371. Creation for Rescue

Inside Meeting Cabin, Search Vessel, The Luminous Sea, Eastern Continent

“We weren’t entirely sure how to modify the wine press’s spell array to apply directly onto other objects...” Nillie began, introducing the emergency diving pod they had worked endlessly through the night to build. “So the Archmage and Chief Ryan decided our safest approach was to construct an ultra dense secondary outer hull around the primary pressure chamber.”

“To ensure maximum durability, I utilized a specialized steel alloy we’ve been quietly developing for advanced machinery under our secret projects,” Nillie explained, pointing to the detailed blueprints. “This thick outer shell should easily withstand the crushing deep-sea pressure as a physical safeguard, even in the worst case scenario where the double layered wine press suffers a failure.”

Ryan nodded in agreement, chiming in to add, “The primary entry hatch has been engineered with an internal rotary latch mechanism. It can strictly only be unsealed from the inside, ensuring the diver remains completely sealed until they safely breach the boundary of the dungeon.”

The Archmage gestured toward the detailed diagram drawn on the chalkboard. “We’ve also integrated a jasmine flower trinket inside the chamber, paired with a receiver on deck, to establish a communication link with the diver during the descent.” He swallowed hard before adding nervously, “However, the main issue is that during our stress tests, the signal dropped out nearly fifty percent of the time once submerged.”

Ravenna tapped her knuckles against the wooden table twice, letting out a soft sigh. “Then we will simply have to manage with the equipment we have. Have the capsule prepped for deployment immediately.”

With that, she stood up from her chair. A heavy silence fell over the cabin, punctuated only by the sound of ocean waves crashing against the ship's outer hull through the open portholes.

Dame Aisha slowly raised her hand, breaking the stillness with a hesitant, trembling question. “Y-Your Highness... who...? Who exactly is the person taking on this dive...?”

Ravenna smirked, turning her gaze toward the window with a fierce, unyielding expression. “Of course, it’s me.”

Before the officers could even process her words or begin shouting their objections, Ravenna turned on her heel and exited the meeting cabin, heading back to her private quarters on the ship.

When the rest of the staff made a move to follow her, Alice stepped directly into the doorway, blocking their path. “None of you can change Her Highness’s mind.”

“What?! But how can we possibly allow Her Highness to-” Sarah, Richard, and Knight Samuel all raised their voices at once, but Alice’s sharp tone instantly cut through the outrage.

“I am not at liberty to disclose details to you all, but know this: only Her Highness possesses the unique capability to pull off this rescue! So put your trust in her!”

“That is not the point, Miss Alice! If a single thing goes wrong down there, Her Highness will... she will die!” Richard declared, attempting to push past her.

Alice glared at him through her spectacles, her eyes cold and sharp enough to freeze him in place. “Are you suggesting that you dare to openly challenge a direct command from Her Highness?”

She clenched her fists at her sides, her voice booming across the room. “Hear me clearly! Anyone who attempts to interfere with this deployment will be formally charged with treasonous insubordination against Her Highness’s orders!”

This text came from the author's NovelPhoenix publication without consent; the chapter there supports their ongoing writing.

“B-But...”

A suffocating quiet settled over the officers following her stern declaration. Finally, one of the senior knights slammed his fist against the table in sheer frustration. “Then... at the very least, require her to undergo a standard sanity evaluation! We must verify if she is operating under mind control influence from the Cult... This is far too suicidal otherwise!”

“Very well. I will convey your request to Her Highness immediately,” Alice nodded curtly.

Turning on her heel, she exited the meeting cabin to find Ravenna. Behind her, the advisors and officers collapsed back into their chairs, shock and helpless dread written across every face as the pale morning sunlight began to stream through the cabin windows, reflecting off the turbulent waters outside.

Inside Ravenna’s Cabin, Search Vessel, The Luminous Sea, Eastern Continent

Swift~

Ravenna unfastened her gown and let it fall to the floor alongside her inner garments, standing completely unclad before the full-length mirror. She stared at the dark, intricate Apostle's mark etched into her inner thigh, trace circling her finger around its perimeter in deep thought. Taking a long, steadying breath, her expression hardened with resolute determination.

Just then, Alice knocked softly on the doorframe and stepped inside.

“Do you truly have to go through with this dive...?” Alice asked, pulling a custom, skin-tight full-body suit from one of the storage cabinets.

Ravenna merely scoffed, glancing over her shoulder. “Don’t start with me again, Alice.”

Without another word, Alice stepped forward and began assisting Ravenna into the specialized diving suit, carefully aligning the seams before slowly zipping up the back.

“I... I just want you to come back to us alive,” Alice whispered softly, her hand lingering against Ravenna’s shoulder.

“That, I will,” Ravenna replied with a faint smile, tying her dark hair back securely as she checked her reflection one last time.

Stepping out onto the main deck, she was met with the imposing sight of the massive steel outer vault mounted to the heavy ship crane. The adapted wine-press pressure vessel sat snugly within its core, suspended by reinforced iron chains and ready for deployment. The surrounding knights and crew members stood in heavy, solemn silence, every eye fixed on her.

With an unyielding gaze, Ravenna walked straight up the gangway and stepped inside the inner barrel.

As she settled into the compact chamber, Nillie approached the hatch, holding the heavy reinforced lid. “I understand the logic behind your plan, Your Highness... Having personally experienced the Origin Domain, I know its capabilities. Even so... I cannot help but feel it is beyond excessive for you to descend into the deep sea yourself...”

Ravenna tilted her head slightly, eyeing the master artisan with genuine surprise. “That is rather odd coming from you, Nillie. You have never raised a single complaint about any task or project I’ve assigned you. This is the very first time you’ve actively voiced opposition to my orders.”

“And for very good reason, Your Highness,” Nillie offered a faint, weary smile as he aligned the hatch cover over the opening. “The Kim Dukedom… and every single one of us, simply cannot survive without your leadership.”

Adjusting the heavy locking bolts, he finished, “So please, return safe and sound alongside every last immigrant and knight down there... if only to put this old man's heart at ease.”

Once the lid was lowered into position, plunging Ravenna into pitch-black darkness, her voice echoed faintly through the reinforced plating. “Then you had better make sure to complete the special development project I assigned to your workshop... I fully expect to see functional electrical power in the city by the time I return.”

Nillie chuckled softly under his breath, shaking his head. “That unwavering confidence of yours certainly eases my worries a bit.”

Stepping back from the crane platform, Nillie signaled to the deck officers that the internal chamber was locked. The heavy outer steel vault doors were swung shut and latched tight.

“Lower the capsule!” Dame Aisha commanded loudly, her voice cutting through the ocean wind.

The heavy winches groaned as the iron chains tautened, slowly lifting the massive metallic cube off the wooden deck and swinging it out over the churning waves.

Creak~

Tak~

Creak~

Bit by bit, the thick chains lowered the capsule toward the sea. The moment the bottom of the steel vault hit the turbulent surface, a violent shockwave jerked the suspension rig.

“Careful, damn it! We cannot risk Her Highness sustaining injuries before she even reaches the bottom!” Richard roared at the crane operators.

The operators nodded frantically, carefully easing the winch controls to steady the descent. Within a few short minutes, the heavy metal box vanished beneath the dark, rapidly moving ocean waves, leaving behind only a trail of white foam as the morning sea swallowed it whole.