“So… where exactly are we going now?” I asked my guide, Gort, who had been quietly leading me through more corridors of the military base.

“We are headed to the docks, taking the roads to get to our destination would take too long.”

I nodded as I kept following him. I was excited at the thought of riding on an airship, while conscious this time. The last time I had been knocked out from that weird gravity magic, being restrained that way had been extremely unpleasant.

We kept walking for a couple more minutes until finally we went through another large door and we were outside.

I was met with the view of what looked like an airship dock. We were probably very high up, on a tower of some sort. I saw multiple ships of various shapes and sizes docked on the sides. Many looked more like passenger ships, not heavily guarded and with more open designs that would allow guests to enjoy the view. Other ships were clearly more battle-ready, with more guards surrounding them and with their hulls mostly plated with metal.

Looking around, I saw various mokmire, luminars and dwarves all carrying out various tasks. While I didn’t stop to ask, it was clear that we were still within military premises, probably a dock owned by that “Azure Fleet” that Admiral Morag was talking about.

We kept trodding along until Gort stopped in front of a pier. “Here we are.” He said while gesturing towards an airship that was floating in front of us.

It was much smaller than the others, and it was probably another passenger ship, seeing the lack of an armored hull and the couple guards surrounding it. Despite its size it was a beautiful vessel, clearly well taken care of and sporting intricate wooden designs throughout its outer railing.

As we got closer, Gort exchanged a few words with the guards and we were easily let through. The ship was kept still with various large ropes, and a detachable wooden bridge connected it to the dock.

We stepped through the bridge and onto the deck of the ship. As I looked around, I noticed the ship itself wasn’t too different from 17th or 18th century Earth vessels. The main notable difference was the lack of masts to hold sails, yet it resembled a normal ship in every other aspect.

“The ship will depart within a few minutes. In the meantime, I shall go speak with the captain, please don’t wander off the deck.” Gort’s voice brought me back from my train of thoughts.

I looked around the ship. All of the entrances and doorways seemed to be dwarf-sized, even a mokmire or a luminar would have had to duck to fit through.

“Doesn’t look like I can go anywhere anyways.”

Gort seemed to slightly smile as he nodded and walked off, presumably towards the captain quarters or something similar.

I walked closer towards the edge to look at more of the vessels that surrounded us, until it dawned on me that I had spent most of my time ship-gazing, and hadn’t taken a glance downwards yet.

I approached the railing and finally had my first glimpse of the city of Gearford which stretched beneath us.

The sheer magnitude of the city was overwhelming, a sprawling expanse of buildings that extended as far as the eye could see, both horizontally and vertically. Towering structures, adorned with intricate details and fantastical elements, reached up towards the sky. A wide canal split the sprawling mass of buildings in half, and I spotted multiple large boats docked at various piers throughout.

Amazing…

The sheer scale of Gearford filled me with awe. Each building, though not overly decorated, contributed to a dense urban tapestry that seemed almost magical in its complexity. The blend of architectural styles, from the ordinary to the whimsical, created a strangely harmonious view.

As I gazed upon the city, a sense of wonder enveloped me.

image [https://i.imgur.com/eCUgji3.png]

This is nothing like the rundown houses and shacks of Kyrekeep, this is truly a metropolis… I wonder how many people live here.

While I was gazing at the city below, the sudden ruckus of voices behind me brought me back. As I turned, I noticed a few mokmire and dwarves all springing into action, which I assumed meant that we were about to depart.

The crew of the ship seemed to be on the smaller side, I counted about five or six sailors all rushing around and completing various tasks. Looking over the side, I noticed the wooden bridge connecting us to the dock was slowly being retracted from the pier. All the way at the back of the deck, I spotted Gort alongside a mokmire girl who I assumed was the captain of this vessel.

I didn’t wish to interrupt their talk, so I just awkwardly stood there, in the middle of the deck, trying my very best to avoid being in the way of the sailors running around. Finally, after a few more moments, the ship was entirely detached from the pier, and we started slowly floating away from the tower.

I walked towards the front of the deck, seeking a moment of solitude amidst the bustling activity. As I reached the bow, I leaned against the railing and took a deep breath, letting the gentle breeze wash over me.

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Is this what flying feels like?

My emotions were a mix of awe and aspiration, yet I looked back at my wingless body and let out a disappointed sigh.

I wonder if all dragons are wingless in this world, or if I am truly just a glorified lizard…

I brushed off the momentary sadness and went back to gazing at the sprawling city below. The buildings stretched endlessly, a labyrinth of rooftops and streets teeming with life. The city seemed to pulse with its own rhythm, and as our altitude lowered I could faintly make out many growing dots of people moving in all directions.

