"So… what does that mean?" Greldo asked, staring at the page, then back at Irwin. "Are you telling me I'm becoming some blasted noble?"

  "I have no idea," Irwin replied, turning to Ambraz.

  The Ganvil was hovering over Su, who was still knocked out on the couch, shuddering as her body went through more changes.

  "Ambraz, do you have any idea what that mutation is about?"

  "Kid, I've got no clue. I've never heard of it, and we'd have to either talk to Brazardian, check the main charter of the cardsmith guild, or search the Library to find any more information on it. None of those are an option right now."

  "I've got another idea," Greldo grunted, and he vanished only to reappear a moment later with Gloom.

  The Nyzir looked at Su in surprise, then turned to Greldo.

  "My Lord?"

  Greldo raised an eyebrow, and Irwin barked a laugh. Gloom's timing to revert to his old mannerisms couldn't be more appropriate.

  "Read that and tell me if you know anything about that last bit," Greldo said, pointing at the booklet.

  Irwin blinked, then grabbed it and covered most of the card with his hand. Although he was slowly starting to trust Gloom, it wasn't up to him or Greldo to share this much detail of Su's card.

  Gloom didn't seem to care, but his eyes widened as he read the bottom line.

  "So, you know about it?" Greldo said, leaning forward eagerly.

  "Yes, my lo- … Greldo," Gloom said, quickly changing his words when Greldo's eyes narrowed. "I imagine that if you could get a read of my soulskill, it would show something similar. Long ago, when new potential Shadow Lords would appear in the depths of the shadow, far from the Shadow Court, the weaker shadow beings would align with them in the hopes of aligning their standing."

  "Yeah, yeah, that's all nice," Greldo said. "But what does it mean to be aligned?"

  "It means that if you command someone aligned with you, they are bound to follow your words," Gloom said. "To use some of the terms Irwin uses, it's as if my soulskill is in resonance with yours, and it will make it hard for me to ignore or disobey what you request. The stronger the one aligned to is, and the longer their alignment lasts, the harder it becomes to resist."

  "So… if I tell Su to do something, she will be forced to do it?" Greldo asked with a look of intense disgust.

  "Not forced, my lord," Gloom said, seemingly once more forgetting how much Greldo hated the term.

  Greldo didn't react, and Gloom hummed. "Forced is the wrong word… Are you forced to help Irwin if he is in trouble? Or Lady Dahlia?"

  What does he mean? Is it like love? Irwin thought.

  He felt as confused as he could tell Greldo was, and Gloom must have noticed this as he bit his lower lip before continuing slowly.

  "Aligned isn't a forced state like the Obedience I'm struggling with. The Obedience that I feel is due to your overpowering presence in the shadowrealm, and that is forceful. Aligned is normally an option, and it's reciprocal because the one aligned will grow faster and stronger than it normally could. In exchange, they will work to further the potential lord's goals. That said… normally, it's something that happens before a potential lord is as strong as you are and only happens during those initial phases."

  Greldo frowned, and Irwin could see that he'd mostly understood but still wasn't happy with it.

  "If Greldo is here when Su wakes, will his presence cause the same Obedience as you are feeling?" he asked.

  "Perhaps," Gloom said, frowning as he looked at the girl. "Although I can sense she has become far more in tune with the shadow realm, I don't know if that works like that. Usually, being aligned means you have some resistance to a lord's overpowering presence."

  "You said you are probably aligned with me," Greldo said. "Shouldn't you have that resistance?"

  "I do-" Gloom physically struggled as he held back another ‘my lord’. "If I hadn't, all our efforts would have been useless."

  Greldo sighed as he turned to Irwin.

  "I don't think I want to take this risk. She seems like a nice girl, but I'm not interested in-" he waved at Gloom. "-more of this. I'll be staying in my room and out of her way until she reaches her goal."

  Irwin looked at him before nodding. "That might be for the best. We might also need to rethink using your soulforce to reforge more heartcards."

  "Definitely," Greldo snorted, before turning to Gloom. "Right, you are coming with me and telling me everything about the old shadow realm and your world that you know."

  "Yes, my lord."

  Greldo groaned while Gloom's face warped into one of annoyance.

