"Thank you sir," said Andre. 

"Call me Gottfryd, Gottfryd Wysoki," said the man. Ironic Andre thought. He fought the urge to grin as the man spoke again. "The nobles call me the Lord of Rebels. You however, may know me as the head of the Nocswehr." 

"It's nice to meet you sir," said Radek. 

Lis remained silent throughout the exchange. It was not until Gottfryd addressed her that she spoke once more. He asked her where they came from. 

"We came from Krakor," replied Lis. 

"Are you all vernbinders?" 

"No. Only me and Andre. Why do you ask sir?" 

"Vernbinders are valuable members of our organization," said Gottfryd. He exhaled and purple light swirled around him, eventually merging with the flowers on his hat. The flowers morphed when exposed to the light, each gaining an additional petal. 

"Um, sir, if I may ask..." said Lena. 

"Go on." 

"Why do you trust us so easily? We could be lying about joining the Nocswehr." 

"Your mouths may speak false words but your hearts tell no lies." 

"I'm sorry sir?" said Lis. 

"It's a skill great vernbinders possess," he replied. "If you observe an organism, deeply, unwavering, examining its very core, you may sense its true emotions." 

"Examining its very core?" asked Andre. 

"Why of course," said Gottfryd. "It's your souls. They make bare your true emotions." 

It was then that Gottfryd pointed at Lis. Lis froze. He said "Lis, I can sense that you and the boy behind you wish to join the Nocswehr." 

Lis and Radek both nodded. "And you," declared Gottfryd, now gesturing at Lena, "are reluctant to join the Nocswehr. However, you wish to accompany your friend out of a sense of gratitude." 

Lena nodded, stunned. "It is you Andre, that concerns me," said Gottfryd. 

Andre froze. The man's words were knives to his heart. "You feel conflicted. You are considering joining the Nocswehr to spare the lives of the gadzina. And yet, you simultaneously wish to gain the love of your family." 

"You can tell all of that by examining my soul?" exclaimed Andre. 

"Not entirely, but I can sense the overall details," said Gottfryd. 

"Then what will you do with me?" asked Andre. 

"Nothing," said Gottfryd. "At least, not for the moment. I trust that you are all exhausted from your voyage. Why not get some rest for now and we can speak again in the morning?" 

He gestured at nearest wall. There were alcoves dug into the wall, each nearly as big as a horsecar. Within each alcove were eighteen beds, nine on ground level and nine bunks above. Radek bowed to Gottfryd and thanked him. He led Lena to the nearest two bunks. Lis and Andre remained where they were. Lis raised her hand. Gottfryd nodded. 

"I have a question if you don't mind sir," said Lis. 

"Go on." 

"Will Lena here be exempt from these? She's quite a sickly child." 

"That's fine. She may help however she can here." 

"I'll stay too if you wish," interjected Radek as he sat down on his bunk. 

"Are you sure?" asked Andre. 

Radek nodded and Andre turned to Lis. She looked at him in return before examining the cavern. It was an enormous room with walls that must have been 20 metres in height. The cavern spanned 400 metres in length and 100 in width and was furnished with dozens of dark wood tables. The tables were surrounded by couches and chairs, each of which were covered with plain red cloth. The walls were covered with alcoves. Some housed people. Most were empty. 

As Lis turned her head, she saw that the cavern was connected to six other tunnels. She could see that some of the tunnels lead to living quarters. She could see bits of beds and closets through the darkness of the tunnel. Another tunnel led into the library. A third tunnel led into the kitchen from which wafted the pleasant aroma of spices. The fourth tunnel led deep underground, to where, she did not know. The fifth tunnel led to a single closed door and the sixth tunnel ended at two closed doors. 

And then, the walls began to shake. The stone seemed alive as it began to crumble until the wall collapsed to form an opening. Through the opening came an enormous creature. It resembled a toad, only it was much bigger, standing at 2 metres in height and 5 metres in length. Its eyes were enormous golden spheres and its hide was a mass of slimy brown skin. It had five small horns atop its head and a thick prehensile tail. 

"What is that thing?" asked Lena. 

"That is a karzeletoad," said Gottfryd. "These helpful creatures have helped us create the cavern you see here." 

"Incredible," said Andre. "Was this creature found or was it created with vernbinding?" 

"With vernbinding," replied Gottfryd. "Fusion enabled the combining of a toad and a burrowing lizard. Germination enabled the creature to grow to an enormous size." 

