Chapter 216 – Floor 35: Part 3

Mathew stood on the prow of the flying ship ‘Stormrider’ as it sailed across the continent toward the city of Kelestria.

Mathew had given Hilo the idea after discussing his adventures on the previous Floors. The Artisan’s imagination had immediately been captured by his Sovereign’s tale of the ‘Resplendent Dawn’s’ trek through the void.

In the years that followed, in between their work on constructing a home from the Harboured, Hilo and the Artisans had built their own version of that flying ship. Powered by Harboured magic instead of a Sun Shard, it was naturally different but no less impressive.

The Stormrider was a seamless fusion of rugged stone mined from the earth and gnarled wood from the hardy trees that grew in the desolation of the Harboured lands. It had the appearance of a floating fortress carved from the Ashen Peak itself.

The ship’s front was flat and carved with runes and sigils that the Harboured used to bring out the ‘memories’ of wind from the stone and trees. Thick wooden beams formed a skeletal structure like ribs across the hull that eventually spiralled upward to support the billowing sails.

Stormrider was an imposing presence as it sailed through the skies, leaving a shimmering trail of ethereal light behind it. It lacked the grace and beauty of a Kelestrian construction; the Harboured preferred durability and function, while they disdained waste.

But it was solid, giving the impression to anyone who saw it that the ship was built for war and even if the world broke around it, this vessel would survive. Even though it hadn’t been intended for combat, Hilo had dreamed of exploring the world with Stormrider instead; Mathew had other ideas.

The Kelestrians would never let the Harboured improve their lot in life. They would eventually learn about their new city and Sovereign and attempt to put a stop to it. Mathew’s only choice was to strike first and ‘convince’ the Kelestrians that it would be futile to even try.

“My lord, we’re approaching the border. We believe that even Stormrider will not be able to pierce the enchantments sealing us within the Wastelands.” Hilo explained, giving Mathew a small bow as he approached him.

The Harboured lands were separated from Kelestria by a heavily mountainous area that are impassable with the exception of a few trails and old roads.

When the Harboured had been banished to the Wastelands, as the Kelestrians called them, they built an enchanted barrier to surround their former slaves with sigils buried deep beneath the ground to power them.

It had kept the Harboured imprisoned for over a century, and even their Artisans couldn’t find a way to circumvent or destroy it.

“Halt the ship just outside the border.” Mathew ordered, his voice artificially deepened by the helm of his armour so that it came out as a rumble. Hilo nodded and informed the crew of their Sovereign’s desires.

The ship slowed down as it drifted high above a line of snow-capped mountains. A shimmering barrier of mana stretched across the space in front of them, curving slowly to form a gigantic bubble that sealed the Harboured in and prevented anyone from crossing.

Mathew could feel the mana within the barrier, like a static discharge across his skin, even through the dark armour he wore. Strangely, the wind carried the smell of Aether, that slightly spicy smell that Mathew was so accustomed to.

He didn’t understand how, but the Kelestrians seemed to have made use of Aether in their enchantments. He could sense that this barrier was strong enough to block any attempt by the Stormrider to penetrate it, even with its Harboured enchantments.

“Let’s test it out.” Mathew muttered. He slowly raised his hand and pointed his finger at the barrier directly in front of the ship.

“Break.” Mathew commanded, and the Word of Power responded. A foreign presence descended from above, and he could feel it settle on the barrier. There was a sharp ‘crack’ sound, and a small white line formed in the glowing shield before fading away.

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For Mathew, this was one of the first times the Words of Power had failed to achieve his desired goal. He watched the barrier heal while trying to find an opening to exploit, but nothing happened. The Harboured held their breath behind him, awed at the magic their Lord was working.

They had only witnessed The Enduring’s magic a handful of times, and no one, not even Hilo or the Artisans, understood how it worked. It seemed to them that if the Sovereign commanded something to happen, even the world had to obey.

Mathew frowned, shook his head and raised his hand once again. Preparing himself and focusing his mind, he spoke.

