Chapter I: Icebreaker Aurora II

16 Degrees, Greenlandia Sea, Afternoon.

Claire Elford, 12th February 1894, Icebreaker Aurora;

"And I left the door open, great..." Heading into the room, upon initial inspection it seemed untouched, thankfully. Leaving the sheet at my desk, I lock the door, double-checked it, took off my boots and finally settled down in my own comfort to take a seat. The mirror returned a reflection of me, the knots in my hair were at least gone and I looked moderately presentable. At least by my standards. Sophie would've cast something at me to bring me up to the standards of at least nobility. Even if the setting hadn't demanded it... The ship again takes a hard hit, ricocheting throughout my room, building suspense as I await the reveal of what could be a breakthrough.

"Ok, let's get started." With a deep breath, I start.

"With further analysis, your prediction seems to be aligned with what we have seen. The salt content in the nearby ocean has diminished significantly. And the unstable magical flux has been deteriorating the weather as well. Polaris Ice Caps are only forty percent of what they used to be. Our outpost will be relocated to a safe position to continue our research." I couldn't help but feel satisfaction, even if it meant the potential collapse of Western civilisation. All my hard work is finally starting to pay off, they can't keep ignoring the numbers, all I need is more recognition now from the international community and we can finally get the funding needed. I look through the other sheets of data further recognising and validating the changes in the gulf stream until I landed at the last sheet.

"Claire Elford, before sending this telegraph to you we have urgent news. Hurricane Hiemalia was set to be predicated on the 17th of February. Yet, with the dynastic change in the weather, we have checked our calculations. Several disturbances from our anemometers were recorded, further verified by a sudden spike of mana density within the sea and the sightings of wind elementals. As you know it's far too early for all these signs to be showing up now, so we could only determine that the hurricane has formed earlier than expected beyond unimaginable speeds. You must notify the captain immediately, time is of the essence here, may Irene be with you."

The room rattles as another wave bombarded the ship. The excitement had completely dissipated, replaced with this awful set of tangled disparity, like snakes suffocating their prey. How did I not notice, dammit Claire... Clocking into action without processing what I just read, I set my sights on my boots. Rushing to them to force them on. With the paper in hand, I stagger out of the room slamming the iron door shut. It's locked enough Claire, just go!

The bridge was quite far, and I doubt they'd let me past. The only other way would be an orb transmission device. I recalled Sophie using one back at the outpost in their telegraph room. I think it was standard for all telegraph rooms to have one, categorised as a catalyst used to directly communicate with other orbs of the same variant. They all had mana in them. So even dwarves were able to use them considering their lack of magical aptitude. The telegram room, that's my best bet. I pace into a run with the route still fresh in my memory. I should've heeded Isabelle's advice and waited at the Outpost, even if it meant missing the conference. She always did have unusually good instincts... Thank you. Each step ticked away as I routed through mirrored slates of metal surrounding me. The tilt had become more prominent than before, becoming another obstacle in the endless sea of corridors. Finally, I arrive at the same metallic door, almost missing it as I retraced back.

"Herald it's me, Claire!" I bang at the door, finally letting myself take a gasp of air, waiting back anxiously.

Just as before Herald opens the door in vigour, his face painted with concern.

"What's wrong my lady?"

"We're on a collision course with hurricane Hiemalia! We don't have much time, we've got to alert the captain!" He takes a long pause rubbing his chin.

"Now, now, settle down a little. I knew the weather felt eerie, but it can't possibly be the cause of a hurricane, can it?" I hand him the sheet briskly as I make my way in. If I was an orb, where would I be? His desk was filled with sheets of paper, documents printed off from the telegraph with news back in Britannia, some even had imagery of what appeared to be the Kingdom of Alpibus. Although none of it seemed to have any relevance to the orb.

"Herald, where's your transmission orb?" His prior positive vibe was completely sedated. Left with a cold hard stare as he peers at the final lines on the paper.

Finally looking back at me.

"Apologies for doubting ya, we need the orb right?" I nod as the room quivers, keeping us further on edge.

"Haven't used that thing in ages, it's tucked away somewhere!" Give me strength Irene... He shuffles to a bunch of draws, ruffling his hands in them one by one. I look around as I find a couple of shelves on the opposite side of the chamber, and begin my own search. It didn't help that with each rattle it grew ever so louder, and ever so stronger; a constant reminder of what may come. The flickering feeling of despair grew ambient the more shelves were emptied.

"Do you remember the last place you used it?!" It's in none of these shelves. I desperately look around for anything else I could scramble to try and find it.

"Maybe we're overreacting here. Are you su-?" The ship cut him off, yielding to one side along with everything else. We coordinate together latching onto anything to sustain our balance. Herald took it as fact this time and kept silent, checking the last of selves once the vessel reached back to normal. Although it became transparent that his end didn't have much luck either. Could it be in these wooden crates? Before we knew it the room is ravaged by another barrage with the lights flickering endlessly.

"Dear Irene, give us strength." Ignoring him, I notice a pure purple shade glisten in one of the wooden crates.

"I think I found-", looking closer what would've been a sigh of relief is instead filled with a sickly feeling of dread...