"It must be those halflings up to their tricks again," Theodor sighed, leading the group through the dense crowd.
Lynn quickly observed the reverence afforded to wizards; the tightly packed harbor folk, upon seeing the emblem on Theodor's chest, instinctively parted, allowing the group to move to the front and witness the scene at the heart of the square.
In the center, on the smooth stone pavement, stood a towering, nearly three-meter-tall flying contraption with a wingspan of nearly seven meters.
But to call it a flying machine seemed overly generous. It was a crude assembly of wood and steel, its joints secured with rawhide, with a layer of beast-hide canvas stretched across the frame.
It resembled a grounded, winged beast, its outstretched wings drawing gasps from the onlookers.
"It's huge!" Jonie exclaimed in astonishment, unable to find the words to express her shock. "Is this a new alchemical invention from the land of wizards?"
"Of course not!" Theodor groaned, averting his gaze as though too embarrassed to watch. He could only hope this spectacle wouldn't be too humiliating.
Lynn, on the other hand, found it fascinating. He hadn't expected to witness such an unusual sight upon arriving at Yieta Harbor.
Was this a test flight?
His eyes were drawn to the propellers affixed to the biplane's wings.
Yet, powered by mere steam... the outcome seemed grim...
Despite his reservations, Lynn kept his gaze fixed on the machine. Every human attempt at flight was worthy of admiration, especially in a world where magic existed—nothing was truly impossible.
"Hey-ya~"
Lynn's musings were interrupted as a small figure nimbly climbed atop the flying machine, securing the final connection with rawhide before taking her place in the cockpit.
She looked no older than eight or nine, clad in a dusty, dirt-covered tunic, her hair tousled by the wind, with smudges of earth on her face. Her sleeves and pants were rolled up, and she wore oversized goggles atop her head, exuding energy and determination.
"Such a small child... why have they chosen her to pilot this machine?" Lynn asked in surprise.
"No, you've got it wrong. Lydia is a halfling, and she's actually sixteen years old," Theodor explained.
Lynn looked closer, noticing the slightly pointed ears and unique eye color. Halflings were hard to distinguish from humans in their youth, and with her youthful appearance, it was no wonder he hadn't recognized her.
"Lydia, perhaps you should reconsider..."
In the square, a group of halflings were conducting final checks on the flying machine. An elderly halfling shook the frame, testing its sturdiness—secretly hoping it might fall apart, forcing Lydia to abandon her impractical dream.
"Don't worry, Uncle Daren, I've prepared everything this time. It's going to work," Lydia dismissed his concerns, adjusting her goggles and confidently gripping the controls. "Alright, I'm ready to go. Everyone, clear the way!"
But you said the same thing last time... The halflings sighed inwardly but stepped back, feeling embarrassed to be part of this spectacle, which could soon become even more humiliating.
Although the wizards might not say it outright, they surely disapproved of this chaotic scene taking over the city square.
Chug-chug-chug...
As smoke billowed from the top of the machine, the steam engine roared to life, driving the propellers. Once the path was cleared, Lydia pulled the lever, and the massive contraption hurtled straight ahead down the paved street.
"Can this thing really fly?" Jonie asked, full of curiosity, noting its bird-like appearance.
"It might... but it's likely only to lift briefly..." Lynn muttered, sensing no magical energy from the machine and already foreseeing its fate.
Jonie was puzzled. What did he mean by "lift briefly"?
Theodor simply shook his head, certain the contraption wouldn't take off.
Independent flight was the domain of high-level wizards; besides the gryphon riders trained by the Sekas Empire, no one could truly soar through the skies.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the flying machine gained speed, racing across the city square.
Ahead, a large ramp had been set up to provide the necessary elevation. Lydia's heart raced as she focused intently, her eyes fixed on the path ahead through her goggles.
As the machine reached the top of the ramp, she slammed down the controls. The contraption jerked violently, its massive wings flapping, and, using the last bit of lift, it soared off the ramp and into the air.
"It actually flew!"
Theodor was dumbfounded, his face a mixture of disbelief and awe. The surrounding townsfolk were equally astonished.
"My goodness, she did it!"
"As expected of 'Clever-Hand' Lydia. Remarkable! I've even bought some of her trinkets before—they're as magical as a wizard's tools..."
"She'll definitely pass the selection this year..."
...
The halflings below were ecstatic, dancing and cheering, "Lydia is the pride of halflings..." "She's going to be the first halfling wizard..."
But their celebration was premature. Once airborne, the flying machine's numerous flaws became apparent.
Lydia, thrilled by her success, attempted to steer the craft, planning to circle Yieta Harbor. But within seconds, she realized the machine was losing balance, rapidly descending.
Panicked, Lydia pulled the lever, trying to maneuver the wings to mimic a bird's flight and regain altitude. But this only made things worse. The flying machine veered wildly, spiraling out of control like a wyvern struck by magic, plummeting toward the ground...