Optional Music to Accompany the Chapter:
Really Slow Motion & Giant Apes - No One But You (Epic Emotional Drama)
https://youtu.be/3p5XlB96SWk
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Early Afternoon - Early Summer : Year 0 | Month 0 : Richmond, Virginia | East Coast United States
World: Earth | Rank: 6 Population: ~1,895,413,000
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*Crackle* Landing on the tarmac as lightly as I could manage, the concrete inevitably fractured before I raised my thought-laden gaze to find most others staring.. questioning...
I stood out. With armor unmatchable by any artisan people of this world could know, I caught gazes like a god descended in flesh.
However, those prying eyes only lingered so long.
Matching the gaze of a pious, brown-haired human with the characteristically green eyes of an elf, the stares diffused in a blink. -He must be someone rather important...-
Donning a religious white garb, a gilded cross hung from a golden necklace, and a book that fluttered open the moment we met eyes, the man snapped his gaze to the pages, reading before looking back at me.
By then, it had been hundreds of years since I had dealt with a human civilization. Even without factoring in my exceedingly limited knowledge of current Earth, the act I planned to play to get onto the airship was more rusty than anything I'd have ever allowed in the past.
But thankfully, that coat of rust didn't need to show itself.
"A paladin beneath the light of God... Curious... To think there was one I wouldn't recognize." *snap* Mumbling with a curl of skepticism, he snapped his book shut before looking up and walking toward me, guiding his eyes over my body as if to note every scratch and scar in my armor before settling on the blue stains that lingered on my gauntlets from The Warden's blood. "It seems like the situation outside has been handled." Finally speaking as he gave a shallow bow, his tone was proper, though his respect was laden with hesitancy. "What brings you here?"
Looking up at the unshaped, cloudy figure of a young god above him, it instantly jolted, faintly trembling before it opened the man's book with another flutter.
Though no one but myself could see it, using the man's book, the young god was able to give him guidance like delivering an oracle, and while I'd normally find it troublesome, it seemed this one was under the instructions of Michael.
"Hm..." Quickly turning to read his book again, the man's gaze sharpened with thought before finally easing with an unfamiliar glimmer. "I see... I apologize for my initial skepticism, my lady." Instantly dispelling his suspicions, he closed the book once more to give me a, still-shallow, but respectful bow. "I hope you will forgive my momentary transgression."
Nodding, I kept my head high.
The man believed me to be a paladin, a class within the system that is guided by the divine.
In most worlds I could remember, it was a class that granted an unquestioned respect no other class could match, and by the looks of things, Earth was no different.
So I reshaped my act to play along.
Raising from his bow, the man gave me another look, this time with a gleam akin to reverence flickering in his eyes. "As apology, please allow me to treat you." Opening his system, he looked down and tapped through it with haste before stepping to the side and motioning me to a smaller, closed, unused entrance on the side of the slowly moving airship. "If you enter there, I have instructed the crew to give you proper treatment." However, just as he seemed to motion me along, he stopped me. "If I may ask though, what is your name? I apologize for my ignorance."
"Lestir," I said softly, smoothing my tone to a noblewoman's cadence as the muscle memory returned. "Please use Lestir."
The formality tasted stale in my mouth, like resurrecting an accent from beneath the dunes of a desert—but it came with a practiced grace.
As it turned out, the mental circuitry laid by centuries of masquerading never truly corroded.
"I see." Bowing again, this time deeper, the priest reverently clasped his book. "If you need anything else, please just ask."
Shaking my head, I motioned him up. "Be at ease."
His body instantly relaxed as if trained by command. "I see. In that case, may your path remain steady under God, sister."
Motioning me along again, the man signaled guards near the hatch, quickly murmuring into a bead woven into the base of his hood to ensure they'd let me by.
-How easy...- In a blink, the path was cleared. Giving him a faint nod of gratitude, I continued past him, making my way up to the closed hatch before the door opened to reveal a plush, carpeted staircase, and the warm, welcoming glow of mimicked torchlight washed over me. -No wonder paladins kiss up to administrators...- Having their favor certainly made things easier...