Andre nodded. It was possible to implant multiple attributes in a vern. One attribute serves as the base and the others serve as additives, though only adjacent attributes may be implanted together. Andre returned his attention to Gottfryd when the man spoke once more. "Now then, I take it you have an airship with you?" 

"How did you..." 

"I have my sources within the city. When are you able to fly again?" 

"Whenever sir," said Andre. 

"And does your father ever examine the interiors of your airship?" 

"No sir. He doesn't trouble himself with such trivial inventions." 

"I see." 

"May I ask a question sir?" 

"Of course." 

"Have you met my father before?" 

"Why yes! In fact, he was the one who gave me this scar," said Gottfryd, pointing at his disfiguration. "He was quite a menace to me, as I imagine he must be for you." 

Andre turned away from the man's icy green eyes. But, despite himself, he glumly nodded, recalling his father's emotionless gaze as he raised the blade that severed his own son's arm. He shuddered in spite of himself. Gottfryd softened. "Why don't you get some sleep for now?" 

Andre nodded as Gottfryd turned to Lis. "I have also met your father Lis." 

"Really sir?" exclaimed Lis. Her face lit up and a smile crept onto her face. She resisted the urge to grin but failed. She pestered Gottfryd with questions until the man said "alright! That's enough for now. You and your companions must get some rest for the following day. Oh, and Andre, do check on your airship tomorrow. It may be of use to use in the future." 

Lis nodded as did Andre. They each claimed a bunk, with Andre beside Radek and Lis beside Lena. And then, they slept until the sun rose again. 

December 24, 1912 AC

The following day, Andre led his companions to the north of the city. Beyond the wall lay a series of little huts. These huts were made of stone though with pointed thatched roofs. Smoke billowed from their chimneys. Beside one of the huts was a sprawling field, flat and devoid of obstructions. It was in this field that Andre had parked his airship. He and Radek had taken residence in the hut alongside a retired farmer. 

The farmer had been hesitant, but relented after Andre gave him a generous payment of 10,000 zlotas. Andre had held burlap bag out towards the farmer. The farmer's eyes lit up and his face twisted into utter astonishment. The zinc coins inside were each 100 zlotas. On the front of each coin was the number 100 preceded by a Z bifurcated by a curved line. On the back of each coin was the symbol of vernbinding: a wraith rising from a nest of wood and metal. 

The farmer had graciously accepted the coins and cleared a room for Radek and Andre. Now, the farmer waved in greeting to Andre and he waved in return. He did not stop to chat however and instead entered his airship. The vessel was still in pristine condition. He led Lis and Rufus down the rear corridor to the bedrooms. He said "feel free to take whichever bedroom you desire." He looked at Lis and said "how's about ladies first?" 

Lis glanced at him but remained silent. I guess he's nice for a noble she thought. She picked the bedroom nearest to her and quietly closed the door. She was alone in a white square room lit with a small brass lamp. The lamp and three books rested on a dark wood table beside a bed and a little closet. A mirror lined the wall opposite of the door and she gazed upon her reflection in it. She was still covered with dirt and her hair was still a tangled mess. She placed her ear against the door until the hallway became entirely silent. 

And then, she opened the door and marched to the second last room in the hallway. The door here led into a bathroom. It was the only one on the airship but was well furnished with a sink, a flush toilet, and a row of shelves for placing soap and towels. A mirror was placed above the sink and she examined her reflection once more. Then, she removed a comb form the shelf and tidied her tangled locks. She then rinsed her hair with water and returned to her bedroom. Once dried, her hair was no longer caked in dirt. Instead, it had regained some of its former luster. 

She smiled at her reflection before turning her attention to the three books upon the table. Her father had taught her to read and the sight of the books reminded her of him. The books were tantalizing, beckoning her to come closer. One book was about beetles. That did not interest her. The second book was about mechanical engineering. She held no interest in this either. The third book however was the history of Vryland. She recalled her father's words about a time when the skrull and the nobles were equal. 

Lis picked up the book and slowly began to read. The floor beneath her rumbled as the airship slowly ascended. She briefly closed the book to look out of the window. Through it, she could see the fields below her grow ever smaller with each passing minute. The city's buildings became little specks on the horizon and even the mountains seemed more like bumps. As the airship sailed through the skies, she observed the clouds. They formed a myriad of different shapes. One was shaped like a bed. Another was shaped like a mountain. Another was shaped like a castle. 

