Chapter 147

A New Era

Lansius' black hair fluttered against the wind and he clutched his cloak tighter as the airship flew south. The scenery below was dazzling—a dark green forest spread to the west, while mountainous terrain stretched to the east.

Angelo piloted the ivory-colored airship from the front. Behind him stood Sir Harold, who remained standing due to the lack of space, as they had also packed several items in case of an emergency. The tall knight looked every bit the Captain of this ship, appearing regal even in a gambeson since plate armor was deemed too heavy.

Lansius and Audrey sat at the back, side by side. They had pillows and a woolen blanket for comfort. Yet, that didn't dissuade Lansius from groaning in displeasure.

Sitting snugly to his left, Audrey gazed at him and asked innocently, "What is it, dear?"

"I still can't believe this," Lansius grumbled in protest.

"Flying is smoother than riding. It's good for your thigh recovery," Audrey grinned.

"But for the price of two hundred trained horses."

"In two years," she countered.

"I agreed to loan you horses—"

"And I used the loan agreement to trade for this," she replied with a sweet smugness.

Lansius wanted to kiss those provoking lips, but he knew that would only let her win the argument. So, he shook his head but couldn’t help admiring his wife's ingenuity and unpredictable nature. He never thought that Audrey, who was into equestrian pursuits, would be interested in something as unusual as an airship.

She would make a formidable opponent to anyone trying to guess her move.

Still, he was concerned about her spending. "Drey, we need to talk about this. While it's a loan and it's your House, you shouldn't make big purchases without consulting with me."

"Hush, you're injured," she said, wrapping her arms tightly around him. He immediately felt warmth.

"But we could use a carriage."

"Carts or carriages are so slow and bumpy. Meanwhile, this," she said, opening her palm to showcase the airship, "is a smooth ride but also as fast as riding a horse."

Lansius couldn't argue with that.

"This is necessary for your recovery," Audrey reassured him. "Besides, you would never have agreed to this, so I had to be a little sneaky."

He squinted at her. "You sounded so certain."

She raised her brow and pouted. "You're too prudent with money."

"It's because our fiefs need so many things," he responded.

"If your hip bone doesn’t heal correctly, no amount of horses in Lowlandia could fix it," she retorted.

Lansius let out a long, deep sigh. As much as he hated to admit it, she had a point. Ingrid had mentioned that the Saint Candidate treatment was not as effective as they had hoped, likely because he wasn't originally from this world. Thus, he needed to be extra careful with his injury.

This was the reason why he had more bandages, reinforced with more wooden splints.

"Still, flying is riskier than traveling by carriage," he argued.

"Angelo has flown over fifty times this year alone without a single crash. Lord Avery even takes his granddaughter on joy flights often," she reminded him.

Lansius had heard it before the flight and, despite some reservations, acknowledged that the airship seemed to fly remarkably well and without any mishaps. It felt oddly sturdy and reliable, unlike what he had imagined.

He observed the furnace hanging not far from him, noting its small, controlled blaze produced by two nozzles. At the end of the flame, a silvery mantle that looked both metallic and fabric-like helped disperse the heat effectively.

The fuel system was more complex than any hot air balloon Lansius had imagined. The violent oil was stored in a series of large leather skins, suspended in a separate basket overhead and connected by brass pipes. It was eventually mixed with two other components within a half-sized brass barrel. On top, there was a small jutting metal set against a spring-like contraption, likely a rudimentary gauge to read pressure.

He suspected the mixture did more than just burn fuel and produce hot air; it also possibly generated a lighter-than-air gas. This could explain why the airship could float for extended periods while consuming minimal fuel.

Unfortunately, as someone untrained in this field, Lansius could only guess at the type of gas involved in this process. It could be helium or something else, but it was unlikely to be the highly flammable hydrogen or methane.

One thing was for sure: it was efficient, and Lansius could tell that these systems were quite advanced and had undergone years of iteration and experimentation. He made a mental note to check on Halicia and Ekionia. Those two unknown provinces probably had more advancements in technology than even Midlandia.

Is it because of the constant threat of beastmen on their shores?

He had learned that although beastmen couldn't build boats, they were skilled enough swimmers. By using a single log, several beastmen could swim at night and conduct raids. They had randomly raided coastal communities with no clear objective other than to intimidate or, as some said, prove themselves to their tribes.

