Chapter 47

The mana engine room was a cavernous abyss nestled deep within the bowels of the ship. My eyes traveled upwards, captivated by the seemingly endless climb of the walls. A labyrinth of pipes wove a metallic web above our heads—among them, ten brass conduits of considerable width snaked down to merge with the cylindrical mana engines.

Next to these marvels of engineering towered five colossal brass turbines. What would normally be a room humming with motion, however, currently sat in eerie silence. Lanterns suspended around the room bathed the space in a warm, almost crimson light. The hair on my arms stood up straight in response to the mana currents swirling invisibly around us. A mechanical clunk signified the elevator beginning its ascent once more, leaving us trapped in the depths of the ship. Above us, the elevator slipped through the wooden blockade between the floors before vanishing from sight.

“Incredible,” I breathed out.