Finally stepping up onto the staircase, I walked into the airship without much delay after that, quickly coming into a small corridor where I found a young, handsome elven boy bowing before me.
"Welcome aboard, Miss Lestir!" He was especially cheery, but somehow, it didn't seem forced. "Would you like me to guide you to your room?"
I could only assume he was a part of the crew the priest said he instructed to treat me. -Hm...- But I wasn't exactly looking to head straight to my room. "Please lead the way, but if you could give me a short tour of the airship first, that would be appreciated."
His eyes glimmered in an instant. "Of course!"
Following the young attendant down the warmly lit corridor as he turned to guide me, I kept my footsteps deliberately light, cautious not to fracture the freshly polished floors beneath me like I had the tarmac outside.
Though, that grew difficult as the narrow passage opened into a vast chamber, and my focus was pulled elsewhere.
"This room," the boy cheerily explained, "is the guild's dining and communal hall." The room was large, taking up a substantial section of the ship, with dining areas filled with tables, and open, visibly reinforced areas I could only question the purpose of. "Currently, it's reserved by the Sparrows Guild, but is always welcome to esteemed guests like yourself. It is where the guild, and valued guests like yourself typically spend most of their time on the flight." Gesturing toward the walls, a flicker of excitement lit his eyes. "The walls here are all made of skyglass. Once airborne, the cameras outside will turn on and the walls will fade to show the beauty above the clouds." He paused, completely unable to keep the awe out of his voice. "People like me enjoy it for the beauty, but mercenaries seem to like it because it lets them keep an eye on the surroundings."
Piquing my curiosity, my gaze lingered on the unusual texture of the walls a moment longer, my head instinctively tilting as I noticed their faintly imperfect.. almost pixelated details. "Skyglass, huh..." Noticing traces of light magic as well, I couldn't hide my intrigue. -How clever...-
Upon noticing, the boy was quick to continue with an ignited vigor. "Over here," he spoke as he motioned toward the open, tiled spaces I initially questioned. "These are reinforced practice arenas. They're heavily shielded to allow guests to practice spells, train, or spar during the flight." Turning back to me, he gave an encouraging nod. "You're more than welcome to test them whenever you wish!"
A quiet scoff immediately escaped my lips as I turned to the boy. "I appreciate the offer, but those barriers aren't nearly enough for me."
My words, while delivered lightly, immediately made the boy stiffen, tempering his overzealous eagerness with professionalism. "A-Ah—I see..." Noticably struggling to keep his suddenly pounding heart in his chest, he forced out a sigh to compose himself before returning his gaze to me. "W-Well, in that case, allow me to show you the other places you should visit."
Offering a reassuring nod, we quickly proceeded down another lavishly adorned corridor, passing through a number of ornately decorated chambers—a posh theater, a bustling tavern tended by robotic barkeeps, and even a large aquatic chamber before eventually ascending several carpeted staircases to arrive at a grand double door marked with a gold plaque: 'Suite 1A'. -How gaudy...-
The young elf bowed deeply as he finally turned to me, now with a more cautious temperament. "Here we are, Madam. This will be your accommodation for the flight—the finest suite aboard the ship! If anything is not to your liking, simply inform one of the attendants or call for a maid. They remain on standby for your convenience."
A scoff nearly escaped my breath again. -Maids waiting amidst an evacuation... How needlessly extravagant...- But I kept such reservations quiet, merely offering a gracious, albeit brief, acknowledgement. "Thank you."
Eventually straightening himself up with a clear fluster painting his cheeks, he reached up and tapped a card against the door, unlocking it before handing it to me, and bowing. "Please enjoy your stay. If there are any other services you'd like, please ask."
Not knowing, or particularly caring about what he was offering, I took the card from him and walked up to the door, letting him rush off before stepping inside, bracing for a disgustingly ostentatious display of wealth like the door implied before my senses were suddenly, but gently enveloped by a crisp, refreshing air reminiscent of the mountains, and stepped into an entryway tastefully decorated with wooden shelves, each housing ancient tomes, masterfully carved sculptures, and displayed artifacts like a shelf of trophies of an experienced adventurer.
