Chapter Seven: Twist and Shout
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Before Jace could answer, an announcement crackled through the overhead speakers, "Final announcement. Passengers, please strap in. The ship is about to commence a rapid ascent before arriving at its final destination."
Jace's eyes darted around, noticing the seatbelts tucked discreetly beside each seat for the first time.
Ascent? Final announcement? What happened to the first one?
The ship shuddered, and Jace felt a deep rumble resonate through the wooden floor beneath his feet. He looked out the window just in time to see the massive wings of the ship begin to unfurl, their intricate sails billowing out like the wings of a mythical bird. The sails were woven with threads of shimmering light, catching the sun as they spread wide, a majestic silhouette against the deep blue of the ocean below.
With a sudden, graceful motion, the ship began to rise. The giant wings flapped slowly, powerfully, propelling the vessel upwards. The resistance of the water lessened as the ship climbed higher and higher, leaving the waves behind. The transition from sea to sky was seamless, the ship ascending with a majesty that took Jace’s breath away.
As the ship soared, Jace felt the sensation of weightlessness. He glanced out the window again, watching in awe as the world fell away beneath them. The ocean’s surface became a distant mirror, reflecting the ship’s shadow as it climbed steadily into the heavens.
The ship continued its ascent, leaving the last remnants of the ocean behind as they glided over rolling hills. Jace watched the landscape unfold beneath them—a patchwork of forests, mountains, and rivers, all shrinking as the ship soared higher. The transition from sea to open sky was both exhilarating and surreal.
Jace barely registered the beauty of the scene before the ship jolted forward with terrifying ferocity. The sudden acceleration pinned him against the back of his seat, and then, without warning, the ship shot upwards, transitioning into a steep, nearly vertical ascent. His stomach lurched as gravity seemed to double its pull on him. The seatbelts, so inconspicuously hidden moments ago, now flapped wildly about.
The cabin transformed into a chaotic maelstrom. The ship slowed suddenly and then lost altitude, lifting them from their seats and sending them into the air. Jace flailed desperately, hands grasping at nothing but empty space. The ship surged forward and up again, twisting and turning as if it had come alive with a mind of its own.
Jace’s vision blurred, the world a swirl of motion and sound. The ship looped in a full circle, his body weightless for a heart-stopping moment before being slammed back down by the relentless force.
Dex managed to grasp a seatbelt, and with a quick motion, helped Ell stabilize herself.
Through the pandemonium, Jace caught sight of Alice. She was suspended in mid-air, her long hair having come undone, whipping around her face. Her eyes were wide with fear, arms reaching out desperately. He could see her lips moving, perhaps calling his name, but the roar of the winds drowned out all other sounds.
Alice’s body twisted in the air, her fingers brushing against the seats, failing to find purchase. With a sickening thud, Jace and Alice collided, eyes wide and faces inches apart, the impact knocking the wind out of them both.
The ship continued its frenzied climb, the walls and ceiling blurring together as it spiraled. Every lurch, every twist sent waves of panic through them. Jace’s muscles burned from the strain of trying to control his own body, to find some stability in the madness.
The air was filled with the blare of straining engines. Jace tightened his grip on Alice, using his knees to push against the wall, shielding her from the worst of the impacts and pressure.
Finally, the ship began to level out, the pressure easing as gravity resumed its hold. Each in turn slowly regained their footing, nursing bruises and shaking off the disorientation. Jace and Alice untangled themselves, breathless and shaken. When they looked at each other, a blush crept up Alice's cheeks, mirrored by the flush on Jace's face.
The clouds parted like a theater curtain, revealing a dreamscape of rolling skies and endless horizons. Hills and trees emerged, seemingly adrift on an island of mist, floating in the vastness beyond.
The ship slowed, and Jace’s heart pounded in sync with the rhythmic hum of the engines.
"Approaching Mount Olympus Sky Dock. Passengers prepare to disembark. We know you have many options for your travel needs, and we appreciate you choosing Olympian Airways. Have a fine stay, and we hope to see you again soon."
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The ship glided into the docking platform with a soft shudder. Jace clung to the wall of the compartment, his vision swimming as the dizziness from the ascent ebbed away. A sharp hiss announced the release of the ship's air pressure, and the doors parted with a smooth whoosh, revealing a platform teeming with life.
