Fat, fluffy clouds drifted through the clear, blue sky, a warm breeze pushing them along while flocks twirled and sang around them. Far below, canopies shook as the breeze flowed around them. Colorful birds sang across the many branches while small fuzzy creatures bounded through the undergrowth, collecting fallen nuts and fruits while streams of insects marched up the trees all around them.

                Stretched across the continent as far as the eye could see was a seemingly never-ending jungle. Once, long ago, it had been a primal, vicious landscape that consumed all it touched, but as the eons had passed and the planet’s denizens had developed, its voraciousness had steadily been tamed. Large gaps now existed amongst the treetops, well-built roads cutting through the undergrowth with towns and villages cropping up amongst the greenery. While the deeper parts of the jungle were still wild, the threat it had once posed was all but gone, allowing even isolated travelers to find solace in the few oases that existed within its emerald clutches.

                Wind whispered across the top of an isolated hill, grass rolling in the strange clearing atop it while trees and bushes gently shook all around in a soothing chorus. At the center of the clearing, atop a boulder, blue fur ruffled in the breeze. Seven fluffy blue tails lay atop the rock, each one tipped with white, while two large, blue ears cast shadows over the green eyes fixated on the horizon. Letting out a soft sigh, the young girl continued to stare out at the world, basking in the warmth of the day and the comfort of the solitude she had finally found herself in.

                Matching her blue fur, her name was Sapphiria, and she was a Krysheek. The Krysheek were a bipedal species that closely resembled foxes or wolves. They came in almost every color imaginable, had two or three tails, and short perky ears, but Sapphiria was a bit… unique. In all their history, there had never been a blue Krysheek, not to mention one with seven tails or such large ears. Due to her freak mutations, she was treated as an outcast. No one wanted anything to do with her, leaving her days full of nothing but loneliness and heartache with her only respite being isolated pockets like this where she could forget what she was and feel, just barely, like she actually belonged…

                Sighing softly, she turned her gaze to the blue horizon. By her people’s standards, she was still young, roughly in her mid-twenties, which placed her around eleven by other standards. She had already been through quite a lot thanks to her mutations and was effectively on her own, but even though her life was lonely, she refused to let it beat her. Day after day, she kept fighting to prove to her people that she wasn’t the freak that they all thought she was, and although she hadn’t had any success yet, she was sure that one day she would succeed! One day…

                Staring at the horizon with a sad look in her eyes, she suddenly raised her brow as she finally noticed the strange, rhythmic knocking echoing around her. Blinking curiously, she looked down to her right and tilted her head in confusion. After a moment, she finally spoke, “Atom… what are you doing?”

                “What’s it look like I’m doing?” he chirped, continuing to beat a spiny shelled seed against the boulder they were sitting on… standing on in his case. At first glance, one could mistake him for a normal bird, but Atom was actually an automaton, a unique creature with a true soul that she had constructed only a month ago. Most automatons were typically bipedal and designed for strenuous labor, but not Atom. She had modeled him after a type of bird that commonly roosted in her backyard, and his only purpose was to give her the one thing that she had always wanted. A best friend.

                “I’m… honestly not entirely sure,” Sapphiria remarked, watching as the small bird continued to beat the seed against the boulder. Scratching her head, she finally smiled, “Slowly becoming more like your feathered cousins?”

                “Pfft! As if,” he snorted, pausing briefly to look at her disdainfully. Sapphiria giggled as he turned his beak up, “I am far too magnificent to compare to those feather brained morons. Not a single one of them could ever hope to hold a feather towards the grace that is my splendor!”

                “Then why exactly are you beating a seed against the rock?” she asked, grinning as he frowned at it in thought. Since she had no friends, Sapphiria had turned to more scholarly pursuits to keep herself busy, specifically engineering. Over the long years, she had studied every aspect of engineering she could find, even the parts meant for the academics of the capital city. With all her free time, she had quickly become quite adept, allowing her to finally construct her first automaton and acquire the friend that she had always wanted!

                “Again, I thought it would be obvious,” he chirped, smacking the seed a few more times. Setting it down, he pried off the shell before plucking its large, emerald core, “Weipei nuts are supposed to be nutritious, right? Well, I figured you needed something to eat since it’s been a while!”

                “Oh, I guess it has been,” Sapphiria laughed. Taking the core from him, she smiled at it warmly and continued, “They aren’t exactly what I would call filling, but they’re better than nothing!” Plopping it into her mouth, she chewed for a moment before smiling at him, “Thanks for thinking of me!”

                “Hey, that’s what best friends are for, right?” he asked with a proud smile. Hopping to his right, he patted a small pile of nuts he had collected, “I collected a few of them, so if that wasn’t enough, I’ll open the rest!”

                “Wow, when did you have time to collect all of those?” she asked with wide eyes.

                “Uhh, hello?” he asked in confusion. He smacked a wing against his face as she stared at him blankly, “You don’t realize how long we’ve been out here for, do you?”

                “Uhh, no,” she said, wincing as she glanced up at the star. “It’s been over an hour now, hasn’t it?”

                “Closer to two, actually,” he chirped, Sapphiria hanging her head. Chuckling, he shrugged as she looked at the horizon dejectedly, “Cheer up! That’s the whole point of coming out here, right?” He followed her gaze, green jungle stretching off as far as they could see, “This is the one place in the world where we can relax and forget all about your people!”

                “Y-yeah,” Sapphiria echoed, her heart wincing a little. There were a lot of things she couldn’t do that most took for granted. Whenever she visited towns, she was almost always chased out by the locals, and even attending the Sanctum was miserable. Life was constant sadness and heartache when she had to be near her people, and while she did enjoy peaceful areas like this… she desperately wanted to be accepted by her people…

                A gentle breeze rolled over the open field as the silence stretched on. Atom glanced at her, raising his brow as he read her expression. Although he hadn’t been around her for very long, he had picked up on a lot of her cues, and, as her friend, it was up to him to help her through it! “So… What kind of things are we going to draw today?” he finally chirped, looking at the silver satchel sitting just behind her.