Audrey took a sip from her waterskin, filled with boiled water, and then offered it to him. Lansius took a sip and found it refreshing. She leaned against him, her head resting heavily on his shoulder as if sleepy.

Lansius made sure the warm woolen blanket covered her.

It had been a three-hour flight, and the airship had proven itself an incredible vessel. Two hours ago, they had overtaken the vanguard column that had set out four days earlier. They waved and cheered loudly when Sir Harold unfurled the blue and bronze banner from the gondola.

They had also caught up with dozens of vanguard cavalry that Dietrich likely had sent to secure the way to the hill fort.

Angelo had slowed his descent and speed to tag along with them, as Sir Harold believed it was safer, given that the Lord and Lady needed their entourage and escort, even among allies.

Lansius gave one last look at Umberland, a place that resembled Wallachia. Even from above, the forests and mountains possessed a certain eeriness. Based on what Francisca had told him, Lansius estimated that the number of Nicopolans who had died in these forests numbered in the thousands, including refugees.

Yet no one would learn about their struggle, as the forest ensured that none who entered with ill intent would come out alive. Like Vlad III of Wallachia, Umberland punished any intruders with a severe measure of terror.

Lansius hoped that the region could become peaceful, allowing everyone to sow their winter seeds in peace.

Soon, the hill fort loomed in front of them. "Isn't it amazing? A five-day journey turned into just four hours," Audrey commented.

"That's because the land route goes through a hard-to-traverse mountain path," Lansius replied.

"Indeed, it also winds around to navigate the mountains. Still, I never imagined a direct path from the mountain pass to the hill fort could be this close," Audrey muttered.

"We're also aided by the height difference. Coming from the mountain pass, we're merely gliding down since we took off."

Audrey nodded, and Lansius looked at the scenery. He saw a flock of birds flying, seemingly unafraid of their vessel.

Angelo suddenly turned toward them and said, "My Lord, My Lady, big clouds ahead."

"Good, I'm a bit thirsty," Sir Harold quipped daringly while opening his mouth wide. This prompted a chuckle from the two passengers in the back.

Suddenly, white clouds like mist enveloped them, and their faces felt cold and wet. If not for their woolen blankets, their clothes would be damp.

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"I can't believe it. We're inside clouds. This must be how the Ancients felt when they flew," Audrey said in awe.

Lansius couldn’t help but smile. He too enjoyed the sensation. After they cleared the cloud, they could see the lone yellowing hill next to a plateau, its wooden palisade, towers, and hundreds of canvas tents visible inside.

While Audrey was enjoying the last leg of the flight, Lansius once again took more interest in the airship itself. Despite not supporting the purchase, he already had some backup plans.

One plan was to turn this financial debacle into a profitable venture to cover its maintenance costs. He had a rough idea to use it as an attraction for the wealthy. However, he had yet to work out the pricing strategy. It was a rather delicate matter. Charging too high could alienate all but the richest, potentially breeding envy and resentment, and fostering elitism within his ranks. Setting the price too low might overwork the vessel unnecessarily.

If only the Korelia nobility were rich, I could set an absurd price for a ride.

However, Lansius knew that the purchase might be justifiable for a different reason. By next summer, noble families were expected to start relocating to Korelia. This attraction could potentially ease their resentment about the move—a diversion from their new status as glorified hostages for the grand alliance.

And if the novelty wore off and Lord Avery refused to buy it back, Lansius estimated that the silk covering the airship's skin would be worth quite a sum. If this purchase turned out to be a financial drain, he considered salvaging the rubber-coated silk. Perhaps he could repurpose it into all-weather jackets to be sold, gifted, or distributed to his veterans.

Then it struck him. While two hundred trained horses were a large investment, it paled in comparison to what this airship should have cost. Although it wasn’t new, somehow Lord Avery had sold it to him at a discount.

The price of horses in Nicopola and Halicia must be skyrocketing due to the conflict.

***

Sir Morton

The Lord of Korelia and the Lady of Korimor arrived in a grand procession, riding a spectacle never seen before: a floating vessel. The people were in awe; some were even afraid of such beings appearing in the sky, thinking they were ghosts of the Ancients. However, despite its majestic appearance, the airship also had a unique harmless shape that helped ease the troops from panicking.

The vessel, later known to be an airship, displayed a banner featuring a blue shield with a single bronze chevron, unmistakably identifying the owner. It landed after dozens of cavalry surrounded a plateau and secured the area.

The Black Knight Captain was among the many who greeted the Lord and Lady after they had landed.

