Sorral led them high up the mountain- she had used her skills to find some ancient path that ascended to a sort of plateau embedded into the volcanoes side. It overlooked a sizable portion of the island. The clearing they entered was beset with jungle trees and leafy ferns that swayed in the gentle breeze. The sun was just about to set and a orange haze gradually swept across the ocean. Through the tides fog, it shone on the distant shapes of many goblins.

  "Nice." Theo said, but no one else felt the need to comment as they began to set up camp.

  Vaz had some experience in this regard, and Sorral knew her way around a hammer. Which left Cass and Theo with tasks they could handle. Like charging the furnace's mana stone.

  Cass opened the slitted metal hatch and reached in up to the shoulder.

  "So it's like a bag of holding?" Theo asked. Cass lifted a yellow crystal prism, cut flatly on many sides and held within a series of brass rings- from the furnace. "Wouldn't be able to hold all the parts otherwise."

  Theo ducked and peaked in to see many gears slowly turning a bowl shaped space that he assumed the gem would slot in.

  "Whys it spin?" he asked. "I dunno."

  Cass sat down and waved Theo over. "By the look on your face I'd say you never charged a mana stone before. This. This is a mana stone. A cataphract. Or battery. Everyone calls it something else. The lights on the ship are charged in a similar way. Crystals and gems react to mana. Most people have enough to do it, but if you don't it's no big deal, I won't judge. You just hold it between your hands like this- then you focus your energies. Chakra. Mana. Everyone calls it something else." she handed the battery to Theo.

  "Don't touch the crystal itself. Can't believe you never done this before. In my home town stuff like this is in everything. A house would have like, 5 of these at least. The main thing folks at Orrerya sell are things like this furnace, and we have to adapt the products for all sorts of peoples and cultures. It's like- ohp. It's done."

  Theo looked down at the prism. It shone with a rich orange light. Like neon in the shape of the prism.

  "Cool right? Don't go thinking you can go off and be some mage though, some kids get that idea. But most people can at least do this. You should get some Orrerya merchandise, I mean you like that shotgun right?" she took the battery from him and put it back in the furnace.

  "It's not like a sword- it works the same for anyone who uses it. I'll get you deal once we get off the islan-", "Stop trying to scam Theo Cass, and besides does it look like he has any money?" Sorral called out from where she was helping Vaz build a lean to.

  "What? No ones doing that, stop being weird." she called back over her shoulder, then leaned towards Theo and put a hand to the side of her mouth; "But seriously, I'm talking a gun the size of a cannon but weighs nothing. That's right. Weightless enchantments. Good for a little guy like you-"

  Cass talked and talked, Theo could hardly get a word in edgewise while they did their chores around camp. They cleared some brush, set up some logs as chairs and even dug a small ditch to keep bugs out. And this world had some big bugs.

  Every now and then Sorral or Vaz would ask them to help with the lean-tos. They built two, and it seemed like a collaborative project as the two looked strikingly similar. They pulled apart the bushes to create fibrous strings, which they used to tie together many sturdy branches into a grid pattern.

  They stuffed palm leaves in rows, allowing their natural shape to carry the water off. Each thatch wall was held up at an angle by two extra-thick 9-foot branches that were cut to match.

  "It's nothing fancy, but give us a few days and it'll be something livable. We can put the furnace right here between them for heat." Sorral said.

  "We're running out of rations.", Cass said with her voice muffled as she walked up mouth full of bread. "I wonder why. Vaz and you can go foraging tonight.", "Why not me?" Theo asked, not offended by genuinely curious. "A cave bat could carry you off. No, it's better you stay at camp and keep watch. I used a lot of skills today, so I'm going to get some sleep."

  The sun had fully set now, and the breeze started to drag in the cool ocean air. "You guys got it?", Theo asked them. Vaz nodded; "So long as this one doesn't chase off all the game with her constant nagging."

  Cass made a confused face; "Nag? Who's nagging? I like to have conversations. But I know how to hunt- don't worry. Someone's had to feed the two of us."

  "Hmm, perhaps a friendly competition the-?" before he could finish Cass jumped into the forest and took off. He scoffed and went another direction.

  "That idiot better not get lost." Sorral murmured.

  Theo rubbed at the scaled on the back of his neck, suddenly aware that they were alone. He was a quirky guy, and a sudden new social dynamic threw him for a loop often times. Sorral was definitely one of the people that he didn't meld with easily. Cass was an extrovert. Sorral... She was more introverted, though assertive when she needed to be.

  "Well, I'll keep watch. I got nocturnal vision and everything... So it uh, should be fine if you wanted to get some sleep."

  Sorral nodded, and brushed her chin-length hair behind an ear. And immediately some sort of red flag went off in Theos subconscious.

