I lowered my staff, letting the Memory Projection vanish in a puff of golden sparks. As anxious as I was to craft a teleportation spell without a visible reference, I couldn't spare the mana to sustain it any longer. As it was, I had enough for one solid try, and with the mana I saved, maybe, maybe a second.
A heavy hum filled the air. Over my shoulder, I could see the skyship in great detail. It was close enough that I could make out the individual silhouettes of the sailors and soldiers, and Wizlen's tall, commanding figure at the prow. The star on my staff bobbed up and down as my hands trembled, so I tightened my grip, taking a long, deep breath. It didn't do any good at calming my nerves, but it gave me time to prepare myself for what came ahead.
