Vincent was dropped off in front of the Grimm Palace gates by Horton. "One more thing: you can no longer receive help from outsiders. That includes transportation to our training spots. That rule goes into effect tomorrow."
Horton left Vincent there with a scowl on his face. 'You tell me that now?'
Vincent walked the rest of the way to the front door. He needed to go through his notifications.
[The Host has completed five missions: get your merchant's license, get your hunter's license, get your adventures license, get your mercenary license, and comprehend a weapon's intent. The rewards have been deposited in your inventory.]
Vincent excitedly opened the rewards.
[The Host has received 1,000 mortal realm crystals, a tracking skill, a scavenging skill, a voucher, and one pair of tonafs.]
Vincent clicked on the Voucher since the rest was pretty much straightforward.
[Voucher- The Host is allowed to summon one mercenary who was also a villain to his side temporarily.]
Vincent closed everything down and walked inside the door. He nodded at the servants and went to the dining room. He greeted everyone that was there. Only Kandice, Blake, and Lyla were there tonight, along with Richard and Patty.
"Vincent, where did you go today? I would have thought you would be relaxing." Patty asked. "I went to see my masters. I learned some new martial arts and will start the next portion with Horton tomorrow."
"That must be exciting!" Vincent grimaced at her excitement. "He told me to meet him at the south gate at 4:00 am for the rest of my training. I can't have any outside help, that includes transportation to the training spots. He intends to change them when I get used to them."
"That sounds like hell," Kandice stated. "I said the same thing! He laughed at me and even agreed that it would be hell." Richard laughed a little. "At least you will be well prepared for the awakening. How do you plan on getting around?"
Vincent thought about his answer, and the idea of flying came. "I can just fly there!" Blake interrupted him. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but you need a flying permit inside the city, and the last time you tried to fly in ended horribly." Vincent slumped in his chair.
Lyla swirled her wine and drank it. " I know someone inside of the FSD. They owe me a favor. Dad can teach you the basics, and then you can pick up your permit from them."
"Perfect! What is the FSD?" Richard rubbed the place between his eyebrows. "They are the Flying Safely Division. They are even worse than the other divisions put together. I will teach you right now. They are the only division that is always open, even during holidays." Richard got up, and Vincent followed him.
Richard took him to a tower in the back of the palace. They climbed the steps as Richard explained what it was. "This was a sentry and messengers' outpost in the old era. They used any animal that could fly to deliver letters of great importance. When my ancestors purchased this land, they used it to teach their young how to fly, fight in the air, and use wind magic or techniques."
They reached the top of the tower and saw a door.
Richard placed his hand on the pad on the side. Richard made Vincent do the same. The door opened, and they got into an elevator. "Your DNA signature and palm print have been added, so you can come here whenever you want."
Vincent was speechless. Richard smiled and pushed him further out on the balcony. The sun's rays cascaded down as if trying to water the entire planet. "I know the feeling you have right now. I had the same look of disbelief when I was young. Janet did, too, when I brought her up to teach her how to fly."
"H-how? We were on the ground a few minutes ago. No matter how advanced or how much magic you guys have, this shouldn't be possible. This place is floating in the sky with nothing to tether it. It's as if it's moving." His voice went lower as he thought about it.
Richard joined him by his side. "The tower below was where the messengers of mortal to ascendant realm delivered. Demi-God and above had to deliver here. Only a Demi-God or someone stronger can come to this place manually. That is why we took the elevator here."
He clapped Vincent's back and pushed a button on the wall. A runway was extended from the balcony. Richard unfurled his wings.
Vincent relaxed, and his wings unfurled as well. The two stood next to each other side by side. It made a quite contradiction.
Richard's wings being darker than the deepest depths. Vincent's being whiter than freshly fallen snow, with red at the end. The red made his wings seem like a falling star or a rising comet in the night.
When a figure appeared, Richard was getting ready to show Vincent how to take off. Victor landed in front of the two. Richard respectfully bowed and greeted him.
"Grandfather, it is a shock to see you here." Victor ruffled his hair. "Richie, I was alerted to the tower being used and came over to see who was here."
He looked at Vincent and did the same to him. "I should have known you were taking the boy for his first flight. I remember doing the same for your uncle, Richie." Richard smiled softly at the memory. The uncle Victor was referring to had passed away when he was 20.
"I will not impose on this bonding moment any longer. Richie, do not forget to lock up the tower. Now that I know you have access, you can use this place freely, but remember to lock up Vincent." He left them both after those words.
"Flying is only scary when you forget that you have wings. Wings are a part of us, Vincent. They can be powerful weapons or nothing at all. My uncle told me when I first learned how to fly, always remember why I have wings in the first place and remember the wind can carry us or throw us if we do not listen." He turned his back to the ledge and fell off with open arms.
Vincent looked over the edge. Richard shot up into the sky like a shadow. Vincent calmed his heartbeat. He felt it racing inside his chest, almost like it was trying to get out.
'Breathe Vinny. There is nothing to be worried about. Just fall off a ledge and fly. Not too hard, right?'
He backed away from the ledge and slapped his cheeks. 'Just run and don't think. One foot in front of the other.'
He ran as fast as he could. The ledge grew more prominent in his eyes as he grew closer. 'Don't look down. Look up!' His foot slapped the metal runway one after the other until it didn't. He instinctively flapped his wings.
For a brief moment, he smiled, and then the wind came. "AHHhhh!" Vincent was flapping his wings as hard as he could. His arms were flailing in every direction. 'How do I balance myself!?' Richard was next to him and made a gesture of relaxing. 'Easy for you!' Vincent looked down and felt like throwing up.
He started breathing heavily and sweating. 'Come on! You gotta fly! Didn't you say you were going to conquer everything!? How am I even sweating right now!?' Vincent's mind was so focused on everything else that he forgot to flap his wings.
Suddenly, he felt himself level out. He opened his eyes and saw that he was gliding. 'What, I'm gliding? I'm gliding!' He flapped his wings again, and he went higher.
He had a massive grin on his face. 'I'm flying!!'
"WHOOOO!!"
He flapped his wings harder and faster. He felt the wind shift upwards and let it carry him. Richard was hovering in the sky, recording him. A smile made its way onto his face. He always wanted a son to fly with. He looked up at the sky. "Thank you for blessing me with a son like him."
He summoned a ball and a pair of gloves. He caught up to Vincent. He tossed one of the gloves to him. "We got two hours before nighttime. We can play catch while I teach you the rules of flying." He sped up and threw the ball far from Vincent. Vincent flew after it. He threw it back at Richard.