  "I've noticed, your eyes are shiny. Like a cats at night.", her voice took on a new cadence, it was sultry? Theo had felt this before. The sudden change in atmosphere. "Y-yeah?" he asked nervously. She sat next to him on his log. "Can I see?" she asked.

  "I guess.." with great effort he met her piercing stare. She knew what she was doing, and was confident at it. Her hazel eyes flicked about his face. "So you could turn into anyone?" she asked leaning forward seemingly examining him. "Yeah. Pretty much?"

  "Could you turn into me?"

  Theo suddenly realized how close she was- he pushed her away and stood up. "Stop trying to seduce me! Someone's tried that on me before!", he was embarrassed that he allowed it to go so far. He pointed a finger at the accused; "What do you want?"

  She shrugged and leaned back casually. "What? I'm just asking questions." she said so, but she seemed to care little if he believed her. "It starts with questions, then you start asking questions, then.." he thought about his time with Violet at Malton estate.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Sorral laughed; "Relax! I was just teasing, your reactions were funny." she gave him a genuine smile; "I would've never gone so far- I have standards. I figured I'd ply you a bit and figure out what your deal is. You want me to be frank about it... Why is a changeling traveling with a sailor in his lovers form? Why do you know nothing about how basic things like mana work?"

  "So that's what this is about- you could've just asked. Not made it all weird.", "Well, you got all weird when we were alone together.", "That's because I don't know you!", "And I don't know you either. Hence why I flirted. If I had known you'd be such a baby about it, I'd just ask like a boring person would.", "I'm not boring.", "Didn't say you were."

  They stared angrily at each other. But eventually Sorral let out a sigh, allowing the tension to dissipate. "You're right, I saw that you were in a vulnerable state and I took advantage. I'm sorry. Let's start over. I'm Sora, from Orrerya. I'm an engineer multiclassed with navigators skills. There, that's my real name, no games. But I can't in good conscience spend time with such an unknown like you. So, out with it. Why are you travelling about as that sailors double?"

  "No." Theo crossed his arms.

  "What?"

  "You heard me." he got up and walked back to his lean-to. "But I told you my real name!"

  He put his hands in the air; "How do I know that? And one act of good faith doesn't pay for a bad one, I need more evidence to know you're not a viper as well. You messed up, not me. I have nothing to prove to you. And guess what? The last person to try and seduce me was way better at it!"

  "Are you going to sleep?" she asked bitterly. "Yeah! And you better keep watch!" he patted the dirt like a pillow and rolled over facing the direction away from her.

  'Sora' left it alone at that. Theo mostly just wanted to not talk to her anymore. Was it just an aspect of being a doppleganger? Would everyone act this way towards him? Eventually with these thoughts lingering in his head, he drifted off to sleep.

  ---

  The next morning was awkward between Theo and Sora. They had difficulty meeting each others gaze and mostly kept their distance. Cass and Vaz caught a few pheasants, but the island was short on game due to the goblin hordes over hunting. So neither could be confident in some perceived hunting victory.

  She kept stealing glances at Theo as he went about the camp.

  Sora was confused. Why was he so offended, in her mind he would be fine with it regardless if it was authentic or not. But, apparently to some men, that mattered.

  His reptilian body was toned and strong for it's size. Why was a creature like this so intelligent? He seemed a cut above the other sailors. He also seemed sheltered, which was reinforced by the fact he knew so little about basic worldly matters. She stole another glance.

  He was a complete mystery. He scratched his rear end.

  Mysteries were dangerous. Orrerya knew that better than most- it's the arch stone of the culture. To defy the unknown. To conquer it. But, her advances offended him somehow. Sora was currently working on more hatch walls to expand the lean-tos. In time, they would be houses.

  If she was going to be stuck on this island for so long, she'd have to know what his deal was. Any unknown variable could throw a wrench in any of her plans, and it made everything riskier. What if he has enemies because of all the forms he took? Was he even a he? His voice sounded like a mans, but that could be a different species thing.

  She wasn't a biologist.

  "Something go on between you two?" her sister, Cassandra asked. Like her, her 'fake name' was chosen poorly in the heat of the moment.

  "Nothing. I just, might of... Messed up again.", Cass groaned and took a seat on a rock near her. "Tell me what you said." she said, as if she's said the line many times over the years. And she has.

  "I might of said suggestive things in the hopes that Theo would part with some of his secrets.", Cass slapped her forehead- "Ah. Now everything makes sense. Idiot. The one moment you two are alone together. You know, men aren't all the same? I know you don't have as much experience in that department as me but... Smarten up. Theo is a good guy. Weak, a bit slow to react- but good."

  "What do I do? I need to know- it's dangerous for all of us for me to not. But now he's angry."

  "Make it up to him. But as a friend, and not as some tavern hussy. You play the part terribly anyways. Stick to your strengths, I think you and him have a lot in common if you do."