Lord Jorge looked enthralled to see Lord Lansius, despite the latter being carried on a litter due to his injury. The magnificent arrival impressed everyone. The two leaders only talked briefly, as many assumed that Lord Lansius needed rest. Thus, the procession quickly ended, leaving everyone to freely gawk at the majestic but otherworldly vessel.

Aside from the thirty horsemen, Lord Lansius was accompanied only by Lady Audrey and Sir Harold.

Sir Morton noticed that a mage, easily identifiable to his eyes, was in control of the airship. The airship spent no time on the ground and quickly departed after unloading some goods.

Furthermore, he noted that despite its gargantuan size, the vessel could only carry so little. It was like a flying paper lantern that his senior once made, following some instructions from a book.

As usual, the Black Knight Captain said little and just followed his lord, keeping watchful eyes on their surroundings. Nevertheless, he was pleased to see some traces of magical work on Lord Lansius' wound, meaning the lord had somehow acquired a talented mage in Umberland.

He doubted Ingrid's healing was that capable, and the airship indicated that another powerful lord was behind this.

Earl Fabius, Lord Avery, or Lord Justus?

Sir Morton recalled three powerful lords in Nicopola. Then he was pleasantly distracted by Lady Audrey, whose magical potential made him resist a smile.

***

Lansius

They stayed for five nights at the Hill Fort to allow his vanguard to catch up and rest before their long march back home. Some men and knights would depart for South Hill, and Lansius held a small ceremony to award them coins and goods for their service.

Due to the distance, the rest would follow the Lord and Lady to Korimor and then Korelia. Lansius had sent messengers to Batu, the nomad leader, with some requests.

After ratifying a deal with Three Hills to station thirty men at this fort and rotate them seasonally, Lord Jorge and his men prepared to march back triumphantly. They believed they had met all their objectives and deemed the campaign a success. Although his army hadn't engaged in battle, they had fought half-beasts and would use this victory to boost morale, which was needed after the coup in his city.

Lansius also discussed the Lord of Dawn’s trade offer, which required him to build a pier, warehouse, and guard post in one of the fishing villages south of his city. Lord Jorge showed keen interest and promised to send Sir Archie to scout the area before winter.

On a fair morning, Lansius bid farewell to the Lord of Three Hills. In exchange, Lord Jorge promised to move with his family to Korelia the following spring. There, they would discuss various matters, most importantly, just how much they could trust the half-beast ruling Umberland and, afterward, the southern trading proposal.

As a parting gift, Sir Morton gave Lansius a letter about an artifact that might interest him. However, due to his dealings with the airship, Lansius had yet to follow up on this recommendation.

While the troops rested, Angelo returned four times to drop off more fuel and personnel. He transported the hunter guildsmen, two assistants for the airship, and some gifts from Lord Avery that included young plants and seeds for their garden in Korelia.

Angelo also gave much-needed flight time to his assistant, who would be the designated pilot. Unfortunately, he couldn't go to Korelia as he had responsibilities in Dawn. The problem was that the replacement pilot, while experienced in handling the airship and maintaining the complex furnace system, was not a mage.

"There's some risk of lacking delicate control, but Lord Avery designed the airship to be operated without magic," Angelo reassured Lansius before his last flight home.

They spoke inside a new cabin on the plateau, built for airship usage as both a shelter and temporary storehouse. Sir Harold was sitting in the corner, reading multiple reports, yet his eyes remained vigilant.

Lansius still had doubts. Noticing this, Angelo added, "While a non-mage can't perform to the airship’s full potential, it should be safer and cause less wear and tear on the vessel."

Lansius nodded thoughtfully. "What about the conditions in Lowlandia? Do you think it'll be challenging in airship operation?"

"I can't be sure, my Lord. But I doubt it's much worse than Dawn's coastal area: dry wind, hot sun, and generally windy. However, I believe the terrain is mostly flat."

"Indeed, it’s the Great Plains of Lowlandia after all," Lansius confirmed.

"The dangerous part is Umberland's mountainous area. Meanwhile, from here to Korelia, there's little risk as far as I know. That's why Lord Avery dared to offer the airship," said Angelo, whose face reminded Lansius of an Italian sculpture, complete with rather unkempt hair. His voice had the confident swagger of a test pilot.

Judging from the preparedness of House Dawn, including logistics and personnel, Lansius couldn't help but comment, "It seems that a lot of thought was put into this venture."

