn't telling me the name of the glider.