                “I’m… not sure,” she finally said, looking back at it with a tired frown. Just like her robe, her satchel was a reminder of how out of place she was, silver in color instead of the blue it should have been. Within it were her supplies for the Sanctum as well as her sketchbook, something she had come to enjoy over the years as a distraction from her life. After the way today had gone though… “I don’t think I feel like it anymore,” she finally sighed, turning her sad gaze back forward.

                “Why not?” Atom asked, cocking his head. “I thought we could at least draw some of those beetles you were watching earlier.” Atom scratched his head as she remained silent. Finally, he sighed, “You’re still thinking about the Sanctum, aren’t you?”

                Sapphiria nodded sullenly. Although she was allowed to attend the Sanctum, she was only just barely tolerated. None of the other kids wanted anything to do with her, and those that were forced to be around her made her fully aware of how much they hated her. Somedays, she could tough through it, but today had been… rough. During the day’s lecture on powers, some of the other kids had started teasing her mercilessly, reminding her of just how broken she really was.

                Among her people, there was one trait that they all shared, a mystical energy that they simply referred to as ‘powers.’ Powers had existed amongst her people for thousands of years and could manifest in many ways such as blazing firestorms or crystalline telekinetic barrages. Powers were a major part of their very way of life, something everyone took for granted, but although she was the proper age to finally have her awakening, she was still, somehow, powerless…

                Her ears wilted as Atom continued, “You can’t let their words get to you, Sapph. Just because you haven’t had your awakening yet doesn’t mean you aren’t powerless! You’re only… what? Halfway through your twenties? You have plenty of time to find your powers, so why worry about it?”

                “But what if I truly don’t have any?” Sapphiria whimpered as she shivered fearfully. “I’m different in so many ways, and I’m so scared that I’m going to be powerless!” She let out a weak whimper, “I don’t want to be any more different, Atom.”

                “Ahh, cheer up,” he said gently, his talons clacking as he hopped over to her side. She looked down at him as he patted her and smiled, “It’s not hopeless yet! After all, every single one of your people has a power, so I’m sure you’ll have something!”

                “None of my people are blue though!”

                “But you have fur!” he pointed out, Sapphiria raising her brow in confusion. He chuckled and shrugged, “Just think about it! You’re just like your people outside of a few differences. I bet your powers are going to be just as slightly different, and that’s why they’re taking so long!”

                “I… I’m not so sure, Atom,” Sapphiria said, lowering her gaze fearfully.

                “Hey! Don’t beat yourself down before you even have a chance to fail,” Atom said threateningly, scowling for emphasis. “You have plenty of time for your powers to appear, so give them a chance and just relax!”

                “But… I’ve tried so many ways to have my awakening,” she whimpered. “I tried walking on hot coals, breathing underwater, and… and even jumping off a roof!” It was Atom’s turn to raise his brow and look at her bizarrely as she continued, “Nothing worked, but if I actually had powers… something should have…”

                Silence whistled around them as he stared at her blankly. “Wait, you jumped off a roof?” he finally asked in disbelief.

                “It was a long time ago,” she huffed, frowning bitterly as she looked away. Awakenings were how her people discovered their power, and they could typically be brought on by specific actions if one knew what power they were looking for. In her case… she didn’t have a single clue.

                “Alright, alright,” Atom said with a wave of his wings. “I’ll ignore the weird methods you tried for the time being.” Sighing, he smiled up at her, “My point is that there’s no reason to let them get in your head! All that matters is that you still have plenty of time to find your powers, and when you do, I’m sure they’ll be better than everyone else’s!”

                “Maybe,” she whispered, looking back off at the horizon. “I’m still so scared, Atom. If I truly end up not having powers, then any chance I had at having a future… It’ll be gone…”

                Atom frowned at her sadly before following her gaze. They had been through this routine countless times, not that he could blame her. She had a hard time thinking optimistically after all she had endured, especially on days like today. Whenever it got really bad, he knew there was next to no chance for him to cheer her up, but he hated seeing her sad. What could he do to cheer her up?

                Drumming his talons as he squinted, a glittering sight out in the jungle suddenly snagged his eye. “I know!” Sapphiria looked at him with a start as he looked at her excitedly, “Instead of sitting around being mopey, let’s pay Trigon a visit!”

                “Today?” she asked in surprise, looking out at the same sight he had seen.

Sitting out in the jungle, not so far from the base of the hill, was the glittering sight of flooded fields. The Aqua farms were an important part of Krysheek life, producing massive amounts of food to ensure that food scarcity was never a problem. The farms themselves were quite peaceful and serene, but the real reason she was so fond of them was because they were operated by automatons! Trigon was one of the many automatons that called the field home, and he had been her first true friend so long ago.

                “Why not?” Atom asked as she frowned thoughtfully. “It’s been a while since we saw him, and clearly today isn’t going well. If anyone can set things right, it’ll be him!”

                Sapphiria chewed on her lip as she rubbed her head, “I’m… not sure, Atom. He’s been awfully busy, and the last thing I want to do is be a bother…”

                “A bother? To Trigon?!” She looked at him with a start as he squawked with laughter and fluttered up beside her, “As if you could ever be a bother to that old automaton! I’m sure he would be thrilled to have us stop by!”

                Sapphiria frowned as Atom looked at her expectantly. She really wasn’t feeling the greatest, and she knew Trigon was probably busy, but… Thinking it over, she finally nodded as a small smile touched her face, “Y-you’re probably right. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen him, so… why not?” Her smile grew a little as she finally stood, “I’m sure we’ll at least be able to sit on his porch if nothing else.”

                “Exactly! And maybe he’ll even have a new story or two to tell!” Atom pointed out, Sapphiria slinging her satchel over her shoulder. She looked at Atom as he alighted on her shoulder and grinned, “Of course, maybe we’ll get to make a story of our own while we’re at it!”

                “I knew you were up to something,” Sapphiria said, eyeing him with a suspicious grin as he merely smiled innocently. Shaking her head, she began to march down the rounded hill, fragrant aromas billowing around her as a cold breeze picked up. Although she was alone amongst her people, at least she had a family in the automatons. No matter what happened in her life, or how awful things got, she knew she would always be able to call the farms home!

