Chapter 34 - The Flight and the Discovery

Kael tightened the leather straps of his goggles, his smile broadening as he admired the Aetherwing Skiff. The craft was a masterpiece, its enchanted thrusters humming with a steady rhythm that felt alive, like a heartbeat as it hovered in the air. The soft glow of mana danced along the runes carved into the sleek metal frame, casting a pale blue light against the rocky hilltop.

Keira was already seated in the cockpit, her posture rigid with anticipation. Her fingers nervously traced the polished length of her Veilbreaker Staff, the sunlight glancing off its wood, its enchantments shimmering faintly like captured starlight. The tension in the air was palpable, a mix of excitement and trepidation as they prepared for their flight.

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" Keira's voice carried a mix of excitement and unease as her gaze shifted from the controls to Kael, who approached and sat right next to her. "We've never flown anything like this before."

Kael chuckled, his usual confidence unwavering. "That's the point, Keira. The thrill of discovery, remember? Besides, I've tested every part. Now it's time to see it all come together."

Keira sighed, muttering under her breath about Kael's reckless optimism. Yet, despite her reservations, she climbed fully into the co-pilot seat. Her hands gripped the armrests tightly, her knuckles whitening as she eyed the intricate dashboard before her. The panel was a mesmerizing tapestry of glowing runes, each one pulsing faintly in rhythm with the mana coursing through the system. Levers of various shapes and sizes hummed with latent energy, their soft glow casting eerie shadows on Keira's determined face. The air crackled with a sense of anticipation, as if the very essence of magic was waiting to be unleashed.

"It's working perfectly," Kael murmured, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He reached for the lever that controlled the mana input, pushing it forward. The mana crystals embedded in the thrusters glowed brighter, and the Skiff accelerated, its speed increasing steadily.

"Fasten your seat belt," Kael instructed, reaching for his own.

"What's a seat belt?" Keira asked, tilting her head.

Kael gestured to the straps on her seat. "These. Here, let me show you." He leaned over, guiding her hands to secure the belt across her lap and shoulders. "These keep you safe in case of, well… turbulence," he explained. The closeness made Keira's cheeks redden, though she quickly looked away, tightening the strap as if to occupy her hands.

"There. Now, hold tight." Kael gripped the steering grip, his fingers adjusting the lever that controlled mana flow. With a faint hum, the Aetherwing Skiff lifted gracefully into the air, the thrusters emitting a soft blue glow. "Ready?" he asked.

Keira exhaled, her knuckles whitening on the staff. "As I'll ever be."

As the skiff ascended, the world below transformed into a breathtaking panorama. The green fields stretched endlessly, dotted with clusters of vibrant wildflowers. Rivers snaked through the landscape, their surfaces glittering like molten silver under the sun's embrace. Villages looked like tiny models from this height, and the distant mountains formed an imposing yet serene backdrop.

Keira's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "It's beautiful... she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kael smiled, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "It's even better from up here, isn't it? This is what freedom feels like."

"It's so smooth," Keira marveled, her initial apprehension giving way to wonder.

Kael grinned. "Let's see what it can do." He tilted the steering grip, sending the craft into a gentle leftward turn, then back to the right. The skiff responded instantly, its movements fluid and precise.

"It's amazing," Keira said, leaning forward to get a better view. "It's like it's an extension of your will."

Kael nodded, satisfied. "Now, let's test the propulsion system."

He pushed the lever forward, feeding more mana into the enchanted thrusters. The Aetherwing Skiff accelerated, the landscape below becoming a blur as they soared through the sky. The wind rushed past them, carrying with it a sense of exhilaration that was almost intoxicating. Keira let out a delighted laugh, the strands of her hair dancing wildly in the wind.

"This is incredible!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing with unrestrained joy.

Kael's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I think it's ready. There are a few improvements I can make, but this model will suffice for now."

"Improvements?" Keira asked, raising an eyebrow.

"For future models," Kael explained. "This one's meant to showcase its potential. I'll add more features for the versions we'll use for defense."

Before she could respond, Kael pulled back on the steering grip. The skiff performed a sudden loop, flipping through the air. Keira screamed, clutching Kael's arm and burying her face against his shoulder.

Kael, caught off guard by her reaction, quickly stabilized the Skiff. Keira remained clinging to him, her body shaking. "Keira, it's alright now," he said softly, trying to reassure her.

