Kindrel’s hands shook as a quill paused along the envelope. “You wish to send a letter to… the Silver Witch?” The girl glanced up briefly and saw Cira’s amused grin and quickly turned her eyes back down.

  “No, no. My friend does.”

  “I see… and would you like me to pen the letter for your friend?” She looked up nervously. It seemed common practice and she had paper ready, so Cira didn’t see any reason to refuse.

  “Sure.” Despite her prompt answer, the girl looked like her life flashed before her eyes. Still, she managed to bring the quill to paper.

  “Whenever you’re ready…” It was such a sad sight, that Cira couldn’t just not say anything.

  “Oh please, lighten up! You’re making me nervous. My temper is nowhere near as short as my friend’s. I’m just trying to send some mail and be on my way.” Despite Cira’s historically winning smile, the girl seemed even more anxious. “Oh, fine… Here it is:”

  ___

  “Madam Witch!” One of my servants burst through the door of the parlour with an envelope cradled carefully in her hands. After Quartz’ ridiculous report, I was left with no choice but to see what was going on myself, so I did not appreciate being interrupted on my way out the door, “There’s an urgent letter for you—it’s from the Hidden Witch!”

  “Impossible…” What now?! “Give it here.”

  Dear Nimara,

  I hope you enjoy the pittance I left behind. If your mastery over earth is so drab that you find value in my leftovers, then it can only warm my heart to see it put to use.

  In the spirit of exchanging wisdom, I have found myself quite curious about your silver well. I think I will go have a look.

  Can’t wait to see you,

  The Hidden Witch

  “Wh-what?!” Oliander’s face turned to shock at my outburst. She had rarely seen me so caught off guard, so I had to rein it in. “Where did you get this?”

  “It… just arrived at the door. An official messenger from the Regulatory Council brought it.” She cowered as my rage subconsciously built. “Apparently… Each family head of the Gandeux received a letter from that Pirate Empress Dreadheart as well…”

  “What?!” Dammit—are they finally making their move?! Why now? “Have you seen it?”

  “N-no, Mistress. I have not.” Oliander shrunk back, but I couldn’t bother to pay attention to her. This handwriting seemed neat and uniform, and there was no mana in the ink. It seemed like a standard letter one could find anywhere. As if to address her concerns, Oliander continued, “Apparently Captain Dreadheart appeared at the Dead Belt’s lighthouse earlier today. She made quite a commotion and narrowly avoided being captured by Hale’s regulator troupe. Nearly a hundred merchants, travelers and the lighthouse keeper herself were witness, so I can confirm her appearance.”

  “Dammit…” This is bad. I can’t pass up this chance to harvest an earth spirit’s blessing, but… I can’t exactly ignore this either. “Oliander, I’m going out.”

  ___

  Kindrel the lighthouse keeper and everyone else in the room shuddered at the contents of the letter Cira spoke across the desk. She didn’t care to hide anything and was actually in a great mood to see the spectacle her appearance had become.

  All this pomp was just enough to take her mind off her dad’s stupid letter. The artifact beneath Kindrel’s desk had stopped emitting mana, but there was a wisp of space trying to condense upstairs. Judging by the low rate, she had time.

  “I might be forgetting something,” Cira leaned away from the desk in feigned thought, “but that’s pretty much what she wanted to say.”

  “And… as this letter is from your friend, how would you like me to sign it off?” She chose her words carefully but overall came across as very professional.

  Cira snickered internally, “Can’t wait to see you. From ‘The Hidden Witch’.

  The poor girl dropped her pen, hastily picking it up. “O-okay… I’ll send it right out.”

  Kindrel fidgeted nervously, not really knowing what to do with the letter as she kept glancing to the ceiling.

  “Don’t worry.” Cira gave her a reassuring smile, “By my estimate we still have five or six minutes. Once you send this along, I will have you write out a letter from me personally.”

  ___

  The afternoon wore thin, and it was a day like any other. I swear, before I was promoted, I was much busier. Now I could only stare at the clock for the last half hour and wait for closing reports. Nothing ever reached my inboxes at this time. Anyone else who needed to contact me was surely staring at the clock somewhere else by now.

  The Fount Saint incident had truly wore me out, and Lomp’s most recent testimonies only multiplied my worries. There was no one to get upset if I headed home a little early to finally enjoy a weekend with my family, so I figured it was about time to call it.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Just in case I missed something when I got up for water at third chime, I glanced over my desk again. There were inboxes from each of the family heads, enchanted boxes of carved wood, stacked up on one side, then separate boxes for each of my fellow Marshalls and one of gold for the royal house. All empty. To my right was a small tower of seven more in case I got direct mail from any lighthouse within fifty miles.

  As if to mock me, the second from the bottom glowed with mana and a single envelope appeared. I considered saving it for morning, but something told me I would regret either choice here. I reached for it anyway.

  “I don’t recognize this seal…” Apparently whoever sent it through the lighthouse brought their own seal. It bore an insignia of a pirate’s hat. “What in the world…?”

  With a deep sigh, I pulled out my letter opener and sliced through the black seal.

  To Whom It May Concern,

  When I deposed the degenerate Captain Wick, it was my understanding that my territory included any island from Dolliver to the top of the Noose.

  Of course, I realize that Earth Vein may claim some stake over Fount Salt, but I do not believe this gives them the right to reap profit at the expense of innocent lives anywhere they wish. You are lucky the Hidden Witch was around to clean up their mess at the old lighthouse or I would have had to step in myself.

  We have left a peace offering to appease that pitiable silver woman, but there is something I would like all members of the Gandeux to understand. Young Nimara has expended the only chance at diplomacy I intend offer you lot.