High, vaulted ceilings stretched above, adorned with intricate mosaics that depicted epic battles and legendary figures. A colossal relief spelled out "Mt. Olympus Sky Dock" in elegant ancient Greek lettering, beside which a stone phoenix stood guard, its eyes glinting with golden fire.
Jace stepped off the ship, the void yawning beneath the narrow bridge that stretched toward the platform, a thin thread between worlds. He tread carefully, the abyss below hinting at a fall that felt as if it would stretch into eternity. As his foot met solid ground, the air crackled with energy—vivid, almost tangible—swirling around him like a storm of unseen colors, teasing his senses awake.
The air was rich with the mingling scents of exotic foods from vendor carts, their bright canopies flapping in a gentle breeze. Excited conversations and bursts of laughter reverberated off the mosaic walls, creating a symphony of student life.
Dex, Ell, and Alice were immediately swept up in the crowd, leaving Jace to his own devices. Dex already bantering with a group of students who seemed equally mischievous. Alice vanished into thin air. Jace felt a pang of isolation.
He drifted through the crowd, the vibrant colors of the dock pulsing around him. His eyes landed on a quaint shop with a sign that read "Bits and Bobs," where strange but familiar wares spilled from its shelves in a chaotic display. As he stepped inside, a clerk greeted him with a smile that barely moved as he spoke.
“Looking for something specific?" the clerk asked.
“Just browsing.”
Scrolls glowing faintly with embedded enchantments were neatly stacked beside trinkets that hummed softly, pulsating with unseen energy. Jace's attention was drawn to a wooden drawer filled with small orbs, each no bigger than a marble. He picked one up, its surface swirling with colors that seemed to shift and dance, drawing him in. He felt a gentle warmth emanate from it, as if it held a tiny piece of the sun.
The orb began to hover slightly above his palm, spinning faster and faster until it projected a constellation of stars around him, each one twinkling with a magical brilliance. Lines formed between the brightest stars, morphing into the image of a giant eagle. The eagle let out a piercing caw and dove toward him. Jace stumbled back and quickly placed the orb back into the drawer.
“Aquila. The eagle of Zeus. Carrier of his thunderbolts,” the shopkeeper said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
Jace nodded, cringing with embarrassment, and continued to browse.
Keychains hung from a rotating display, each one enchanted with a tiny charm. He picked up a keychain adorned with a miniature dragon, its eyes gleaming like rubies. As he held it, the dragon came to life, curling around his finger and letting out a tiny, playful roar before returning to its inanimate form.
Next to the keychains, a rack of enchanted pens beckoned. He picked one up, its sleek surface cool to the touch. As he scribbled on a piece of parchment, the pen transformed his writing into beautiful calligraphy, the ink shimmering with a metallic sheen.
He moved towards a stand of postcards, each one depicting a scene from a different fantastical realm. He picked up a card showing a serene, moonlit lake. As he held it, the image shimmered and moved, the water rippling under a soft breeze.
He spotted a peculiar book bound in dark, supple leather. The cover bore intricate, glowing runes that pulsed in a slow, rhythmic pattern. As he opened it, the pages came alive, unfurling like a blooming flower. Each page revealed a different scene, vivid and animated, depicting ancient myths and fantastical landscapes. He watched in awe as a tiny dragon, no larger than a thimble, leapt from the book and fluttered around his head, its wings shimmering with iridescent scales.
Jace wanted to inquire about the price of the book but abruptly realized that he didn’t have any money.
Maybe the system generates some sort of welcome kit or starter money.
Checking his pockets, he found them empty, save for a smooth silver stone. He pulled it out and looked it over curiously. A small faint tag appeared above it.
Item
User Interface Stone
Rarity: Mythical.
Soulbound.
For more information and functionality, please complete the calibration process.
There was no other description.
When did I get this?
“I see you like that book?” the man said, smile widening slightly. “I’ll give you a good deal.”
Jace pulled out his empty pockets and shrugged. The shopkeep’s eyes sharpened, but he still did not frown. “A trade, then, perhaps?” He nodded toward the silver stone. Jace thought it over for a long moment, realizing that he had no idea the value of things here.
"Maybe another time," Jace said, already worrying about how he'd handle his basic expenses in Terra Mythica. Would he need to get a job? What exactly did the scholarship cover?
He was quickly pulled from his thoughts as a loud voice boomed through the station, summoning all new students. Jace reluctantly left the book, shop, and now frowning shopkeeper, and joined the gathering crowd, waiting for further instructions.