"WOOOOOOOAAAAAAAHHHHH-!" exclaimed Angie.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!" followed Eva.
"WUUUUJUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-!" cheered Nat.
"..." maintained Franz.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH," shrieked Jess.
It was indeed a pleasant day. The sky remained clear, and the weather, while nice, would have been far more enjoyable if not for the presence of hundreds of Wyverns and the plummeting sub-zero temperatures exacerbated by our soaring altitude.
The panoramic view from up high might have been delightful...
If only I could keep my eyes open properly!
Flying at breakneck speeds without appropriate gear proved less pleasant than initially presumed.
'Maybe this wasn't such a great idea.'
"Ahg-! I think I swallowed a fly!" Eva exclaimed, her expression tinged with tears.
"Eva, don't talk while we're hurtling at this speed! You might end up biting your tongue!" admonished Angie.
Presently, we found ourselves airborne atop three Wyverns—Angie with Nat, Eva with Jess, and, inevitably, Franz on his lonesome, relegated to the role of the outcast.
Contrary to my initial concerns, convincing the Wyverns to accommodate us was surprisingly straightforward. In their disoriented state, fleeing their habitat due to the barrier, they ardently followed the strongest creature in proximity—which, much to my surprise, turned out to be me. A mere demonstration of heightened mana concentration subdued them.
From there, the notion of soaring to Winterland astride Wyverns seemed easy and enjoyable.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH-!"
However, the harsh reality of wind pressure dampened the joy of high-speed sky travel, especially without prior preparation.
Luckily, our superhuman strength enabled a secure grip on the Wyverns, mitigating the risk of plummeting.
Nevertheless, the experience remained far from enjoyable.
"Please, endure a bit longer! We might reach our destination in a single day at this speed!" Franz attempted to reassure the girls, who were too shocked to pay attention.
Nat, on the other hand, unexpectedly reveled in the Wyvern flight.
'She must be the type to enjoy roller coasters,' I speculated.
In stark contrast, Jess suffered the most.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-" her ceaseless screams pierced the air.
'...I'm seriously considering knocking out Jess right now. My eardrums can't endure this screaming for another second.'
Eva, riding behind Jess, exchanged a glance with Franz, silently nodding in agreement.
No words were required.
With precision, Eva pinpointed a pressure point on Jess's neck.
Unaware amid her tearful screams, Jess succumbed to unconsciousness.
Eva ensured her body remained secure to prevent a fall.
Another shared glance between Eva and Franz conveyed mutual satisfaction.
"Well done."
At least one major issue aboard Wyvern Airlines had been resolved.
Slowly acclimating to our velocity, I enhanced my vision by infusing mana into my eyes, allowing for a more detailed observation of our surroundings.
How did we plan to navigate at such high speeds without getting lost?
Checking the map mid-flight was impractical.
Yet, the solution was simple: proceed directly to Winterland.
I had already memorized the map, intermittently confirming our course to avoid erroneous routes.
'So far, so good.'
Despite minor hitches, Wyvern Airlines appeared to be a viable concept.
Emergency supplies tethered to the Wyverns bolstered our journey, ensuring we retained possessions.
This proved crucial, especially considering the uncertainties following the village incident. Vigilance was essential.
Given the pervasive influence of the criminal organization, it was conceivable that other regions faced similar challenges.
Possibly, numerous towns and cities grappled with analogous issues.
Venturing south aimed at investigating mass disappearances and severed connections with local authorities.
Winterland, the primary residence of Duke Roman Hamnet's family, held significance in southern Herssian.
However, influential figures beyond the Duke wielded power, with the Church of Light exerting influence across Herssian.
Communication with local church members had also ceased, adding urgency to the Kingdom's reconnaissance mission. The Church of Light, armed with a private military force, posed a potential threat. A military intervention loomed if no resolution surfaced.
Maintaining the balance of power between great powers was paramount. The Church mobilizing its army in southern Herssian could disrupt the delicate equilibrium, especially following the royal palace mass murder case.
Plans to eradicate racism against demons hinged on weakening the Church's influence. So success in this mission assumed heightened urgency.
Contemplating potential strategies to bolster Herssian's development and diminish the Church's sway, I acknowledged the imperative to first assess Winterland's situation.
'Better not to jump to conclusions too soon.'
Engrossed in contemplation, we approached the city of Winterland.
"I think I can see the city from here now!" Franz exclaimed, turning to the girls.
"Franz, how do we stop this?" Angie inquired.
Frowning, Franz admitted, "...Actually, I have no idea."
Controlling Wyverns' movements proved elusive.
As we pondered the challenge of halting the flight...
"???"
The Wyverns abruptly stalled mid-air, losing their ability to remain airborne.
"Wh-what's happening?!" Franz questioned.
"Angie, quickly use your telekinesis before it's too late!" he urged.
Angie swiftly employed her telekinetic abilities on our clothing, halting our descent just in time.
"That was close," Franz breathed a sigh of relief.
Floating in the air, we witnessed the Wyverns descending below.
Before discussing further, Angie insisted, "Okay, everyone, land first."
***
"Alright, the Wyverns seem fine, and miraculously, even the supplies held up," Angie reported while inspecting the provisions.
The girls examined the Wyverns for any visible wounds, although the probability of a visible attack was low.
Yet, thorough inspection revealed no signs of external harm.
Seated atop a stone, Franz contemplated something, a puzzled expression on his face, as he manipulated his mana without success.
'Strange... Is it harder to accumulate mana here?'
Attempting to manipulate mana for some time, Franz found himself puzzled by the unexpected difficulty.