"Well, my Lord, you are our first customer," the mage replied with a relaxed smile.

Lansius found it amusing and leaned back in his seat, while Angelo added, "My Lord Avery is heavily invested in the southern trade. This is a token of his seriousness."

"I can see that," Lansius responded while admiring the airship now being maintained by the new pilot and his crew.

"More than that, Lord Avery probably wanted a comrade," Angelo said, drawing Lansius' attention.

"A comrade...?"

"An equal," the mage clarified. "In his own words, other lords are loud but show little."

Lansius let out a chuckle but wasn't surprised. "Then how about me? I doubt I'm any better. I have nothing to show."

Angelo smiled. "My Lord Avery used to say that conquest is proof of success."

"It's ironic, coming from a lord who refuses to expand," Lansius quipped, and the two chuckled.

Afterward, Lansius voiced his remaining concern, "What about fuel supplies? How do you propose we handle it?"

"The easiest way is for My Lord to send a Hawk whenever you need more fuel. I'll drop it either here or in Three Hills, and then you can transport it via carts as usual to Korelia."

"Is going to Three Hills a shorter trip?"

"Indeed, the city is a shorter trip from Dawn Barony. But there are too many eyes there, and it's not under your direct control, so Lord Avery told me not to venture there unless it’s an emergency."

Lansius took the advice to heart. "Before you go, I noticed several settings on your fuel burner. Tell me, when we rode from the mountain pass, was that the most efficient setting?"

The shift to technical talk made Angelo's eyes wander for a moment. "That, I believe, was the third level."

"Is that before or after you slow down after meeting with the cavalry?"

"Before is four, and after is three," explained Angelo.

"Is this because you needed to vent the hot air through the back? And also because you carried more weight than usual?"

Angelo's eyes lit up. "Indeed. I also felt it's better to be safe with a full balloon in case of emergency, especially with guests onboard."

"I noticed there are five strips on the fuel settings. If taking off and nose-up is the fifth, the maximum, then what about the first fuel setting?"

"One is for negative lift; it's only for descending slowly."

"So, essentially the lowest setting without losing the flame?" Lansius ventured, and Angelo nodded.

"How about the second fuel setting?"

"Two is usually enough to maintain a safe float," the mage replied.

Lansius stroked his chin, then decided to test his understanding. "Do you reckon flying at night is more fuel-efficient than during noon?"

Angelo's expression changed, his eyes growing sharper. "That is correct. But how does my lord know about this?"

"I'm familiar with the basic mechanism: using fire to heat the air inside, which then becomes more buoyant than the colder air outside, thus creating lift."

"Indeed, it relies on heated air," Angelo replied cautiously.

"Is it possible to use the initial fuel setting and achieve a safe float if I travel by night?" Lansius brought up a different subject.

"Possible, but too risky... The ship would fly so low, lack propulsion, and be at the mercy of the wind."

Lansius shifted in his seat, easing some pressure from his injured thigh. He had thought of making propellers, but that would require a primitive steam engine. As he pondered, he became curious about the level of technology they had achieved. "I'm sure there have been a lot of trials and errors. Just how far have you gone in airship making?"

Angelo seemed to ponder, and Lansius added, "What do you see in the future for airships?"

"The future is vast, My Lord. Right now, our limitation is the amount of fuel used to stay afloat. But once, we managed to test a small balloon without lighting any fire."

"A lighter-than-air gas," Lansius blurted out, catching on quickly. "Have you managed to create a completely sealed balloon?"

Angelo shook his head in disbelief. "My Lord, just how did you know about it?"

Lansius leaned back in his seat, feeling equally shocked.

To think that someone with medieval tech can produce what is likely helium gas and an airtight container for it.

"I know this is a Guild or House secret, but what can you tell me about the catalysts you use in the fuel mixture? Are they abundant, raw, rare, or expensive to produce?"

Angelo shook his head. "As far as I can tell, it's rare and has few uses outside of alchemy."

Lansius drew a deep breath as he realized that this world had the potential to support mass airship travel. The efficiency he had witnessed—the ability to fly for hours with so little fuel—had convinced him it was possible.

This wouldn't be a world where a zeppelin crash would lead to airships being abandoned. The ease of maintaining flight using readily available medieval technology meant airships were too economical and indispensable until the era of heavier-than-air airplanes.

Lansius fell into contemplation. It was ironic that the Imperium, in its death throes, was quietly welcoming the era of airships.

***