  "Sorry."

  "My own fault for ordering you around," Greldo grunted. "Let's go."

  A moment later, Irwin stared down at the unconscious girl.

  "Well, let's just wait till she wakes up," he said, moving back to his couch and sitting down. "Tell me a bit more about smithing with other smiths or using other people's soulforce?"

  --

  Su felt fantastic as she woke. The fog faded much faster than normal, leaving her mind clear. The shadows all around her seemed to hum to her, making her feel secure and safe. She could sense her soulscape, a faint place she could go if she wanted to, and she almost did. Then she recalled where she was, and her eyes snapped open. She was lying on the couch, and, pushing herself up, she saw Cardsmith Irwin look at her curiously.

  "How are you feeling, Su?"

  Su froze, and then, before she could stop, she smiled at him. "Great!"

  "That's good," Irwin said, and a tiny bit of worry she'd not noticed before seemed to fade away. "Now, I'd love to talk with you some more, but you have been unconscious for a while, and we will need to leave soon. Can you go and get your father and your things? Unless you've changed your mind?"

  "No!" Su said, suddenly worried. How long had she been unconscious? She got up, swaying slightly as the ground seemed to distance itself further than it should. Confused, looked around, and it took her a moment to understand she was a head taller than she had been before.

  "That's a passive effect of Irwin's reforge," the Ganvil said from the Cardsmith's shoulder. "You might find you grow a bit more than average."

  Su looked at the Ganvil, then at the towering smith, and she swallowed. "Am I going to become as big as you?" she asked, her worry getting the better of her common sense, not to complain to the cardsmith.

  "No, no," Ambraz answered. "As small as you were, you will just become above average."

  Su sighed, then forced a smile on her face. "I didn't mean to complain, Cardsmith Irwin. I'll go and bring my father as fast as I can!"

  "Thank you," Irwin said. "Try and return before the evening bell, alright?"

  Su nodded, wondering how late it was. She'd arrived here late in the morning.

  "May I use my shadewalking?" she asked.

  "Of course!"

  Su looked at him, then bowed. "Thank you for the cards and my heartcard. I know these are worth far more than the help I gave, and I'll never forget it."

  Seeing the smith smile and wave her away, Su jumped into the nearest shadows with an ease she could have only dreamed of. It felt like she was a fish, swimming with the current through water that was the perfect temperature. None of the usual strain that drained her cards remained, and she felt like she could move through them forever!

  As she shot away from the ship, she felt an oddity behind her. She stopped and turned around, hovering in the shadow of a nearby building.

  Her eyes widened as she saw the shadow ship at the dock, surrounded by a shadowy world of plants and vines. Fishes of different sizes swam around while pockets of denser shadows weaved around the plants, sometimes connecting to each other or splitting apart, leaving long, thin tendrils between them. It reminded her of the rainwater she sometimes watched from her window, flowing down the roof tiles and pooling together before overflowing again. In the center of the small world was a super-dense, shadowy force, and as she looked at it, she felt a sense of joy and belonging.

  Beautiful…. she thought, feeling a desire to summon her lute and play.

  She almost gave in, and only the smith's warning made her turn away and head to her father. As she flowed through the shadows, she couldn't wait to see how her father would react.

  --

  Mikarl Hisarly stared at the lines carved in the sheet of wood on his desk. Jittery and with tiny cuts into the material, it wouldn't be able to guide the soulforce in the way it should.

  "Another failure," he whispered.

  He leaned back in his wooden chair, no longer even able to turn angry. He put his hands down, looking at the horribly bent and cracked fingers. The thick lines of scar tissue and the puffy flesh almost made it look like he was wearing horror gloves.

  If only.

  "That was it," he said, taking a deep breath as he looked around the small room.

  It held the tools he had been able to bring with him inside his soulscape, and they represented the pinnacle of what he'd been able to attain. Mid-quality by the standards of the rich nobles and merchants, but the envy of his competition. The rest he'd had to leave behind in his workshop when he and Suein had fled.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Perhaps he could sell them? It should gain them at least enough soulshards to survive another few years.

  Ninera…

  The image of his dead wife berating him for giving up made him close his eyes and put his head on the poorly crafted wooden desk.

