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My Compass
- Rus
What are you up to this late at night? I could see your torch from a mile away.
- Worried Pirate
Night watch.
- Rus
You forget we're in a town? No saltfins barging into the camp at night, and the roof above your head isn't getting blown away by a saltstorm.
- Worried Pirate
I know. Just not used to it.
- Worried Pirate
Room's too hot, the bed doesn't shake. I can't sleep.
- Worried Pirate
Besides, something's not right here. That Calificador, Silver, brought us here, but where is he?
- Rus
Probably just thinks he's too good for us.
- Rus
The townsfolk are still on their guard against us. That's why they brought us here at night and hid us in these abandoned shacks.
- Worried Pirate
Aren't we people too? How're we different?
- Rus
...*sigh*
- Rus
Give me the torch. If you're that worried, I'll keep watch.
- Rus
You get some sleep.
- Rus
You'll need to get used to being 'civilized'.
- Anastasio
I see you're still eating the jerky from your ships.
- Javier
...
- Anastasio
Señor Javier?
- Javier
Ah, yes, jerky.
- Anastasio
This kitchen hasn't seen use in quite a while, but Silver had it specially repaired. The utensils should be readily available.
- Anastasio
I hear that you've always wanted to be a cook. So why do you not cook when you finally have a proper kitchen?
- Javier
I just can't. Not today.
- Anastasio
Whyever not? Is this still not enough?
- Javier
It's enough, I assure you. Never seen so many kitchen tools my whole life.
- Anastasio
Why, then?
- Javier
...
- Anastasio
I insist on knowing, Señor Javier.
- Javier
When you cook, it's not the knife in your hand you're thinking about, but the people who'll be eating it.
- Javier
How can I cook when they aren't here?
- Anastasio
All your crewmates are here. If you mean the ones who obstinately continue to resist, neither of us need regret their poor choices.
- Javier
...Tch.
- Anastasio
You have obtained so many things. Precious things. A kitchen, food...
- Javier
Silver gave us this stuff, not you. Why're you the one preaching at me—
- Anastasio
Silver is dead.
- Javier
...You killed him, didn't you?
- Anastasio
I did.
- Javier
...
- Anastasio
...
- Javier
What about us? You gonna kill us too?
- Anastasio
No. You are to walk the very path I did. The path of atonement.
- Rus
Get any sleep?
- Worried Pirate
I wish. I could live with the heat and the bed not shaking, but my room doesn't even get a breeze! Felt like my face was gonna turn to stone.
- Rus
Count your blessings.
- Rus
Look at the older mates. The wind's blown their faces right crooked. It's enough to send people running off screaming.
- Rus
You're young, so you still got the chance to grow up into a real beauty.
- Worried Pirate
I don't see any smoke from the kitchen. Is Javier still not cooking?
- Rus
I'll talk to him.
- Anastasio
Our clerics have searched every corner of your den. There was no compass.
- Javier
...Guess it got burnt to ash.
- Anastasio
The key figures in this affair—the girl who stole the compass, the graverobbing cannibal, and your former leader...
- Anastasio
All have entered the depths of the Salt Flat with their ill-gotten gains.
- Javier
You want us to go after them?
- Anastasio
You know better than I how to navigate the Flat, and you know the fugitives well.
- Eager Pirate
How much you paying?
- Anastasio
...Excuse me?
- Eager Pirate
We work, you pay. Isn't that supposed to be how things work around here?
- Excited Pirate
The Flat's got a thousand ways to kill you. Massive saltfins, dozens of meters long—could tear you apart just by shaking their heads!
- Excited Pirate
And Skeletal Reef is the worst of it. The steam blasts there could punch a hole right through you!
- Excited Pirate
If we're risking our necks, we need a proper bounty.
- Anastasio
...
- Javier
Quiet, you fools! I'm sorry, we don't need—
- Eager Pirate
What don't we need?! We've only been here a single night, so how're we supposed to put food on the table without work?!
- Rus
Calm down, that's not what he meant.
- Rus
You see, Señor Alguacil...
- Anastasio
...
- Anastasio
The caravans under inspection were carrying both coin and trade goods.
- Anastasio
I have no use for such worldly possessions.
- Excited Pirate
Hah, I knew they were hiding the good stuff from us!
- Javier
Wait, it's not what you think—
- Rus
You heard him, mates! Do the work, get the loot. Now quit yapping and start moving!
- Anastasio
...
Anastasio sees those before him as puppets of desire. Regardless of their intentions, he believes their desires will inevitably lead them down the path of evil.
'Much like the pits of hell, the greed of man is bottomless.'
- Javier
Are you an idiot? What do you think happened to Silver?
- Rus
Church conspiracies are above my pay grade. Best I can do is play the fool.
- Javier
There's no conspiracy, Rus. Silver's dead. Anastasio killed him.
- Javier
He's no schemer, but a complete lunatic. And now, there's no one to keep him in check.
- Rus
You got a better idea?
- Rus
You know how the others see you. Your word as the leader isn't even worth a hot meal.
- Rus
Not that you're even cooking anymore.
