Chereads / The Shattered Spectrum / Chapter 2 - The Capital

Chapter 2 - The Capital

As the airship lifted into the sky, Aeris stood by the large window, waving goodbye to his family, friends, and the village he had called home all his life.

Tears welled in his eyes as he shouted, "I'll write to you, Mother, as soon as I get there!"

From this height, the village of Elowen began to shrink, its familiar fields and stone houses fading into tiny dots.

"I'll be back," Aeris murmured, his voice barely audible as he gazed at the majestic view of his home one last time.

A voice broke the silence behind him. "I was in your place ten years ago. Trust me, you'll get used to it."

Aeris turned to see Veliford, the soldier who had come to escort him, standing with a calm smile.

"It gets harder before it gets easier," Veliford continued, resting a reassuring hand on Aeris's shoulder. "The homesickness, the longing—it'll hit you. But you'll learn to carry it with you. That's just how life is. All we can do is accept it and keep moving forward."

Veliford motioned for Aeris to follow him. "Come. There's something you need to see."

He guided Aeris through the airship's narrow corridors, leading him to a large hall. As the doors opened, Aeris was momentarily blinded by the brightness flooding in.

When his eyes adjusted, he froze in awe. The hall offered a panoramic, 180-degree view of the world outside.

The vast sky stretched endlessly, dotted with countless floating islands and gleaming Skyshards. To his right, through a mounted telescope, Aeris could see villages built on smaller islands, connected by hanging bridges swaying gently in the wind.

"It's beautiful," Aeris whispered, his voice tinged with wonder.

Veliford chuckled. "You'll see views like this often in the Capital. It's unlike anything you've ever experienced."

Below the airship, thick, swirling clouds obscured the ground below. The dense mist seemed alive, shifting and swirling like it held secrets of its own.

"That's the Abyss," Veliford said, his tone more serious. "No one knows what's down there. Explorers who tried to uncover its mysteries… never returned. No messages, no traces. Just silence."

Aeris leaned closer to the glass, peering down at the mysterious clouds. "No one? Ever?"

Veliford shook his head. "Not one. Technically, it's not illegal to go beyond the clouds. But don't expect anyone to come after you if you do. The Abyss doesn't give back what it takes."

Aeris shivered slightly at the thought and turned his gaze upward again, focusing on the floating islands and the shimmering Skyshards. The Capital awaited him, a world unlike the peaceful simplicity of Elowen.

"Come now," Veliford said, patting Aeris's shoulder. "Rest up. It'll be a long day when we land."

As Aeris stepped away from the window, he glanced back at the sky, taking in its beauty one last time. The unknown was waiting for him, and his journey was only just beginning.

Aeris entered his assigned room—a small space with just a bed, a table, and a cabinet. It was modest, but enough for the short trip. After all, the airship wasn't built for luxury travel.

He set his luggage down, unpacking a few essentials before resting on the bed. The hum of the airship's engines was oddly soothing, and he soon drifted off to sleep.

When he woke, he stretched and began organizing his belongings. The Capital was still a day away, and he wanted to be prepared.

As he rested again, faint voices echoed from the hallway. Curious, he peeked out and saw several passengers walking toward another part of the ship. Unable to resist his curiosity, he followed them.

The hallway led to the airship's cafeteria, a lively area bustling with activity. Passengers filled the room—merchants, scholars, and nobles, all chatting or enjoying their meals. It seemed that Veliford had picked up several others during their journey, and most were also heading to the Capital.

"Hey, kid, are you hungry?" a friendly merchant called out, grabbing Aeris's attention. "The meals are free. No need to hesitate!"

As if on cue, Aeris's stomach growled, drawn by the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting from the counter. Embarrassed but eager, he grabbed a plate and joined the line, grateful for the unexpected generosity.

Aeris moved slowly through the line, glancing around at the diverse group of passengers. The merchants were chatting about trade deals, comparing prices for rare materials and enchanted goods. Nearby, a group of scholars discussed magical theories, their voices rising as they debated the properties of Skyshards.

As he reached the counter, the cook, a gruff older man with a warm smile, handed him a plate filled with steaming food. "Here you go, kid. Eat up, you'll need your strength for the Capital."

"Thank you," Aeris said, taking a seat at an empty table near the edge of the cafeteria.

Before he could take his first bite, a young man, no older than 20, plopped down across from him. His dark hair was slightly messy, and he had a mischievous grin.

"First time on an airship?" the man asked, biting into a piece of bread without waiting for an answer.

Aeris nodded. "Yeah. It's… different."

The man chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Name's Kael, by the way. Heading to the Capital?"

"Yes. I've been asked to train as a healer," Aeris replied cautiously.

Kael raised an eyebrow. "A healer, huh? That's rare these days. You must be pretty good if they're bringing you all the way there."

Aeris shrugged, unsure how to respond.

Before the conversation could continue, a loud rumble shook the airship, causing plates to clatter and passengers to grab onto their tables.

"What was that?" someone shouted.

The captain's voice came over the loudspeaker, calm but firm. "Everyone remain seated. We're experiencing minor turbulence."

Kael smirked. "Minor turbulence, huh? Doesn't sound minor to me."

The airship shook again, harder this time, and Aeris instinctively grabbed the edge of the table. Outside the large cafeteria window, a shadow passed by—something fast and massive.

Kael leaned forward, his tone suddenly serious. "Kid, I hope your healing skills work on yourself. Looks like we've got company."

Aeris's eyes widened as he looked out the window. In the distance, a group of large, winged creatures appeared, their sharp cries echoing in the air.

"Wiverns," someone whispered in fear.

The captain's voice returned. "All passengers, return to your rooms immediately. Security personnel, report to your stations. We are under attack."

Aeris's heart pounded. The cafeteria erupted into chaos as passengers scrambled to leave, but Kael stood up, his grin returning.

"Looks like things are about to get interesting. You coming, kid, or are you staying here to be dragon bait?"