Chapter 3: New Beginnings 3

Elania and Yolani stepped out onto the street, leaving the estate behind. They had been so exhausted they had fallen asleep in the lobby on the sofa while Darius and the other cultists prepared the building for their residence.

The exhaustion shouldn’t have been a surprise—the battle and everything else had drained everyone. By the time they woke up, the next day had already arrived.

And they needed to figure things out in a hurry.

The city of Contia was a sprawling metropolis of floating islands connected by bridges, defying the very laws of nature. A cool wind whipped through the streets, carrying the scent of smoke and the distant hum of artifice and machinery.

Elania pulled her new coat tighter around her, eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. “We need to gather some intel.”

Yolani nodded, her hair dancing in the wind. “We should try to link up with Gaston,” she suggested. “He might have some insights, and we need to make sure our supplies and the refugees are being treated fairly.”

Elania nodded in full agreement. As they walked, the similarities between Contia and Neftasu struck her. The streets were lined with towering buildings, their facades adorned with intricate carvings and glowing lamps that seemed to defy the cold.

People hurried past, their faces hidden beneath thick furs and trench coats. In the distance, other spires shot from the clouds, hinting at just how vast and sprawling the floating city really was.

Despite the cold and the unfamiliar surroundings, she found herself enjoying the sights. She glanced at Yolani, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. Without warning, she wrapped her arms around Yolani from behind, pulling her close.

Yolani let out a surprised gasp. “What are you doing?”

“Hold on tight,” Elania whispered, her breath hot against Yolani’s ear.

With a powerful beat of her wings, Elania launched them over the railing, soaring into the sky.

Yolani’s startled yelp morphed into a delighted laugh as Elania’s wings carried them over the sprawling cityscape. The artificer’s raven locks whipped around her face, her green eyes sparkling with exhilaration as they soared higher and higher.

Elania’s wings spread wide, catching the updrafts and propelling them towards the sun-drenched spires piercing the clouds above. The golden light bathed them in warmth.

As they ascended, a flicker of concern crossed her mind. She glanced at Yolani, worried the thinning air might be too much. “Are you okay? Is it too cold?”

To her surprise, Yolani was enveloped in a shimmering, golden aura. “I’m fine!”

A smile appeared on Elania’s lips and she gave Yolani a squeeze. “Get ready.”

Yolani looked back at her. “What are you going to do?”

Elania’s only response was a mischievous grin.

Without warning, she tucked her wings in close and dove, sending them plummeting towards the city below.

Yolani’s startled squawk of protest was lost in the rush of wind as they hurtled downward, Elania’s wings folded tight against her back.

Just before the cloud layer, Elania slowed their descent. The vapor was opaque and wet as they slid through it, moisture clinging to their skin and clothes.

They popped out to the other side.

More of the city stretched out below, its structure now much clearer from their vantage point. Multiple islands were connected by bridges, even at the lower levels. It looked like there was just as much city below as above the cloud layer.

A cloud layer… that was part of the city?

As they glided downward, she noticed large purple lenses on the undersides of the islands, glowing with arcane energy.

“Are those lenses how the islands float?” she asked.

Yolani studied the lenses with rapt attention. “Probably! I wonder if the Celestial Engine powers them.”

“Maybe it’s solar-powered,” Elania joked, gesturing to the sun-drenched spires penetrating the clouds above. “Electricity!”

Yolani rolled her eyes. “Very funny,” she said, her voice dry with sarcasm. “But seriously, the amount of power it would take to keep all these islands afloat would be staggering.”

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Elania kept a wide distance from the sides of the lowest floating islands, recalling Arlois’ warning about sheared ropes. The wind currents were slightly more turbulent, but nothing she couldn’t manage. Below them, a lush countryside stretched out in every direction. The clouds surrounding the city were thick and heavy, casting a vast shadow over the land below, but only in its vicinity.

Her eyes adjusted, revealing the rolling hills of green grass and dense clusters of trees dotting the landscape in the distance.

A glint of blue stole her attention, and her breath caught in her throat as she spotted a large lake nestled among the hills. The water sparkled in the sunlight, its surface as smooth as glass.

“Yolani, look!” Elania said.

Yolani followed Elania’s gaze, her green eyes widening as she took in the breathtaking sight.

For a long moment, the other girl was speechless. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Elania’s heart swelled with excitement, realizing Yolani had never been above ground before.

With a grin, Elania tightened her hug and angled her wings, sending them zooming towards the lake below. As they descended, she took in the scattered villages dotting the countryside, their thatched roofs and stone walls a stark contrast to the gleaming spires of Contia.

She couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Here she was, a demi-divine with the power to shape the very fabric of reality, taking her girlfriend flying for fun. “It’s a whole new world~” she hummed.

