Although I did want to hear what Aurelia has to say about me in her speech, at her urging we left the Capital and arrived at Ponte Mare within a few days of travel. Previously we were half a day away from here when we sieged the Archidux's base and now that I've gotten to see the port city for myself, I have to wonder why he didn't choose Ponte Mare as a base of operations. From what Aurelia said, there is the Strait of Ponte Mare and the city of Ponte Mare, as one would think, the two are right next to each other. The City of Ponte Mare is only connected to the continent through a single man-made bridge and is otherwise entirely surrounded by water with high walls that block out its connection to the mainland. Only two exits points can be seen in the walls, the bridge and the port area that leads to the ocean and Strait of Ponte Mare which during the low tide forms a temporary land bridge to Mons.
The continent forms an arch around the City of Ponte Mare which then curves back northward forming a gulf with the city in the centre. And just past the port is a small island with an outpost, from there the Strait of Ponte Mare can be found.
"How are we supposed to make it over to the outpost without people seeing you? Your face is pretty well known and you're supposed to be in the Capital right now."
"Don't worry about people seeing me, in the speech my doppelganger made the other day, I made some of my abilities known so I can move around freely. Also, we aren't taking the land bridge. Don't underestimate the distance, it's not something most people can cross before the water rises again. Not even Vorenia would b able to do it while running at top speed. I didn't say the whole story regarding the Strait of Ponte Mare, the walkway only last one hour. No one knows why and people just assume it to be a natural phenomenon, but in reality, that isn't the case. In one of my previous visits here, I was able to see the water receding as well as watch it rise and from my eye's I could tell that there was something forcibly parting the water," Aurelia explains.
"Wait, you're not telling us to swim all the way over... oh, you want me to swim over and carry you, don't you?"
"Would you like some candy for the correct answer?"
"Has the Empire's military always used ships to cross over? Has no one tried to run across the straight?" Lia asks.
"People have tried, people try all the time, but there aren't any records of anyone successfully running across, not even the Legendary Masters have been able to cross, but they have come close before."
"Are there any legends or folk stories regarding the strait?"
"I wouldn't know, the native peoples here were subjugated nearly a thousand years ago so any primary source would be hard to find and I haven't really interacted deeply with the people here so if anything got passed down orally I wouldn't know. You have an idea or something, what's with the questions?"
"Yes, I do in fact have an idea. But I can't be certain without know or hearing any tales regarding the strait. Aren't there often stories there being some kind of trial and passing will grant access to special locations or allow one to obtain some kind of privilege. These kind of myths and legends are pretty common around the world and are often found to have some truth to them, especially when they relate to old ruins and archaeology sights."
"I see what you're trying to say and you're not the first to have the idea that the parting waters are some kind of test. Whether or not there are indeed stories like this, I don't know. I'm sure scholars have tried looking for such stories before, but I don't know if they found anything and even if this there is, it matters little as no one has crossed over the landbridge before."
"Actually, I think I can cross over, I have an idea," I say.
"Let's hear it, if what Lia is suggesting is true then this could be the key needed to press into Mons."
"I was thinking that I could maybe create a rocket then attach it to my body and use it to propel me forward. The only problem is that I don't actually know how to make one nor do I understand the core principals behind it."
"What's a rocket?" Lia asks.
"I understand a little about it through my inherited knowledge, but it probably isn't much more than your understanding since my ancestors weren't engineers. But to put it into simple terms, you know when Cordelia fights and she creates small explosions under her feet to push her forward, a rocket basically causes something similar, but on a much larger scale."
"That might actually work," Lia says.
"I don't think I can create a true rocket but I think I can make something with a similar effect, but even then I will need your help, Aurelia. My idea needs your barriers to assist it as well as keep encroaching water away in the event it can't bring us to the end before the hour is up. I also need some time to find the best materials to use to build the frame."
"Ok, there's no hurry. I'm quite curious to see if we can be the first on record to make it over the landbridge. I can use my authority to get us a place in the city for you to work and experiment in, but we should wait a day or two before we enter. This way I can have my doppelganger make the proper arrangements. In the meantime, lets find an isolated spot for you to work."