A night moved by, while the many affairs of the day prior slowed down in a moment of respite for those involved, as the darkness covered the world as per the usual cycle.
"---."
“Ahh---ahhhhhhhh—, morning!!!”
[It might be morning for you, kid, but it is actually noon for the rest of us here.]
“Noon---? What?!!” — [It is already so late? Why did you not wake me up if I overslept?]
But as the night ended and the day began, half of the day had already passed, before Levis woke up, to find that he had slept far longer than even he had expected.
[It looks like the event from yesterday had been a tad too much, even for you. Not only have you gone to sleep early, but wake up late as well—. The good thing though, is that you have carried the longers concurrent training session. So, how are you right now?]
[Hmmmm—, strong, I think. I should be a match for Adrian's rank 5, in terms of energy amount, right? And did no one try to wake me up?]
[Adrian boy, had looked like he was about to, be he had left you alone, though when he looked at your hand in the ground, his reaction was something that you can imagine. That said, I think it is time to come up with a lie or an excuse, really fast---. Tell me the first thing that comes up to your mind?!]
[---It calms me.]
[Good. It is dumb enough, but understandable as well. Use it if it is necessary.]
[I do not really mind it if he can view it as a strange thing either way. But well—. Eh—! !t looks like it is going to rain.]
While rousing up and conversing with Urger, Levis moved towards the exit of the tent which he was in, but once outside, he could clearly see that the mid of this new day, was not so bright at all, as dark-blue clouds of rain were everywhere, obfuscating the sun, and making the woods even darker than they were normally.
“Eh! They are all gone?”
Despite the low light of this cloudy day, as he was peeking around from his tent, he could see and understand, that nearly all the tents had been removed and most likely readied for another journey, for it was only the one that he was in, and two others that were still employed.
“Levis! You finally decided to wake up! I really came a moment later, as I was about to wake you myself.”
“Hubert?! What is going on? Are we restarting the journey?”
As Levis stood with his head out of the tent, Hubert that was not too far, made his way towards him, as though he had been waiting for him to awaken, or else he might be forced to wake him.
“Mmm—, we do. But we are not using the horses anymore—. It is something that the captain, and the guard captain of Rud, had discussed, apparently.”
“If we do not use the horses, then how are we to arrive at Green city? Are we going to walk, all the way up to that place?”
“Ha---ha—, do not get flustered---, but we are going to use one this time—, it is well—. Hmmm—! Better if you look for yourself, as it seems that they are about to arrive.”
“Arrive, what do you mean—. Is, no— are those—, flying ships?”
But while walking, Hubert, that was about to give him an explanation for the sudden decision of abandoning the horses, change his own path towards the border of where the trees had been burned, as he raised his gaze while looking into the distance, which prompted Levis to imitate him as well, only to see, that far into the distance, was one—, two small dots, that grew into becoming two huge flying ships coming in their direction.
“Yes. Given that we still need to arrive at Green city, we need something that can carry the bodies of the dozen dead men, and a space stone will not suffice—. But first, me, and you will have to pack the tent---, then we must meet Adrian near the center of the site, so follow me.”
While looking at the two approaching ships, Levis that was called by Hubert stood motionless, for the duration of the time in which the two massive flying objects, reached the air above him, and began their slowly descended into the large area, one at the south, and another one at the north part of the field. Though, the large wood-made ships did not touch the ground and continued to float a few meters above the ground.
As for their sizes, the two large vessels were both roughly thirty to forty meters long, and about fifteen tall, with many glass windows on both sides of them, making it obvious that the strange flying constructions held multiple floors, a real flying building.
However, now that Levis could see them up close, he could see, that, unlike the ships that he had heard from stories, of from some that he had observed on the river in Rud, the ships that he was looking at, had no sails at all, but thinking again, wind sails would prove to be useless as these ships were operating on a different process from the normal ships, that would need the wind to be moved onto the surface of the water.
“Let us move, and wrap up the tent. I can see Adrian, and he is definitely glaring at us.”
But in Levis's absent-mindedness, Hubert was forced to drag him away, as Adrian that was attending Rowen, and all the important individuals were moving to meet with the convoy that had just reached them.
At the same time, larger and wide wooded stairs came out from the halfway point of the ships, though calling them stairs would be an overstatement, as it was nothing more than long planks stuck together by other planks, to be used in descending or ascending the vessel. Consequently, from the inside of the ships, several armored men in blue and green descended the stairs, to meet with the two armored men which had arrived the day prior.