People driving carts pulled by oxen on the small dirt roads below paused to look up at them and point. A small fishing village was the next thing they passed over, and then she angled them straight for the water.

“What are you doing?” Yolani asked.

Elania didn’t respond as she fixed on the sparkling lake ahead.

She checked and confirmed the absence of boats on the water’s surface and then aimed for a clear spot.

Yolani tensed. “Elania, what are you doing!?”

Elania laughed and leveled out just above the surface and her wings beat powerfully as they skimmed across the lake at breakneck speed.

A trail of water followed in their wake, creating a spray that glittered in the sunlight.

They were halfway across before Yolani’s eyes finally opened, and the shine in them made Elania’s heart soar as Yolani laughed along with her.

As they reached the other side of the lake, Elania gained altitude again and scanned the landscape for a suitable landing spot.

A hill caught her attention, its slopes half-covered with lush, inviting trees and a sizable clearing. She angled her wings and slowed their approach to a safe speed.

With a gentle touchdown, Elania’s feet met the soft grass, and she steadied Yolani as the artificer leaned against her, breathless from the exhilarating flight.

“That was incredible,” Yolani gasped.

Elania grinned, her own heart still racing from the adrenaline rush.

She turned her gaze to the surrounding trees, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. “We should take a closer look,” she suggested excitedly.

Yolani glanced at Elania, and eyebrow raised in skepticism. “Why are we looking at trees?”

Elania’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she gestured to the towering pines around them. “Because they’re trees!” she exclaimed. “They’re nice. Underground, there were just mushrooms and fungus. These… these look like pine trees. Softwood, you know?”

Yolani blinked and froze. “W…wood?”

Elania grinned. “Yes. Trees. Wood. Silly.”

The two of them took in their surroundings, marveling at the vast expanse of wilderness. The lush grass swayed gently in the breeze, and the trees stood tall and proud, their branches reaching towards the sky.

“I… I can’t…” Yolani stammered. “There is so much wood.”

Elania flopped onto the grass, her red and golden hair fanning around her head like a fiery halo. She gazed up at the floating city distantly above. The spires and towers pierced the clouds. The sun’s warmth caressed her skin. She closed her eyes, basking in the sensation.

“This is very weird,” Yolani muttered, glancing around at the open space. “There’s too much… far too much space.”

Elania laughed, the sound ringing out across the meadow. “This is normal!” she insisted, propping herself up on her elbows. “It was underground that was weird—cramped and claustrophobic.”

Yolani hesitated for a moment before making her way over to Elania. She sat down beside her, hugging her knees to her chest. “I’m not sure how well the people will adjust,” she admitted softly. “Considering how… how weird it all is.”

Elania placed a comforting hand on Yolani’s shoulder. “I think most everyone will be okay,” she reassured her. “We can find a way to earn the money to land them on the ground if it’s too hard to afford to live on Contia.”

“I’m glad you're hopeful,” Yolani admitted. “It makes… it makes everything lost feel less… of a loss.”

Elania cupped Yolani’s cheek. “I’m here for you,” she whispered.

Yolani leaned in, their lips meeting in a soft, tender kiss.

The world seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in the moment. She pulled Yolani closer, enveloping her in a warm, comforting embrace.

They cuddled in the grass, basking in the warmth of the sun and each other’s presence.

A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the sweet scent of wildflowers. Yolani giggled, her green eyes sparkling. “Maybe the surface isn’t too bad after all,” she mused, nuzzling closer to Elania. “The sun does feel good.”

Elania grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I hope we don’t need sunscreen or something,” she teased, drawing a puzzled look from Yolani.

“Sunscreen?” Yolani asked.

“On Earth, the sky was weakened by chemicals and industry. The sun would burn your skin if you stayed out in it for too long,” Elania explained.

Yolani’s eyes widened in alarm, and she quickly checked her skin for any signs of damage. “I seem fine,” she said, a smile returning to her face.

Elania smiled. She leaned in, capturing Yolani’s lips in another kiss. Yolani melted into it, her fingers threading through Elania’s fiery locks.

A sudden, violent gust of wind shattered their tranquility. Trees bent and swayed, their leaves rustling furiously as the gale whipped through the clearing. The tall grass around them thrashed wildly, lashing at their skin.

Elania and Yolani leaped to their feet, hearts pounding as they scanned the sky for the source of the disturbance.

A booming voice echoed from above, demanding, “What are you doing here?”

Elania squinted against the sun’s glare, her eyes widening as she spotted a figure hovering in the air. The woman’s crimson wings beat powerfully, silhouetted against the blinding light.

Instinctively, Elania spread her own wings, the white and gold feathers unfurling to their full span. She stepped in front of Yolani, arm reaching back to shield her lover from the potential threat.