Chapter 1: Trouble in the Skies
Scene 1: Peaceful Skies
The Starlance soared above the swirling fog, its sleek twin engines humming in perfect harmony. The floating islands of Aerona dotted the horizon, their jagged edges glowing faintly with aetherium energy, as if the land itself pulsed with life. A brisk breeze whispered through the open cockpit window, carrying with it the faint scent of the sea below.
Kael Rivenwood sat in the pilot’s chair, one hand lazily gripping the control lever while the other rested on his knee. The slight tilt of his head betrayed a sense of relaxation, though his eyes remained sharp, scanning the endless expanse of mist and sky. His black flight jacket, worn at the edges, spoke of a thousand journeys across these skies, most of them as unpredictable as the winds that carried him.
From his perch near the dashboard, Jack chuffed softly, the sound halfway between a purr and a growl. The creature’s sleek, feline form was silhouetted against the soft light of the instrument panel. Its bat-like wings stretched momentarily before folding back neatly, as though to shrug off the weight of monotony.
Kael smirked, leaning back slightly. “Too quiet, eh, Jack?” he mused, his voice carrying a faint rasp that matched his rugged demeanor. The creature tilted its head in response, its glowing eyes fixed on him.
Kael allowed himself a small chuckle. “Yeah, me too. Days like this? They don’t last.”
He shifted his gaze back to the horizon, his humor fading into something heavier. The skies of Aerona had grown increasingly tense in recent months. Patrol ships from the Eryndor Empire prowled the trade routes, asserting dominance under the guise of "security." Kael had his run-ins with them before—none of which ended peacefully.
Jack let out another low chuff, this one sharper, almost questioning.
Kael reached out to ruffle the creature’s head. “Relax, buddy. Just a routine cargo run. Nothing to worry about.” But even as he spoke the words, his grip on the control lever tightened. The calm skies felt more like the eye of a storm than a reprieve, and his instincts told him something was lurking just beyond the mist.
The Starlance continued its smooth ascent, cutting through the clouds with practiced ease. For a fleeting moment, Kael let himself believe that perhaps, just this once, the skies would stay calm.
Then, on the distant edge of the fog, a shadow moved.
Scene 2: An Unexpected Encounter
The shadow in the fog grew sharper, its shape cutting through the mist with deliberate menace. Kael’s fingers tightened instinctively on the controls as the silhouette solidified into an unmistakable form—an Eryndor patrol airship.
The ship's sleek, armored hull gleamed faintly, catching the scattered light filtering through the fog. It wasn’t massive, but its presence was more than enough to send a chill down Kael’s spine. Patrol ships like this one weren’t just for show; they were built for intimidation and pursuit, their aetherium cannons capable of shredding a vessel like the Starlance.
Kael muttered under his breath, “Figures.”
Jack’s chuff broke the tense silence, sharper this time. The creature’s wings unfurled slightly, its glowing eyes fixed on the patrol ship as if sensing Kael’s unease.
“Yeah, I see it,” Kael said, his voice low. “Stay calm.”
The patrol ship let loose a flare, the bright red light piercing through the fog. It was a warning, but Kael didn’t need the signal to know what it meant. They wanted him to stop, to explain himself, to open his hold for inspection—and to risk losing the cargo and possibly the Starlance in the process.
Kael leaned forward, his jaw tightening. Memories of past encounters flashed through his mind—imperial inspectors rifling through cargo, accusations of smuggling, hefty fines, or worse. He’d been lucky to escape those times.
Jack chuffed again, this time more insistently.
Kael shook his head, his expression hardening. “Not today.”
As if on cue, the patrol ship fired another flare, this one arcing closer. A warning shot. Kael flicked a series of switches, the hum of the Starlance’s engines deepening as they powered up.
The patrol ship’s cannons began to glow faintly with aetheric energy, their presence a silent threat against Kael’s rising defiance.
Kael’s voice cut through the tension, steady and determined. “Alright, Jack. Hold on.”
With a flick of the lever, the Starlance surged forward, breaking through the dense fog in a burst of speed. Behind them, the patrol ship gave chase, its engines roaring as it cut through the mist with relentless precision.
Kael’s heart pounded in his chest, but his focus was razor-sharp. The skies ahead blurred into a mix of gray and white as the Starlance dipped and swerved, seeking cover in the swirling fog. Jack perched firmly on the dashboard, chuffing sharply whenever the patrol ship loomed too close.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Don’t worry,” Kael muttered, his voice grim but resolute. “We’ve been through worse.”
But even as he said the words, the distant hum of the patrol ship’s cannons powering up made it clear that this wasn’t going to be an easy escape.
Scene 3: Chase Through the Fog
A sharp whine split the air as the first burst of aetherium fire streaked past the Starlance, grazing the hull. The metallic hiss of heat against steel echoed through the cockpit, and Kael winced as a warning light blinked on the control panel.
“Well, that’s just great,” he muttered.
The patrol ship was faster than he’d anticipated, its sleek design cutting through the fog with unnerving precision. Kael adjusted the controls, the Starlance banking hard to the right and plunging deeper into the swirling mist. The fog closed in around them, obscuring everything but the faint glow of the ship’s instruments.
“C’mon, girl,” Kael coaxed the ship. “Hold together for me.”