                Waves sparkled as they rippled over the crystal-clear water of the long fields, a few insects fluttering on the breeze over the gentle waters while rays of light illuminated their shallow depths. Suddenly, a large rake gently dipped into the water, sweeping through it to collect bits of debris with a gentle whisper. Swinging through the air, it was slowly carried towards the shore, gears whining and groaning as light glinted off a metallic figure. With a splat, the bits of debris plopped onto the shore alongside the other piles that had already been collected. Planting his rake in the water, the automaton nodded in approval as he admired his handiwork.

                A large cog jutted up from his left shoulder, a series of pipes jutting up from his right while numerous gears spun in the gaps of his mostly copper colored body. He was clearly an older automatons, hints of wear showing across him while his body’s haphazard shape belied the era in which he had been constructed, but the generator in his chest continued to hum with life. Though he was quite different from Atom, Trigon was every bit an automaton!

                Automatons weren’t quite like normal machines. Although they were entirely metal, each automaton had a true soul thanks to the strange crystals they had been built with, giving them the ability to think and feel just like any living being. Though they had no need for nourishment or sustenance aside from their power cores, the one thing they all needed was a purpose, a reason to exist. Most of the time, automatons served as laborers or assistants, but, over the years, some had managed to find other pursuits that were just as fulfilling.

                The cogs across Trigon’s body whirred as he turned around, admiring the sparkling waters of his farm. For longer than he could remember, he had been working at this simple farm. For the most part, his days consisted of him skimming the water, tending the crops, and, sometimes, even relaxing in his small home. A gentle breeze flowed across the porch of his home as he looked towards it at the end of the field. It was partially built onto the bottom of the slope, stilts propping it up over the water. It wasn’t special by any means, having a thatched roof, crimson colors, and some older furniture to decorate it, but he was more than happy to call it his.

                Admiring it momentarily, he marched over to the long mounds of dirt protruding from the water as he eyed his crops. He had been tending to them for most of the day now, going through the same motions he went through day after day to get them ready to harvest, but he wasn’t upset about it. He enjoyed his responsibilities, and having such a simple life gave him time to foster his own hobbies, something quite rare in automaton culture. In fact, with how much time he had spent working today, he was seriously considering taking a break and working on some of his sketches…

                Leaning his rake against his shoulder as he squatted, he studied the leaf of the plant in front of him. After so many years, he could tell at a glance how well his crops were doing, and it wouldn’t be long before they would be ready to harvest! Standing back up, he began to run his rake through the water once again like the clockwork that he was made from. While he didn’t mind the work that he did, there was one thing that bothered him. Though he was surrounded by other farms run by automatons, none of them wanted anything to do with him. While his life was peaceful, it was incredibly lonely, most of his days passing in complete silence. He had thought that was all his life would ever be, but just about ten years ago, everything in his life had changed…

                Trigon hummed to himself as he worked, determined to get out every last little bit of debris. “Trigon!” a familiar voice suddenly called.

                The old automaton stood up sharply with a surprised look, taking a moment to convince himself that he hadn’t imagined it. Suddenly smiling, he planted his rake down and turned to look towards the western slope as a familiar figure hurried towards the shore, “Sapphiria! What a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you today!”

                A warm smile shone on her face as she hurried down the slope while Atom clung to her shoulder. Many, many years ago, she had stumbled across the aqua farms by fate after a particularly bad day at the Sanctum. For that whole day, she had simply rested on the slopes, reflecting on her miserable existence and running away whenever one of the automatons attempted to approach her. Eventually, one of them had managed to get close enough to talk to her, but instead of treating her like her people did, he had only been concerned about what was making her look so sad. Since that day, Trigon had been the brightest light in her life, the parent that she wished her own parents could be.

                “We aren’t interrupting, are we?” she called out, several leathery creatures leaping into the water as she stopped beside the shore and smiled at him. Although she really wanted to leap into the water to get to him, she remembered quite clearly how much trouble she had gotten in last time she had done that…

                “You? Interrupt something? Never!” Trigon spoke with a firm shake of his head, smiling as he began to trudge his way towards her. Water kicked up around his legs as gears whirred, Sapphiria looking him over thoughtfully. Trigon wasn’t quite like the other automatons. He was made entirely from clockwork, an old practice that had died out around a thousand years ago, and his body was certainly starting to show signs of it. It bothered her to see how much he was wearing down, but so long as he continued to dismiss her concerns, she wasn’t going to let herself angst about it.

                “Trigon, you always say that, even when I am interrupting,” she said, pouting as she crossed her arms.

                “Because it’s true,” he said with a laugh as he stopped in front of her, towering several feet over her. “Whatever else I’m occupied with is the interruption. Not you!”

                “Trigon, I don’t want you getting in trouble because of me,” Sapphiria huffed, her ears wilting a little. “You’re all we have! The last thing I want is-“

                “Now, now,” Trigon interrupted with a sharp shake of his head. Sapphiria frowned at him as he knelt and smiled at her, “There’s no reason for you to feel guilty about my decisions! They’re my choice, so if anything happens as a result, you need to remember that. Got it?”

                “Good luck getting her to agree.” Sapphiria scowled at Atom as he frowned at Trigon pointedly, “She has a habit of taking all of the blame no matter what happens.”

                “Do not,” Sapphiria said, sticking her tongue out at him briefly.

                “Well, in this case, any trouble I get into is my burden alone,” Trigon spoke with an adamant nod. He chuckled and smiled at her warmly, “But that’s enough of that. I’m happy to see you again, little one, though I am surprised. I wasn’t expecting to see you again for at least another week. What prompted this visit?”

                “Well…” Sapphiria began, frowning sadly as she rubbed her arm. She felt bad for always dropping her burdens on Trigon. It felt like whenever she was around, all she did was complain, and after all he had done for her-

                “We are here because we need your help, Captain!” Atom suddenly spoke up. Sapphiria looked at him with a start as the little bird hopped onto Trigon’s shoulder, the older automaton looking at him curiously as the little bird leaned close and squinted around suspiciously, “These waters are treacherous, and we need an expert’s help to find the beast threatening our seas!”

