Pillar of Yita

After the small boat sailed out of the Inner City, it soon left the water surface, amidst slight shaking, carrying the sound of trickling water. It soared higher and higher under the astonished gazes of people along the riverbanks.

The height gradually surpassed the spire of the Marlan Temple, where several priests were looking up in this direction. The courtyard was planted with towering plain flowers, white as snow; the black tiles on the majestic buildings reflected the last faint, dull red glow of the sky, slowly fading away.

The only thing left in view was the Quistack clock tower, standing solitary, where a few workers were checking the hanging clocks but did not look this way.

In the twilight, two flying dragons came from afar—

These creatures, with huge claws and sharp beaks, their tails equipped with venomous stingers like those of scorpiontail lions, were covered in stiff feather scales, appearing iron-like in the night. In Eteliria, they were almost ubiquitous. They were cousins of giant dragons, though the latter refused to acknowledge these low-intelligence relatives—two knights sat on the enormous saddles on their backs.

It seemed they had received instructions from the Princess, and as they drew near, they flew alongside.

Then, without a word, they led them toward outside the city.

In the far distance on the flight path was another airship, its massive shadow suspended above like dark clouds, but under the guidance of the Flying Dragon Knights, the brisk little boat soon overtook it, leaving it behind.

Parker leaned over the stern, whistling and cheering at the sight. He removed his belt, intending to throw it down, but Luo Hao, quick-eyed and quick-handed, snatched it away, casting a glare at the latter. Parker, annoyed, wanted to curse, but suddenly recalled the few hours he had been locked up in a small dark room just a day before.

He still didn’t know why he was put inside.

This was probably a matter of striking back.

Because someone was jealous of the King of Night Thieves—

Parker thought.

And Nini sat on the boat edge, blinking her big eyes, looking over here.

Alphonse lit his pipe, leaning against the boat rail rather enjoying the heavy darkness. His pipe was different from that of the Big Cat People, and also slightly different from that of the Bosun, having a long metal stem, common in the Istania region. The Half-Person, looking at the faintly disappearing last glow at the horizon, said:

”To make this sailing ship fly, the key lies in the attitude of the ship—”

Luo Yu listened earnestly.

”During takeoff, you must gather the Wind Element under the ship...”

”But you also can’t lose the center of gravity, otherwise there’s a risk of tilting.”

”So balancing the limited elements to achieve the best lift and stability is something you need to consider...”

”But all in all, this requires skill, if you’re interested, you can try it more.”

”Can I try too?” Luo Yu asked.

He had actually operated a large ship like the ’Dawood Ship’, but that hardly counted as experience; the only thing he did was start the Magic Guided Reactor and let it float in the air, flying with the wind.

In the end, he watched helplessly as the Dawood Ship crashed.

”Of course, I’ll be watching from the side,” the Half-Person took down his pipe, blew a big smoke ring— the smoke ring drifted backward quickly, dispersed by the wind blowing from the front, ”This doesn’t count for much, nor is it difficult. But if it’s a big ship, it requires the cooperation of several people.”

”I heard the Princess mention you’re building a ship too?”

Luo Yu nodded.

”What’s its name?”

”Seven Seas Traveler.”

”I’ll take this information, consider it tuition.”

The silver sail rose higher in the night.

The districts below turned into thin strips, lights into spots, and the canal like a beam of light submerged in darkness, people along the banks turned into tiny black dots. Princess Affia stood alone by the boat rail, silently watching as each district turned into small squares, light veins forming criss-crossing grid shapes, filling the space.

Suddenly, across the sky, a silver meteor streaked by, entering her gaze.

The black pupils of the Little Princess reflected all of this, and for some reason, tears flowed down her cheeks like meteors, unstoppable.

”Princess Affia.”

Fang Hong walked over at some unknown time.

Affia turned her reddened eyes to look at him, and only then did Fang Hong realize what she was holding—it was a wooden carving, seemingly of a young girl.

He observed closely, finding that the carving was identical to the Arcanist girl, except the expression was slightly different—the carving wasn’t finely crafted, somewhat rough even, yet lifelike. Fang Hong suddenly had an idea, understanding the identity of the girl depicted on the carving—

At this moment, Affia was no longer the proud Little Princess from their first meeting, just a girl worried about her father.

She tightly held the statue of her mother, who had early on departed from her and her sister’s side, and the only person still concerned about the sisters was now unsure of his safety.

”I’m sorry, Captain Ade,” her voice was near sobbing, tears rolling down.

Fang Hong suddenly felt a little sorry for this Little Princess.

Though she was born with a key of gold, in some sense, she was not much different from Pasha.