Jack chuffed sharply, its wings flaring as the Starlance tilted dangerously to avoid a jagged outcrop of floating rock. The creature’s glowing eyes darted toward the rear window, tracking the patrol ship as it loomed closer.
Kael caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and smirked grimly. “What, you think I don’t know they’re still there?”
The second burst of fire came closer, this time clipping the edge of the left engine. A shudder ran through the ship, and Kael’s hands flew to the controls, steadying the Starlance as it faltered. Tov’s voice echoed in his mind, berating him for pushing the engines too hard.
“Not the time, Tov,” Kael muttered, half to himself.
He yanked the controls hard to the left, the Starlance skimming just above a cluster of jagged rocks jutting out of the fog. The patrol ship hesitated, its larger frame unable to follow the same tight maneuver. Kael grinned.
“Didn’t think so.”
The patrol ship adjusted quickly, banking wide and closing the gap with renewed determination. Its cannons glowed ominously, the telltale sign of another barrage incoming.
Kael pushed the throttle to its limit, the engines roaring in protest as the Starlance surged forward. The ship’s frame vibrated under the strain, but Kael didn’t ease up. The fog thickened, and the jagged edges of floating rocks loomed like phantoms in the haze.
Jack let out a sharp chuff, and Kael’s eyes darted to the right. A massive rock formation loomed ahead, its surface covered in faintly glowing veins of aetherium.
Kael muttered under his breath, “That’ll do.”
With a sharp flick of the controls, the Starlance angled toward the formation, its engines screaming as Kael navigated through the narrow gaps between the rocks. The patrol ship followed, its cannons firing blindly into the mist.
The glow of the Starlance’s engines reflected off the rock walls, creating eerie patterns that danced across the cockpit. Kael’s breathing was steady, his hands precise as he guided the ship through the maze-like terrain.
Jack chuffed again, this time softer, as if acknowledging Kael’s skill.
“Don’t start complimenting me yet,” Kael said, his focus unwavering. “We’re not out of this.”
A sudden crack reverberated through the ship as another shot from the patrol ship struck a floating rock behind them, shattering it into a cloud of debris. Kael gritted his teeth, steering the Starlance into a sharp dive that sent them hurtling toward a dense patch of fog.
The patrol ship hesitated, its larger frame struggling to maneuver as tightly through the rock formations. Kael seized the moment, angling the Starlance toward a break in the fog ahead.
The roar of the patrol ship’s engines faded as the Starlance shot out of the maze and into open skies. Kael exhaled slowly, his grip loosening on the controls as the ship steadied.
Jack let out a satisfied chuff, curling up on the dashboard with its wings tucked neatly against its back.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Kael murmured, his eyes scanning the horizon. “Something tells me they’ll be back.”
But for now, the skies were theirs.
Scene 4: The Great Escape
The open skies stretched out before them, vast and serene, as the Starlance emerged from the dense fog. The patrol ship was nowhere to be seen, its hulking frame lost in the labyrinth of floating rocks. For the first time since the chase began, the cockpit was quiet save for the steady hum of the engines.
Kael leaned back in his seat, exhaling a long breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His grip on the control lever eased, though his hands still felt the strain of the evasive maneuvers.
“Not bad, huh?” he said aloud, his voice laced with a mix of relief and weariness.
Jack chuffed softly from its perch on the dashboard, curling its tail around its legs as if to say, I knew you’d pull it off.
Kael chuckled, reaching out to scratch behind the creature’s ears. “Yeah, yeah. You were a big help too, you smug little furball.”
The faint smell of heated metal wafted through the cockpit, a reminder of the strain the engines had endured. Kael’s eyes flicked to the control panel, where a few warning lights still blinked, though none of them signaled immediate danger.
“Gonna have to sweet-talk Tov into patching this up,” Kael muttered, his fingers brushing over the throttle. “He’s not gonna be happy about the strain on the engines. Again.”
The Starlance maintained its steady course, the crisp, cool air streaming in through the open cockpit window. Kael glanced out, taking in the jagged silhouettes of distant floating islands against the pale glow of Aerona’s twin moons. The beauty of the skies never failed to strike him, even after years of navigating their perilous routes.
But beneath the awe, a familiar unease crept in. The patrol ship wasn’t the first he’d encountered in recent weeks, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. The Eryndor Empire’s reach was growing, its patrols more frequent and its presence more oppressive. Kael knew it was only a matter of time before their dominance extended to every corner of Aerona’s skies.
His thoughts darkened as he leaned forward, his fingers drumming against the console. He’d survived countless encounters with imperial forces, but the stakes felt different now. The skies were becoming less free, and for someone like Kael, freedom was everything.
Jack let out a soft chuff, breaking the silence. Kael glanced at the creature, its glowing eyes watching him with an almost knowing expression.
“Don’t give me that look,” Kael said, his tone lightening. “We made it out, didn’t we?”
Jack flicked its wings slightly, chuffing once more before curling up tighter.
Kael’s lips quirked into a small smile. He adjusted the controls, setting the Starlance on a course toward Aeloria Skyhold. The engines purred, their rhythm steady, as the ship cut through the night.
For now, at least, the danger was behind them. But Kael knew better than to let his guard down for too long.
“Better enjoy the calm while it lasts,” he murmured to himself. “Something tells me it’s gonna be a short one.”
The Starlance sailed on, its silhouette blending into the endless expanse of stars and fog, carrying Kael and Jack toward whatever awaited them on the horizon.