                “What are you talking…” Sapphiria began, but paused as her ears twitched. Possibly because of how miserable her own life was, one of her favorite things to do was to go on pretend adventures. Pretending to be heroes was fun, and, apparently, Atom had come up with a new scenario! A twinkle suddenly shone in her eyes, Sapphiria instantly adopting her persona as she spoke with a serious tone, “He’s right, captain. We’re on urgent business from the emperor, and we desperately need a navigator to assist us with finding the beast responsible for the attacks on the merchant ships.”

                “Well, it do be seeming as if ye came to the right place,” Trigon spoke, changing his voice as he quickly snapped into the role that Atom had given him. No matter how many new scenarios they came up with, or how ridiculous they ended up being, Trigon was always happy to play along! “So, yer lookin for passage through the Dire Strait into the Sea of Fangs, are ye?” he asked, Sapphiria bouncing on her heels as her eyes sparkled. Spinning his rake around, Trigon laid it cross his shoulder as he grinned at her, “Aye, that is something we can manage, but I have to warn ye, Archon, that beast ye be searching for will be no easy quarry. Ye best be prepared for the fight of yer life!”

                “I know,” Sapphiria said with a firm nod, tilting her head up with a more regal aura befitting her new guise.

While the emperor was their ruler, he was not the sole authority. Watching over their world alongside him were five beings called Archons, Krysheek of incredible power that had been chosen to serve their people as guardians and counselors. In her eyes, they were heroes, virtuous soles capable of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and always making the right decisions. She desperately wanted to be just like them, and even though she knew there was no chance she could ever be one, in her own world, she could pretend that she truly was the embodiment of her heroes!

“Well, if ye be ready, I can have my ship ready to sail in just a few minutes,” Trigon spoke with a grunt, briefly glancing towards his house as he thought about what he could use as a ship. “Once we shove off, there be no turning back. Ye both need to make certain ye are ready before we depart.”

“I’m as ready as I can ever be,” Atom chirped up confidently, swooping over to her shoulder with a proud expression. “A master scout is always prepared for every situation, after all.”

“As is any true Archon,” Sapphiria spoke with a confident nod, setting her satchel on the slope. She looked up at Trigon with a large grin, “We’re ready to depart, Captain!”

“Then welcome aboard the… Briny… Lobster?” Frowning for a moment at the name he had chosen, he chuckled and grinned, “Best brace yourself, Archon. These seas aren’t for the faint of heart!”

A pulse rippled across the world as Sapphiria’s eyes shone like stars. Slowly, the slopes melted away, the ground beneath her feet receded as wooden planks appeared in its place. Sheets of rain splattered the deck of the ship as waves crashed all around them, wind roaring in her ears as her body changed to match the world she had immersed herself in. No longer was she a child looking for acceptance. She was now a full-grown Archon, one of the defenders of her people with a resplendent robe fitting a sea faring Archon, and the powers that she wielded were unmatched!

                Overhead, dark storm clouds thrashed, thunder booming in the distance as sheets of rain fell across their galleon. Dark water churned on all sides of them, large whirlpools roaring while waves crashed against the dagger-like rocks. Larger rocky landmasses loomed all around them, their haunting, skeletal visages truly embodying everything she had expected from the Sea of Fangs. From where she was on the deck, she could see flotsam and the wreckage of ships floating amidst the rocky fangs, a grim reminder of the fate of those who underestimated such a treacherous sea.

                Rigging creaked and groaned as the ship rocked with the waves, Sapphiria holding onto a large rope attached to the railing beside her as she stared ahead. Frowning seriously, she looked back over her shoulder, “Are you sure this is the way, Captain?”

                Rain splattered against a large wheel near the back of the ship, an iron hand glinting as it held on tightly. A sea green jacket adorned the metallic figure, a large admiral’s hat situated atop his head while multiple sabers rocked at his waist. “Aye, this be the place,” Trigon cackled into the wind, spinning the wheel with a single hand. He raised his free hand and pointed ahead of them, “We’ll be upon the beast’s lair soon enough, and then it’ll be up to you, Archon.”

                “If the ship manages to hold itself together,” Sapphiria noted, looking out at the waters as the prow of the ship slammed through a wave.

                “Do not underestimate the Briny Lobster,” Trigon cackled with a cocky grin. “She may have a questionable name, but this ship is the most powerful vessel on this sea, and she shant be meeting her demise this day!”

                Waves exploded against the sturdy iron prow of the Briny Lobster as it smashed through the turbulent sea, splashing across its sides as cannons glinted in the darkness. Sheets of thick and sturdy metal reinforced large portions of its hull, giving it a borderline mechanical look typical of automaton shipbuilding. Although it was old and creaky, it was a reliable vessel, though, the beast they were chasing would certainly give it a run for its money.  

                Sapphiria furrowed her brow, shielding her eyes from the rain as her ears picked up on a low rumble. Scowling, she marched closer to the prow to peer into the water. Thunder resonated in her ears as she scanned the cresting waves. There was almost no light, hiding much of what lurked beneath the surface. Suddenly, she saw it. Just ahead of them, beneath the waves, she could see the glimmer of a scaly back slipping under the water as it vanished from sight.

                “MURKTREADER!” she called out in warning.

                “Aye, we have found the beast!” Trigon called out. Alarm bells began to ring across the ship as it turned sharply, white crested waves erupting across its side as it leaned. Sapphiria braced herself against the railing as she stared out at the water. Archons like herself were only ever called upon for emergency situations, and this was certainly one of them. Over the past few months, many of their merchant ships had gone missing, and the culprit had finally been revealed as an overly gluttonous Murktreader. Although she was one of the most powerful beings amongst her people, a Murktreader was a fearsome opponent. This wouldn’t be an easy fight.

                A low, droning roar suddenly pulsed through the water. Sapphiria scowled and looked around with narrowed eyes as the sound echoed over the deck. A thrum of power shook the air as her eyes suddenly began to glow green. Strands of wind whispered around her arms as her powers cascaded through her veins, filling her heart with the energy that she had always yearned to feel. As an Archon, her powers were on a level undreamt of by most of her people, but even that strength might not be enough to repel a Murktreader. For a moment, all remained relatively calm, thunder and rain echoing as the waves continued to churn.