“Move, it is not like I do not want to watch. But because you overslept, we have to pack up everything fast, or we might be left here.”
“What? Move!”
“Yes, like that.” — [Pheuuu—, if his interest is at stake, he will begin to move. Good to know.]
With Levis's new rising energy, the two moved to put everything away quite fast, though as Levis had little understanding, he ended up making several mistakes, that need to be looked after by Hubert. Even so, as they ended their job, the two other tents that had been up at the time Levis had awakened, were nowhere to be seen, evident of the fact that they had been pulled down, even faster than they had been able to do it. Despite their tent having been smaller, than the other two.
“Good. Now let us move and see what is going on their side—. Ah! Levis---, wait for me.”
However, as they were done, Levis held no bit of indecisiveness, as he left Hubert and all the equipment on the ground, while he advanced towards the landing area of the ship to the north.
[Ranked, and Immortal stage guards?]
Although, as he moved toward the ship, he could see several of the newly arrived guards, moving on the east road, towards where the horses were at the moment. A group of a dozen of men, giving him the sensation of being far, far stronger than Rowen. While three others retain a strong aura that gave him dangerous feelings.
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“Levis wait---, you brat—, take some of the supplies as well.”
“Hmmm—, give me something then.”
With Hubert having reached him while caring for the equipment, Levis bore some as well, and with Hubert, they moved north of the large open area, where the surviving guards, the men that the two misses had come with, were toiling at placing the dead guards into coffins, and then moving them inside of the ship, not too far from them.
Though, someone was already waiting for them, as Adrian, was overseeing Zuger and Square, which were being put to help as well.
“You awoke, at last?”
“Sorry, I do not know what had taken me. I usually never sleep so much.”
“It is alright. I was just about to come after you, as we are almost done here as well. The captain and the ladies are already on board the ship, we will embark as well, and be assigned to a room. Since this is a ship of the military, we are not allowed to run about, so—, I do not want to find you anywhere, but your room. Do you understand!?”
But while speaking, Adrian’s eyes did not leave Levis for a single moment, as he wanted this problem-sized child to understand, that his every word was directed at him.
“You do not have to convey to me so, I already know how to behave, so you do not have to worry.”
Though at his words, Hubert gave him a side glance of doubt, slight shock, and incredulity, as Levis seemed to be truly talking as though having never done anything amiss in his life. However, on the other side, Adrian gazed at him, with his usual hard but fully awake face, while trying to hide the uncertain feeling of small anxiety, that the boy before him was always causing him.
“Nevermind. Let us move inside since they are done. And leave everything in the hands of Rud's guard branch.”
With the last of the coffins bought on the ship, Adrian and the two moved as well. But as they were about to embark, Levis turned his head around, to look once more at the scene of black the scorched ground, as he was finely beginning to understand, that he had more than entered in the world of monsters, that he had only heard from Urger, of from the stories in the village.
“Follow me, please.”
[Kid?]
A little absent-minded, Levis and the other two walked on the stairs, to be greeted by one of the green armored mem, which made them follow him amidst the interior of the ship, as they climbed a level higher and were led to a long corridor with many heavy sturdy doors.
“Here. This will be your room for the duration of your journey. And, do not walk randomly around the ship. You are the vice-captain, right?”
“Yes.”
“Come with me, to retrieve your other members and any other thing you might want to load before we will depart from here.”
“Hubert, Levis, inside, and wait for me.”
“I am almost about to do it myself, as all this equipment is starting to feel heavy on me.”
“---.”
“Behave.”
[Oy, brat, you alright?]
[Disciple?!!]
A moment after Hubert's words, the man in green opened the door, and let the two enter, while he and Adrian left the corridor to achieve whatever task they had to accomplish.
“Ahhhh—, finely free. This was starting to really weigh on me, but how are the horses carrying all this weight all day long, is honestly beyond me! Now—, with a bed and a roof over my head, I no need to worry about being in the open, covered by a mere layer of cloth into the open forest. Levis, what are you doing?”
“Looking outside, since the rooms have windows, but—.”
“But what?”
“But we are on the north side of the ship—, and all I can see, are the trees and the storm clouds, that are still darkening. ”
“Just wait till we depart, and you will see something—, eventually.”
“Though---, this place is truly small---, or better said, this place is very cramped.”
[Kid! Answer me!]
[He is out.]