It was an oddly welcoming, and refreshing sight, and combined with the gentle breeze and its palpable freshness, made my body ease almost instantly. -Wow...-
Making my way further in, beyond an elegantly arched doorway, the room expanded into a sizable lounge—finely balanced relics flaking plush, luxurious furniture, all sat before a gently crackling fireplace spreading the reminiscent notes of cedar and pine that resuscitated memories of sitting around campfires in my early days in the System. -How comfortable...-
*tap* But before my mind could fully ease into the tranquility of nostalgia, a soft hum resonated, and the walls and ceiling shimmered, suddenly warping before being replaced with an immersive panorama of the airfield, the sprawling clouds above, and the open sky beyond.
"How fascinating..." The words escaped my lips before a single thought could pass—genuine awe threading into my voice as I picked out the pixellation masked by light magic. -This must be the skyglass that boy mentioned...- Stepping into the room, the air shifted, mimicking the sensation of approaching a balcony that overlooked the airstrip outside. -Even the sun on my skin...- It simply felt.. radiant...
But while I stood, absorbing and dissecting the illusion, a synthesized, yet gentle voice broke my reverie. "The weather today is lovely, isn't it?"
Turning with a deliberate calm, I expected to be greeted by another humanoid automaton as I had seen elsewhere in the ship, but my eyes instead fell on a sizable black panther sat elegantly next to the archway I just passed—its gaze, though clearly mechanical, holding an unsettling depth.
But, as if noticing, it lowered its gaze immediately. "I am Bella, the caretaker of your suite." Softening its tone, its programmed nature flattened the depth in its voice. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Lestir."
-How.. curious...- "Nice to meet you."
"If you would like to make any alterations here, please ask."
Tilting my head, I lightly mused. "What kind of alterations?"
Raising her head, though now kept her gaze lowered, the view of the sky above us melted into the underside of a rainforest canopy, and the air shifted, now carrying the scents of flowers, and humidity of rain. "Everything from simulated environment, scenery, furnishings, and even my own form can be customized. If you perhaps prefer a human or elven appearance, or perhaps something more animal, I can-"
"Your current setting it fine..." I gently interjected, looking up at the underside of the canopy through the skyglass before turning back to her with a curious squint. -How.. unexpected...-
"As you wish." She responded smoothly, rising with an effortless grace. "Would you perhaps like refreshments? Food or bath?"
Considering it idly, I wanted to brush off the request, but after a moment, flinched remembering the blood still staining my armor. -Ah...- "I suppose a bath would do—as hot as you can make it."
Bella instantly flinched before looking up at me again, her head tilting with a curious innocence. "You wish for the water to be.. boiling?"
I nodded.
And after a brief, almost sentient hesitancy, she did too. "U-Understood." Turning, she quickly made her way through a small corridor at the back of the room to prepare it—her tail swaying rhythmically.. naturally.
Unlike the other robots I had seen, something about her was different.. the way she held her head.. the way the cameras in her eyes almost seemed like the voids of actual pupils...
She was an odd thing.. robotic, yet somehow acting alive... A glimmer of sentience somewhere it didn't belong...
In that moment, watching her walk around, I couldn't help but keep my mind from running. Curiosity had finally caught me, and for the first time in a while, I didn't feel like stopping it.
For the first time in eons, I found myself not just going along with it.. but questioning how...
Questioning why...
A spark of curiosity that appeared in the walls of the maze that trapped me as a tiny.. invisible crack… Something so small it was almost imperceivable.. but nonetheless existing.
A crack that was essentially nothing.. yet still a weakness to even the mightiest walls... I just needed to hit that spot.. hard...
The issue was.. I was too enraptured by the view of the sky shining through the crack above it—the view of freedom—to wind up the punch.
Though.. perhaps that was for the best.. for if I struck the wall in that moment, I may not have lived to strike it again.
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