                Water suddenly erupted with a booming roar. Sapphiria whipped her gaze to the port side of the ship, sheets of water raining down as a massive collection of razor-sharp teeth exploded from the sea. Lightning streaked through the sky, illuminating the scales of the colossal behemoth. In the known ocean, there were only a few creatures that could compare to a Murktreader. The colossal fish was every bit as large as their vessel, possessing a wide, gaping maw lined with teeth just as large as Sapphiria and having two powerful forearms that could splinter galleons. Murktreaders typically avoided the ships of her people, but whenever one gave in to its cravings, their destructive power was almost unmatched.

                A resonating bellow escaped the colossal fish as it slammed against their ship. Sapphiria let out a cry of surprise and gripped the railing as the entirety of the ship listed hard to starboard, loose items rolling while Trigon struggled to get control of the ship. Sapphiria braced her teeth as wood splintered and snapped, the form of the Murktreader sliding against the side of the ship as it dipped back under the waves and disappeared. Rocking from side to side, the ship slowly settled out, plowing ahead towards more open water.

                “We took a direct hit!” Sapphiria called out, her eyes glowing brightly as she looked back towards Trigon.

                “Aye, I noticed,” he said with a shake of his head. “We cannot fight such a beast in waters like this! Keep it away from the ship while I work on navigating us to the sea!”

                “How do I do that?” Sapphiria asked desperately, looking down at the water fearfully. She had completely lost track of the beast, and given how deep the water was, there was no telling where it had gone.

                “Yer an Archon, aren’t ye?” Trigon grunted, Sapphiria blinking with a start as she looked back up. He gestured around them, “Just deflect it as long as you can with your powers! Once we get to open waters, that beast will be ours!”

                “I’m on it!” Sapphiria called out. Turning swiftly, she charged over to a raised portion of the central deck and raised her arms as the air hummed with power. Wind instantly began to flow around her as she closed her eyes and focused on her immense energies. Although she wielded an exceptional amount of power, she couldn’t just call upon all of it at once. After all, she didn’t want to end up like the Krysheek in the stories that had accidentally destroyed themselves. Taking a calming breath, she moved her arms in front of her, tendrils of wind looping all around the ship as she readied for a fight. The ship listed to port as it careened around a collection of jagged rock. All around them, blackened rock loomed out of the water, a reminder that even a simple push would send them to a watery grave. Sapphiria narrowed her eyes as she breathed quietly. It was quiet… too quiet…

                A monstrous roar suddenly exploded from behind them as the Murktreader burst forth. Sapphiria turned with a start, watching the immense creature crash back down and disappear from sight. It was toying with her, but she couldn’t let it distract her. She narrowed her eyes, moving her winds port side as she just barely tracked its form under the water. From the angle it was moving, it was just about to- Another roar erupted as its colossal maw suddenly lunged at them. With a shout, Sapphiria swung her left fist forward as her eyes flared. A tremendous gust of wind launched itself across the deck like a ballistae, swinging low before slamming into the roof of the Murktreader’s maw. A groan shook the air as the immense beast tilted backwards. With a pitiful groan, it fell onto its side and disappeared beneath the waves.  

                “Nice shot, Archon, but don’t go getting comfortable,” Trigon called out. “That beast will be back for another shot!”

                “I’m ready!” Sapphiria called back as she swung her gaze around. How long did she have to hold out for? Narrowing her eyes, she suddenly pointed to their starboard side, “Here it comes!” Water slid around the Murktreaders razor sharp fin as it passed between blackened, sharp rocks. Several booms rang out as it plowed through several of the formations, sending jagged chunks sinking beneath the waves as it picked up speed. Briefly dipping under the water, its fin reappeared on a direct collision course with them. “Oh no you don’t!” Sapphiria shouted in defiance.

                Weaving her hands around each other, she suddenly thrust them downward. Shafts of wind slammed down into the ocean and shot out to meet the Murktreader head on. Geysers of water exploded as her winds slammed into the Murktreader and sent it flailing back. It shrieked in surprise as its head was flung out of the water, the massive beast swinging its arms before crashing through a large rock. Flopping over, it disappeared back beneath the waves with a growl.

                Sapphiria whipped her gaze one way and then the other. Although the Murktreader was taking serious hits, she was fully aware that she was only enraging it. So long as the rocks kept her from using her full power, all she could do was deflect it. Water exploded to their left as the Murktreader breached the surface once again. Sapphiria turned with a start as its maw came crashing down onto their ship. Planks splintered as it slammed its arms down and dug its claws in, getting a solid grip on their vessel as it roared furiously. “Knock that beast loose!” Trigon called out, their vessel leaning hard to port as its immense weight began to push them over. “Hurry, before it sinks us!”

                Sapphiria barred her teeth as she slowly drew her arms up, wind building behind her in a seething vortex. With a shout of defiance, she thrust her palms forward. A crack rang through the air as the lance of wind slammed into the Murktreaders open maw. It howled as one of its limbs came loose, snapping its jaw a few times in irritation, but it didn’t let go. Latching back on, it roared at her as it began to push down on their ship. “This won’t be that easy for you!” Sapphiria shouted with a cocky grin. Wind shot out on both sides of her as she swung her arms out. Hurtling towards its claws, they dove under its palms and erupted upward with all the force she could muster.

                Splinters shot into the sky as its claws came loose with a loud bang. The Murktreader yelped as it slipped off the ship, broken railing and splinters flying up as it crashed into the water. Sapphiria grunted and braced herself as the ship rocked hard, but it quickly leveled out. Breathing a sigh of relief, she looked back at Trigon, “How much longer do we have to hold on for?!”

                “Not much longer! Look!” Trigon called, pointing ahead of them and drawing her gaze. Golden shafts of light glimmered through the storm clouds, shining upon a sparkling, open stretch of water that was noticeably less turbulent. Sapphiria’s heart began to pound as hints of a smile touched her face. They were so close to escaping the clutches of the Dire Straits, and once they were on open water, the Murktreader would know the wrath of an Archon!