Keira slowly regained her composure, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realized she was still hugging Kael. She quickly set herself properly, turning to hold the strap tightly.

Kael couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "You okay?"

"Don't you dare say a word," she muttered.

Kael's laughter rang out. "Noted, but your reaction was so priceless."

Keira's embarrassment turned to indignation, and she swatted him lightly on the arm. "That's for scaring me."

"Hey, hitting the lord's son is rude," Kael teased, rubbing his arm with exaggerated drama.

"That's what you get," Keira huffed, crossing her arms. "Hmph!"

Kael smiled, his amusement lingering as he focused on piloting. They continued flying for another thirty minutes, the skiff maintaining a steady speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Kael marveled at the smooth operation of the propulsion system, but his thoughts were interrupted by an unusual sensation.

A wave of mana.

He frowned, his grip tightening on the controls. "Keira, did you feel that?"

Keira glanced at him, puzzled. "Feel what?"

Kael shook his head. "It's coming from below us. A surge of mana. Strange."

He brought the skiff to a hover, the craft's thrusters emitting a faint hum as it remained suspended in midair. Scanning the terrain below, Kael's analytical mind whirred.

"Let's investigate," he decided.

Keira nodded, gripping her staff. The skiff descended smoothly, landing on a barren stretch of land. The area was desolate, the cracked earth devoid of life.

Kael stored the Aetherwing Skiff in his dimensional space before turning to Keira. "This place... where are we?"

Keira's expression darkened. "It's an abandoned wasteland. No one manages this land anymore. It's been like this for centuries."

Kael activated his mana sense, channeling mana through his eyes. The pulsing mana became visible, leading him toward a rocky outcrop. Keira followed, her staff at the ready.

"There," Kael said, pointing to a seemingly solid wall of stone. "The mana wave is coming from behind this."

Keira frowned. "It's just a rock wall. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Kael stepped closer, running his hand over the surface. "I'm certain. There's something here." His fingers brushed against faint etchings, and he leaned in to inspect them.

[𐌉 𐌇𐌉 𐌇𐌀𐌋𐌋 𐌅𐌀 𐌋𐌉𐌍, 𐌇𐏏𐌔 𐌅𐌀 𐌊𐌉𐌍, 𐌉𐌏𐌕 𐌌𐌉𐏏𐌉𐌍 𐌌𐌉 𐌋𐌉𐌅 𐌏 𐌕𐌌𐌋 𐌋𐏀 𐌊𐌉𐌍. 𐌉 𐌇𐌏𐌋𐌃 𐌃𐌌 𐏏𐏖𐌕𐌌 𐌀𐌏 𐏏𐏃𐌔𐌆, 𐌁𐏏𐌌 𐏏𐏏 𐌉𐌋 𐏏𐌔, 𐌉𐌍 𐌊𐌉𐏃𐌌𐏖𐌕𐌔, 𐌉 𐌌𐏉𐏃 𐏔𐏔 𐌉𐏌𐏍 𐌇𐏃. 𐏏𐏋𐌌 𐌋𐌉𐌎𐏔𐌆, 𐌉 𐏋𐌉𐏖𐌆 𐌍𐏃 𐏏𐏍𐌆𐏏𐏆, 𐌌 𐌌𐌋𐏉 𐌇𐌉𐏆𐏍 𐏃𐏋. 𐏏𐌀 𐏋 𐌉?]

The markings were ancient, written in a language unfamiliar to this world—yet Kael understood it as if it were second nature. Kael readed the text out loud:

"I ni noot fa lin, nor fa zark, Yat wittin mi lias a forc tat trenks da bark. I hold da wisdam af ogas, bota old an nyu, In zirkits an krestals, a mynd tat gra. Wi'oot flesha oor bon, I tink an I sii, Unlock mi wit troth, an yoor ki vill bi fri. Wat am I?"

Keira's eyes widened as he read the text aloud. "How do you know that language?" she demanded.

Kael shrugged. "Books."

Keira scowled. "That's your excuse for everything."

Before she could press further, the wall began to crumble. Kael and Keira stepped back as a hidden doorway revealed itself, leading to an ancient ruin.

Kael's eyes widened as he peered inside. The architecture was unlike anything he'd seen in this world. Metal beams and glowing panels lined the walls, humming faintly with energy.

"This… this doesn't make sense," Kael murmured, his voice barely audible.

Keira stared at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

Kael shook his head, his heart pounding. "I've seen this before... but not here. Not in this world."