Chapter 109: From the eastern edge
"Have you been to the other continents, Lex?" That was my question to her as we stared at the great endless horizon at the edge of the southern lands of our continent, the Centre.
"I have been to the Left continent, but not the others."
Of the six continents, the one that is dominated by Topaz, the single power who rules over its majority, sits in the center of what one can call a... Cross.
"Then it would be our first time going to the Lower continent."
"That seems to be the case, young master."
There are the twin continents to our northeast called the UP, the largest continent to our southwest called the Low, the enemy continent to our northwest called the Left, and lastly, the southeastern Wuxia lands called the Right.
That is the world which supposedly used to be one during the forgotten era. But right now, nine powers rule these six lands.
"I’ve been there. I shall guide you-."
"That’s sweet of you, Rainin, but we shouldn’t need that."
Now, while the place we are going to is situated on the largest continent, the Low, it is present in the heart of the continent, a place that does not welcome just anyone.
It is an ancient area locked down not only by magic but also by natural forces.
’I’ve spent a few decades in that place.’
The forest that surrounds it makes it a lot more unique than what one may understand, making it detached from all of the worldly conflicts.
Stanox, thus, is a self operating, unique organizational body.
And the only way to visit it is by taking certain special aerial routes.
’One of those aerial routes passes from here, from the edge of the southern continent.’
There was an anchor station some distance away from here, the place where the docks. But today wasn’t a scheduled date for it.
At my request, the headmaster agreed to have an airship rerouted by this place, so we will have a small window to get aboard.
"I should be here soon."
We were thus waiting at the eastern end of the continent, looking down at the great Nirvana Sea, the endless horizon present before us.
There was a grassland behind us with small creatures living around it. This was a cliff so there wasn’t a beach below us or anything, but there surely was water.
Everywhere we looked, we could see the water.
For a moment, it reminded me of our last few moments inside the abyss cave.
The place that had felt like an endless hell to us was a lot more than just a selfish hell. Took away our beasts, it threw us into the deadly waters that took away our friends and the only place we could go to after that was the island that took away everything we had.
A cold shiver ran down my spine as sweat started sliding down my back. I could feel the touch of my long-gone partners.
I could see their blood-covered faces.
My heart, my two hearts ached as I mourned their loss. But at the end of the day, it was a past that will never come back.
Agonising over it for too long will only lead me to bitter ends. And they would not like that after all that we have been through this time.
’Maybe we will meet again.’
Or if fate doesn’t allow it, maybe we will not.
I don’t know what will happen once I step away from this continent, my birthplace, and go back to my homeland where I made my birthworks. I do not know.
Whatever the case, one thing is certain...
"I see the ship."
"It’s coming, young master."
"Yes."
Things will be a little different for all of us this time.
"It’s a fascinating sight to see every single time." I had never seen it in this life, but the way I said it made the two of my new travel partners look at me with a helpless smile.
They weren’t surprised when I said strange things that don’t match up with my age.
Rainin had accepted how things would be with me as well. Furthermore, he had been more diligent with everything I ask for ever since Alex’s birthday.
I do like how he is doing things, but then again, we are friends. Just like Lexie, he is not a servant but a close companion.
We don’t have to be so formal with each other, but neither of them even try to be informal with me.
’And that is also why I miss my dear old friend.’
He was at least crude and frank with me. I can’t wait to see him once we reach our destination.
"WOOOOOOUOOOOOOUOOOOO!"
The elephants of the sky, they call them.
As one of the largest flying creatures of the world, they would be extremely effective weapons of war. But only one power in this world possesses them: the academy.
With six of them attached to one of the best miracles of magic engineering, the airship represents possibilities, conquest, and acceptance.
The academy doesn’t have any insignia of their own. They have a name, and that name holds more value than all of the family sigils of the entire Topaz combined.
Stanox is hope.
"Let’s go."
"Yes."
Stanox is the opportunity we long for.
"WOOOOOOUOOOOOOUOOOOO..."
An airship led by six creatures resembling a seahorse with wings as large as the juvenile Great blue with wingspan as great as their own body.
Attached with golden ropes made from a synthetic material that scholars call the [Hair of gods], there’s a ginormous metallic ship being pulled.
The ship is plain, much like any normal sea ship that we can find in the ocean. However, this particular ship is being powered by a state of the art engine almost as complex as the dragon heart inside me.
The ones who designed it were the predecessors of the current headmaster, but there have been several improvements over the years.
Even in my time, we made various improvements to them and turned them into something that you can only understand as a sky fortress.
But, there is a long while left before those days.
For now, we will just focus on getting atop the flying ship.
’And since the ship itself isn’t stopping here, we will just have to get on top of a wagon running faster than a hundred miles an hour.’
Which is difficult, but not impossible for us crazy people...