That being said, as they entered, Levis turn around from the window to observe the room, since he was not interested in observing the sea of trees. Nonetheless, there was not much to say about the room, as it was quite tiny, as even he was feeling rather restricted inside. On the left and on the right side walls of the room, stood three beds, one higher than the last, while on the other two remaining walls, was the door leading to the long hall, and opposite to it the small window throw which Levis had looked at the forest.
“It is cramped, but I still prefer this not-so-comfortable bed in a cramped room, then the riding of horses and sleeping outside. Well, I always heard that the military always goes for functionality over appearances, so that is why the room is so small. Anyway, just relax—.”
“How---? How can you— relax—?” — [I am---, at my limit—.]
“Thud!”
[What limit? Kid—! Ahhh—?! Damn it, you brat—!!?]
[Aha—ha-ha—, this is great.]
“Eh? Levis what are you doing—? Levis!"
But just as Hubert was laying down on his bed, the sound of something hitting the ground reached his ear, only to lift his head, and see Levis having fainted on the ground.
“What are you doing? Can you hear me?”
“I—, I can hear you.”
“You alright? Are you feeling unwell?”
“No—, I feel fine, I think I got so excited about flying that I—, I—.”
“Ha—you fainted from over-excitement? I heard people faint from fear of flying on a ship, but this is the first time the heard someone fainting from the excitement, before even flying. You sure have made a new kind of achievement—. Let me— place you on the bed. Stay still, and cool down with me, and wait for the blockhead to return. Still, this is going to make him laugh a bit.”
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[Kid!?]
[I–I am---!]
[You are what?]
[I— I am afraid! I want to go down---! But--- I am a great man. And a great man will not back down from a challenge.]
[---.]
[Aha-aha-aha—, disciple, you were so eager to fly, yet now—, you are saying you are actually afraid! Then how are you going to achieve your dream!?]
[You stupid brat, this thing has not even begun its flight, so what is it that you are afraid of?]
[The ground—, humans are not supposed to leave the ground for the sky. Even birds, die in the sky, less to be said for humans.]
[What idiotic things you are saying, just so you know no matter where your feet are on the ground, you are always flying and moving about, as in truth all things in the universe are moving around as though flying.]
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[ [You are not helping him at all. His face is becoming even paler.] ]
[ [This bragging little bastard.] ]
----------------------------------------
[I want to get out, but a great man does not go back on his word and action so easily.]
[Go thru it with the sheer force of will, bend and break your fate, and climbed higher than your current self, for that is the way to achieve your dream disciple.]
[Alright!]
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“I am back, and have come with—! What happened?”
“He fainted from excitement.”
“What? He does not look like that—, no matter. Levis?”
“I am—, here! I am here!”
“Good, I will leave these two to you, as they will stay with us.”
“Are there no prisons or cells in this ship?”
“The captain has allowed them, and Zuger is in the cultivation suppression chains, if they try anything, you can directly kill them.”
“Again, with more unnecessary problems.”
“Take your beds, as we will be on this ship for at least one and a half days. I have to go back, so Hubert, look after them till I return.”
“What? Ahh wait a moment---, you have to tell me how to find---, where do I go to find the bathroom—!? You bastard.”
But in a short brief that Adrian had come in toe with Square and Zuger, which had a version of the black chains that did link with one another, entered and left the room immediately. Leaving the slightly annoyed Hubert, the pale Levis, and the two men that were moving their gaze between the other man and child, which were already seated on their respective beds.
[The two bastards are here—, this is not good, for them to see me like this. Urger!]
[Distract yourself---, that can make you forget about your fear, if you keep thinking about the fact that you are going to go airborne, you will never recover. So think of something else. Or pop one of the energy soybeans, and start cultivating. Although, this is going to be a moderately short-long journey.]
“I will make the rules here. So Square will take the bed above me, and Zuger the one at the top,”
“You bastard, give me the one in the middle, the wrist and ankle restrictions hurt me more if I make extra movements.”
“Hmph---, the captain and Adrian might be easy to deal with, but not with great Hubert, one wrong move and you can say good-bye to your lives. Do not—, well do not disturb me when I am sleeping—, fuck, that idiot left, and I need to relieve myself—, well, wait here for a moment. Do not forget where you are, any of the army bastards here, can make you into mush meat, so behave—, I will be gone—, for a few moments at worst.”
But after Adrian, Hubert assumed his leave as well, leaving the room occupied by the pale Levis, with Zuger and Square, which were constantly looking at the boy, not knowing what game he was playing, by looking as though he was sick.
“Behave!”