“Combust!” Mathew shouted, his voice thundering across the deck of the flying ship. The descending force was more oppressive than before. This time, Hilo and the others were forced to their knees as the world shook around them.

A blinding point of light erupted on the barrier where Mathew had pointed, illumining the skies like a falling star. For a heartbeat, it hovered in the air before swelling into a colossal fireball that dwarfed even the Stormrider in size.

The air crackled with energy, then, with a deafening crack, the explosion roared to life. It sent shockwaves rippling through the clouds. The ship lurched violently to the side, crew members scrambled to steady themselves as the very air seemed to shudder.

The once-calm skies were filled with the roar of the blast, a sound that echoed like thunder through the heavens. Ripples cascaded outward from the point of impact, distorting the barrier’s shimmering surface.

Cracks spiderwebbed from the center, fissures deepening with every passing moment, as if the fabric of reality was being torn apart. Bright shards of light cascaded down from the barrier, and the atmosphere crackled with residual energy.

Mathew was sure that he had done it, that even this magical barrier couldn’t withstand the Celestial language, and that was not where he used an Advanced Word of Power. But he was shocked when the air calmed and the barrier, which seemed to be on the edge of destruction, rapidly began to repair itself.

There was a heavy smell of Aether as a blue haze began to rise from the mountains below. It seemed to fuse with the barrier and restore what had been broken.

Letting out a huff of air, Mathew was about to run his fingers through his hair in frustration when his gauntleted fingers touched his helmet.

“Tch.” Mathew grunted in irritation.

“My Lord, perhaps there is another way to bypass the barrier. If we return to Haven, we can explore different options.” Hilo offered. His confidence in The Enduring was unshakable, but the Kelestrians had built this barrier to keep their people confined.

It was unreasonable to expect one person to break it.

“There is no other way, Hilo.” Mathew replied, his voice trailing off as he thought about his options. He turned to look at the Artisan.

“Do you trust me, Hilo?” Mathew asked, and the Artisans eyes opened wide in surprise. He hurriedly nodded.

“Explicitly, My lord.” Hilo replied without hesitation. Mathew studied the older man for a moment before nodding.

“Then that trust should be rewarded.” Mathew stated. He turned back to the barrier and once again raised his hand to point at the barrier. The air calmed, and it seemed as if the world was holding its breath.

A strange presence seemed to have halted all movement; unseen hands held Hilo and the others still as if ordering them to watch The Enduring, to witness what was about to happen and not miss a moment.

Mathew licked his lips, his nervousness unseen by anyone due to the visor blocking his face. He wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but the Celestial Magic was said to be so powerful that even the gods feared it.

Surely it could destroy this barrier?

Mathew drew in a deep breath, steadying himself and focusing his mind. When he was in an optimum state, he spoke.

“A Starless Night.”

As Mathew invoked the Celestial Magic, the world around them was engulfed in an unsettling silence. The sun, once bright and warm above them, was consumed in an instant. Everything in the sky was swallowed in the encroaching void. Light flickered and died, leaving the skies in a suffocating blackness that obscured not only the sun but the stars themselves.

The vibrant hues of the world faded, replaced by an all-encompassing darkness that pressed in from every direction.

A chilling air swept across the Stormrider, an icy gust that carried whispers of despair, curling around the crew like a shadowy hand. Their breath became visible in the sudden cold; each breath seemed to draw away the little warmth they had within them.

Fear coiled tightly in their chests, a primal terror that left them shaking. The silence was thick, almost suffocating, and nothing could pierce it.

In that unfathomable darkness, the barrier gave a brief flicker of bright light as if it were trying to struggle to block out the night before succumbing.

Mathew stumbled and fell to one knee as the spell faded and the darkness retreated. Panting, he found it difficult to catch his breath. The Celestial Spell had taken a toll on him in a way that wasn’t just physical. It was as if a piece of his soul had been laid bare, exposed to the vastness of the universe for a moment too long.

Waving off Hilo and the others as they ran forward to help him, he ordered the ship forward. They still had to reach Kelestria and find a way to safeguard Haven for the Harboured.

‘Ding!’