  A wise man once said, “Before the vitality of healthy roots, the rotten will naturally decay.”

  I wonder, who among you will defy the sky? And who will be crushed by it?

  Can’t wait to see you,

  Eternal Empress of the Myriad Skies, Serena Dreadheart

  “No-” My voice caught in his throat, “No… Not now—”

  The cruel sky didn’t even afford me the opportunity to process this as my door swung open.

  “Hale!” A woman’s voice roared, followed by my frazzled intern.

  “Regulator, sir, I apologize! The Silver Witch has arrived!” She was trying her best, and I really wished I walked out before reading that letter.

  “Yes…?” I tried not to let my irritation leak out. Nimara was a tricky one. Her appearance now was almost uncanny.

  Her sharp eyes glanced at the letter in my hands. It seemed she recognized it, “So you got one too… I think it’s time we eliminate this paltry Saint’s faction—”

  “Hold on.” My gaze narrowed, scruples pinging like alarms, “What have you done?”

  I had never seen her so off-kilter. She was normally aggressive, but there was something desperate in her eyes. Considering the letter I just read, I couldn’t clock out just yet. Sorry, Emily… I’ll be late for dinner.

  “You should more be asking, what has the Hidden Witch done? She thinks she can just do whatever she wants in these skies—”

  “Stop.” I eyed her carefully, and she almost seemed ready to lash out. I had to exercise caution here. The Regulatory Council technically held power over her, but there was no telling what this woman would do if cornered. I am pretty sure she’s stronger than me, and I don’t have any enforcers on hand today. I knew I should have kept Brindle here. Regardless, I had to steer this in the right direction. This may already have become a delicate situation. “Let’s go, Nimara.”

  This threw her off guard. I had known for years the ancient woman was a bomb waiting to go off, and in this moment, I thought I was the only thing standing between her and this great city. Dreadheart would wait for tomorrow, but this witch could not be left unattended. A deep pit in my stomach told me as much. My magic wasn’t well suited for combat, but I could at least hold my own if it came down to it.

  “What… where?” Now her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Nothing got past her. There was a reason most of the Decadin feared this witch.

  “To inspect the peace offering Miss Hidden Witch has left for you.” I got up and pushed my seat in, putting any loose documents back in their drawers and turning back to the dumbfounded witch, “I will accompany you, of course. I’m glad you caught me before I went home.”

  I really wasn’t, but that was life.

  ___

  “And… and how would you like to sign this letter?” Kindrel asked, even more timidly after Cira laid out the letter she wanted to send.

  “Can’t wait to see you,” She chuckled, “Eternal Empress of the Myriad Skies, Cirina Dreadheart.”

  Many had filed out of the lobby, but those who remained shrunk back, unable to look away. She was spoken about like a local legend made up to scare children, yet here she was at the bottom of the lighthouse, simply using their postal service.

  “And… who would you like to send this to?”

  “Hmm… The Gandeux.” She spoke, resolutely.

  “Yes, but… who among them?”

  “All of them.” Cira leaned in, sliding another mithril coin across the counter as she finished penning the letter. The stamp in her left hand transformed slightly and she slammed it down once the girl finished pouring a dot of wax over the seam.

  Cira watched the girl glance at the seal of a pirate hat on black wax. After a brief pause, Kindrel frantically placed the letter into a box before it disappeared into wisps of light. It was a very interesting artifact and Cira considered taking it to study, but didn’t want to be rude to these people who had nothing to do with it.

  “I-is there anything else?” Poor Kindrel shook, quill in hand.

  “No, I think that will be all for today.” Cira noticed a spatial fluctuation in the floor directly above her, and ten mages at close to the Quartz Witch’s strength appeared. They were noticeably concealing their mana, but one at the front exceeded the rest by at least double. Quite impressive, she thought. Cira wanted to see what they were made of, but a fight in such a public space would be bad. “I suppose I better be going now.”

  A sorcerer should never exit in the same way twice, and Cira would never again exit in this manner lest she give up her identity. It was something more than an illusion, merging her undine powers with a superfluous conjuration of water drenched in darkness. For kicks, Cira added some salt she had in her pocket and shadowy waves like the dead of night crashed upon the lobby. As everyone took in the aroma of the sea, the illustrious Captain Dreadheart was already gone.

  Kindrel backed up from the counter, ankles drenched in seawater with a gasp of shock. “What… where did she—”

  “It’s over, Dreadheart!” A famous enforcer Kindrel recognized burst in, staff ablazing.

  “Enforcer Brindle!” His face turned pale as he watched black waves flow out the open front door. His feet were soaked now too, and he scanned over the terrified faces of the other patrons. There wasn’t a pirate in sight.

  “Where is she?!” He roared over the crowd, eventually settling on me.

  “She just left…” If only they were faster, Kindrel lamented.

  ___

  The moment Cira returned to her garden, Nina flew up and slapped her on the forehead before crossing her arms in judgement.

  “Was that too much…?” Cira couldn’t restrain her giddy smile. The sorcerer she was had been in a slump, and walking in the boots of a certified pirate empress was a thrilling escape. “I can’t just let Nanri’s mom run rampant, after all. I’ve got a daughter to think about, after all.”

  The nymph descended to Cira’s palm and continued to judge her. “Stupid. Reckless.”

  “Oh, come on…” She didn’t want her good mood to dwindle, but if she thought about it deeply, she had certainly turned a stone which could not be unturned. Still, her heart thumped in her chest, Cira’s blood was flowing. “Aren’t I allowed to throw my weight around every now and again? To hell with that demon, and I could care less about the church or some witches. Even if it’s my father… No one will choose my path for me.”