Beyond The System
Chapter 151: To Grow

A line of neatly cut wooden slabs stretched across the beach in front of me. Not exactly uniform like processed lumber, but definitely better than anything I could’ve managed.

“Sooo, we planning on leaving soon, then?” I asked, glancing up.

“It might be a bit selfish,” Drake said, “but I’d like to get off the mainland.” He paused, then added with a sideways look, “Though, honestly, you should be more concerned than me.”

“Maybe,” Elric chimed in. “But technically, we’re not in anyone’s territory right now. As long as we keep quiet…”

I turned to watch a group of girls sparring against six hounds, the rhythm of their fight sharp against the calm air. I sighed.

“Any idea how dangerous the first island is?” I asked, nodding toward the tropically forested landmass in the distance. “I mean, it’s at least relatively safe here, right?”

Marcus wasn’t with us, He was off somewhere training with Trevor and his wife, so for now, it was just Griffith, Drake, Elric, and me.

Griffith scratched his head, then shifted to running a hand through his beard. “Not safe,” he said finally. “But to my knowledge, no real experts were ever sent out.”

“And they came back?” I asked, sliding my hand between two boards, half making the decision as I moved.

“Some,” Drake answered. “But according to Marcus, beyond the first island, even the Starborn guards didn’t return. No higher ranks were ever sent after that.”

I let water flow from my palm, then shaped it. Making it thicker, denser, but still pliable. Once the moisture had thoroughly soaked into the boards, I willed it to freeze. Solid and locked.

“That’s new,” Elric said, eyes wide.

“Discovered it with Vel.” I stood, turning to Griffith. “Speaking of which… any way to make a barrier stronger?”

“More energy,” he replied flatly.

Of course it was.

“I’d also like to learn the new skill you developed, Unveiled Perception,” I added, glancing over at Elric.

“Hmmm.” He tapped a thoughtful finger to his chin. “I don’t know… How exactly would that benefit me?”

Smart boy, Wyrem praised. Far less trusting than you.

He’s just a jerk, I fired back.

After a moment of staring from us, he shrugged and laughed. "I'm only kidding. Anytime, just ask and I'll show you. I could show you those energy mirages too, but I only made it to fight you so..."

“So we’re leaving then?” Drake asked, turning to me with that same probing stare.

“Why the heck are you asking me?” I scoffed. “This is a group decision.”

He shook his head with a smirk. “No. If I’m going to serve someone, they should be decisive.”

Silence fell like a curtain.

Mister Ironscribe sighed and smacked a palm over his face. “Where did I go wrong?”

“I’m sorry?” I scoffed in confusion.

“It’s alright,” Drake cut in, already chuckling. Shoulders shaking, he clearly found the whole thing hilarious.

“That was their bet,” Elric said, watching his older brother with what might have been shame. “Drake doesn’t actually want to go back.”

“I have to keep an eye on my new little sisters, after all,” Drake said with an unnerving coo. “Make sure my little bro treats them properly.”

“Gross,” Elric responded.

“Wait, wait.” I raised both hands. “Explain. I thought you wanted to rule the State?”

Thankfully, my former commander decided to be the adult here and actually explain.

“I did too,” he said. “But when I brought up going back one day—”

“I told him Lucan and my father can keep the throne,” Drake finished with a grin so wide it screamed 'I’m plotting something'.

“And serving me?” I asked.

He shook his head slowly, then gave me a look I’d seen Miss Star give Sia more than once. “No need for that right now. Just know I’ll help you. Raise you—”

I shuddered at the word raise.

“—and one day…” He looked toward the sea, eyes drifting over the far-off islands. “Well, like I said. No need for now.”

“He wants you to be a ruler,” Elric revealed. “Because he’s too lazy to be one himself.”

Drake let out a dramatic gasp. “Baby brother?!”

I was really starting to wonder if drama and theater were official cultural pastimes in the State of Stars.

“It’s not because I’m lazy!” Drake’s eyes sharpened with sudden seriousness, though his words immediately betrayed him. “I simply prefer someone else take the spotlight away from me.”

“YOU WANT TO MAKE ME A PUPPET?!” I shouted with disbelief.

Three responses rang out at once.

Two with a, “Yes.”

One with a, “No.”

I fixed my glare on Drake.

“Peter,” he said, voice softening into faux sincerity, “don’t think of yourself as a puppet. Think of yourself as a mouthpiece for my voice, ideas, orders, and thoughts.”

I don't know how someone could explain not being a puppet while simultaneously describing exactly what one is.

“It’s impossible to tell when you’re being serious,” I grumbled.

“Then it’s working.”

He’s fun too, Luna chimed in.

Do you just want to befriend anyone who messes with me?

