The Red Vein's success had filled Frostheim's coffers—so much so that even the snow seemed to glitter a little richer.But Lumiel, being Lumiel, wasn't satisfied.
"We have drinks, we have music," he said, pacing the tavern's second floor. "All we're missing now are flying ships, a global market, and an army of accountants.""You mean sailors," Daniel corrected."Same difference," Lumiel said.
The Plan
It started with a simple idea:Build a dock—no, an entire shipyard—where astral vessels could land, trade, and raid between worlds.
Lumiel unfolded a blueprint across Daniel's table. The sketch was half genius, half madness—Viking longships fused with Red Code runes, sails that shimmered between material and spirit.
"They'll travel in both worlds," Lumiel said. "Physical ships with astral shadows. If we lose one, we still have the other.""If you lose both?" Daniel asked."Then I'll start selling insurance."
Laura leaned over the plans. "We'll need aurora glass for the hulls, frost-crystal anchors, and rune steel."
"We'll also need money," Daniel said."We have money," Lumiel grinned. "From all the people who got drunk enough to believe in me."
The Construction
The docks rose faster than anyone expected.Ice-Elf engineers worked beside Celestara smiths; frost magic froze foundations solid while Red Code burned through the ice like molten ink.
They named it The Dock of Blades—where every ship was both a weapon and a dream.The first vessel, Crimson Wake, gleamed under the aurora like a living flame.
Luminous traced runes along its hull.
"Do you think she'll fly?""She'll do whatever I tell her," Lumiel said proudly."Like me?" she asked, smiling."You have free will.""Mostly."
The Naval Raid
Klaus led the maiden voyage, with Queen Eira herself at his side.The mission: raid an abandoned fortress on a drifting glacier rumored to hide ancient runestones.
Eira's silver hair whipped in the wind as she commanded her Ice-Elf fleet.
"Your brother's ships are fast," she said."Unpredictable," Klaus corrected."Like him.""Exactly."
They clashed with shadow-creatures rising from the waves—leviathan-spawn and specters of ice.Klaus fought with cold precision, sword gleaming frost-blue. Eira's magic froze the sea solid mid-battle, trapping enemies in crystal cages.The Crimson Wake hovered above them, raining Red Code lightning from its sails.
When the battle ended, the glacier cracked open, revealing vaults filled with runestones and ore.The raid was a success.
"Efficient," Klaus said."Glorious," Eira corrected."Cost-effective," Daniel added later when the loot arrived.
Frostheim's New Power
Back at the city, the docks transformed overnight into a hub of life.
Merchants sold relics from astral raids.
Scholars mapped new realms.
Laura exported Crimson Frost Ale by the barrel to far-off islands.
Lumiel installed Red Code mirrors along the docks showing trade routes, stocks, and ship positions—like a glowing constellation of economy.The people called it The Blood Compass.
"It's beautiful," Luminous said, watching ships lift into the sky."It's profitable," Daniel added."It's ours," Lumiel finished.
Klaus and Eira
Later, beneath the aurora, Klaus found Eira on the balcony overlooking the docks.The air smelled of salt, snow, and ambition.
"Your brother's chaos spreads quickly," she said."It's contagious," Klaus replied."And yet you've built order around it.""Someone has to keep the world from imploding."
She turned to him, eyes glowing faintly with frostlight.
"Perhaps that's why I trust you."
Their hands brushed—unplanned, but neither moved away.Below them, Frostheim's new fleet shimmered like a crown of stars.
Closing Scene
Lumiel stood at the edge of the docks, wind in his hair, violin on his back.He smiled at the sea of glowing sails and whispered:
"Let the world trade, raid, and dream. Frostheim isn't just a city anymore—it's a movement."
The aurora flared crimson and blue.Ships rose into the night, and Frostheim's legend began to sail beyond the ice.