(Ein gets 100 coolness points!)
(Trent: Valos isn't anywhere near the camp, which was likely destroyed by the volcano. He's now flying towards Laus, which is on a moving island detached from the mainland.)
----
Draven turned to the deputy and listened to the message. He thought for a moment. Valos likely isn't capable of that sort of magic. Zeros' perhaps... He thought back to Ragnar's hiding his other city in another dimension. Ragnar is also capable of that sort of destruction... Also, Valos would report as soon as the job was done.
"Tell him that I am also pleased at the news and not to worry, for I will reward my general personally. However, I have not received report that the job is done yet, so be on the lookout..."
He took a few steps towards the window and removed the orb from his pocket. It glowed in his palm.
"Valos! Report!"
(It's possible that Valos could have left his orb in the camp.)
----
One of the three damaged airships returned underground. The other two had landed in front of what was left of Redvik. Much of the sun was blocked out by the wall of frozen lava that now surrounded the fortress. It was almost as if they were in a crater.
Vincent evacuated the ships and walked around them, inspecting them. The soldiers and engineers stood around, watching curiously (while also marveling at the wall of magma that almost overtook them).
With some white chalk, Vincent drew some strange symbols in seemingly random spots on the black hulls of the massive ships. It took him several minutes to do this until his was satisfied. He motioned for his men to stand back, and they did, forming a circle around the two airships. The general moved directly in front of the two ships and placed both hands on the dusty ground. Suddenly, a bright blue stream of light flowed from his hands, following the ground and engulfing the ships. The symbols on the hulls glowed as well. The two mammoth airships slowly floated up off of the ground and began to move towards each other, the metal sides passing through each other and merging with a bright flash of light. The light molded the ships and the size shrunk somewhat. When it was over, one airship was there, resting on the ground. It looked different-- a smaller, sleeker design. Furthermore, it was completely repaired.
The onlooking soldiers gasped in awe and began clapping. Vincent ignored them and examined the new vessel, walking around it a few times. Once on each side, he pressed his palm against the black metal and the side of the ship changed shapes, a short wing growing from the side.
He adjusted his glasses and smiled when he decided he was finished. He approached the Colonel, who saluted him.
"I've merged the cores of the ships. It's a little less stable, but according to my calculations, this one should output four times as much power."
"Sir, may I ask what you plan to do?"
Vincent removed his glasses and began wiping them with a white cloth from his pocket.
"Why, follow him, of course."
"But sir, shouldn't we report to the Emperor?"
"We've been attacked, Colonel, which authorizes us to counterstrike. Besides, the fortress remains intact. There's nothing to report."
A few bricks from the semi crumbled southern fortress wall broke off and began to tumble downward.
"Y-yes sir..."
"Remain here, Colonel. If the Emperor makes contact, simply tell him the truth. We've been attacked and I pursued the attacker. I doubt we're that important, though... Evacuate everyone to the underground facilities. The upper levels may be unstable."
The Colonel saluted again.
"Yes, sir. Good luck..."
Vincent waved towards a group of the surrounding soldiers. About fifteen men came forward and boarded the new airship. Vincent entered and the door closed. The ship's engines hummed, and a yellow light emanated from underneath, as the others did. The airship took flight, rising straight up, above the wall of frozen lava and fortress, and blasted forward.
