"Our destination is Windea. The flow of mana in that airspace is notoriously unstable—will that be a problem?"
Windea was saturated with dense concentrations of wind and water mana, which often played havoc with mana-driven vessels like magic ships. Even the most experienced pilots found the controls difficult to manage there. Despite the hazards, the terrain made a magic ship the only viable means of approach.
"I don't mind!" Verrich replied. "But if we're heading to Windea, it’s best if we don’t fly too high."
"Because of the mana concentration?"
"Exactly. The Lemuria could handle it, but she’s fresh out of the shop. I want to keep a close eye on her performance during the flight. Is that acceptable?"
Ragna crossed his arms, considering the proposal for a moment before turning to Ren. "What do you think, Ren?"
"It’s fine. If you can get us close to the rock faces near the mid-levels of Windea, we’ll take it from there. I’m confident in my stamina."
"Excellent. I have no objections either," Ragna added.
"But Ragna-san, will you be alright in a monster-infested area?"
"I thought you knew me better than that," Ragna said with a smirk.
He snapped his fingers.
A distortion rippled in the air, and several chains lashed out, coiling tightly around Ren’s right hand. It was an unmistakable display of specialized magic.
"...Come to think of it, there was no way the Bag Traveler would be helpless in a fight," Ren noted.
He gripped the chains with his left hand. With a sharp application of strength, he shattered the magical bindings. His Enshroud, further refined over the winter, flickered with a raw power that was impossible to ignore.
Ragna let out a cheerful whistle. "Those chains were designed to completely immobilize a C-rank monster."
"Please don't use your powers so suddenly," Ren sighed.
"My apologies. It was the quickest way to prove I can hold my own. Still, a Sword Saint among Strong Sword Users truly is a monster."
Even though Ren had broken free with ease, the feat clearly left Ragna stunned.
"As you can see, I can fight, so there’s no issue," Ragna continued. "Once Verrich parks the Lemuria by the cliffs, Ren and I will just have to handle the camping."
"Then it's settled. Verrich-san, can we count on you to pilot the Lemuria?"
Verrich pounded his barrel-like chest with gusto. "Leave it to me!" he roared, only to immediately double over in a fit of coughing.
Ren felt the tension leave his shoulders as the legendary engineer's display of bravado ended in an undignified wheeze.
A few days later, on a holiday morning, Ren returned to the docks with Licia and Fiona in tow.
The three of them weren't headed for Windea yet; instead, they were taking the Lemuria out for its maiden flight after the repairs.
The twin bullet-shaped wings atop the hull unfurled, swaying as if the ship were swimming through the atmosphere. The vessel emerged slowly from the open dock, gracefully gaining altitude. The flight was so steady—much like a carriage traveling a paved road in the sky—that they were able to step out onto the deck and lean against the railing to admire the view.
Aside from the three teenagers, only Verrich was aboard, tucked away in the pilot house. Once the ascent leveled out and the ship began to glide gently through the air, the girls couldn't contain their excitement.
"Wow... it’s breathtaking!"
"Ren, look! Come over here! The Capital looks so tiny from up here!"
Ren joined them at the railing, taking in the panoramic vista. He had seen the view from above Erendil before, but always through a window. Standing on the open deck made him feel as if he had stepped into an entirely different world.
"But was it really alright for it to be just us?" Ren asked.
The test flight had been arranged so that Licia and the others could experience the sky now that the ship was finished. However, Lezard and the other adults had declined to join them.
"Father said he’d go another time," Licia explained.
"Yes... I was told the same," Fiona added. "They said I should just focus on enjoying myself with Ren-kun."
"...They’re being quite considerate. We should probably make the most of it, then."
Grateful for the adults’ thoughtfulness, Ren turned his attention back to the journey. A flock of white birds soared nearby, and Licia reached up to hold her hair as it fluttered in the wind. Fiona stepped closer to Ren, clutching her skirt to keep it from blowing upward.
"At this altitude, the deck is quite comfortable," Fiona noted. She wasn't afraid of the height; she was simply assessing the wind. The ship was equipped with various safety mechanisms to ensure no one would fall overboard. As they enjoyed the scenery, the conversation naturally turned toward Windea.
"...I really wanted to go with you," Fiona said, her voice tinged with regret.
"I know, but you have to prioritize your exams."
"I... I suppose you're right."
"Besides, I took this request on as a personal favor," Ren added.
"Muu."
"Um... why are you staring at me with such sulky eyes?"
Fiona, now a fourth-year, had exams even during the school holidays. While Ren was right that she wasn't obligated to help with his private mission, her maiden's heart yearned to be by his side.
"—I would have been happy if you’d acted just a little bit sad that I couldn't go," she whispered, her voice too quiet for Ren to hear.
