Airo’s eyes lit up as soon as he heard the news. Windflow was a place he always desired to see. His family had left the world years before he was born, so all he knew about it came from books and what his parents told him. A world filled with clouds and floating islands, where the air is purer than anywhere else and where riding the strong wind currents is a common means of transportation.
“Windflow? Then that should be fine, no? We have a member of nobility with us,” Cia said and did a little polite bow before the young Cloudfolk, who returned the gesture.
“So you say, but I know from experience that nobles aren’t usually people you’d want to deal with. They might be weak when it comes to physical or magical confrontation, but they wield their words like knives,” Manuel dismissed the kids’ enthusiasm.
Despite his best efforts, however, he could not pass his worries onto the quartet. The idea of visiting a different world excited them. When it came to packing, they were faster that day than anytime else.
“Just so you know though, I’m only a fifth wind noble, so it’s not like they’re gonna treat us like we’re a king’s delegation,” Airo warned them.
“Fifth wind? So that’s like what? Fifth most powerful royal house?” Jin asked.
“Not really. There are quite a few royal families there, and they are all split into categories based on how important their role in the society is and what generation they were born into. My parents are the fourth wind, so I’m fifth. Like this, it goes up, with the highest being the Storm and Hurricane.”
“So, in other words, you are not an important person whatsoever,” Cia remarked.
“Not true! I’m still more valued in the society than all the commoners.”
Kaili rolled her eyes. “Commoners, royals, houses and kingdoms. Can’t believe you like a concept like that. Royals always live off of the common people. Don’t you feel bad that others work hard for your family to live in luxury?”
“That’s not how Cloudfolk nobility works. Sure, we live in relative luxury, but that’s because each house does a specific important job. And if you’re born into that house, you have to do that job no matter what.”
“Like you and calling the clouds into our village?” Jin asked.
“Exactly! If my family doesn’t do it, the people will not have what to make money off of. Every other house works in a similar way. It’s nice, but it’s also a tough life. If you’re born into a family of doctors, you have to become one too. And that means sleepless nights of studying.”
“So the commoners don’t have lots of money and big mansions, but they can do whatever they want for a living? I’m starting to like that style of life,” Jin added.
“Of course you would,” Kaili turned to him and shook her head. She expected words like those from Jin.
Once packed, all that was required was for Manuel to put the destination address into the Cordicon. The buttons necessary for return were marked with paint and numbers, so that the kids could find them more easily.
As soon as the portal opened, wind picked up in the room, flipping the pages of an open book in the living room and making a tablecloth flap.
“Ah, now that really feels like the smell of home,” Airo remarked as he took a deep breath. The air truly felt as clear and fresh as the stories foretold.
“Alright, now listen up,” Manuel addressed them, his voice slightly strained as he kept the portal stable. “If anything happens, just give me a shout. The Cordicon will carry your voice all the way to here, but I won’t be able to hear anything beyond its reach, so keep it on you at all times.”
“Don’t worry, we know what to do at this point,” Jin tried to dismiss his worries as he put on a leather belt with Rudy’s sword attached to the side. “Comfy?” He asked the demon.
“As one can be. Don’t worry, Manuel, I’ll keep an eye on them,” Rudy said and winked.
Out of warnings, the wizard stepped aside and gestured to the portal, giving the kids a free passage through.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Airo tried his best to assure him before stepping through the gateway as the last of the four.
Traveling to a different world was a bit scarier than simply hopping to a different destination on the Grand Lane. For a moment, the children felt like they were floating in a long tube of flickering lights. Many of them had to shut their eyes to avoid sensory overload. Only Cia was brave enough to witness the whole thing in its entirety.
They emerged right in the middle of the street. Their brains barely had time to adjust before the crowds of curious Cloudfolk began surrounding them.
“We’re courier’s from Arcane Deliveries! We deliver across worlds too!” Jin shouted and showed them the packages he carried on his back. That statement seemed to calm the crowd down a little bit, though it was still far from peaceful.
Seeing, however, that these “invaders” were nothing more than a bunch of children, most of the people didn’t take long to be on their way once more.
Only when the situation de-escalated a little bit could the young couriers have a proper look around the place.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Windflow was exactly as one would imagine it. The street where they landed was just at the edge of an island, so they had a fantastic view. There were islands upon islands floating in the almost endless sky. Certain cities, however, simply existed without a firm ground underneath them, as they were suspended in the air by a series of clouds. Kaili couldn’t take her eyes off the wind currents. They looked like barely-visible tubes through which the Cloudfolk were floating from one place to another. The larger currents then also carried vehicles similar to airships, only with balloons and sails instead of machinery to keep them going.
At the very end of the view, in the perfect centre of the word, stood the ley-line. Each world had one, but only Grand Lane was an exception in its unusual shape. Here, it looked like in every other world. It was like a massive tree that reached all the way into the dome-shaped sky, where its branches would bend and twist around it. The ley-lines gave worlds their life. It was a magical sight to see.
