"Ashley how on earth so such things even fly?" I curiously questioned him assuming some sort of magic must be involved.
"So most air ships fly by two methods, magical and non-magical." He began to explained, Non-magical air ships use a giant balloon to keep it afloat along with sails or some sort of propulsion system to make it move in a certain direction." Ashely answered. "Then you have the magic ones like these, kept afloat with magical runes that deplete over use so it will need constant refreshing, but will also need some sort of propulsion system that allows it to move." Ashley concluded.
"I've never seen sky ships without sails" Helen replied.
"Yes.. The propulsion systems Aspa's fleet uses is a close guarded secret but their unique system allows their airships to be more agile, fast, bigger and bulkier. Making their Air fleet probably unrivalled throughout the world I bet." Ashley answered.
"It also help that Aspa sit's vast deposits of rare materials and metals." Jay added.
"Yes that's true they do sit on top of an almost endless supply of rare metals and other materials." Ashley agreed.
"Do you think we can get a tour on any of the ships?" I questioned.
"Hmmm it won't be easy sadly.. Even Paul and I would struggled to get permission to get aboard their ships. Unless they needed help and even then we'd be under guard and watch" Ashley answered.
"That really sucks.. I would love to see how everything works." Jay answered.
"I think that's why they want to keep everything secret, but aside from the weaponry I'm sure the way it operates is close to any high class Airships." Ashley answered.
"High class?" I questioned.
"Yeah of course.. High class air ships that use magical runes which have a high running costs since magical runes need refreshing and recharging so their target customers are the rich and wealthy who prefer quieter and smoother journeys." Ashley answered.
"Ohhh I get it. Since regular air ships must be nosier and rougher due to the way it operates and winds?" I questioned.
"Yes exactly." Ashley smiled.
"But if they are rich why not just use waypoints?.. The things that let us instantly travel to places." I questioned.
"So waypoints are like flotation runes.. But worse per trip they deplete Arcanum at a rate that's too unprofitable, so Waypoint use is strictly reserved for royalty and the ultra-rich." Ashley answered.
"How do waypoints work?.." I questioned.
"So far you've seen two types of waypoints.. Temporary and Permanent, for example the waypoints we use to leave and arrive in Atlantis and cities are permanent waypoints.. These take years to develop and requires constant flow of Arcanum to maintain. Travelling to and from Atlantis is easy as the World tree we have planted here provide the Arcanum necessary for instantaneous travel. So once the connection is established the World Tree would provide the Arcanum necessary to travel." He began to explain. "Now when it comes for instantaneous travel to and from other cities without the world tree.. The amount of Arcanum required becomes exponential, travelling to a nearby city would use up the Arcanum or maybe ten or twenty Atlantis students." Ashley explained in a very rudimentary way.
"Ohh.. So the other institutes can't instantly travel from location to location?" I questioned.
"They can.. They would probably be like Atlantis and have a Transportation division that focuses on transporting their forces and students, but theirs would have to be larger or have stricter policies of use. The Arcanum required gets exponential with distance travelled. That's why you guys are so lucky.. The world tree will let you travel to and from any Waypoint for free practically." Ashley smiled.
"So we can visit anywhere as long as there's a waypoint?" I questioned.
"It's a little complicated than that, have you seen the runes on the floor before waypoints activate?" Ashely questioned.
"Yah.." I answered thoroughly interested in how all this work.
"So when a student initiates the spell they need to match a series of fifteen runes to bridge the connection between the waypoints." Ashley answered.
"Ohhh that surprisingly is understandable." I answered remembering a Sci fi show I watched operated in a similar method.
"What if the runes are mismatched?" Jay questioned.
"Well then it depends on many factors.. If there isn't enough Arcanum supplied then the caster or casters are completely drained of their Arcanum and perishes without the bridge even being connected. If the connection is supplied with enough Arcanum then it all depends on the exit portal.. You could end up in a ruin, hostile city half way across the world.. Maybe even in another plane with no way to get back home, even the most strongest of individuals can only realistically perform one small trip without rest." Ashley answered.
"Wow.... isn't it dangerous for us then?" Jay questioned.
"Yes there's always the small factor of danger here when Atlantis use waypoints, but that is why we have a Transportation Division.. every form of travel to and from Atlantis is under constant supervision of the Transportation Division. Don't worry there's many safeguard to keep you safe when travelling." Ashley answered.
"What about temporary way points?" I questioned.
"Ohhh those are very special, I'm pretty sure they are unique to Atlantis.. Teams of trained and elite Transportation Division students have their own set of fifteen runes to use as a mobile waypoint.. It's only usable in very small distances since a student could only perform the spell maybe two or three times without rest.." Ashley answered.
"Why is it only unique to Atlantis?" I questioned.
"That's because along with the world tree.. And Paul it was possible to find these set of vacant runes that are unused. I guess other students could try but it's a little dangerous and could lose valuable students." Ashely explained.
"Ohhh wow.." Helen and Grace replied in awe.
"And Paul's way of transporting himself, how does that work?" I questioned.
"His is vastly different.. I'm sure you guys have witnessed it.. But his portals are red in nature, that's because instead of bridging the gap his portals travels through planes to arrive at a destination." Ashley answered.
"And he doesn't require rune pairing?" Jay questioned.
"No he doesn't.. He at will travel to anywhere he has been before or seen." Ashley answered.
"And the cost?" Jay questioned.
"That's the thing it's at will.. he doesn't seem to have any adverse effects from travelling or spending vast amounts of Arcanum." Ashley answered.
"That's ridiculous.." Jay replied in complete disbelief.
"See I told you all he's the best!" Daisy smiled.
"I'm somewhat understand why he's so feared now." Grace replied.
"So what's it like in Elven cities?" Ashley asked curiously.
"Durids and Arch druids can learn a spell that lets us and everyone in touch travel instantly through a tree we're touching.. But the destination has to be a tree the caster has seen before." Helen answered.
"In cities we kinda either walk or ride beasts to cover vast distances quickly but nothing instantaneous but similar to humans royals do have waypoints set up." Grace answered.
"Ahh Giant Elks and Nightstalkers right?" Ashley questioned.
"Yes! It's awesome the rush of speed and wind through your hair it exhilarating." Grace smiled.
"Are all their students going to land on Atlantis?" I questioned looking onwards towards the sky fleet imagining how many students must be on board the ships.
"Hmm I really doubt it... we'll probably only be visited by the Aspen students." Ashely answered.
"Aren't they all Aspen students?" I questioned shocked a little at the way he answered the question.
"Most students stay in the floating city.. Only the high ranked and seasoned students command and pilot ships.. Most the crewmen would be normal individuals trained in engineering and other things." Ashley answered.
"Ohhh that explains alot....." I nodded in understanding imagining it must be like some sort of military ship.
"Surly it's safe for them to come." Daisy asked.
"I'm sure it would be, but I dunno maybe abit too much of a security risk.. The general public seems to take rivalries more serious than students do." Ashley answered.