[Europe - Switzerland]

This was their final destination. At this moment, the entire team was exhausted but more than ready to experience something different.

The crew mates in the Blue Sapphire Hotel were in their hotel rooms. Ian himself had booked a suite and was enjoying their little vacation.

During the evening, Ian and Lucas, along with many other people who wanted to enjoy the company of crowds, gathered at the bar which was just down from the hotel; these were people who did not want to spend even a second of their vacation alone.

"How is the room? Niko must be a great company?" Ian asked as soon as he saw Lucas sitting alone in the bar.

Around them, there were a few other people from their team, also some strangers who sat afar, talking among themselves and enjoying the drinks.

"Niko is bearable," Lucas muttered. "This project would seriously be one of the best things we have ever done in a while."

He said while taking a sip from his drink. Ian did the same.

"Well, the movie would be nothing without the VFX, and I have high hopes for this one. Are you married?" Ian questioned wanting to know Lucas better.

"Ah, yes I'm. Two kids and a lovely wife. She's the reason I'm even alive after doing that shit load of work."

"Was it always like that?" Ian asked.

"Ever since they bought. Ah, leave it."

Even talking about it made Lucas's mood drop in a few degrees. Ian noticed it so he changed the subject.

"You should have brought your family here, I just didn't notice this before, we could have easily arranged some space, and it wouldn't have been much—"

"Hello gentlemen," Mason joined the conversation.

The rest of the evening went by as they kept discussing and talking about the things in the industry, also the things in their personal lives. Among the team, Murphy who was Ian's assistant did not join the trip, saying that he would rather go meet his family.

Also, since these were the last few days of the trip, more than half the people were tired yet excited to spend even the last few seconds doing something thrilling.

-

The next morning almost everyone was ready to go on their next adventure. Paragliding. This was one thrilling experience Ian personally wanted to enjoy. When he first told the group that this would be the next, more than half the people shouted 'nooo!'. Among those people, Raelynn was one.

Walking out of the bus, they were at the foot of a mountain. Everyone was carrying a bag with paragliding equipment sponsored by Goofy.

Before the paraglide, they had to climb to the top of the mountain where they would take off, and then be in the air for minutes—maybe hours. That was how good the adventure was going to be. But the current competition was catching the wind conditions for it to be favourable for the flight.

"We are so not ready for this!" Lucas said as he looked at the top.

"Let's see who gets first to the top!" Ian said and soon started to walk. With his bag on his back, and everyone else hearing him, they all started to walk with much enthusiasm.

Not just them, but also strangers witnessed how these bunch of adults were walking as a group—a group of more than 30 people. Some even realized it was Ian and waved to him, to which Ian replied with a wave itself.

25 minutes in, they were almost at the top.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Fuck! This is like the most tiring thing I did in a while!" Ian walked panting and holding his knees for how fast he kept climbing.

"Ahhh! I know right! Can we take a break?!"

Ian was surprised to hear the voice of another man from behind. "You have good stamina!" Ian commented.

"So do you, sir. My only goal was to surpass you and get to the top first. But man, you are faster than my grandmother's death. I mean, we all thought she'd live a little bit longer,"

Hearing that, Ian gave a weird eye and started to climb. 'Weird' he muttered along the way.

While trekking, Ian was able to see paragliders launching off from the mountain top. That got him nervous and excited at the same time considering how they'd be doing the same thing in a few minutes.

"Finally!" Ian said, extending his arms to feel the air that came in waves, and was soothing because the entire area looked breathtaking. Ian sat in the grass while waiting for everyone else to come to the top.

After a few minutes of being on the top, everyone else came while panting and some were shaking their hands, ready to give up already.

"Is everyone here?!" Ian questioned.

"Yeah!" "thirty-five!" "We are all here!"

After a while, the instructors were present on the sports ground.

Since paragliding is an extreme sport filled with many risks, which also means one can get injured or die, they had to sign an indemnity form before proceeding. It's standard protocol and it's to indemnify everyone of any issues that might arise from the flight.

As Ian joked, "Here's your flight boarding pass!" while giving it to Raelynn, she jokingly responded, "I got a one-way ticket!"

Which had the hidden meaning that one can only paraglide from the top down, not bottom up!

While the guide prepared the inflatable canopy, arranging it on the ground, it was Ian's and Raelynn's turn to wear the coveralls and the helmet.

Fabrice, who was a teammate, helped Ian by fixing the harness, and after checking all the gear, they were ready to go.

"Raelynn, I'll go after you," Ian said and noticed Raelynn's pale face. "Hey, are you okay?" He questioned as soon as he saw her fingers fidgeting.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Just scared of heights. What if I just fucking died down there?" She said.

"Well, you wanna know my first experience?" Ian asked, she nodded. "I was more scared than you. I almost peed myself, but… it was worth it. I honestly felt like, after that experience, sometimes you just gotta live at the moment, without thinking 'what if's." he said.

She raised her eyebrows, and walked toward the instructor, asking something. She came back with a grin and muttered, "I think we can go together. He agreed because I had to put on my puppy face," She shrugged making Ian chuckle.

Raelynn was a girl who was in her mid-twenties. She got lucky in the industry with her first project, that Goofy hired her knowing that they could not let someone talented as her go. She was experienced in the field that she is skilled in, and the days they spent together made Ian and Raelynn come off as friends—close friends.

"Let's go!" Ian said and prepared for them to take off.

"I seriously can't believe I'm doing this shit, my heart is in my ears! And I swear—!" She wasn't able to complete her sentence they took off.

The Take off was much easier than they thought. Just a few steps running down the gentle slope and… they were hanging in the air!

"Oh my God! Oh my God! Look at that!" She said and looked around where there were so many mountains, trees, and beautiful villages.

"You were saying?!" Ian asked.

"My death wish! I just hope if I die today, that someone gets to tell my grandma, I love her a lot! And my brother and I did not eat his cheeseburger when we were ten! Also, this was the best holiday I had ever had! Ah! I hate working at Goofy!" She yelled and they heard the laugh from Lucas who was right behind them.

They were already in the air, driven by the wind, admiring the mountains around them and the villages beneath.

It was a feeling like no other they had ever experienced: a mix of thrill, fascination, and wonder. The initial fear didn't last for long, swept away by a unique sensation of freedom. The weather conditions were ideal, so during the flight, Ian let Raelynn handle the controls. What an emotion! She thought.

From above, surrounded by beautiful alpine scenery, they both savoured every moment of the gentle flowing, enjoying the silence at first, which was so dear to them. It was a perfect time, and Ian in his mind wished it would last forever. But all good things came to an end, and after a long while, we began the slow descent.

The paragliding landing was thrilling. During the briefing, the instructor explained that once touching the ground, they just had to run a few steps. The truth is that the flight was a gentle gliding up to the last moment.

Once they approached the ground, it felt like the speed was increasing. So that, too just for a couple of seconds, Raelynn blanched with fear. But then, the speed reduced quickly, and the landing was eventually very smooth.

[...] The day came to an end. After the first ride, Ian made plans to send drones to take good helicopter shots of the surrounding areas, which was a task to achieve for the movie.

With that, their trip ended, but the memories were worth thousands of bland days.