                Feeling emboldened, Sapphiria shouted in defiance and sent a column of wind hurtling through the air as the Murktreader burst out from the water. Rain and seawater fell in sheets as she met the Murktreader’s attacks head on again and again. Planks splintered as the Murktreader brushed against the side of the ship, pushing it hard to the side, but she quickly righted the ship’s course. Wind hurtled upward as she knocked back another of its attacks before grabbing hold of a large rock. Breaking it loose, she sent it hurtling through the air, the Murktreader crying out as it was flung backward. Sapphiria panted heavily as she struggled to keep up. Even Archons weren’t invincible, but all she had to do was hold out a little longer.

                After what felt like an eternity, light blossomed around them as their ship finally shot out from between the last of the rocky landmasses. “We’re free, Archon!” Trigon called out as he raised his hand triumphantly, a relieved smile touching her face. Trigon laughed maniacally as he pointed his palm forward, “Raise the cannons! Let’s sink that salty fish for good!”

                “Port side!” Sapphiria called out as she locked eyes on the Murktreader. Water slid over its massive underwater form, its fin breaching the surface as it picked up speed. Wind built up all around her as she readied her powers. Like a true Archon, she was ready to end this fight and achieve what she saw as the best possible outcome! With a booming roar, the Murktreader exploded from the water. Sheets of saltwater rained down from its immense form as it left the water, moving its claws forward as it crashed down towards the ship. Sapphiria slowly raised her arms, a confident grin touching her face as she leaned back and prepared to-

                “W-Woah!” she suddenly called out as she lost her balance. She had leaned back just a touch further than she had meant to! With a yelp of surprise, she fell backwards and off the ship. Water splashed around her as she sank into the ocean. Panic surged through her as she swung her arms desperately, trying to swim back towards the surface. She watched the light sparkling through the water as she sank deeper and deeper, a part of her starting to wonder if she had finally met her end. Feeling hopelessness close in around her, a metallic hand suddenly punched through the surface and-

                “Are you alright?!” Trigon exclaimed in panic as he picked Sapphiria out of the water of his field.

                “I’m fine! I’m fine!” Sapphiria exclaimed with an embarrassed laugh, Trigon holding her against his chest as he looked her over worriedly. With a snap, the imaginary world she had been living in vanished, the slopes and waters of his farm snapping back into existence. While her fight with the Murktreader had certainly not been real, her fall into the water, unfortunately, had been…

                “Gah, look at this,” Trigon exclaimed as water poured off her silver robe, bits of mud clinging to it and her seven tails. He let out an aggravated huff, “Your robe is ruined! I can’t believe I let that happen!”

                “Sorry,” Atom said with a wince. The little bird was fluttering beside them with a dejected look, “I shouldn’t have flown up so high. I just really wanted to capture the immensity of a Murktreader.”

                “It’s not your fault, Atom!” Sapphiria said reassuringly as she smiled at him before looking down at what had been her ship. Sitting in the water was a large wooden crate Trigon had found, a crate that had been serving as the grand vessel ‘Briny Lobster…’ “I should have been more careful,” she said, frowning at her wet tails bitterly.

                “You absolutely should have been,” Trigon spoke with a firm nod, Sapphiria’s ears wilting with guilt. “You can’t go doing things like this, little one! If you keep ruining your robes, your mother is going to forbid you from visiting. Is that what you want?!”

                “N-no,” Sapphiria said dejectedly. Sighing sadly, she hung her head, “I-I’m sorry I ruined another robe, Trigon…” Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first robe she had ruined like this… If she kept ruining robes like this, she knew that her punishment would involve having her exploration privileges revoked. Wincing at the thought, she looked back up at him sadly, “I didn’t mean to, Trigon. I really didn’t.”

                “I… know,” he finally said after a slight pause. Sighing softly, he finally looked back at her with a softer smile, “What in the world are we going to do with you?”

                “Take her back and get a different one?” Atom suggested, Trigon snorting with amusement as Sapphiria scowled at him.

                “No, we certainly won’t be doing that,” Trigon said, shaking his head as he began making his way towards his porch. Sapphiria hugged him as she looked at his home, his spinning gears hardly phasing her as he continued, “I know it was an accident, little one. I didn’t mean to snap at you. Let’s get that robe off you and see if there’s something a little drier you can wear.”

                “So… you’re not mad at me?” she asked, looking up at him with a hint of hope.

                “Maker, no,” he said with a chuckle, sloshing up to the deck of his back porch. He gently set her down on the end of the planks as she looked up at him sadly, “Accidents happen! While it’s unfortunate you ruined another robe, at least it’s something that can be fixed. I only snapped because… Well, that little fall scared me half to death.” Shaking his head, he smiled at her, “I’m just glad you’re ok.”

                “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Sapphiria said, unbuttoning her robe and quickly sliding her arms out of the sleeves. Passing it off to Trigon, she looked herself over as she realized her pants and shirt were just as soaked. How in the world was she going to get out of this one?

                “It’s alright,” Trigon said, shaking her robe to get some of the water out as Atom alighted beside her. “We’ll just have to be more careful in the future. We really don’t want to upset your mother more than we already have.”

                “Pfft, as if that woman is capable of not being upset,” Atom huffed with a roll of his eyes while Sapphiria’s ears wilted.

                “At the very least, we can avoid being the source of her ire,” Trigon pointed out, stepping onto the porch to Sapphiria’s left. She looked up at him as he looked her robe over with a critical frown, “Agh, that mud is thicker than I thought. I hope I can clean that out…”

                “I-I can help,” Sapphiria said, raising her hand guiltily. “I don’t want you going to so much effort for-“

                “It’s alright.” She looked up at Trigon as he shook his head, “Don’t worry about this little old robe. It won’t take me long to clean, and after a good drying, your mother will be none the wiser!”

