Amelia moved to the edge of the basket, gazing out at the endless blue sky, her small frame silhouetted against the clouds. The faintest curve of her mouth suggested she was pleased, her mood lifted by their playful exchange.
Lucas rubbed his temple, a wry grin on his face. "This girl," He muttered, half to himself. The idea of planning her future so far in advance was absurd—she was still a child, with years to grow and discover who she wanted to be. In this world, sixteen was often considered an age for serious decisions, but Lucas was determined to give Amelia the childhood she deserved, free from the burdens of her past. He pushed the thought aside and focused on the task at hand, adding more charcoal to the fire and pumping the bellows to keep the balloon aloft.
"How do people fly, Lord Lucas?" Amelia asked suddenly, her curiosity bubbling over. She turned to him, her green eyes bright with wonder. For Amelia, three things consumed her thoughts: her bond with Lucas, her longing to fly, and her missing sister. Having addressed the first with their playful banter, her mind now turned to the second, her voice eager for answers.
"With something like bird wings," Lucas explained gently, his voice warm with encouragement. "You jump from a high place, and they carry you through the air, gliding like a bird." He was delighted to hear her ask so many questions—today, she was chattier than usual, a sign she felt safe and happy in his presence. It was a small victory, one that filled him with hope for her healing.
"Wings? Made of wood?" Amelia tilted her head, her brow furrowing. "Those don't work," She said matter-of-factly, as if speaking from experience.
Lucas blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what?" He said, a mix of amusement and concern in his voice. Her tone suggested she had actually tried something like that, and the mental image was both hilarious and alarming.
"I tried it once," Amelia said, her voice flat but her eyes flickering with a hint of memory. "I fell." She turned back to the sky, her expression unreadable. The truth was far more dramatic—she had crafted crude wooden wings and leaped from a cliff on Stone Pillar Mountain, only to plummet. If her sister hadn't swooped in to save her, she might not have survived. The memory was a mix of shame and longing, a reminder of her reckless younger self.
Lucas's mouth twitched, torn between laughter and sympathy. "Oh, Amelia," He said, shaking his head. "You must have had quite the adventures before we found you." The thought of her attempting such daring, foolish feats made his heart ache. She was so young, yet her past was filled with struggles no child should face. He resolved to give her safer ways to chase her dreams, to replace those dangerous memories with new ones.
"Not wood," He clarified, his tone patient. "We use special fabric, light but strong, with steel frames for support. That's how you make a glider wing—something that can carry a person through the sky." His mind raced with possibilities. Glider wings were more than a tool for Amelia's joy; they could be the foundation of something greater. Paired with hot air balloons, they could form a rudimentary "air force"—not the jet-powered fleets of Earth, but a stealthy, agile unit capable of reconnaissance and tactical strikes.
He envisioned balloons serving as launch platforms, lifting gliders into the air regardless of terrain. Without the need for high cliffs or strong winds, gliders could take off from anywhere, solving a major limitation. A glider unit could scout enemy positions, infiltrate deep behind lines, or even execute precision strikes. With parachutes for safe landings, they could perform covert operations, like eliminating key targets. The potential was thrilling, and Lucas's strategic mind buzzed with ideas.
"Don't understand," Amelia said, her voice blunt. She frowned, trying to picture fabric and steel somehow defying gravity. To her, it sounded impossible—steel was heavy, and cloth was flimsy. How could they mimic the wings she once had?
"You'll see when we build it," Lucas said with a reassuring smile. Explaining aerodynamics—lift, drag, and airflow—would only confuse her. Better to let her experience it firsthand. He made a mental note to prioritize the glider project, including training a small team. At least four balloons would be needed as launch platforms, each capable of carrying multiple gliders and supplies. It was an ambitious plan, but one that could give Sedona City a unique edge.
"Oh," Amelia said, her curiosity satisfied for now. She fell silent, her gaze returning to the sky, her small hands gripping the basket's edge as she lost herself in the view.
They lingered in the air for another ten minutes, the world below a patchwork of valleys and hills. Lucas noticed Amelia's slight shivering, her thin frame trembling in the cold. She was trying to hide it, stubborn as always, but he wasn't fooled.
"Time to go down," He said gently, not waiting for her response. He stopped pumping the bellows, letting the fire's heat fade. The balloon began a slow, steady descent, the basket swaying gently as it neared the ground.
Amelia didn't protest, her eyes still fixed on the sky. Even as they touched down, she remained quiet, her expression serene. Today had been special for her—a rare moment of joy that Lucas hoped would linger in her heart.
"Young Master, how was it? Was it fun up there?" Annie called, her brown eyes shining with excitement as she ran over. She grabbed Lucas's arm, her fox ears twitching eagerly. "It's not dangerous, right?"
"No danger," Lucas said, shrugging with a reassuring grin. "As long as you don't fly too high, the balloon's safe. The envelope acts like a parachute, slowing the descent. Unless it tears or you hit bad weather, there's little to worry about." His calm demeanor eased her fears, though he knew he'd need to reinforce safety measures for future flights.
"My lord, are there any improvements needed?" The elderly carpenter asked, stepping forward with a notebook in hand, ready to record Lucas's instructions.
"Make the envelope larger," Lucas said thoughtfully. "It needs to carry at least four people. This one's too small." He was already thinking ahead to the glider units, where balloons would need to transport personnel and equipment.
"Yes, my lord," The carpenter said, jotting down the note with a nod.
"And the fuel," Lucas continued, his brow furrowing as he considered the logistics. "Find materials that burn longer and hotter. We can't have balloons landing every few minutes to refuel. They need to stay aloft for hours." His vision was clear: balloons that could loiter in the sky, serving as mobile platforms without constant maintenance. While a single-passenger balloon could carry extra fuel for longer flights, that limited its utility. A larger, more efficient design was essential.
"Yes, sir," The carpenter said, making another note. "I'll pass the fuel request to the institute specializing in combustion research."
"Young Master, can I try the balloon too?" Annie asked, her voice soft but hopeful. Her eyes gleamed with longing, fixed on Lucas.
Mina and Elisa, standing nearby, turned to him as well, their expressions mirroring Annie's. The chance to soar into the sky was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and their anticipation was palpable.
Lucas looked at their eager faces, then at Amelia, who was still gazing upward, a faint smile on her lips. "One at a time," He said warmly. "We'll make sure everyone gets a turn." He placed a hand on Amelia's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. Today had been about her, but he'd ensure the others shared in the wonder of flight. For now, he was content knowing his adopted daughter had found a moment of happiness, high above the world that had once hurt her.
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