Chapter 106: Beggining of Travel

The forest was quiet, its shadows stretched long under the silver wash of moonlight. Lira’s footsteps were steady as she walked the familiar path that led to the clearing at the forest’s edge. She had been here many times before, and her heart quickened as the trees seemed to open, revealing two figures who had become her secret anchor in this world.

Renkai, tall and watchful, leaned lightly against a trunk with his fan, while Thalanir, calmer but no less keen-eyed, stood just beside him. The sight of them made her smile, and without hesitation, she rushed forward.

"You’re here," she whispered as her arms wrapped around Renkai first, then Thalanir. The warmth of their presence calmed the lingering restlessness that had kept her awake.

Renkai chuckled softly, giving her shoulders a firm squeeze. "Of course we’re here. Where else would we be, little leaf?"

Thalanir’s hand brushed gently against her arm, his expression serene but his eyes glinting with quiet pride. "You’ve grown since the last time. Your energy feels steadier. Stronger."

Lira’s cheeks warmed. "I... I’ve been working hard. The Academy feels different now, easier somehow. And there’s something new that they announced it at dinner." Her voice dropped, threaded with excitement. "We’ll be traveling soon, to the Dragon Lands. By flying ships."

For a heartbeat, silence hung between them, broken only by the whisper of the leaves.

Renkai’s grin faded into something more serious. "The Dragon Lands," he repeated, his tone laced with both awe and warning. "That’s no simple journey."

Thalanir nodded, his gaze steady on Lira’s. "It will test you in ways the Academy never has. But I believe you’re ready."

She bit her lip, suddenly unsure. "I wish... I wish you could come with me."

"We can’t," Renkai said gently, though regret tugged at his smile. "Our path isn’t yours. At least, not yet."

Thalanir stepped closer, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder. "But we will be watching. Remember what we’ve taught you. And more importantly, do trust yourself."

Renkai ruffled her hair, making her laugh despite the lump in her throat. "And don’t go picking fights with dragons unless you’re sure you can win."

"I won’t," she promised, though her voice trembled.

They all laughed warmly.

They exchanged one last embrace, lingering longer this time. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, but the meaning was clear: goodbye, for now.

"Be careful, Lira," Thalanir said at last, his tone firm, protective.

"Come back stronger," Renkai added with a half-smile.

She nodded, swallowing hard. "I will. I promise."

The night carried their parting softly as Lira turned back toward the Academy, the weight of their words both heavy and comforting in her chest.

...

Morning sunlight spilled across her room in soft silver shafts, painting the walls with the promise of a new day. Lira was already awake, though she had barely slept. The excitement of the announcement and her midnight farewell weighed on her thoughts, but now, with the hum of the Academy alive outside, she knew it was time.

Her spatial bag layed on the bed, and she carefully folded each piece of clothing, each book, each vial and trinket she thought she might need. It amazed her how much it could hold, an entire journey’s worth of essentials without the bulk of a traveler’s trunk. She paused, double-checking everything twice, her hands moving with both precision and nervous energy.

At her feet, a fluffy bundle shifted and let out a small huff. Lira smiled softly and reached down, scooping up the creature into her arms. Its snow-white fur glistened in the light, impossibly soft beneath her fingertips. She pressed her cheek against it, breathing in the faint earthy scent it always carried, like meadows after rain.

"Fluffy," she whispered, stroking its head with slow, gentle motions. "I wish I could take you with me." The creature mewd softly, nuzzling into her hand, aware of the weight in her voice.

Her throat tightened as she kissed its small nose. "But the Dragon Lands... it’s too hot, too dangerous. I don’t want you to be hurt." She let out a shaky sigh and smiled through it, keeping her tone light, as if her companion could truly understand. "So you’ll stay here, safe. Thara from the greenhouse will care for you while I’m gone. She knows plants, she’ll know what you like. And I’ll come back for you, I promise."

Fluffy gave a soft, almost approving trill, as though agreeing with her. She laughed quietly, patting its white, silky head. "Good. That settles it then."

She held it close for one last cuddle, imprinting the warmth of its small body into her memory. Only when the bells of the Academy rang out, calling students to assemble, did she set Fluffy gently back onto the cushioned basket at the corner of her room.

"Stay safe, little one," she murmured. Then, squaring her shoulders and taking up the spatial bag, she left the room, the sound of Fluffy’s soft purring fading behind her.

The Academy courtyard was alive with motion, a sea of robes and chatter as students poured out from every hall. Teachers stood at the front, their voices raised above the din, directing groups into neat lines that stretched across the paved ground. Banners fluttered overhead in the morning breeze, the Academy’s crest glinting proudly in the sunlight.

