The morning of their departure was as exhausting as the last time. They woke up before dawn, took their belongings they had packed the day before, and headed to the airway station. Instructor Soraya was silent this time as she accompanied them. Her usual, energetic self was nowhere to be seen as she walked with a brisk pace, and a worried expression.

“May I ask why Bareon was chosen?” Alistair asked as they left the academy grounds and walked along the street.

“Trouble brews in the city,” she coldly replied, “and with everything else going on right now, especially in Olisar, there aren’t many people who can be spared to aid Lord Orlein.” She paused as they arrived at the airway station, turning to face them. “I will be away as well, as I have been asked to aid another situation elsewhere.”

Midhir scowled. Perhaps the issue at Olisar wasn’t just a tear in the Veil. Something else must be going on, something they had been kept in the dark about.

“I won’t be able to come to your aid if you need it either, so I’ll tell you again. Be careful. Work with the city guard, keep in contact with Lord Orlein at all times. Don’t try to be heroes – you’re there to help. That’s all. I don’t want a repeat of Lohssa, understood? If it seems quite so bad, evacuate. And you,” her fiery gaze turned to Midhir. “No human should stand so close to a tear in the Veil. It will change you, in ways you can’t imagine. Don’t try something like that ever again, understood?”

“We understand, Instructor,” Alistair glanced at the other. “We will work with my father to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.”

His words didn’t seem to give the instructor much relief, though she had no choice but to accept them. “Very well,” she sighed, stepping aside and letting them enter the airway station.

They showed their identification, then walked to the hangar.

Arwen drew a sharp breath as they stepped through the doors and saw the airship prepared for them.

It was an elegant ship, so large that it nearly didn’t fit the hangar at all. It’s wooden body was reinforced with metal dyed golden. Two pairs of wings were folded neatly on its sides, and below them crystals were embedded into the hull.

This was one of the newest airship models the workshop had come up with.

“Father has spared no expense,” Alistair looked up the ramp, to spot an older man wearing a suit. “You shouldn’t have come all this way here, Aodan, there was truly no need.”

The old man bowed with a smile, “Welcome, young lord, Lady Aulorn, young miss, and sir,” he stepped aside as they climbed the raft. His gaze lingered on Instructor Soraya who stood at the foot of the ramp. An almost sorrowful smile appeared on his lips for a split second before he bowed to her as well.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

She closed her eyes and bowed her head. Her hand clenched her cloak.

Two crewmen hurried past them to pull the ramp up. As soon as it was secured, the buzzing of the crystals and engines hidden in the hull of the airship filled the air.

“Why did you come all the way here?” Alistair was asking the older man, “You’re too old to be travelling so much, and surely father needed your aid much more.”

“It’s quite alright, young lord,” Aodan reassured him. “Let me show all of you to your quarters, before we take off.”

“Please,” Willow smiled, “that would be greatly appreciated.”

“I’ll stay here if that’s alright,” Midhir leaned against the railing.

“Of course,” Aodan nodded with a gentle smile, then lead the girls inside. Alistair, who also chose to stay on the upper deck, held onto the railing as the airship shook gently before lifting off the ground.

Crystals embedded into the hull glowed brightly as their power began to lift the airship up. As soon as it was clear from the hangar, the two pair of cloth wings stretched open, and the airship lunged forward and up.

Fast! The airship was faster than any of the others he had boarded before. Midhir held onto the railing as the wind blew against his face, pulling his hair back and tugging at his clothes. His senses heightened as he watched the ground pass below them.

As they climbed higher in the sky, the mountains started to seem smaller, and trees looked more like bushes. The overgrowth covering the landscape between An’Larion and Bareon looked like a green carpet from so high up.

“We need to talk,” Alistair’s serious tone startled him.

“Two days ago, you asked me what was on my mind. At the time, I told you it didn’t matter,” Alistair glanced around to make sure nobody could hear them. “I still don’t know how much it matters, but all things considered, I think you should be aware,”

Midhir scowled. “I’m listening,”

“I received a letter from my father. Apparently, a fortnight ago the Crown Princess visited Bareon, along with Lord Aulorn.”

Midhir drew a sharp breath. His hand clenched around the railing. “There was a tear in the Veil?”

Alistair shook his head. “No, apparently they came to check if there was. Instead, they found some strange markings dyed with blood inside the old Palace ruins. My father summoned an expert on the history of Bareon. I’m assuming that we will be escorting that person to the palace ruins, since it’s on our itinerary.”

Midhir pursed his lips. “That’s fine, but why would Lord Aulorn and the Crown Princess even visit Bareon if there wasn’t a tear? I don’t believe it was just luck that led them to the strange symbols.”

Alistair shook his head. “I don’t believe it either. I suspect the veil has been weakened, and that’s why they came. If that’s the case…” he hesitated. “Instructor Soraya explicitly warned you not to go near a tear. She isn’t wrong, the power of the other side does change people. If something like what happened in Lohssa happens, I must ask you to retreat.”

So that was it. He was worried a repeat of the events of Lohssa, and because he already had his suspicions, he was trying to ensure Midhir wouldn’t be lost to the other side.

“If something like that happens, we must all retreat,” he curtly replied. “Bareon is full of capable people, our task will be to inform them.”

Alistair’s harsh expression softened with relief. “Agreed,” he said with a faint smile. “Let us hope these next few days will be as eventless as it can be.”

Watching the lands below, Midhir nodded absentmindedly. He couldn’t shake this looming dread gripping his heart and clouding his mind though, no matter how much he tried. Pressing his hand against his left eye, he took a deep breath. It was going to be fine, he told himself over and over again.