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Scene 3: The Chaos Within the Blue Falcon
The Blue Falcon—Skyperion's fastest airship, sleek like a cross between a dolphin and a shark, with jet propulsion and full rune integration—boasted a stunning exterior. But the interior? A completely different story.
Akira had imagined something like a spacecraft or perhaps the luxurious cabin he'd seen when traveling with Keela. What he got instead could only be described in one word: messy.
At first, everyone's attention had been drawn to Kalisa teasing Keela, keeping them too distracted to notice the inside. But once Kalisa vanished and Noren and Seraphina stopped pestering Keela, the group's focus shifted—and the chaos of the ship became impossible to ignore.
Still, Noren was one of Skyperion's high-ranking nobles, and she had graciously offered to escort them. Who would dare complain about the state of the ship?
Well… except for one person.
"You seriously let it get this messy, Noren? Couldn't you at least try to keep it clean?" Keela said sternly, hands on her hips.
Noren scratched her head and looked away.
"Hehe… well, you know, business has been crazy. Inventory piles up fast. This ship's meant for work, not sightseeing."
Keela frowned, her tone turning firm.
"But if we organized things properly—sorted items, made them easier to access—don't you think that would make it less chaotic?"
Noren puckered her lips, admitting defeat.
"Yeah, yeah… I know. But you also know I'm not exactly a tidy person like you."
Keela glanced sideways at Seraphina, who blinked in confusion as their eyes met. Keela straightened up and spoke louder:
"If I organize this place for you, it'll only stay clean for today. But if I teach you how to keep it clean, that'll last. Right, Akira?"
Startled, Akira jumped.
"Ah—uh, right! Like that saying… Teach someone to fish instead of giving them a fish…"
Keela walked over to Seraphina, crouched behind her, and gently gripped her shoulders.
"I hereby appoint Fina-chan as the temporary Queen of Organization. Everyone must follow her commands—no objections allowed!"
The room stiffened instantly. Seraphina looked bewildered and pointed at herself.
"Me?"
Keela smiled warmly.
"Yes, you. But don't worry. I'll guide you through everything."
Still clearly overwhelmed, Seraphina nodded hesitantly.
"O-okay. I'll do my best…"
Keela began instructing her step-by-step, and Akira chimed in, introducing the group to the "5S Method"—a popular organizational system. Still, Keela's version was far more detailed and tailored.
Throughout the cleanup, Keela entered her commander mode, using a sharp tone to direct everyone:
"No, not there—didn't I say to check the categories first? And the tags? Where are the item tags? Go get them. If we label the storage properly, it'll be easier to find and restock. Plus, we can implement a tracking system later."
Osiris raised her hand.
"Uh, mind if I hook into the ship's command system? I can install an inventory tracker, a market price calculator, and even a promo planner. Sound good?"
Noren's entire team replied in perfect unison,
"Yes, please!"
Clearly, this was something they desperately needed. And of course, when a cutting-edge AI built by the continent's most brilliant technomancer offered a solution, you didn't say no.
With Osiris's game-changing support and Keela's leadership, everyone pitched in with enthusiasm—even Akira's team. The messy cabin slowly transformed into an orderly, spotless space.
Hours later, they wiped sweat from their brows and slumped into their seats, satisfied with the result. That's when Draco spoke up:
"We've been organizing forever. Don't tell me we're still not there yet. Isn't this supposed to be the fastest airship?"
The pilot slowly raised a hand, sheepish.
"Uh… pardon me, honored heroes, but… the truth is…"
Noren cut him off with an edge in her voice.
"Spit it out. Don't stammer now."
The pilot blurted everything in one go.
"We actually arrived… about two hours ago."
It was the kind of plot twist you'd expect from a comedy skit. Some of them nearly collapsed from the shock. All that chaos, all the cleaning—they had no idea they'd already reached their destination.
Yue, still full of energy, dashed to the nearest window, Mirelle following behind. Yue gasped in awe.
"Wow! This is incredible—it's so beautiful!"
Mirelle beamed.
"It really is gorgeous…"
Keela smiled softly, lost in thought.
"I'm finally going to see big brother Kalan again… I wonder if he'll still keep apologizing like always. Hehe…"
Akira walked toward the window. A storm of emotion surged within him. He kept his expression neutral as he muttered,
"Yeah, it's beautiful… but beneath that beauty lies a ticking time bomb."
He glanced back at his friends, still marveling at the view.
"I used to love those Three Kingdoms war games… but that was when no one actually died. In real life, war's not fun—it's terrifying."