Lira clutched her spatial bag close to her side, her heart hammering with anticipation. Around her, younger students buzzed with nervous questions, while second-years like herself tried, some more successfully than others, to appear calm. She caught sight of Maelin ahead, who waved her over, and Lira slipped into the line beside her, grateful for the familiar company.

Then she looked up.

Her breath caught.

Above the courtyard, hovering just beyond the Academy walls, were the ships.

They were colossal, unlike anything she had ever seen, grand vessels that seemed to float on air itself. Each ship’s body gleamed with runes etched across its hull, shimmering faintly like veins of light. But what drew her gaze most were the wings. Extending from the sides like the delicate but powerful appendages of dragonflies, they shimmered translucent, catching the sun and scattering rainbow hues across the sky. They moved with a slow, graceful rhythm, holding the massive crafts aloft with an ease that seemed almost magical.

Gasps rose from the crowd, and even some of the new teachers tilted their heads back, awe in their eyes.

"They’re... enormous," Lira whispered, barely aware she’d spoken aloud.

Maelin’s face was lit with pure wonder. "I knew they were big, but, by the stars Lira, they look like palaces in the sky."

Lira nodded dumbly, her eyes tracing every line of the ships’ magnificent design. The scale was overwhelming, yet the craftsmanship made them beautiful rather than intimidating. She could almost imagine stepping inside and finding an entire world waiting there.

A teacher’s sharp call drew her attention back down. "Second-year students, form your groups! Luggage to the left, identification crystals you got at start of year, ready!"

Lira quickly adjusted her satchel strap and followed the movement of her peers, but her eyes flicked upward again and again. The ships loomed above them, a reminder of how far they would soon travel, and how vast the world beyond the Academy truly was.

The courtyard was a flurry of movement as the teachers began calling out names, sorting students into groups for each ship. The magical crystal tablets in their hands glowed faintly as they checked the lists, directing lines of students toward wide stone stairways that had formed from the ground itself, spiraling upward toward the waiting vessels.

"Second-years to the Azure Wing! First-years to the Silver Crest! Quickly now—keep your lines!" a tall instructor barked, his voice carrying over the din.

Lira and Maelin shuffled forward with their group, craning their necks upward as they ascended the stairway. The air grew cooler with height, and the hum of the ship’s enchantments vibrated faintly under their feet. Every step made the ship seem larger, its dragonfly wings spanning wider than a village square.

When at last they reached the boarding platform, the ship loomed like a living fortress of polished wood, steel, and runes. Guards in white colored uniforms guided them through shimmering wards that marked the entrance, their sharp eyes scanning for any mischief.

Inside, the air was filled with the faint scent of enchanted oils and polished wood. Rows of wide benches lined the lower deck, and along the walls, glowing crystals pulsed with soft light, illuminating intricate carvings of dragonflies and flight runes.

"Quiet, everyone!"

The voice belonged to Instructor Veyra, a stern woman with silver-streaked hair who commanded instant silence. She swept her gaze across the crowded deck.

"You are stepping onto one of the most advanced sky-ships ever constructed," she said firmly. "They are powered by delicate enchantments that respond poorly to recklessness. That means you will obey every instruction, or you will find yourself grounded before we leave the Academy’s skies."

A ripple of nervous murmurs spread through the younger students. Lira pressed her lips together, listening intently.

Veyra continued, pacing with sharp steps. "No leaning over the railings. No throwing objects from the decks. No running or rough play. You will remain in your assigned sections unless escorted by staff. And under no circumstances are students to tamper with the control crystals or engine arrays. These ships are not toys but they are lifelines."

A second teacher, Master Daren, softer in tone but no less firm, added: "Meals will be brought to you on the journey. Rest areas are clearly marked. If you feel unwell during flight, notify a staff member immediately. We are crossing long distances and high altitudes, you will respect both the vessel and one another."

The rules might have sounded heavy, but as Lira looked around, she could see the sparkle of awe in every face, even behind the nervousness. For many, it was their first time leaving the Academy grounds, and for all, it was the beginning of something extraordinary.

Maelin leaned toward her and whispered with a grin, "Bookworm or not, even you can’t just read your way through this adventure."

Lira laughed softly, though her stomach fluttered with nerves and excitement. She gripped the strap of her bag tighter and took a seat, her eyes drifting to the glowing walls. Somewhere deep inside, she felt the hum of air and earth resonating faintly, as if even her powers were aware of the journey that awaited.