Lost in thought, I suddenly heard footsteps approaching behind me. I turned around to see a couple of Mokmire sailors looking straight at me. The larger one looked like a brawny sailor, his muscular build evident beneath his simple but sturdy attire. Beside him stood the Mokmire girl I had seen earlier talking with Gort. She was smaller but carried herself with an air of authority and playfulness.

image [https://i.imgur.com/O50v1pJ.png]

"Well, well, look who’s enjoying the view!" the Mokmire girl exclaimed with a grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I’m Eryen, captain of this fine vessel. And this here is my brother and first mate, Arthur."

Arthur, the brawny sailor, gave a grunt of acknowledgment, barely looking at me as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. His disinterest was palpable, but Eryen’s energy more than made up for it.

"Nice to meet you," I said, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her exuberance. "I'm Juniper."

Eryen leaned casually against the railing, her grin widening. "So, Juniper, first time on an airship, huh? You’ve got that wide-eyed look about you."

I nodded, unable to suppress a small smile. "Yeah, it’s my first time. It’s...breathtaking."

Eryen laughed. "Oh, it’s something, all right. But don’t get too lost in the view, lest you fall off!”

Arthur grunted again, his expression unchanging. "Bad for business if you fall off," he muttered.

Eryen rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Don’t mind him. He’s always like that. But he’s the best first mate I could ask for. Keeps everything running smoothly while I keep an eye on the bigger picture."

I nodded, appreciating her straightforwardness.

Eryen’s grin returned, and she fixed her playful eyes on me. “So, what brings a dragon like you on board our humble vessel, Juniper? It’s not every day we have such interesting passengers.”

I hesitated, feeling the weight of her gaze. “I’m... well to be completely honest I don’t know?” I began, choosing my words carefully. “I just sort of found myself here, and now I was told that I have been summoned by some sort of council…”

Eryen’s grin widened, and she leaned in closer, her interest piqued. “Not some sort of council, the Council, dear Juniper,” She took a brief pause before continuing. “So you’re an outsider? No one from around here wouldn’t know what the Council is.”

Before I could respond, Arthur grunted again and walked off to attend to his duties, leaving us alone. Eryen didn’t seem to mind, her focus entirely on me.

Is she trying to find out more about me? I’m not sure about what I should or should not tell her…

I looked around for help, but I couldn’t spot Gort anywhere on deck. The bustling activity of the crew made me feel even more isolated. Eryen’s presence, however, was unrelenting.

“So, you’re summoned by the Council, and you have no idea why? That’s quite the mystery,” Eryen mused, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. “You must have done something remarkable to catch their attention.”

I shrugged, feeling a mix of unease and curiosity myself. “I really don’t know. I’ve been wandering, trying to find my place, and then... this.”

Eryen nodded, her grin softening into a more contemplative smile. “Well, you’re in for quite an adventure, that’s for sure. The Council doesn’t summon just anyone. There must be something special about you. Well, I guess you being what you are already makes you quite special doesn’t it?”

Her words made me feel both intrigued and anxious. I decided to shift the conversation to avoid any more questions on the matter.

“Are you part of the Azure Fleet? I noticed you’re not wearing their uniforms.”

Eryen laughed, a light, carefree sound that seemed to dance on the breeze. “Oh, we’re not part of the Azure Fleet, though we do work with them from time to time. They’re always in need of extra hands, especially when it comes to civilian transport. It’s profitable for us to carry their passengers every now and then.”

She leaned in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “We like to keep things a bit more... flexible, you see. The Fleet’s too rigid for my taste. We prefer the freedom to take on interesting jobs and passengers like yourself.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and curiosity. “So, you’re more like freelancers?”

Eryen nodded, her grin never wavering. “Exactly. We go where the wind takes us, and where the profit is good. Keeps life interesting.”

She straightened up, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Now, enough about us. Tell me more about you, Juniper. What’s it like being a dragon? Any exciting tales of fire and flight?”

I chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease. “No fire and flight, I’m afraid. Just a lot of wandering and surviving.”

Eryen’s expression softened as she patted my shoulder reassuringly. “Well, I’m afraid it’s never easy, Juniper, but don’t lose sight of your goal and you might find more than what you’re looking for.”

Her words lingered in the air, filled with a mix of wisdom and encouragement.

“Well, I should get back to my duties,” Eryen said, straightening up and glancing around the deck.

She winked at me, her grin returning in full force. “If you ever need passage somewhere, seek out our ship. It’s called the Cloudskipper. We’re always around Gearford, chasing the wind and the next big adventure.”

“I’ll remember that,” I said, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the Mokmire captain.

With a final nod, Eryen turned and strode away, her voice ringing out as she barked orders to the crew. I watched her for a moment, marveling at how easily she commanded respect and loyalty.

I turned back to the view of the city and took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs. My adventure had truly begun, and I was ready to embrace it with all the uncertainty, excitement, and discovery it promised.