He let out a long sigh and looked outside again.
"Please… let us get through this without anyone getting hurt."
Behind him, Osiris stood silently, watching the same scene unfold. She took in everyone's excitement—but also noticed the quiet anxiety on Akira's face.
So this isn't just a casual visit to the palace, huh…? Don't worry, Akira. You're not alone in carrying this team, Akira. You've got the best AI by your side… You, the ever-worried Third Hero.
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Scene 4: Arrival at Zenith Azimuth
Within the floating island of Zenith Azimuth—largest of all Skyperion territories and home to the royal palace of House Zenithspire—rose a monumental sight.
From afar, the island resembled a colossal turtle drifting across the skies, adorned with turbines, sails, jet thrusters, and suspension cables.
The metallic structure sprouted like vines, giving it the look of a giant metal-clad creature. Swarms of airships and winged Avians darted in and out like schools of fish dancing around the great beast in the sky.
Through the windows of Noren's Blue Falcon, we watched as the vast island drew closer. The palace atop its summit gleamed with grandeur, worthy of its status.
Almost everyone gazed in awe—especially Yue. The only exceptions were Akira, who wore a faintly uneasy smile, and Osiris, who smiled knowingly.
Mirelle, however, narrowed her eyes with suspicion. There was something only those proficient in wind magic could perceive—something strange in the air currents surrounding the palace. She muttered softly to herself,
"The wind around the palace feels off… as if it's slowly pulling everything downward. Strange, considering this is the highest point in all of Arcadia."
Her concern deepened when she glanced at Akira and Osiris's expressions. She whispered,
"Your sixth sense is acting up again, isn't it, Akira? Judging from your face, I'd better stay alert… This isn't just a visit to see your brother anymore, Keela."
Just then, footsteps approached. It was Noren Fairsteel—an influential figure in Skyperion who had graciously offered to escort us.
"This is as far as I can take you, Keela. I have to head in a different direction."
Keela smiled warmly.
"No worries, my dear friend. This alone has saved us so much time."
Seraphina chimed in playfully,
"Saved a lot of time indeed… if we hadn't spent so much of it organizing all the stuff. Teehee."
Noren stuck his tongue out in mock embarrassment, earning chuckles from those around. Even as we disembarked, the mood remained light.
Just before the airship doors closed, Noren threw a heart-shaped hand gesture at Keela—the exact same one Kalisa had made before. Seraphina mirrored it, and the adults chuckled softly in amusement.
Meanwhile, Zhuan observed the mini-heart with great focus, as if planning to use it on a future romantic endeavor of his own.
We stood and watched the Blue Falcon rise, then shoot into the distance at astonishing speed, vanishing within seconds. No wonder it arrived nearly two hours ahead of schedule.
Turning our gaze back ahead, we found ourselves before a sleek, futuristic train station. A peculiar vehicle approached along the tracks. The moment it came into view, all of us had the same reaction—and Draco voiced what we were thinking.
"Is that… an eel?"
Keela burst out laughing, struggling to keep a straight face. We all stared, confused by her amusement, even Elina who had previously ridden the train.
Taking a breath, Keela explained,
"This is the X-Rail. The vehicle has four limbs extending to the tracks—forming an X shape when seen head-on."
As she spoke, we examined it closely and nodded. It did look like an X. Keela went on with a guide-like tone,
"The top fins help control wind direction and balance. The bottom jets accelerate speed and support weight."
Draco muttered seriously,
"Still looks like a grilled eel to me… And now I smell grilled eel too."
Mirelle nudged him gently.
"Well, no wonder. Look over there."
Everyone turned to see a food stall named X-Nagi, complete with a logo and mascot modeled after the train—clearly playing up the "eel" resemblance.
And naturally, the mouth-watering aroma proved too much for Yue, who had wandered to the front of the stall without realizing. Once aware, she turned back with pleading eyes that said everything: "Please? Can I?"
Akira chuckled and nodded slightly. We giggled and entered the shop. After a few bites, Akira commented,
"Hmm… savory, but light—like eating clouds. After something this salty, I kind of want dessert."
Before he could finish, Yue was already peering into the ice cream display, eyes sparkling. Akira nearly faceplanted into his bowl. He nodded again, surrendering to her relentless cravings.
He opted for lemon flavor—sweet and tangy—and like the meal before, it melted in his mouth like a cloud.
Once full, we bought our tickets and entered the train. Oddly, people began staring at us. Some whispered to each other, prompting an anxious atmosphere.
