Vera stepped forward. Her weathered hands examined the wood they had gathered. Despite her age, her movents were precise and confident. "Good quality," she pronounced. "It has not succumbed to damage. I can use this."
"How does this process work?" Marcus asked, out of personal curiosity.
"First, we prepare the wood." Vera explained, directing her assistants to unload specific pieces. "Observe."
She produced an object in the shape of a grinding stone, and the phenona around it proved it was not mundane. The surface was a plasma, grinding the wood to powder so fine it floated like mist. "The powder must be exactly the right consistency. Too coarse and it won’t bond properly. Too fine and it loses cohesion."
One of the penguin assistants waddled forward with a container of what looked like liquid ice. It was water that moved like rcury, yet it radiated bone deep cold. "True ice essence." Vera explained. "Harvested from glaciers. It serves as both binder and amplifier."
She began mixing the components in a large basin. The mixture glowed softly, pulsing with internal light.
"The application must be precise." Vera continued, as she shook the mix. "The patterns follow the ship’s natural mana flow. Watch."
She demonstrated on a small section of the hull. She brushed various runes onto the hull. Where the mixture touched, the ship’s surface took on a subtle luminescence.
Soon her apprentices were involved in treating their ship. The process took about half an hour, with Vera constantly circulating around to ensure even coverage and remove mistakes. By the ti they finished, the Silver Wind glead with subtle protective light.
"There." Vera pronounced with satisfaction. "Such a magnificent vessel. Normally the treatnt might need replacent after a few weeks of sailing in heavy corruption, but this ship might have it last a year!"
"The ship feels different." Valeria observed, running her hand along the treated rail. "We’re grateful." Valeria said formally. "This will allow us to investigate properly."
"No, we thank you! None of you had to help us here in the middle of nowhere, and yet you are. You are good people." Johno replied seriously, then turned to look wistfully at the sea. "Every day this corruption spreads, we lose more of our ho. If there’s truly soone behind this..." He shook his head. "Regardless, we continue."
"Indeed." Lumi said. "What’s our next step in the investigation?"
Johno’s expression grew troubled. "We have suspicions about the source of this corruption. There’s a... resident of the inner sea who has always been viewed with suspicion. Darkwitch Mika."
The na caused a stir among the gathered researchers. So nodded knowingly, while others looked uncomfortable. A penguin muttered what sounded like slurs under their breath.
"She lives on an isolated island in the deepest part of the inner sea," Johno continued. "She practices magic that most consider questionable. She’s known as a dark witch for a reason. And now, this corruption spreads from approximately her location."
Lumi kept his expression neutral, though internally he sighed. He knew Mika had nothing to do with the corruption. She was actually one of its victims, working desperately to save what wildlife she could. That said, this misunderstanding was necessary. Not just for everyone’s understanding, but this would be used to farm XP.
"You want us to investigate her." Lumi said. It wasn’t a question.
"If you’re willing." Johno replied. "We lack the strength to approach her island safely. The corruption is thickest there, and she’s said to be a powerful magic user. But with Aria Knights..."
"We’ll investigate." Lumi said imdiately. "If she’s responsible, we’ll stop her. If she’s innocent, we’ll clear her na."
"Fair enough." Johno agreed. "I’ll mark her island’s location. But first, speak with Mickey at the First Ice Station. He was one of our top researchers on the corruption. Still is. But recently he’s been trying to study the Dark Witch, and might have additional insights. He should have so research reports ready for us, if you can bring those back."
Another quest triggered in Lumi’s interface, causing a slight smile to appear on his face. The experience would co soon enough.
[Quest Received: Corrupted Waters Investigation - Part 2]
[Objective: Find Mickey and bring back his research reports to Johno.]
[Recomnded Level: 35-40]
Johno gave a small sigh, and pointed to a map on the wall. "As you can see, we are here, and the first ice station is here. This provides a problem. While it was fine at first, the danger has been going up daily. Many of our people simply cannot report back by themselves without severe life threatening encounters. So please, help us."
"We will certainly do so." Lumi affird.
They sailed out again, this ti on the treated Silver Wind. The Purifying Wood treatnt proved its worth as they entered increasingly corrupted waters. The water only grew darker, but their ship cut through it without difficulty.
The First Ice Station was built on a larger island, with actual buildings rather than just broken trees. A penguin in a worn researcher’s coat waved frantically as they approached.
"Thank the currents!" Mickey called out. "I was beginning to think no one would co!"
He was older than Pingu, his feathers showing gray at the edges, and one flipper bore old scars. His eyes, though, were sharp with intelligence and burning with frustration.
"Johno sent us." Lumi explained as they docked. "He said you might have information about Mika?"
"Information? I have theories! Hypotheses! Evidence!" Mickey vibrated with anger and excitent. "Co, co! I’ll show you my research!"
His laboratory was cluttered but organized, every surface covered with samples, charts, and notes in handwriting adapted for flippers. He imdiately launched into an explanation, pulling out map after map.
"The corruption follows specific patterns," he explained, tracing lines with one flipper. "It’s strongest around the witch’s island, yes, but the flow suggests artificial direction. Soone is channeling it, concentrating it!"
"You think the witch is responsible?" Elara asked.
"Who else could it be?" Mickey’s voice rose with passion. "She practices dark magic! Lives in isolation! Refuses all attempts at communication! I’ve been saying for years she was dangerous!"
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