  There was a soft thud from the hallway, and as he spread his soulforce senses out, he jerked upright. There was a powerful presence in the hallway. Had they found him? His first thought was that it was good that Su wasn't here. Then the door was pushed open, and a tall woman walked inside, smiling widely. It took him a full second to recognize his own daughter, as tall as she was now, with silver glowing eyes and beautiful silvery lines around the faint scales that covered her cheeks and hands.

  "Dad! Look! I told you it wasn't a mistake!"

  Mikarl stared at her, and slowly, he recalled what she'd told him a day ago. She'd run in, grabbed one of his older successes -a rune to lock down teleporters- and rambled something about having made a deal.

  It wasn't the first time she'd thought she'd found a way for them to be 'saved,' as she called it. Having her take a precious rune had been a surprise, but he'd just expected her to return with a small bag of soulshards.

  "Did you trade that rune for a heartcard?" he asked before his eyes widened. "Wait. What kind of cards did you choose for your other hand?!"

  How could the girl be so foolish? Didn't she know how important it was not to just pick any card? If she wanted to follow in his footsteps, she needed to have at least one topaz card! Preferably something that increased her soulforce senses!

  "Look! It's emerald rank!"

  Mikarl's eyes widened at her words, but when the small but admittedly beautiful lute appeared in her hands, he almost lost it. It took all his effort to stop from shouting at her.

  He was about to berate her when Su's fingers flickered across the strings, and he felt the ambient soulforce surge and ripple. Stunned, Mikarl watched as his daughter played one of the songs her mother had taught her, but he barely heard it. His full focus was on how the ambient soulforce moved around.

  "Can you feel it?" he asked, interrupting her, as he stepped forward, his mutilated hands clenched tightly.

  "The ambient soulforce? Yes!"

  Mikarl felt a weight drop from his shoulders as he fell back in his chair.

  "Alright. Explain to me everything that has happened," he ordered.

  --

  "Everything is ready," Rindiri said. "As soon as Dinehr and Undiri arrive, we can leave."

  Irwin nodded, looking around the deck. Dozens of Yuurindi were moving around, many using brooms or mops to clean the already clean ship or moving across the sails to polish them. He'd told them it wasn't needed, but Rindiri had explained that they just couldn't stay here and do nothing.

  "How are you going to handle those ships?"

  Irwin glanced at the ships that either hovered in the air beside them or lay moored to the dock nearby.

  "You are going to sail away while Greldo and I remain here for a moment," he said. "As soon as you close in on the exit, I'm going to bring them all into my soulscape, and Greldo will teleport us back to you."

  "Alright. It does mean that we can't really return here until much has changed," Rindiri said.

  "Because it's going to raise questions," Irwin said.

  "Yes, Captain. If you show that ability, you are going to have all the merchants here jumping on you to figure out how you did it. The ability to move this much matter with that ease would be priceless to them."

  "Well, it's a good thing that I'm not planning on returning here any time soon," Irwin said, crossing his arms.

  Or at all, he added to himself. As his desire to see his family grew, he was slowly starting to understand something about himself. He'd been traveling around for years, decades if he included all of the time-dilation, but the time he'd enjoyed most was when he'd been on Mudball with his family. He knew he might not always feel like this, but for now, he wanted to head back and stay there. Prepare for the war that was coming, help the academy grow, and learn more about card creation, but mostly hug his children and Scintilla.

  A short while later, two figures appeared at the end of the dock, walking towards them. Irwin immediately recognized Su, meaning the older man with a worried face carrying two massive packs on his back had to be her father.

  "Well, let's get this part over with," he said, smiling at Rindiri.

  "You are going to reforge it during the journey, right?" she asked.

  "Definitely. We don't have the time now."

  A few minutes later, Su and her father stood before the gangplank.

  "Permission to board?" the older man asked.

  Irwin watched him, noticing his disfigured hands. The fingers had likely been broken repeatedly, and bones must have stuck through his flesh if the scars were any indication. He seemed to have a hard time clenching them shut.

  "Granted," Irwin rumbled.

  The man walked ahead, watching him intently, and as he reached the deck, he bowed low.