Then, Akira caught his reflection in a large mirror and finally understood.
"Okay… yeah, we all disguised ourselves. But the styles don't match at all. We look like a party of misfits from a dozen different worlds. Gotta work on coordinating next time…"
The X-Rail finally arrived, and we boarded. Inside, the train was bright, spacious, cool, and silent. The view outside remained clear, and the ride was so smooth—too smooth, perhaps. Add full bellies to the mix, and the inevitable happened: everyone dozed off.
Time passed quietly until a voice called out to rouse us.
"Excuse me, everyone," the polite train attendant said.
"We've arrived at the final stop—Zenithspire Palace. Thank you for riding with us."
Draco blinked awake with a startled grunt, which stirred the rest of us from our half-asleep daze.
Still groggy, we disembarked and found ourselves before a towering wall. Keela pointed ahead.
"We're almost there. The entrance is just a bit further. Follow me."
Despite being inside the floating island, the sunlight was intense—filtered through fiber-glass mineral veins, yet still scorching. We dug out umbrellas from our dimensional rings to shield ourselves.
Eventually, we arrived at a massive gate where several guards conducted thorough inspections. The people in line wore tense expressions, some sweating profusely despite the mild heat—perhaps from anxiety rather than weather.
Some were allowed through. Others were turned away or led into holding rooms. A few panicked and tried to flee, only to be chased down. We stared in shock.
"What… is going on here?"
The tension crept into us too. Soon, we were sweating nervously ourselves, and then it was our turn.
Keela stepped up first and showed her ID. The guard flinched, then swiftly presented a crystal orb. Keela placed her hand on it.
Crack!
Electric arcs erupted around the orb, followed by the royal crest's shimmering appearance.
Immediately, the guards snapped to attention, saluting and forming ranks. We were ushered away in a hurry toward the reception lounge, while shouts echoed in the background, calling for transport units. The palace grounds were in a frenzy.
Inside the lounge, the air was cool and refreshing. Drinks and snacks were served, and Yue's face practically glowed. Just as she reached for a pastry—
SLAM!
The door burst open.
"Our transport is ready."
Yue pouted, stuffed a handful of sweets into her mouth, and grabbed a drink for the road. Akira wasn't sure whether to laugh or feel sorry for her food-obsessed little sister.
But as we exited and saw the awaiting vehicles, Yue nearly choked.
"Goldfish!?"
That's right. The transport resembled massive goldfish—each one fitting two passengers. Keela walked up to one. The fish opened its mouth and… ate her.
Our eyes widened.
"She got eaten?!"
But Osiris pointed toward the fish's eye.
"She's up there. Looks like she wants us to board through the mouth."
Thus began a frantic pairing-up. Yue clung to Akira's arm. Elina was about to ask Osiris, but the latter declined.
"You go with Draco, sis. I'll talk magic with Mirelle."
She led Mirelle toward a goldfish ride. Mirelle smirked.
"Smooth move, Osiris."
Osiris smirked back.
"Making onee-san happy is part of a little sister's job, isn't it?"
Elina was slightly taken aback, but Draco stepped forward and offered his hand.
"Shall we ride together?"
His voice was calm, his expression suave. Elina blushed furiously and let him lead her. As they sat, she froze up, her heart racing, barely hearing a word of what Draco said.
Inside the ride, Akira and Yue explored their quirky surroundings. Two soft seats, one-way panoramic windows, and an interior styled like a cozy pod. Outside, they saw gardens arranged in lavish patterns, the most striking of which bore the crest of House Zenithspire.
The four fish glided through a breathtaking route and stopped before a cream-colored building trimmed with gold, surrounded by lush greenery and orange-yellow flowers. Clean, simple, elegant—and well-kept.
As we arrived, Keela leapt out joyfully and rushed into the arms of a waiting man. Her voice rang with overwhelming affection. We knew instantly—this was her beloved big brother.
From our pod, we gazed at Kalan. He seemed gentle, as expected. But the aura surrounding him and his entourage? Terrifying. As if we were kittens frolicking before a den of tigers.
Akira gulped.
"So this is what frontline warriors feel like… This isn't a Three Kingdoms game anymore. This is real."
He glanced at Yue, who was hastily wiping her mouth clean.
"I have to protect them, no matter what. Especially you, Yue…"
He clenched his fists without realizing. This wasn't just a visit—it was the first step into a political storm.
And at the eye of that storm stood the man they were about to face:
Crown Prince Kalan Silencium—a man whose gentle smile belied eyes that held the weight and will to crush entire legacies with a single word.
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