The morning was chilly, and Lucas could feel the cold biting into his skin as he and Silas waited outside the small town of Foxtail. A thick fog wrapped around the town, obscuring the view of the majestic mountains that loomed in the distance. The silence was broken only by the soft whistle of the wind, which carried the scent of damp earth and pine needles.

Out of the fog, a shadow appeared, gradually taking shape. Valon emerged, his crooked smile already in place as he approached them.

"Ready to roll, old oak?" Valon called out, his voice a mixture of laughter and mischief.

Silas, smiling mockingly, replied, "Why wouldn't I be? After all, the mana stone you're getting isn't free."

The two men exchanged grins, the kind that spoke of years of shared history, adventures, and rivalries. Silas glanced around. "Where is that damn bird?"

Valon smirked and shrugged. "He'll be around."

With that, Valon pulled a wooden whistle from his pocket and blew into it. For a few moments, nothing happened. But then, the wind shifted violently, swirling the fog until it began to dissipate. The air grew tense, and Lucas's eyes widened as the silhouette of a giant creature emerged from the sky. A beast with the legs of a lion and the face of an eagle swooped toward them, its wings beating rhythmically against the air.

"There she is," Valon said with a grin. "What a cute bird, eh?"

Lucas couldn't help but laugh at the understatement. "Cute is not the word I'd use," he muttered, half-smiling at the sheer size of the beast. The Goliath Griffin was colossal, standing as tall as a small building, its muscles rippling under its feathers. Its sharp eyes gleamed with an intelligence that made Lucas uneasy.

Download Ai Generated, Griffin, Griffon. Royalty-Free Stock Illustration Image - Pixabay [https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2023/12/13/20/56/ai-generated-8447695_1280.jpg]

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Valon said. "Get on."

Silas groaned, adjusting the straps of his bag. "I've always hated traveling on this bird."

Valon chuckled. "Oh, my great magus, if you want luxury, why not hire yourself a Sky Whale?"

"If I were a magus, I surely would," Silas retorted with a sigh, his tone carrying a mix of sarcasm and weariness.

Lucas, not entirely understanding the banter, chose to remain silent as he observed the enormous creature. The griffin had five seats in a single row, each with sturdy leather straps to keep riders in place during the flight.

Valon blew his whistle again, and the griffin sat down, lowering itself as a wooden ladder dropped from its back. One by one, they climbed aboard, securing themselves in the seats. Lucas's stomach tightened as the griffin launched into the air, ascending so quickly that it felt as if the ground had disappeared in an instant.

Lucas had expected to be buffeted by the wind, to feel the cold air rushing past his face. But there was none of that.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Seeing the curiosity in Lucas's eyes, Silas leaned over and pointed to the crown-like object on the griffin's head. "That's an alchemical artifact," he explained. "It reduces air drag, embedded with runes that divert wind away from us."

Lucas marvelled at the smoothness of the flight. It was faster than any commercial plane he had flown on in his previous world, and as they soared over lush, green forests and rolling hills, he felt a strange mixture of awe and excitement.

Valon unrolled a map in front of him, planning the route. Lucas watched from behind, fascinated by the detailed markings.

"This is the fastest way to travel," Silas said quietly. "But it comes with its own risks. The route is periodically cleared by the Felmora Magic Association, using protective rune stones to ward off flying beasts and other dangers. Still, there are some creatures even the association cannot deal with."

Lucas frowned. "And what if we encounter one of those?"

Silas sighed, his gaze distant. "Then we hope for a swift death."

Hours passed as they flew across vast landscapes, with Lucas eventually falling asleep, lulled by the gentle sway of the griffin's movements. He awoke to the sound of Valon's voice.

"We'll rest here for the night," Valon said, guiding the griffin down toward a safe clearing by the riverside, surrounded by tall mountains. "It's too risky to fly after dark. If I'm going to die, I at least want to see what kills me before I go," he added with a laugh.

Though there were still a few hours before sundown, Valon chose this marked safe zone for the night. After landing, the griffin took off to hunt nearby while they made camp by the river. They shared a simple stew for dinner, with Valon and Silas taking turns keeping watch throughout the night.

The next day, the flight resumed. As Lucas gazed down at the lush forests and unfamiliar creatures, he estimated that they had traveled more than 6,000 kilometers—roughly the distance from London to New York in his previous world.

Occasionally, they passed by strange, flying beasts, some resembling birds, others straight out of nightmares. In the distance, Lucas's eyes locked onto a majestic creature that moved gracefully through the air.

"That's a Sky Whale," Silas said with a smile, following Lucas's gaze.

Lucas squinted, finding the creature more than a whale, its sheer size far beyond anything he had seen. It was at least ten times larger than the griffin, gliding near the ground with its mouth open, devouring bioluminescent creatures.

There is a whale flying in the sky with a boat in the water generative ai | Premium AI-generated image [https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/there-is-whale-flying-sky-with-boat-water-generative-ai_958124-40903.jpg]

As Lucas watched, mesmerized, a sudden roar echoed through the air. The Sky Whale jerked upward, trying to escape, but a massive dragon's mouth appeared from below, snapping the whale in half with terrifying ease.

Valon and Silas exchanged nervous glances, both visibly sweating.

"Let's hope that whale fills the dragon's belly," Valon muttered, urging the griffin to fly faster. The creature responded, doubling its speed.

After a few tense hours, Valon finally exhaled in relief. "I think we're safe," he said, his voice calming. "We'll be reaching our destination soon."

As they neared the horizon, a sprawling city came into view, dominated by a hill crowned with a grand palace. The city spread as far as the eye could see, the largest Lucas had ever encountered in this world.

"We're almost there," Silas said. "That's Almera, the capital."

In a few hours, they landed outside the city. Valon dismounted first, holding out a pouch of mana stones in payment.

"Our journey ends here," Valon said with a grin. "But don't worry, seedling," he added to Lucas. "We'll meet again when you need a ride back."

Valon placed a hand on Silas's shoulder, his tone suddenly serious. "Be careful, old fart. Be aware of the ghosts you've buried here." Silas's expression hardened as he nodded heavily.

Silas and Lucas began walking toward the city gates, the sprawling metropolis of Almera looming before them like a vast, untamed beast.

Turning to Lucas, he spoke in a low, measured voice. "Be careful in Almera, Lucas. This city is filled with cunning and evil people. Stay close to me and—above all—do not reveal our true identity here."

Lucas, his mind already swirling with questions about his grandfather's past, nodded in silent agreement. As they stepped through the gates of the vast city, Lucas couldn't help but wonder what dark secrets lay ahead in the heart of Almera.