The airship passed through one cloud. The windows were obscured by a pale grey veil. And then, the clouds parted to reveal dark blue skies. The sun had begun to set and Umbreus became just visible on the horizon. Lis marvelled at the view. To see the world from an airship was like a peerless dream. She reluctantly retreated from the window just as the stars began to appear. She turned on the lamp and sat upon her bed. It was then that she opened the book. 

The tome began with Year Zero, the creation of the first true civilization. That civilization was known as Vrylonda. They established a calendar, writing system, a centralized government, settled agriculture, and a unified system of weights and measures. Vrylonda was soon followed by the creation of fifteen different states, one of which was to become Skonessia. Vrylonda conquered its nearest neighbours between the years 230 to 1300 AC. Skonessia was do the same during a similar period of time. 

Skonessia. The name alone sent chills down her spine. It was the home of her ancestors, a land in which the skrull were free. It was a state renowned for its literature and its cuisine in contrast to Vryland's industrial and military prowess. The two states would enjoy a few hundred years of peace until the year 1600 AC. That was when the first of many wars between them was fought. No one won that war. The Vrylanders had more advanced technologies but were vastly outnumbered. 

However, that war saw bitter hatred engulf Vryland. They were the mightiest state. None that have ever challenged them had remained unpunished. To have a state rival them for the first time was a great source of anger. And so, the two would clash over and over again. Most wars ended in a bloody stalemate. Of the few wars when one side one, the other would regain the lost territory in a successive war. That changed in the War of Crimson Seas. 

That war had received its name from the sheer number of deaths. From the year the war began in 1814, the battles were the bloodiest ever seen. They engulfed the lands in nothing but misery as each side struggled to topple the other. The ground became stained with crimson. Plants all but shrivelled. The melodies of birds above were drowned in the symphony of cannons. Remains of swords, shells and cannons were strewn across the lands. Corpses, not flowers, added colour to a blackened world. That all changed on May 13, 1819. 

That day, called the Golden Day, was the day that vernbinding appeared. A burst of gold, like a volcanic eruption, filled the skies with light. The light was utterly blinding, halting all battle midway. When the light at last died out, the nobles discovered newfound strength. Thousands had gained vernbinding whilst none of the skonessians did. It was then that the vrylanders gained an unprecedented advantage. Less than a year later, on May 12, 1820, the war had ceased and Vryland became the sole state. From then on, Vryland ruled the entirety of the land and the skrull became subhuman. 

Lis closed the book, unwilling to read any more. She returned to the window and observed the fields passing below. The fields were all barren, their crop harvested in the months before. Leafless trees dotted the landscapes between streams that crisscrossed the landscape. The ground beneath her grew closer and closer until the airship landed once more. 

And then, she heard a knock on her door. She opened it to see Andre standing in the hallway. He held out a bowl containing some kind of stew. It had carrot slices and lettuce bits floating atop the gold broth. She could smell five different spices and see little specks of red and black. Andre held it towards her with an unsteady smile. He said "all's in order Lis. I thought you might be famished after a long morning's travel." 

"Thank you," she muttered. 

As she reached for the stew, Andre said "why not join me in the lounge? There's plenty of room over there and the seats are better too." 

She hesitated, not wanting to sit beside a noble. And yet, the sincere look in his eyes quickly changed her mind. "Alright," she said, and she followed him to the lounge. 

She sat beside him on a coach. Before her was a dark wood table upon which was the stew. She glanced at Andre, who dined from a tin containing mint biscuits. His eyes were unfocused and his face emotionless. She said "is anything wrong?" 

"It's this situation," he said. "I don't know what to feel about it." 

"I see," she said. 

"It feels like I'm betraying my father's trust." 

"Didn't Radek say that you didn't like your father?" 

"He didn't... I mean... Well... It's a complicated story." 

"How so?" 

"It's hard to explain." 

"Then don't. Just focus on the tasks Gottfryd assigns to you." 

"I guess you're right. Anyways, my apologies for disturbing your peace. I don't know what's come over me." 

"It's fine. Truth be told, you're not bad for a noble," she said. 

His face reddened upon hearing her words and he quickly excused himself. Lis was left alone in the lounge as the airship hurtled through the skies. As she stirred the stew with her silver spoon, she thought of the coming day. She had scarcely taken a bite before Radek rushed into the lounge. Andre froze. Lis nearly spat her stew. Radek huffed in exhaustion for twenty seconds before exclaiming "Andre! Come! Gottfryd has a task for you!"