Airo quickly turned his attention to the people walking the streets. The fact that they were commoners could be seen from the first glance. Their clothes were not nearly as impressive as those that his family always wore. Here, the fashion choice of the year seemed to be clothes that almost looked like massive sheets of fabric, only sewn into the loose shapes of shirts, pants, or sometimes even robes. Unlike Airo, who always kept his flowing hair undone, the locals preferred to keep them tied into ponytails or at least held down by simple headwear. Some of the citizens walked around barefoot, or with much simpler sandals than Airo’s.
There was, however, one exception. At the end of the street there was a man whose very presence emanated an aura of royalty. His clothes looked similar to Manuel’s—formal, composed of straight trousers, a button-down shirt, and a perfectly ironed vest. Not to mention that intricate patterns were woven into everything he wore, with perhaps his shoes being the only exception. Those merely bore the symbol that most likely corresponded to his house.
“Guys, look!” Airo pointed to the man. He was approaching, his eyes fixated on the group.
“You know him?” Jin asked.
“No, but he’s royalty, like me. Probably wants to know what the hell we’re doing here.” Without a moment of hesitation, the young Cloudfolk began heading towards this unknown noble.
“Wait! We don’t know what that man wants!” Kaili tried to stop him.
“Eh, it’s just one guy. We haven’t done anything wrong. Let’s just try diplomacy. You know, like the nobles do.” Cia shrugged and went on ahead.
As soon as they were at an appropriate distance, the man stopped and did a slight bow, with his left hand placed on his forehead. Airo did the same, just as his parents had taught him.
“It is not frequent for a member of the nobility to visit us without sending even a single letter,” the man spoke, his voice polished and dignified.
“Apologies. I had no means of contacting you beforehand,” Airo replied.
“That is an obvious explanation. Hmm… You are young. How old are you, if I may ask?”
“Seventeen. May I, in turn, ask for your name?”
The man raised his eyebrows. “My name? You are not even aware of who rules this place?”
Airo shook his head.
“Very well then. Qualo Qiran Qesco IV. But I must insist on you introducing yourself as well. You see, you may carry yourself like a noble and wear our clothes, but your face is unknown to me. And I am not aware of any of the neighbouring islands housing a royal offspring of your age.”
“I’m Airo Arden Armini II. And I am not from around here. My family lives–”
“On the Grand Lane.”
“Yes. I see that you know my parents?”
“Indeed. But do you?”
Airo frowned. “I do not understand your question, I’m afraid.”
“Why did you come here?”
“For a part-time job, I help at Arcane Deliveries. A courier company run by Manuel Luzardi.”
“And so you came here to deliver a package.”
“Indeed.”
The man smiled. “You are not aware why your parents left, are you?”
“I am. House Armini was tasked with being the first official house to operate on the Grand Lane. We were to establish a diplomatic relationship with the locals.”
The noble let out a brief chuckle. “Apologies for finding the entire situation funny, but I can’t believe it worked out like that.” Suddenly, it seemed that the man’s royal facade began chipping away.
“Your parents are liars.”
“I beg your pardon!”
“Beg all you want. It’s the truth. House Armini are no official diplomats. They’re fugitives. They abandoned their island and ran, hiding in that massive world that is the Grand Lane.”
Airo stood there, with no more proper words coming to him.
“That’s not possible.”
“It is. Countless search parties have been sent after your family. And your name… the second. Your father is Airo I.?”
“I won’t answer any more of your questions!”
“Oh, you will. Your parents are still considered guilty and so is the entire house Armini. I’m taking you in. You’re under arrest.”
Jin’s hand grabbed Rudy’s hilt, while the other reached for the Cordicon hanging attached to his backpack.
“Manu–”
Before he could say more, the man moved forward. From his extended arm came a burst of air that pushed Jin’s words back down his throat. The boy coughed, unable to catch his breath.
Kaili wanted to quickly call for help, but her cries fell on deaf ears. The Cordicon was now floating high above them, encased in a translucent bubble.
“I know what that artifact does. I am no fool,” the man spoke. “I suggest you do not resist. You three are visitors and not guilty of any crime. If you let me take Airo, no harm shall befall you.”
“Screw that!” Cia replied as their auras sparked to life.
“I’m warning you.” The man did the same, yet his magic was different. Within a second, it closed up around them, creating a dome of dark-blue hue—a Room. One that was created without any physical walls to lean against. Sounds of a raging storm came from within the magic, as lightning danced inside it.
“I’m not some human nobleman, whose strength lies in how much they can order people around or how much food they can devour at banquets. House Quesco produces the best wind mages on this side of the ley-line. So, please, be so kind, and step away from the fugitive.”