  "Really?" Sora asked, looking over at him again. He was drawing shapes in the dirt as Vaz instructed him.

  "I mean, I agree with you there's a lot we just don't know yet- but he seems pretty straight forward. If you ask me- Vaz is the cagey one. Theo, now I've seen him about the ship, and that day on the beach, and since then? He's been the opposite of pragmatic. He'll help out at a cost to himself if he can. Even though he's a pretty smart guy, it's gullible like a kid. Like he comes from some utopia where nothing ever goes wrong... Like that business with that god- sure it didn't turn out well but he tried. Guys like him get quests. He's weirdo, but I can't see him doing anything but add to the world. Like you." she elbowed Sora teasingly.

  "Okay, okay. You're a pretty good judge of character. But how do I make it up to him?", at that, Cassandra pondered for a moment.

  "You could open up to him a bit, tell him about why we left Orrerya to begin with. Guys like him are suckers for a sob story.", "But we've known each other for days! And you'd be okay with that?", Cass crossed her arms; "I've moved past it. I think we both should. Tell him why you need to know, and show him that you're willing to meet him halfway. Fairly. If that fails, I can always try the flirting thing."

  "You're a monster." Sora laughed, and Cass smirked; "I learned from the best."

  "So when are we getting off this rock?" Cass asked. Sora brought out a crumpled paper from one of her many pockets and unfolded it. It showed crude drawings and measurements, a diagram of a flying machines inner workings. "It'll take time. Just to source the materials we need. Then to refine them- I'd say a month at least."

  Cass slumped; "A month of my life. Finn will probably forget me and move on.", Sora sighed and put a hand on Cass's shoulder sympathetically; "...Probably."

  ---

  "So if you do this motion, you get a perfect curve almost every time. But the trick is to not think about it. Just go with it." he raked a finger through the dirt, showing the motion to Theo.

  Who heard laughing so looked up to see Cass wrestling playfully with Sora.

  "Vaz?" he asked. "Yeah?"

  "Do you understand women?"

  Vaz looked up at the question and looked over to the two women.

  "Not really my area of expertise. You know my preferences, but I've had a few come onto me before. Why?"

  "You know how guys try to muscle you into doing what they want?",

  Vaz nodded knowingly. "And you want to know how women do the same thing."

  "Yeah. I keep coming across women and whenever I'm alone with them, there's this weird power dynamic. I'm a guy, and it's like they know since our minds often drift a certain direction, they try to take advantage of us. What do you do?"

  "Well, not let them know that we know first of all. If they know that we know that they know- they get even more tricky. So, if a woman has you in their sights for one reason or another- give them what they want. At least, what they think they want."

  Theo considered this for a moment. "And what if they want to know more about you?"

  "Lie. If you know they're doing it, give them what they want. And make it convincing. It'll at least stop them pestering you. If you want advice on how to make women leave you alone, you've come to the right person." he wiped away the rune drawings they've been practicing, and began to draw something else.

  "You are a doppleganger, so learning to lie effectively is crucial." he drew a square box and made multiple dots.

  "Say you're in a tavern with your sailor buds, and then you catch the eye of some noble woman who snuck out for a night on the town..."

  He began to explain 'hypothetical' situations for evading the scorn of powerful and influential women. None of it particularly relevant to his situation with Sora. But it could be helpful someday.

  Theo thought he understood people. But since he's been out and about in the world, he realized how much variety there was. Some liked to weaponize their charisma, and they were the most dangerous of all.

  If only Violet was there, she'd be able to explain it to him. He wondered where she was.

  "Now if the maid comes in at the least opportune moment- as they often do- you can pretend to be giving a massage. It won't dissuade the rumors-" Vaz continued his lecture. "Can we go back to the runes? I think I get it, thanks Vaz.", "Sure thing bud. But hey- could we talk a bit about Yosef and your grandmother?"

  "What do you want to know?"

  "You already said you don't know the details of how he messed up, or murdered someone or whatever- but what kind of cell are they keeping him in?", "Uh.. Not a nice one. Not sure how they handle bathroom breaks either. We better hurry if we can." Vaz clenched his fists; "I just miss him so much, and to think- he's down there- thinking I've probably been executed by now."

  "Don't worry, my group isn't the sort to just execute people. He'll be alive. Waiting for you." Theo said, going back to practicing the wind rune Vaz was showing him to draw. "No, not like that." he said. "But it looks identical to yours.", Vaz shook his head; "No. It doesn't need to look right. It needs to be drawn right. The motion is the spell and the sigil is the incantation."

  The lesson went on, and throughout the day he and Theo would practice, gather materials for crafting, and just talk, mostly. While waiting on Sora to build whatever she needed to get them off the island. He wanted to ask how long it would take, but it was difficult to talk to her.

  He would say something tonight, if Vaz and Cass went hunting again. It would be awkward in front of everyone.