  "Mikarl Hisarly, second-tier runecrafter," he said before hesitating and slightly raising his hands. "Until this."

  Second-tier? Irwin felt his interest pique. Su had told him her father could make runes, but what did second-tier mean? Was it similar to the ranks of the Smiths' Guild?

  "Welcome aboard the Bigbelly," Irwin said. "This is my navigator, Rindiri. If you need anything, you can let her know. Now, I take it Su has filled you in on things?"

  The man glanced at Su, who was standing beside him, head raised and smiling.

  "Suein said she has made a deal with you, and after she upheld her end, you have agreed to get her three cards and forge her heartcard," he said before continuing. "She says you will do the same for me, and you will allow us transport to another world?”

  "Correct," Irwin said, noticing the man hesitate. "You have questions?"

  "Could I ask for a small change?" Mikarl asked, raising his hands with the backsides facing Irwin. "I fear cards will do me little good anymore, and I would ask if the three cards could be for my daughter instead?"

  "Dad! No, you-"

  "Enough, Suein," Mikarl said, sounding tired. "I have told you, there is no way for me to slot a card. Even if my middle slot could be fixed, the right one is nearly completely gone."

  "Yes, but perhaps-" Suein began.

  "Enough, daughter. Please."

  The pain in Mikarl's words made Suein look at the ground, her face torn between anger and hurt.

  Irwin had been watching quietly, examining the older man's hands. His three handslots on his left side were mostly unharmed, but those on his right side were mangled. A chunk of his hand was missing, together with the last two digits, causing most of his third handslot to be missing. Irwin had seen things like that before, and he knew that one of the worst punishments criminals got was the dismemberment of their hands, as it locked their future growth into what they had.

  Had it been a month ago, or even a week, Irwin would have agreed with Mikarl's words. Now, however, he hummed thoughtfully.

  What if I just take him from three cards to six and a heartcard? he pondered. Would it be possible to skip slotting the final three cards and binding them? He felt it might be, though he had the feeling it might prevent any future growth… then again. He scanned the man's soulforce and cards. He had one topaz-ranked soulcard and three handcards. Having another soulcard, eventually, even if his handslots never recovered, might be preferable. Besides, what if he focused on regeneration?

  "Mikarl," he said, drawing the man's attention and preventing another outburst from Suein. "Let's discuss this later. There might be something I can do, though it would mean having to experiment a bit. For now, Rindiri will escort you and your daughter to a cabin."

  Mikarl looked at him, and Irwin had the feeling he didn't believe him one bit. Still, the man smiled and bowed again.

  "Yes, Master Cardsmith," he said before pulling his daughter along.

  As they vanished into the depths of the Bigbelly, Irwin hummed.

  "You are planning to make him a heartcard, aren't you?" Ambraz grunted. "I'd like to tell you it's impossible, but by now, I don't even believe that myself anymore. Do realize that if you succeed, he'll probably either lose his handcards on his right hand completely, or he might die in the process."

  "I know," Irwin said, nodding. "Let's talk about it with him in a few days. It will be weeks till we reach the next stop. For now, I hope Dinehr and Undiri are here soon. I don't want to remain here with the risk of something happening that will detain us longer."

  "And the Oculithar?"

  Irwin looked at the barrier and frowned.

  "That's why we are going to go with The Nocturna," he said. "Can you check with Brecka and the others to see if they have warned our new guests?"

  "Bah, using me as one of your lackeys now? I can see being in charge this long is starting to mess with you!" Ambraz snorted, but he did fly up and away. "I'll be back in a bit!"

  Irwin grinned, waiting on deck.

  It took another two hours before a small group of Yuurindi appeared with Dinehr and Undiri in the lead.

  "Are they here to join or to wave at us?" Irwin whispered to Rindiri, who had returned to his side.

  "I don't know," Rindiri replied.

  A few minutes later, the two elderly Yuurindi stood before the gangplank. Dinehr and Undiri were arm in arm, but if that was a signal of love or because they would fall over otherwise, Irwin didn't know.

  Unlike Mikarl, they just shuffled up the gangplank until they reached Irwin.

