Unfathomable [Gate in the Deep]

[Magus]

With his surprise ready to go, Magus rocketed up, flying through deck after deck until he was soaring above the hulking, metal destroyer. Cannons erupted their gunfire all around him, but at this point, nothing they could do would matter.
 
He observed with some amusement the sinking Man O’ War he’d tasked Alex with. Impressive.
 
He observed their own sinking ship with significantly less amusement. Less impressive.
 
It was too late to capture the destroyer either, and as if to punctuate that point, the air itself reverberated with a rippling, mechanical roar, followed by a flurry of explosions which tore outward from inside the great metal ship.
 
It rolled over like a wounded dog, plunging sidelong into the drink. All three vessels were crippled now, and survivors were no longer focused on fighting and instead they were shouting to one another and scurrying about, trying to save themselves from the inevitable.
 
Magus flew over to the tattered old boat which, while still afloat, was quickly lower and lower in the water. Alex was there already, along with Captain Needs-a-Shower.
 
“We’re takin’ on water!” the fat oaf immediately exclaimed as the wizard touched down between him and the dark haired woman. He tried to say it authoritatively, like a man in control of the situation, but the terror in his eyes and the waver in his voice betrayed him.
 
“Indeed. I’ll need some moments to prepare an alternative. Unless of course,” Magus paused, holding Alex’s gaze for a moment. “You can summon some transport.”
 
There was a moment’s pause, but it felt a great deal longer, and not only because they were literally on a sinking ship. Finally, it fell to Magus to break the silence. “Very well. Give me a moment.”
 
The two great ships which flanked them groaned and burned but he blocked them out. He blocked out the shouting and clamoring of people scurrying to survive. And when their boat sank low enough for water to begin rushing over the edge of the deck and around his feet, and then soon above his toes, he blocked that out too.
 
They were a little worse than ankle-deep when Magus’ creation started to coalesce, and almost up to the top of his boots when he had finished.
 
“A raft?” the soon-to-be-former Captain cried. “You expect us to sail across the bleedin’ ocean on a raft?!”
 
Magus leapt to the primitive flotation device. He turned and shrugged. “Feel free to stay on your boat.”
 
Alex blinked onto the raft in a puff of smoke, and after a moment, the Captain waded over and pathetically struggled to climb aboard. Twice he reached out for Alex and Magus to help him, and twice they had refused. The Captain was waist-deep and wheezing before he finally hauled himself onto the raft, lying flat on his back, exhausted from the effort.
 
His boat drifted beneath the waves, while the two mighty aggressor ships remained – albeit temporarily – afloat.
 
Magus sat on the raft he’d created – simple, exotic logs lashed together with vines – and watched as the three ships sank below the horizon. He found himself able to will the raft into motion and made it drift away from the wrecked ships just fast enough to outpace any survivors who tried to swim for their raft.
 
They had damned themselves when they had picked a battle with the Demon King.
 
“Alright,” he said once they were clear of the ongoing disaster. His brusque demeanor seemed to sicken the boat captain, but Alexandria seemed completely unfazed – maybe even a little impressed – by his utter lack of sympathy. “We need a boat. Any suggestions?”
 
Alexandria made a derisive snort. “Something a little more well-appointed than his tub,” she hooked a thumb at the wheezing captain.
 
“That got you this far, it did-”
 
“Yes, and thank whatever god or gods you wish that it takes us no further,” she retorted.
 
“She’d have gotten ye both to Rapture if not for these… these… super-pirates!” he pointed a fat finger in Magus’ face. “An’ you!! You owe me a fat lot o’ gold, you do!”
 
The mage’s hand shot forth like lightning, and his gloved hand clamped down around the Captain’s wrist. “You were paid your gold, you snivelling cur. What’s happened to it since it’s been in your possession is your responsibility, not mine. If you’d prefer to stay and collect it, I’d be happy to send you along with your boat.”
 
The Captain folded fast, suddenly at peace with his very brief period of wealth.
 
Magus put his back to the chaos behind him and raised his hands to the glittering sea ahead. He focused on the shape of the new vessel, and considered their needs. Magus agreed with Alexandria, it would need to be of an elegance befitting one such as he – or such as she, Magus conceded. It would need to be fast, above all else; Magus was tired of this journey, especially now as he zeroed in on his goals.
 
He turned his head to Alexandria even as the Omnilium began to glaze into existence before him, swirling in its rainbow brilliance as it had done each time he had called upon the unusual substance. “How did you come to be in the Omniverse?” he asked.