The Battle Begins

About an hour later, a Red Cloak, a pair of black boots, and a blue fitted coat with several pockets sewn into it appeared on the altar before Abner.

It was getting late, so after praising the Fool, Abner began to change.

Xio had a good eye. The size she had chosen fit Abner perfectly.

The stitching on the coat's pockets was a little rough, though... Had Xio sewn them on herself?

As he sorted his charms into their respective pockets, Abner couldn't help picturing Xio working away with needle and thread. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Then he shook off the distracting thought and finished equipping himself:

He wore the Flame Heart necklace around his neck, hidden beneath his clothes; placed Lilith's Tears at his cuff, where it hung near his palm; slipped the Ring of Light onto his left index finger; pulled the dyed Hand of Wisdom glove over his right hand; took the Thread Marionette from the Bloodstained Jewelry Box and tucked it into his left breast pocket; and strapped the long-unused Dawn Sword to his back. No one had ever seen the greatsword in its battle form, so Abner wasn't worried about being recognized.

He left behind the rapier Jane had given him, the one she had obtained from Ludwell. It wasn't particularly useful, and it was so conspicuous that other pirates could easily recognize it.

Once fully equipped, Abner opened the Pure White Eye to suppress the minor conflicts between his items. Only then did he simulate Psychological Invisibility and Door Opening, slip quietly out of the cabin and into the sea, and use Water Control to swim swiftly toward the place he had arranged to meet Vice Admiral Iceberg.

Since he was a Doctor Strange who couldn't open portals, Abner had to