                “A-Are you sure?” she asked uncertainly. “I don’t want to burden you with even more things. I already distract you enough as it is…”

                “You absolutely do not,” Trigon huffed with an adamant frown, her ears wilting anyway. Frowning with a hint of suspicion, he stepped towards the window along the right side of the house, “I really am sorry about snapping at you Sapphiria, but there’s no reason to be upset! It was just an accident, and we’ll have everything right as rain in no time! In fact, I think I still have one of your spare robes from when you did this last time…”

                “I feel like such a burden though,” she whimpered pitifully, her heart aching as she stared at her lap. Atom frowned at her sadly as her tails looped around her waist, something that only happened whenever she was feeling really dejected, “All I do is eat up your time and make you help me for nothing in return. I’m just… I’m just a parasite…”

                Trigon flinched in confusion as he set her robe on the windowsill of his kitchen. Parasite? That wasn’t something in her dictionary, which meant… Closing his eyes, he sighed before finally nodding. “It’s not the fall that’s bothering you, is it?” he asked, stepping back over to her. He frowned knowingly as she hugged herself and looked away, “That was just the spark that knocked the door down…”

                “I just… I just feel like all I do is hurt the people around me,” she finally said, her ears dropping as low as they could. Gears whirred as Trigon sat down beside her as she continued, “I just take from those around me and… and I do nothing in return, just like… just like I do to you. I take your time, I make you teach me pointless things, and… and I took the endless core for Atom…” Atom frowned sadly as she looked at him guiltily, “It’s just like the others always say. I really am just a… a…”

                “Oh, little one,” Trigon sighed sadly, hugging her against his side. A sad frown touched his face as he looked at her, “I should have known. That’s why you dropped by today, isn’t it?”

                “W-well, I… I wanted to see you and…” Sapphiria began, trailing off as her heart winced with guilt.

                “Yes,” Atom finally piped up. She looked at him as he shook his head, “We had a bad run at the Sanctum today. She walked off their comments like usual, but they really started getting into her head on the way back home.” He sighed and pointed towards one of the nearby hills, “We were up there relaxing, but the silence made things worse, so I suggested we visit you instead since that always seems to cheer her up.”

                “Sorry for bringing you down with me,” she whispered sadly, her shoulders sagging.

                “Little one, you have nothing to apologize for,” Trigon spoke reassuringly. Feeling her ear twitch, she looked up at him uncertainly, “You should know by now that your visits are the highlight of my day! Before you came by, I had nothing in my life, so I’m more than happy to do whatever I can to make your day a little brighter because it makes my day brighter as well!” He smiled at her earnestly, “See? You’re nothing like whatever those others said! It’s a fair trade!”

                “It doesn’t feel like a fair trade,” Sapphiria muttered. “You sit here and work all day just so you can have a life, and then… then I come along and just barge in like I belong…”

                “Ahh, you’re letting them get into your head again, little one,” Trigon spoke gently, rocking her back and forth as she closed her eyes. “You can’t let their vile words get to you, Sapphiria. All they want is to make you miserable, and your burden is heavy enough as it is! Don’t let them make it heavier!”

                “But they’re right!” Sapphiria protested, looking at him with a heartbroken expression. “I’m completely useless! I’m a waste of air, and I eat up so much of the time of those around me…”

                Sapphiria stared at her lap dejectedly, but paused and looked up at Trigon as he patted her shoulder, “Oh, little one… I understand why you’re upset, but you’re getting worked up over nothing.” He smiled at her reassuringly, “I’ve never once seen the time you’ve spent here as a burden. I truly enjoyed teaching you what I know, and you can’t say that it was a waste of time for you either. After all, your schematics have noticeably improved!”

                “I… I guess you’re right,” Sapphiria admitted as she lowered her gaze.

                “And, this isn’t anything different than what you would see in a normal family,” Trigon added, Sapphiria looking up at him curiously. “It’s natural for family members to make time for things others want to do! That doesn’t mean any of them are parasites. It’s just what you do when you care about the people around you!”

                Sapphiria rubbed her chin as she considered it. Although such a concept was probably obvious to most people, it was foreign to her. Her family would sooner throw her away than even acknowledge her existence, so she didn’t know what was normal. Was that actually how real families operated? “Well… That is how Atom and I operate I suppose,” she finally admitted as she looked down at the small bird. Frowning in thought, she sighed, “Even if it’s true though… I still feel like a useless burden.”

                “Why’s that?” Trigon asked curiously.

                “Because… Because I have nothing to contribute,” she admitted sullenly. She turned her gaze upwards, looking out towards the trees at the end of the farms in the distance and the clouds floating in the sky, “Without powers… I can never truly amount to anything in this world, and the only thing I have is my engineering, a practice most consider taboo. I’m trying my hardest to make something of my life with what I have, but I’m terrified my future will never be what I want…”

                There was no understating just how stacked against her the odds were. Between her love of engineering and her lack of powers, there was very little she would be able to do with her life. All of their society was built around having powers, and engineering was still mostly frowned upon. She truly had nothing going for her, and as the days drug on, she couldn’t help but wonder if her future really would be full of nothingness.

                Frowning sadly, she closed her eyes as Trigon patted her shoulder, “Sapphiria, I know their words sting, but you can’t let them dull your vision of your future.”

                “But I have nothing,” she protested, looking up at him with a hurt expression. “All I have is my engineering, and that’s not even close to being enough to make up for my lack of powers! So long as I don’t have powers, I’ll never stand a chance of being accepted by my people, and I’ll never have a future because of it…”

                “Pretending you truly do lack them, you absolutely still have every chance to have a good future!” Feeling her ears twitch, she looked at Trigon curiously as he smiled at her, “Just think of what the Archons say. Even when all lights go out, you have to hold onto hope, otherwise you’ll never give it a chance to make things right!”

                “That’s… not exactly the right saying…”

                “But it’s true,” he said with a shrug, Sapphiria tilting her head. “If you let them defeat you now, you’ll never have the chance to have the future you want.” He sighed as he closed his eyes, “I know how important powers are for your people, but I also know what you’re capable of! Regardless of how your people view engineering, it doesn’t change how incredibly skilled you are! You are more gifted than anyone I have ever met, and I can’t possibly imagine you being anything other than a master engineer in your future! With a title like that, there’s nothing you wouldn’t be able to accomplish!”

                Sapphiria remained silent, seriously wondering if her engineering could ever truly amount to anything. “And,” Trigon began, drawing her gaze back up to him as he smiled. “I wouldn’t write off your powers just yet. You’re still young, and I know some of your people didn’t have their awakenings until their thirties. You could very well still find your powers, but, even if you don’t, it won’t be the end of the world! You’ll find a way, either through your engineering or something else, to have the life you want, because you are the type of person to make the impossible possible!” He chuckled and grinned, “Who knows! Maybe you’ll even become an Archon before this is all over!”

