"I have an idea," Black Flame said, his voice as low and measured as ever.
"Really? What is it?" Alice asked, her curiosity barely hiding her apprehension.
"You can come with me," he replied, his tone almost casual.
Alice blinked, startled. "Really? But, um... to where?"
"To my base," Black Flame answered, a faint edge creeping into his voice.
Alice hesitated. "Then, can your boat fit both of us?"
"No."
Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Wait, are you saying that you have a ship?"
"I don't have a ship. Or a boat."
"Huh?" Alice's voice rose in disbelief. "Then how do you plan to—" Her eyes widened as realization dawned. "Don't tell me..."
A thin smile played on Black Flame's lips beneath his helmet. "It seems you've figured it out. Well then, shall we?" He stepped forward, his boots clinking softly against the stone beneath them.
"W-wait!" Alice stepped back, her heart pounding. "I've never flown before! I mean, in airplanes, sure, but not like this!"
"Relax," Black Flame reassured her, his tone almost amused. "It'll be fine."
She stared at him, doubt clouding her features. "B-but you're covered in blood!"
He glanced down at his armor, the glistening blood still streaked across it. "Oh... right." He had forgotten about that.
'Faraday, can you do something about this?' Black Flame communicated silently.
[Activating Emergency Cleaning Protocol.] Faraday's voice responded in his mind.
'What's that?' Black Flame asked.
[Exactly as it sounds. For situations like this.]
'Fine. Just do your magic.'
[It's technology, not magic.]
'Whatever,' Black Flame thought.
[Commencing.]
A soft hiss followed, and steam began to rise from his armor, the blood and grime sizzling away.
Alice's eyes widened, her worry mounting. "Mr. Flame, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he said, his voice muffled beneath the billowing steam.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Black Flame, now gleaming, spread his arms wide.
"Well, shall we leave now?"
Alice's heart thudded. This was the first time anyone other than her father would touch her. She hesitated, nervous. But then again, it didn't count, right? He was in armor—hard, cold, unfeeling armor.
"Miss Alice?" Black Flame's voice broke through her thoughts.
"Y-yes! I'm coming!" She took a deep breath and walked toward him, trying to suppress her nervousness.
"Hold tight," Black Flame instructed. "You don't want to fall, do you?"
"No... I mean, don't want to fall!" Alice replied, her voice trembling slightly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Good." With a swift motion, Black Flame lifted her effortlessly, securing her around his waist.
"Then, in 3... 2... 1..."
"W-wait!" Alice gasped, too late to stop him.
"0."
With a deafening roar, Black Flame's rocket boots ignited, launching them both into the sky.
"AHHH!!" Alice screamed, gripping him tighter, her stomach doing somersaults as the wind whipped across her face.
Black Flame laughed, the sound deep and carefree. "Fun, isn't it?"
"Fun?! Are you out of your mind? This is crazy!" Alice yelled, her eyes squeezed shut.
"It's not so bad. You'll get used to it. Besides, the good news is that we'll be there in about half an hour."
"Half an hour!?" Alice's voice was filled with panic. "You mean we'll be flying like this for thirty whole minutes?!"
"Yes," Black Flame replied, unbothered.
"Can't we go faster? I don't want to be in the air that long!"
"You sure?" His voice carried a warning.
"I'm 100% sure!"
"Alright then. But don't say I didn't warn you."
'Faraday, increase speed.' Black Flame's mind buzzed.
[Understood.]
Alice barely had time to register his words before they accelerated—exponentially.
BOOM!
"AAAHHH!!" Alice screamed as they rocketed through the air, the world below becoming a blur. "S-slow down! It's too fast!"
But just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Five minutes later, they came to an abrupt halt.
"Huh...?" Black Flame hovered in the air, 200 meters from where his island should have been, with a fainted Alice limp in his arms.
'Faraday... where's the island? All I see is the ocean. Don't tell me this was some kind of illusion?'
[It's concealed.] Faraday's calm response did little to ease the tension.
'Concealed? How?'
[Using a Concealment Formation. The island cannot be detected or accessed using conventional methods. Only, you and the ones approved by you can enter.]
Black Flame's brows furrowed beneath his helmet. "Hiding an entire island... Now things are getting interesting. Anyways, I grant access to Alice."
[Very well. Now, just fly straight to where the concealed island is.]
'Okay.' Black Flame replied as he flew straight towards the island. And guess what? The moment he entered the island's airspace, he could see everything once more, exactly the way it was.
'This place is just so beautiful.' Black Flame commented after gazing at the island.
*FUUSSHH!*
After he was done admiring the beauty of the island, he flew straight towards his house.
*Ding!*
A sound came from the door after Black Flame touched the knob as it slowly opened. He went towards the queen-sized bed and laid Alice on it. She was still unconscious.
"Faraday, is she okay? She is not sick is she?" Black Flame asked. He asked Faraday normally. After all, the only other person in the room was fast asleep.
[She is fine, just a bit fatigued but, that's all. She'll wake up by tomorrow morning.] Faraday explained.
"That's good. So, what should I do now?" Black Flame asked himself.
[You forgot didn't you?] Faraday asked.
"Forgot? Hm... I don't think I did. Why? Is something the matter?" Black Flame asked.
[You goldfish memory bastard.] Faraday mumbled.
"Huh? Did you say something?" Black Flame asked.
[Nothing.] Faraday answered.
"Really? I thought I heard you saying goldfish or something." Black Flame said.
[You must be hearing things again.] Faraday said.
"Well, anyways what did I forget again?" Black Flame asked.
[You have successfully unlocked the 9th Ability of The Durablium Body Armor.] Faraday replied.
"Ah, yes. I unlocked that didn't I? So, what is the Ability?" Black Flame asked.
[It's...]