But he couldn't very well encourage her to skip her important exams.
Meanwhile, Licia had her own plans. She was scheduled to meet with Chronoa to evaluate her progress with Sacred Magic. Additionally, Estelle had offered to oversee her sword training during the break.
The Chief never rests. It was a common refrain among the Lion Sanctum Knights, who had apparently been very vocal in their support of the training arrangement.
"Still, I think I would have felt much more confident if Lady Fiona were coming along," Ren admitted.
"R-Really!?"
Ren marveled at how her mood could do a complete U-turn in a matter of seconds.
A few days later, Fiona returned to the docks to see Ren off. She stood with Licia, watching the Lemuria until it vanished into the distant horizon.
On the first day of the long holiday, another magic ship departed the Imperial Capital.
This vessel was the Deus, a majestic white ship managed jointly by the Archduke Families. While the Lemuria was a medium-sized vessel, the Deus was significantly larger, boasting twice the capacity and luxurious living quarters. In the legends of the Seven Heroes, it was a vital hub for numerous historical events.
The Deus had just arrived at Windea, the Place Where Water and Wind Sleep.
The geography of Windea was a jagged cluster of peaks that looked like sword tips thrust toward the heavens, growing taller as they converged at the center. Looking up, the upper levels of Windea pierced straight through the clouds.
The magic ship anchored roughly a dozen meils away from a walkable rock face. Using a magic tool to extend the ramp, Vane and his companions stepped out onto the mountain. Below them, they could see waterfalls turning to mist mid-air and the activity of monsters and wildlife in the sprawling wilderness. Looking up, they all felt a sense of daunting scale as they considered the climb to the temple.
"Heh heh heh. Nemu’s driving was spot on, as always!" Nemu called out to Vane and the others as they descended.
Nemu Altia herself was at the helm, and she stood proudly on the ramp, puffing out her chest with a triumphant smirk. Despite her youth, she was a master pilot.
"Hey, Nemu, are you sure we can’t park any higher?" Kaito asked, squinting at the path ahead. The dirt trails were a labyrinthine mess leading upward. If they could have anchored closer to the temple, it would have saved them a lot of trouble.
"Nemu wants to help, but it’s too dangerous. Any higher than this and the wind and water mana get too thick. It makes the flight unstable."
The materials and mana-infused ores used to build the ship would react unpredictably to the dense mana, potentially causing a total systems failure. This instability was exactly why Windea was so difficult to reach.
"Plus, there's still Crystal Ice to worry about, so it's better to stay here!"
Crystal Ice was a phenomenon unique to Windea, forming almost as soon as summer ended. It covered nearly the entire mountain, making a climb during the off-season a suicidal endeavor. Because the ice was reinforced by the local mana, it couldn't be melted easily with magic, and the deep snow and gale-force winter winds only made things worse.
Most of the paths Vane and Ren were planning to take were currently choked with Crystal Ice. It was only because the summer was approaching that the ice had receded enough to make a climb even remotely possible.
"Of course, if Kaito-kun wants to be reckless and get lost in a blizzard, Nemu can help with that," she teased.
"...Fine, fine. I’ll just think of it as outdoor training."
"Exactly! It'll be a great experience for all of us!"
Thanks to Nemu’s skill, they were already anchored at a considerable height. Vane looked toward the summit where the temple awaited and steeled his resolve.
"Everyone, please don't push yourselves. I'd feel terrible if anyone got hurt for my sake."
Vane turned to his friends, but Sarah was quick to dismiss his concern.
"Don't be stupid. We’re here because we want to be, so stop worrying."
Charlotte, Nemu, and Kaito all nodded in agreement.
That made five of them, but one member was still missing. A moment later, the final person emerged from the ship, clutching a large staff as she stepped onto the ramp. It was Lizred.
"Don't you worry, Vane! With me here, no monster will stand a chance!"
Vane knew how powerful her magic was and felt genuinely encouraged—until the inevitable happened.
"Eep!"
Lizred’s foot slipped on the ramp. Vane lunged forward and managed to catch her before she fell, but her massive staff tumbled out of her hands, clattering down the ramp before striking a rock with a sharp clack.
Lizred froze, her jaw dropping as her lip began to tremble.
"Aaaaaahhh! My staff! I saved my allowance for three years and two months to buy that!"
"I-It’s okay. It looks sturdy; it probably didn't break."
Vane let go of Lizred and retrieved the staff. There were no cracks or bends to be seen. He showed it to her, and she let out a massive sigh of relief—only to find a tiny scratch near the top. She promptly collapsed to her knees in despair.
"Nice move, Windea. You win this round."
Windea, having been blamed for her own clumsiness, likely had no comment on the matter.