…At least I’ll have plenty of friends, she replied innocently.

…That was actually funny.

Thank you! she chirped.

“Miss Star! Stop! I give up!” Trevor’s voice cut through the air just as he sprinted past me, diving behind and using me as cover.

Three small fireballs zipped after him, straight toward me now.

I sighed, reached for Drake, and yanked him in front of me like a living shield.

He barely blinked before grabbing someone even bigger and doing the same.

Griffith reacted instantly, raising shimmering golden barriers to protect the whole ridiculous chain of meat shields we’d created.

“You’re a true hero, my loyal guard,” Drake declared with mock reverence.

“And you’re a menace,” Griffith snapped.

To be fair, he could’ve been talking to any one of us. Or all three.

“Guess you guys are finished too,” Thea said, her voice coming from behind me. She was flanked by Lyra, Sia, and the spirit familiars.

Miss Star strode over, wearing a bright smile that lit up her face like she hadn’t just been throwing fireballs at one of our friends. “It’s really nice to be moving around again. It’s been far too long since I had a good workout.”

“Still as terrifying as ever,” Marcus said, stepping up with a look that technically resembled admiration, though worship might’ve been a little more accurate. “I see you’ve started.”

I bent down and picked up the sealed planks, each one standing over twice my height. They were basically weightless to me now.

“Seems sturdy enough,” I said, testing the tension between them with a light pull. “And no melting so far, but we should test them in the water.”

“I’ve got some other concerns,” Trevor added. “Buoyancy. We’ll probably need a few layers.”

“You’re the expert,” Ironscribe said. “Any ideas?”

“I’m really not, buuuut I have seen a lot of movies,” Trevor said, pausing as a few people gave him curious looks at the word. He pushed through. “Not that they’re always reliable, but… maybe something layered. Flat bottom for stability, logs between to handle most of the floating, and a top layer for us to sit on. Maybe a few extra logs along the sides for support.”

“I’ve got another concern,” Lyra said, voice calm but serious. “Sure, we can paddle or launch ourselves across quickly enough, but…” She turned to glance at the water. “There are dangerous beasts all over this world.”

All eyes turned to Griffith.

“To be honest, I don’t know much about that,” he admitted with a rare hint of embarrassment. “But from what I have studied, most of the really terrifying creatures don’t surface often. If we move quickly and don’t look like anything resembling common prey, we should be fine.”

“And what is the usual prey?” someone asked.

He shrugged. “I’ve never had much reason to study that in detail. Most of the books I’ve read only cover the basics. I suppose as long as we don’t make the raft look like a fish, we’ll be alright.”

Trevor raised another question. “Any idea on monster size? If nothing out there can swallow a raft holding eleven people and five dogs, I’ll take that as a good sign.”

Griffith shook his head. “Nothing I know of could manage that.”

“All right, then how about we finish this?” I said. “What’s the plan once we reach the first island?”

“I seriously doubt anyone would go there,” Drake replied. “So I think we should stay for a while. Let everyone get on more or less the same level in cultivation.”

Miss Star nodded, lifting a hand toward the older group members. “That way, we can all be as prepared as possible before we move again.”

Then Velea tugged gently on my sleeve, her voice small. “Why do we have to leave the first island if it’s safe?”

The question snapped every other thought in my head clean in half.

Honestly? Solid point. If the odds of anyone finding us were that low, why not stay?

“Not everyone has to, at least not right away,” Drake replied, voice a little softer. “It’s more accurate to say it’s mostly safe. Not entirely. I don’t think anyone will come, but I can’t be sure. There are other reasons, but no need to get into them now.”

I let that slide for the moment, about to suggest something else until Wyrem cut in from my mind.

The fewer people, the more resources available, he said. That alone is enough reason to brave the danger. There’s still too much you don’t know, and too much I’ve forgotten.

I agree, Luna chimed in.

Wyrem's tone had turned serious.

What I do remember, he continued, is that you are still too weak. My memories are fragmented, but one thing I know about—

Wings, Luna offered.

Yes, Wyrem echoed Luna. Wings. But also strength. Beings exist far beyond you. Beasts, Starborn, things even I don’t fully understand.

I already knew he was right. Knew it better than anyone.

Forget the Starborn. Forget the cosmic-level threat that might already be twisting my world beyond recognition.

That girl, the one who froze me in place with nothing more than presence. And I knew, without question, if she wanted to kill me, if she had even the slightest reason to, it would take less than a single thought.

“To grow,” I finally said aloud. “We stay where it’s safe until we reach our peak. Then we leave. To get stronger. To build a new place we can call home. One that’s safer…”

I looked out across the sea.

“…Safer because we went out.”