- Rus
I can only defend you for so long, Javier.
- Javier
...Fine, let's board those ships.
- Pascuala
Ugh... it's so bright...
- Pascuala
It hurts... everywhere...
- Teach
You awake? You had a bit of fever last night, but it's gone down. Have some water.
Pascuala sits up and takes the bottle Teach offers her. The bionic seadragon is hard at work across the deck carrying a wooden plank while flapping its wings.
Juana stands at the bow, gazing into the distance. Behind her, Elysium twists his whole body as he strains to turn the heavy helm wheel, like some strange exercise routine.
The high sun shines bright. It hurts a little bit.
- Teach
This is our last bit of water. One pouch per person. Make it last.
- Pascuala
...Is there anything I can do?
- Juana
Glad to see you up and about again, chica.
- Weedy
Leaf's helping out with the repairs. Let her rest a little longer.
- Pascuala
...No.
- Pascuala
I lived through whatever that was yesterday, we didn't hit any skeletons all night, or get run over by a saltfin. Now I even have water to drink...
- Juana
Give me your hand. I'll help you up.
- Juana
—Hyup!
- Elysium
Here, your water.
- Elysium
And your portion of jerky. We talked about it and thought it'd be best if you focused on fixing the compass. We can worry about everything else.
- Elysium
As long as we have that, we'll find our way. As for the rest, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
- Isidro
How much time do we have?
- Elysium
According to Señora Juana, they'll catch up to us by tomorrow morning at the latest.
- Isidro
That soon? That's not nearly enough time to fix the compass.
- Elysium
Just do your best. If you can't get it done, she said she'll risk the Skeletal Reef, compass or not.
- Isidro
...Mm.
- Elysium
And this is for you.
- Isidro
What is it?
- Elysium
A modified communicator. It'll let us talk in even the most extreme environments.
- Isidro
Okay...
- Pascuala
Finshit! I see sails!
- Teach
Sails! Southwest—
- Elysium
You stay here. I'll go help!
- Anastasio
I can see their sails.
- Anastasio
Increase speed. Catch up to them.
- Javier
I wouldn't recommend that.
- Anastasio
And why not?
- Javier
Based on their current heading, if we did, we'd only force them into the Skeletal Reef.
- Anastasio
What of it?
- Javier
That's no place for mere mortals! Sure, maybe they'll die in there, but we can't get in either!
- Anastasio
Irrelevant.
- Javier
...
- Rus
Please reconsider, Señor Alguacil. The compass'll probably get destroyed too!
- Anastasio
That is not your concern.
- Javier
I've sailed the Salt Flat for decades. I know how to stop a salt ship. At least let me try. It'll prevent a lot of needless deaths.
- Anastasio
...Do not squander this chance, Señor Javier. You have very few left.
- Rus
Javier!
- Rus
...Javier!
- Javier
...
- Rus
What are you thinking?! It's been years since we pulled off something like that, let alone against Juana!
- Javier
I know it won't be enough to stop her, but forcing them to change heading is still better than herding them into Skeletal Reef.
- Rus
And if you fail? Whatever's left of your authority will be gone. You'll lose control of the fleet!
- Javier
Neither will groveling to Anastasio help me keep it.
- Javier
Just listen to me, one last time! Maintain a steady speed with this ship and have another go around to cut them off from the east!
- Elysium
Are they down a ship? Did it hit a saltfin or something?
- Juana
No one taught by me would make a mistake like that, on flat land no less.
- Juana
Eyes sharp! Every last one of those salt ships is faster than this antique.
- Juana
They could easily cut us off before we make it into the Skeletal Reef.
- Weedy
What happens if they do?
- Weedy
We're at a disadvantage in both numbers and equipment. We wouldn't stand a chance.
- Juana
Then we won't let them!
- Juana
The ship tailing us is going too slow and not even raising its flag. They want us to let our guard down, so another can go around in front of us.
- Juana
Did you really think I would hesitate to sail into the Skeletal Reef at this point, Javier?
- Juana
Full sails ahead! Set course for the Skeletal Reef! Maximum speed!
- Warrior Priest
They're accelerating, Señor Alguacil.
- Anastasio
This is far from the scenario you envisioned, Señor Javier.
- Javier
...
- Javier
Raise the flag! Hail the other ship, tell them to go full sail!
- Anastasio
And what of us?
- Juana
I will take the helm.
- Teach
Señora?! Why are you turning? This is inviting them to open fire!
- Juana
If they do, they'll have to slow down to find an angle for their cannons.
- Juana
That's our chance to lose them.
- Javier
Gunners, at the ready!
Sailors heave heavy balls made from salt and fin dung into the cannons.
- Javier
Fire!
Once again, Juana dances with her helm. The rudder carves through the Salt Flat, as if slicing its flesh, while the massive ship tilts and glides across the salt desert at an impossible angle.
Salt cannonballs whistle past, landing only meters from La Conquista and spraying salt everywhere.
The sails push the ancient ship towards the heart of the Flat, where few have tread.