  "Well, you managed to mess with her mind enough to get her to join," Dinehr said, his voice barely audible as he glared at Irwin and Rindiri. "Let me be clear, I don't think this is the right choice, but I'll be damned if I leave her now."

  "I'm sure you will see this is the best choice soon enough," Rindiri said before Irwin could speak.

  Dinehr's face turned sour, but he didn't say anything. Undiri smiled, her face turning into wrinkled parchment.

  "Thank you for your hospitality and for everything you have done for my people," she said.

  Irwin nodded, feeling relief that they had decided to come mixed with worry that she could talk with other Yuurindi and tell them about Eluathar. Rindiri had told him that neither of the two would ever do that after they learned where they were heading and that he didn't have to worry, but the feeling was hard to shake.

  "No problem," he said, smiling at them.

  Rindiri stepped forward, and Irwin saw a wide smile on her face.

  "Let me bring you to your cabin," she said.

  "Yes. Wouldn't want the two old people to drop dead on your deck," Dinehr muttered.

  Irwin almost shook his head as he saw the duo hobble away. Rindiri's offer to help them was ignored by both elderly Yuurindi.

  "Alright," he said, looking around. "Everyone, prepare the ship! We are leaving in ten minutes! Greldo, please meet me on deck."

  Irwin looked at the cube-like shipyard city and sighed. He'd barely gotten to see the city, and he wondered if he'd come to regret that in the future. For now, however, he only wanted to leave.

  Greldo appeared beside him, yawning widely. "You really sure you can do what you want?"

  "It should be fine," Irwin said. "If we have to, we can leave a few or sell them."

  Greldo grinned as he stood beside him. "I wish I could see the faces of those watching us!"

  "Yeah, that would be fun," Irwin agreed, laughing softly.

  --

  Captain Hyrmine Nath'reag stood on the deck of the portal guardian ship, The Artriguul, watching the aptly named Bigbelly close in on the barrier.

  Are they not at all worried? she thought, shaking her head and turning her attention to an equally distant dock. Captain and Cardsmith Irwin was still standing there with the powerful shadewalker, and she just didn't understand what was going on.

  "What are they doing?" she asked, turning to the soldier standing beside her.

  "Still chatting about how they can fix those ships and if they should sell a few at their next stop."

  Hyrmine frowned and glanced at the Bigbelly. It was five minutes from the barrier. Whatever they would do-

  "They are going to start… whatever that means," the soldier said.

  Hyrmine focused on the distant Irwin. For a moment, nothing happened, and then he and the shadowwalker vanished. A moment later, one of the nearby ships vanished, then another, and within ten seconds, all of them were gone.

  "What?! What happened?" she shouted, looking around. There was no sign of the ships anywhere, and the soldier looked as stunned as she felt.

  "The Bigbelly," the soldier exclaimed.

  Hyrmine's gaze turned to the distant ship, only to see the dark vessel she'd seen before appear beside. It was another enigma, a ship that seemed capable of moving through the shadowrealm, something she'd never imagined was possible.

  The Bigbelly vanished like the previous ships, and a moment later, the sleek dark ship shot forward, vanishing before it reached the barrier.

  "Are you… what happened?" she asked again, trying to wrap her head around what she'd seen.

  "I… captain, I think the ships were either moved into the shadowrealm or…" The soldier hesitated, clearly not willing to say what he was thinking.

  "Inside a soulscape?" she snapped, barely holding her temper.

  That's not possible!

  --

  A roar of laughter echoed through the wharf as a towering smith nearly toppled over from laughter.

  "I can't wait to see those silly merchants' faces," Bleak shouted, waving his arms around. "They're going to have an apoplectic shock!"

  Bleak cast one final look at the barrier, but there was no sign of either of the ships.

  "It's a shame I couldn't have talked with him some more," he said as he turned and waved at the other smiths. "Well! I hope you enjoyed that show. It's probably going to be a long time until any of us see the shenanigans of a diamond rank-two cardsmith again!"

  He stomped away happily, wondering if he should have asked Irwin if he could come.

  Common = Quartz, Uncommon = Amethyst, Rare = Topaz, Very Rare = Emerald, Epic = Ruby, Legendary = Diamond, Mythical = Ammolite