The Sky Phoenix soared through the open skies, its polished hull gleaming in the light of the setting sun. Mary adjusted the levers, her expression focused as the airship approached the outskirts of Shengzhou. The capital was still a day's journey away, but the majestic view of Amaterasu's lush countryside stretched out beneath them like a living tapestry.
Mary glanced over her shoulder at Sora, who leaned against the railings of the deck, her golden eyes filled with wonder. "You know, dear," Mary began, her voice tinged with a rare solemnity, "Amaterasu is a land of stories—some glorious, some tragic. The gods' blessings run deep here, but so do the shadows of ambition and greed."
Sora turned to her, curious. "What do you mean?"
Mary smiled faintly. "The tensions you see today, the noble houses, the rebellions—it's all tied to the old ways. This land was built on—"
A deafening screech tore through the air, cutting Mary off mid-sentence. Her head snapped toward the horizon, where dark shapes circled in the distance, closing in fast.
"Wyverns," Mary muttered, her hand instinctively reaching for Zephyr, the massive scythe resting against the mast. Her azure eyes hardened. "Juveniles, by the look of them. They're testing their luck."
Before Sora could react, the first wyvern dove toward the ship, its leathery wings slicing through the air with alarming speed. Mary swung Zephyr in a wide arc, lightning crackling at the blade's edge as it grazed the creature's wing, sending it spiraling away.
"Stay close, Sora!" Mary shouted, her voice steady despite the chaos. More wyverns followed, their claws raking at the ship's hull and sails. Mary spun and struck with precision, her movements a blur of electrified arcs, but for every wyvern she repelled, two more took their place.
"I can't hold them all!" Mary growled, beads of sweat forming on her brow.
Sora, trembling, clung to the railing. Her heart pounded as she watched Mary battle the relentless creatures. The air was thick with the acrid smell of lightning and the guttural cries of the wyverns. Panic surged through her veins, but a desperate resolve pushed her forward.
"I have to help!" Sora cried out, grabbing a piece of loose rigging. She swung it toward a nearby wyvern, but her effort barely phased the creature. It turned its serpentine head toward her, its glowing eyes narrowing in predatory hunger.
"Sora, no!" Mary screamed, her voice breaking as she saw the juvenile wyvern lunge at the girl.
Time seemed to slow. The wyvern's jaws opened wide, its razor-sharp teeth gleaming. Sora froze, her limbs refusing to move. But just as the beast closed the distance, a blinding light erupted from Sora.
Her fiery red hair lit up with a luminous glow, and her piercing golden eyes burned brighter than the sun. Her hair levitated, as if the air around her was bending to her will.
A wave of immense pressure rippled outward, stopping the wyverns mid-attack. The juvenile wyvern, mere inches from Sora, recoiled in terror, its body trembling as though crushed under an unseen weight.
"Sora?" Mary whispered, her voice shaky with a mixture of awe and fear.
Sora's glowing eyes locked onto the wyverns, but she didn't speak. Her body was still, her expression blank, as if someone—or something—else had taken control.
With an unnatural, echoing voice, she commanded, "Leave."
The wyverns screeched in unison, their wings flapping frantically as they retreated into the horizon, their fear palpable. The air grew still, the oppressive pressure vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
Mary rushed to Sora's side as her glowing aura began to fade. Sora's body gently descended, her legs buckling as her knees hit the deck. Her golden eyes, once alight with power, dimmed, and she collapsed forward into Mary's arms.
"Sora!" Mary called out, shaking her gently. "Are you alright? Say something!"
There was no response. Sora's breathing was shallow, her face pale. Mary pulled her close, her mind racing to understand what she had just witnessed.
Mary's grip on Sora tightened as the Sky Phoenix floated quietly in the aftermath. The wyverns were gone, but the questions they left behind lingered.
The Sky Phoenix soared quietly through the skies, its hull showing the aftermath of the battle. Mary tended to Sora in their small cabin, her usually energetic demeanor subdued. Sora lay motionless on the cot, her breathing shallow but steady. The faint glow of the lantern overhead cast soft light on her face, highlighting her fiery red hair that was damp from sweat.
Mary adjusted the blanket draped over her and gently dabbed a cool cloth on Sora's forehead. She sighed, her fingers brushing a stray lock from the girl's face.
"We wouldn't have made it with the airship in one piece if it wasn't for you, dear," Mary whispered softly. Her words carried a mix of relief and unease, her azure eyes lingering on Sora's peaceful expression.
She leaned back, her fingers curling tightly around the bowl of broth she had prepared earlier. Taking a spoonful, she carefully helped Sora swallow. "You've always been extraordinary, but... this was something else entirely," she murmured.
Mary glanced out the small circular window, her eyes catching the sight of the sprawling capital of Shengzhou on the horizon. The city's towering spires glimmered in the distance, framed by the soft hues of the setting sun.
She turned back to Sora, smoothing the blanket over her as she whispered, "Rest now, my little bird. We'll figure this out together."
As the airship began its descent toward the city's docks, Mary kept her vigil by Sora's side, her worry and determination intertwining like threads of a storm.
The laboratory beneath the grand castle of Shengzhou was dimly lit, its atmosphere oppressive. Chang'e Zhou paced the cold stone floor, her piercing green eyes narrowing as the informant before her stammered out his report.
"My lady," he said, his voice trembling, "the juvenile wyverns fled the field... driven away by Mary Poppins."
Chang'e halted mid-step, her gaze snapping to the man. "Mary Poppins?" she repeated, her tone dripping with disdain. "The self-proclaimed wannabe hero strikes again. I should've known."
She turned to face the rows of bubbling vials and intricate instruments lining the chamber walls, her fingers lightly brushing the edge of a jade amulet at her waist. "Do you realize what you've allowed to happen? The Wyvern of the West was my tool—a necessary message to the insolent wretches of that town. They were stirring with ideas of rebellion, and now... now they'll think themselves emboldened."
"My lady," the informant stammered, bowing his head so low it nearly touched the ground, "I... I underestimated her interference. She's proving more persistent than we anticipated."
Chang'e's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Persistent, indeed. But even the most persistent pests can be swatted down if one applies enough pressure."
The informant swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he dared to glance up at her. "She and the girl are heading for Shengzhou, my lady. Their airship was damaged, so they'll likely seek repairs at the docks."
The room fell silent, save for the faint bubbling of liquids in the vials. Chang'e's eyes glimmered with something cold and calculating as she turned back to him. "If they come to Shengzhou, then they'll be entering my domain. The game is changing, and I always make sure the board tilts in my favor."
Her delicate fingers hovered over a vial of shimmering liquid, the faintest smile playing on her lips. "For now, let her play her part as the hero. It makes the eventual fall so much sweeter."
The informant nodded quickly, eager to escape her wrath. "Of course, Lady Chang'e. I'll ensure our preparations are complete."
As the man fled the chamber, Chang'e stood alone, her thoughts weaving into elaborate plans. Her fingers tightened around the jade amulet, her smile fading into a cold, unreadable expression.
"Mary Poppins," she murmured, her voice a whisper that carried through the still air. "Let's see how long you can keep flying before your wings are clipped."