A rumble stirs within the salt cloud. Pascuala peers through her blurry spyglass, straining to identify its source, only for a wind-filled sail to suddenly consume her view.
It is the salt ship that has disappeared from the pursuing squadron.
Pascuala puts down her spyglass with a jolt as the salt ship, trailing a billowing cloud of salt dust, barrels straight toward them!
- Pascuala
It's gonna hit us!
- Pascuala
Evasive maneuvers! Evasive maneuvers!
- Juana
No! That's what they want—for us to slow down or turn!
- Juana
The main sails of that ship are at the bow! It's not designed for ramming!
- Juana
Let them try! If they do, they'll never catch us again!
- Juana
Forward!
Hruff—!
The sound of canvas straining in the wind fills everyone's ears as La Conquista charges on, evading the salt ship's interception.
For the first time in decades, it rides proudly at the head of the fleet again.
- Javier
You're out of your mind, Juana!
- Rus
You should have known that the moment you mutinied!
- Anastasio
Catch them.
- Javier
...
- Rus
Javier!
- Rus
...Fine. I'll take command! Full sail ahead!
Javier stops giving orders. He knows no one will listen anymore.
He passes through the crowd and climbs the ship's bow. He sees the towering skeletons just ahead of La Conquista.
The Skeletal Reef: a labyrinth of bones, the pulsing heart of the Salt Flat, a realm of death where no mortal dares tread. Yet, La Conquista sails toward its valleys, dauntlessly, recklessly.
Despite the constant bumps and jolts, Isidro's eyes remain fixed on the Corazonix floating at the center of the transmutation table.
Layers of Arts energy fields have separated it. The insides glow with a metallic gleam.
Even the slightest motion is reflected upon its surface through the needle of the probe.
- Isidro
The rusted alloy has been successfully isolated. The newly added alloy has been successfully integrated.
- Isidro
Now, for the last step, to etch a new Originium circuit inside the Corazonix... I can't afford to make a single mistake.
- Isidro
There is no time to test the effects of the circuit. We have only one chance.
- Isidro
Steady, steady...
Another jolt sends the dismantled compass components on the table spilling onto the ground.
With one hand holding the probe, Isidro draws his sword with the other and stabs the cabin wall with it to steady himself.
- Isidro
El Dominio del Mar... If the pirates can fight in the wind and waves with this technique, then I can use it to steady myself amidst this turbulence!
With each tilt of the ship, Isidro counters with a thrust of his sword. Soon, the cabin is in chaos—a pot covers one of his feet, while a piece of canvas wraps around his leg.
He pays no heed to them. The only thing he sees is the trail of liquid Originium drawn by the needle of his probe.
- Isidro
Almost there...
Sweat runs down his cheeks and into his mouth. He feels control slipping from the hand holding the probe as his strained muscles verge on spasming.
- Isidro
I did it! I did it!
- Isidro
Now, all that's left is to insert the shaped Corazonix back into the shell of the compass...
- Isidro
—Argh!
Isidro forces his eyelids open through the blood and salt, and sees the Arts field beginning to go out of control under some kind of powerful Arts interference.
His probe lies on the other side of the cabin, the needle broken into several pieces. The components of the compass are nowhere to be seen, except for the outer shell.
Under the pressure of the overloaded Arts field, the newly-formed Corazonix begins to tremble violently.
- Elysium
Thorns! Thorns!
- Pascuala
What did that finshit Anastasio just do?!
- Weedy
*cough* An Inquisition handcannon. He fired it into the cabin!
- Juana
Stay away from the alchemical equipment! It's out of control because of interference from the handcannon's Arts energy!
- Elysium
What are you doing here, Señora Juana? Who has the helm?
- Juana
Don't worry, it's in good hands.
- Pascuala
Teach! Where's Teach?!
- Weedy
She's over here! She's got a piece of broken wood stuck in her leg!
- Pascuala
Damn it... damn it! I can't stop the bleeding!
- Elysium
Thorns! Thorns! Say something!
Isidro opens his mouth, but his tongue does not obey. He forces himself to sit up. There is no time to think about how many ribs he broke.
On the transmutation table, the Corazonix starts to bubble as if it's boiling.
One moment of hesitation, and the last Corazonix of Iberia, their only hope for survival—
Will turn to dust.
He must retrieve it!
Isidro looks around desperately, but sees none of the compass's components, not even a working tool.
- Isidro
No... no...
Isidro stumbles to his feet. He cannot feel his left arm, but can still move his right arm.
He runs towards the transmutation table.
The resistance from the Arts field is much stronger than expected. It feels like putting his hand into boiling magma.
His glove offers no protection against the rampaging Arts energy. Isidro quivers as the energy corrodes his arm.
- Elysium
What are you doing, Thorns?!
- Isidro
This is my Corazonix.
- Isidro
...MY compass!
The Corazonix dances in his palm, as though it has gained life.
It flows through every gash and hole the Arts energy left upon his arm.
Isidro has gazed upon this substance so many times, seeking a connection with it.
But now, in this very moment, he understands that it has become one with his flesh.
- Isidro
...Argh—!!