                “Yeah right,” Sapphiria muttered as she hung her head. “Archons are powerful and wise, and I’m… well, none of those things. I’ll never be worthy of being someone as heroic as an Archon…”

                “You don’t know that,” Trigon countered, making her frown as she raised her brow. “Strange things can happen, little one. Who’s to say what anyone will become. So as long as you hold true to your dreams and never forget who you truly are, anything could be possible!” He smiled at her warmly as she cocked her head, “What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t give up, young Sapphiria. No matter what roadblocks rise up in your path or how many years it takes, keep fighting with all the strength in your heart, and maybe, just maybe, it’ll actually come to pass.”

                “Even becoming an Archon?” she asked, raising her brow skeptically.

                “Anything is possible,” he said with a chuckle. She looked out at his field as he patted her shoulder, “There are many, many years ahead of you. There’s no telling what will happen, but given how wise and courageous you already are, I can’t help but imagine that you’re destined for greatness!”

                Blinking once, Sapphiria lifted her gaze, looking out towards the blue horizon as clouds reflected in her eyes. After all she had endured in her short life, it was hard to believe that she could ever truly amount to anything, but… he was right. In all the stories she had read of the Archons, they had always held onto hope, no matter how dark things got. Sure, she might not have powers, but with the strength of her engineering and all the courage in her heart, maybe she really did stand a chance of having a future, one where she was accepted by her people and could be something more than a mutant freak!

                “Maybe I really could be,” Sapphiria finally whispered, smiling contently as Trigon hugged her in response. A small sigh escaped her, her eyes sparkling as a breeze twirled around her head and lifted her hair, “Until I know for certain, all I can do is keep fighting until I finally know what my destiny truly is…”

                A content look settled onto her face, the misery and sadness she had been feeling lifting a little as she wondered just what her future would hold. Without warning, years began to fly past her as the echo of her past faded away. Her smile rapidly creased into a determined frown as her features rapidly aged, all remnants of the little girl she had once been disappearing with the last strands of her memory of the aqua farm. Many years had passed since her conversation with Trigon, but it still managed to feel like yesterday. Back then, she had dreamt of what her future could hold, but even in her wildest nightmares, she had never imagined just what she would become.

                A massive metal wall glinted behind her, metal railing lining the walkway to her right and left with its sharp look only beginning to hint at just how advanced her surroundings truly were. A clank rang out as the figure standing to her right crossed its arms. Although he was an automaton, he looked nothing like the automatons she had once known, having glaring, pupilless red eyes, thick blocky shoulders, and an overbearing disposition that only began to hint at his fiery personality. To her left, another automaton was leaning with his back to the railing, arms crossed, and his reptilian head bowed while his fangs glinted. They were a far cry from the automatons she had once known, but they were all the company that she had anymore.

A monitor floated up behind her as a large, mechanical, sapphire eye illuminated its screen, Sapphiria’s brow furrowing slightly as she reflected on her life. A lot had changed since her days on the aqua farms. Her engineering skills had far and above eclipsed even the master engineers of her world, and she could construct wonders her people never would have been able to imagine. Through her determination and dauntless spirit, she had eventually found the acceptance she had always sought and achieved every dream she had ever dared to dream, but four years ago… everything she had ever loved had been burnt to ash, and now… now she was something she had never once wanted to be.

Closing her eyes briefly as the booming resonance of marching echoed in her ears, she opened her eyes and looked down across the factory with a hardened gaze. Automaton legionnaires marched across the expansive floor of the colossal factory row after row. They marched perfectly in tune with one another, never missing a beat with the harmony of a well-trained elite. Unlike the automatons she had once known, they were well armored, armed to the teeth with weapons that far exceeded those ever designed by her people and trained with an efficiency only an automaton could achieve. They were just a small sampling of the full host that she had constructed, and through their strength… worlds would burn.

                Sapphiria stared down at them from the balcony as they continued to march in a seemingly never-ending sea. From where she was, she could just barely see their expressions, many of them staring up at her with awe and reverence. Though she had nothing but their undying respect and loyalty, it still broke her heart to see them. She had always believed that automatons deserved to be made by hand, not in a cold, heartless factory, yet here she was, mass producing as many as she could for a purpose that went against her very being… war. 

                Four long years ago, she had lost everyone and everything she had ever loved. Her entire race had been burned to ash, leaving her alone in a cold universe with only her automatons for comfort. Since then, she had worked tirelessly to live up to her last promise, to build a life for her automatons within the cold reaches of the galaxy. Now, she now stood as the Empress of the Sapphire Eye, an empire that spanned hundreds of planets. Through her guidance and leadership, they had grown into a powerful force that now exceeded anything her people could have ever dared dreamt of, a galactic power that rivaled the most powerful civilization they had ever encountered, and now, after so long, she was finally ready to turn her forces loose.

                Hatred burned in her eyes as she raised her gaze. For much of her empire’s existence, she had tried to convince herself that peace was an option, but, as all Archons had to learn, sometimes peace wasn’t an option. The United Earth Confederacy was a bloodthirsty and violent blight upon the galaxy. World by world, they had spread like a plague, turning entire planets into barren wastelands to fuel their industries. They didn’t care about the innocent lives they destroyed, and every living creature they encountered, even amongst their own population, was another tool to be used and thrown away. For too long, they had remained untouchable, but they had never encountered a force like hers. Through the might of her armada and the courage of her legions, she would end their bloodthirsty crusade and claim vengeance for all the innocent lives they had taken, ensuring that no world would ever suffer the fate of her people ever again!

Sapphiria briefly closed her eyes. Despite all the power she now wielded, in her heart, she still yearned to go back to the way that things had been. She missed Trigon’s farm, the days when she had truly believed she could be a force of good, but those days were long gone. Like the Archons she had looked up to, she would do what was necessary to safeguard the innocent and achieve the best possible outcome. As empress of the Sapphire Eye, she would see the UEC brought to justice and finally bring peace to all the innocent souls still crying for vengeance. Through the strength in her heart and the might of her legions, no matter how many worlds she had to see burn, she would make them pay…