The Voyages of the Terrapin ; Origins

Alek Wall of the Isles, a nation of Islands, an enterprising treasure diver has developed a prototype engine for his boat (don't call her a ship or an it) the Terrapin that allows her to move through the water without sails or any obvious means of propulsion. No telltale smoke like the steam powered ships of the magic hating Dracan Empire's navy or the magical signature of the Idillan Concordium's sailing ships propelled by magical winds, making her perfect for running the Empire's blockade of the Concordium in their latest war and delivering much needed enhanced sail cloth. It also got him noticed by the Concordium. Anna Korkova, a powerful young mage of the Concordium, a society that reveres magic and magical power has one problem. Born to a nomadic family in the wastelands on the southern continent she is a foreigner and will always be frowned upon by the Idillan people. Training to be an investigator, a magical detective, she is recruited to spy on Alek, who is now a guerilla boat captain with the Isles' entry into the war against the Empire, and find the secret of the Terrapin. This proves harder than expected and when Anna is unwilling to go as far as her superior wants to uncover his secret, Anna is revealed as a spy and sent back to the Concordium. Three years later, after the war is over now investigator Korkova is given an opportunity to atone for the only failure on her record. Captain Wall, now operating a fast courier service is charged with using unauthorized magic and Anna is tasked with bringing him in for questioning. Can Anna gain Alek's trust after spying on him and convince him to come in? Or will Alek remain the only blemish on her otherwise spotless record.