Chapter 1506: Departing

The moment Erend mentioned that they could leave soon, Eccar, Aesa, and Sylven immediately lifted their heads from their meals and looked toward him with renewed seriousness.

Caelion noticed the sudden change in their expressions. Until a moment ago, they had been casually enjoying breakfast, but now all four of them seemed ready to move at a moment’s notice. Whatever task they needed to do was clearly important.

Caelion decided not to ask.

"Then we’ll prepare everything you need before you leave," he said. "I’ll make sure nothing is missing."

Erend looked at him. "Wait. I think you’ve already done more than enough."

Caelion shook his head.

"No. It isn’t nearly enough compared to what you’ve done for us." His expression became sincere. "You have no idea how significant your work in the frontier of the Shattered Expanse was. You’ve secured the safety of everyone who will travel near that region for years to come. Perhaps even decades."

Erend raised an eyebrow. "That long?"

"Yes."

Erend glanced toward Eccar, Aesa, and Sylven. None of them had realized the scale of what they had accomplished. To them, killing those monsters had barely qualified as a serious task. They had simply dealt with whatever attacked them and continued moving.

But knowing that their actions had made the frontier safer for countless travelers and settlements gave them a different kind of satisfaction.

They had helped people tremendously without even realizing it.

"I’ll have everything prepared shortly," Caelion said.

He gave them a polite nod before leaving the dining room.

Erend watched him disappear through the doorway before sitting back down.

"Well, we might as well finish breakfast."

Eccar immediately returned to his food. "Agreed."

—

By the time the sun had climbed high into the sky, the four Dragonborn were ready to depart.

They gathered once again inside Caelion’s chamber, but this time none of them wore the comfortable clothes they had used during their stay. They had been given their top quality travel gear.

They all wore a grey traveling attire reinforced with lightweight protective materials. His cloak hung from his shoulders.

They didn’t look like guests from another world now, more like normal travelers from this world preparing to cross another border.

Caelion stood beside his desk with several large packs prepared for them.

"I had these prepared for your journey," he said.

He handed the first pack to Erend.

Inside were carefully folded maps of highest quality showing the surrounding floating islands and known routes through Elyndor.

There were also preserved rations, containers of clean water, basic medical supplies, several small Magical tools, and a handful of items containing concentrated Magic energy that could be useful if they encountered unexpected difficulties.

"I also included several communication crystals," Caelion explained. "They should allow you to contact Skyhold Bastion if you remain within their range. Their range isn’t unlimited, but they may still prove useful."

Erend examined the contents before closing the pack.

"This is more than enough. Thank you," he said.

Caelion smiled. "After everything you’ve done for us, this is the least I can provide."

Eccar lifted his own pack and weighed it in one hand and said, "You really prepared everything."

"I wanted to make certain you wouldn’t need to return because you forgot something."

Eccar laughed. "Right."

Aesa gave Caelion a small nod.

Sylven followed with a polite bow and said, "We appreciate your hospitality."

Caelion returned the gesture.

"I hope the journey ahead goes well for all of you."

He then looked toward Erend.

"I’ll accompany you to the airship docks. There’s another reason I wanted to speak with you before you leave."

Erend looked at him curiously but nodded.

"Alright."

The group left the castle together.

—

The airship waited at one of Skyhold Bastion’s largest docks.

Even after seeing the vessels from a distance, the four Dragonborn found themselves impressed when they finally stood beside one.

The ship was enormous.

Its dark wooden and metallic hull stretched across the dock like a floating fortress. Several enormous Magic cores were embedded beneath its structure, glowing with steady energy. Thick mechanical components surrounded the cores while large propeller-like structures rotated slowly beneath the vessel.

Several massive masts rose from the deck, supporting broad sails reinforced with magical threads. Runes had been carved into the hull and along the edges of the deck, glowing faintly as Magic flowed through them.

Crew members moved across the deck while soldiers loaded supplies into the lower compartments.

Caelion gestured toward the vessel.

"This airship will take you as far as we can safely travel toward your destination. From there, you’ll have to continue on your own."

Erend nodded. "That works."

The four Dragonborn boarded the vessel.

As soon as Eccar stepped onto the deck, he immediately turned toward the massive machinery beneath them. He grinned.

"So this is an actual airship..."

He walked toward the railing and looked down at the enormous Magic cores.

"I still can’t believe these things actually work," Eccar said.

Aesa stood beside him, studying the ship with unusual curiosity.

"The Magic system is impressive," Aesa said.

"They’ve integrated Magic into almost every part of its construction," Sylven said while examining the runes carved along the deck.

Erend smiled as he looked across the enormous vessel.

The airship began to hum.

Deep beneath their feet, the Magic cores brightened.

The enormous vessel slowly rose from the dock, and the city of Skyhold Bastion gradually began shrinking beneath them.

For several hours, they traveled across Elyndor, passing countless floating islands and vast stretches of clouds beneath them. Eventually, the airship approached a scattered group of floating islands surrounded by thick mist.

The captain stepped toward them and pointed ahead.

"This is as far as we can take you. Beyond this point, the route becomes too dangerous for the ship."

Erend nodded. "Alright. Thank you for bringing us this far."

The captain smiled. "Then I wish all of you a safe journey."

The four Dragonborn disembarked and stepped onto the nearest island. After they gathered their belongings, the airship slowly rose again before flying back toward their next destination.

Eccar looked ahead. "Well, let’s go."

They began walking deeper into the unknown.

—