After parting ways with the headmaster, I finished packing the enchantment stones and proceeded to make my way toward the airship with all my luggage and the lady servant.
The ship was docked in the magic academy's vast courtyard.
It had the appearance of a sailing ship, only that the frame was entirely made of steel and no actual sail present. Two metal protrusions were attached on the back of the ship as well.
A pair of soldiers cladded in black and white uniform were standing guard in front of the stairs leading to the ship's entrance.
They were the knights of the Zeref Household, specially assigned under me.
The knights saluted and greeted me as I passed by them.
"Greetings, Lady Zeref!"
I simply nodded to them and gave a short order.
"Prepare for take off. We're departing immediately."
"Yes, my lady!"
I then entered the ship and made my way through the hull to my personal cabin.
The room was decorated extravagantly as it was purposed for a Zeref descendant.
I opened the giant wardrobe inside the cabin and discover a black and white dress hanging neatly within.
This was not an ordinary garment. It was a meticulously-crafted magical wear which promotes mana generation.
It used to belong to my mother and then passed on to me.
Since once I arrive to my destination I would start working as the mage of the Zeref Household, I decided to change my regular shirt and long skirt outfit to that black and white dress.
They always said that my ocean-blue eyes paired well with the dress and my long black hair. I believed their judgement and wore the wear with great confidence.
Once I had made sure every fabric and piece of clothing was properly worn, I stepped out of my cabin and made my way to the airship's bridge.
The room was oval in shape. Transparent fortified windows surrounded every side, allowing clear view of the ship's surroundings.
Inside the bridge could be found a room filled with magical equipment adorned with dozens of buttons and screens made of crystals.
Three people cladded in black and white uniform similar to the two knights from before were operating the magical equipment.
"Greetings, Lady Zeref!"
The three saluted as I arrived on the bridge.
"Airship's status?"
I asked as I seated myself on the captain's chair in the middle of the bridge, overlooking the entire operation.
"Magic core stable. Fuel at 87 percent. Hull integrity at 98 percent."
One of the crewmen replied.
I nodded to the report.
"Initiate take-off sequence. Set course to the Danau river in the Damai region."
"Yes, my lady!"
The ship began to make a buzzing sound. Not long after, the ship started to float up to the sky.
Once the ship was way past the rooftop of the academy's building, the two protrusions on the back of the ship burst forth with great blue flames, propelling the ship across the sky.
"Altitude 159 choro (1 choro = 1 meter). Cruising at 9 kilochoro per minute (1 kilochoro = 1 kilometer). One hour and seven minutes till we reach Danau river, my lady."
A crewman reported.
"Raise altitude to 214 choro and gradually increase speed to 14 kilochoro then maintain cruising speed."
I ordered. I shifted my gaze to the one crewman with a magic equipment on their ears.
"Contact Zeref's flagship and inform the viscount that we're heading their way."
"Yes, my lady!"
I stood up from my chair and looked over one of the windows on the bridge, providing me with a view of the vast forest landscape below.
I sighed at the sight my gaze captured.
Hundreds of soldiers trailing like a snake along every dirt road as far as the eyes could see.
They were surely the mobilization headmaster was referring to before.
These days the monsters were spreading far and wide across the continent that humans could barely keep up on fighting them.
As such, landlords all over Dunia began to conscript soldiers in massive scale and sending out armies to every corner to deal with the monsters.
If such extreme measure was not taken, humanity would risk not just destruction, but also total extinction.
Being often presented with this discouraging fact, I could not help but wonder every time if we could ever win this great war. Or were we just waiting for the inevitable.
What a time to be alive.
The airship cruised through the clouds in the blue sky.
Before an hour passed, we arrived to a mountainous landscape with the vast sea as the backdrop.
This was the Damai region. Located along the northwestern coast of the Tsatu Empire in the Dunia Continent. Home to the Zeref Household.
As we made our way further into the region, pillars of black smoke were billowing up to the sky.
Towns and villages below were dilapidated and burning. Traces of the monsters' invasion.
The Zeref army tried their best to push the enemies back, but they could not prevent the destruction.
We soon reached a great river which mouth could be seen heading off to the ocean.
"Approaching Danau river, my lady!"
A crewman reported.
Gathering along the river were hundreds of knights cladded in armor and brandishing black and white banner.
They were, indeed, the Zeref army. Mobilized by my father and brothers to stop the monsters' advance.
Though the hundreds knights of Zeref looked formidable, the monsters on the other side of the river posed great intimidation as well.
Thousands of lizardmen cladded in leather armor and steel weapons were lining up before the river, threatening to march.
Way beyond the Danau river, past the army of lizardmen, were two great mountains.
In between the mountains were a narrow valley from where more lizardmen was pouring out.
It was beyond the mountains where the mysterious ruin from which the lizardmen originated was located.
Initially the Zeref army was based right around the ruin, but once monsters began to be unleashed from the odd site, the army was pushed back.
In recent days, my father and brothers managed to regain their ground up till Danau river.
The Zeref planned to use the momentum created by this chance to push the monsters even further all the way to the ruin.
The reason why I came back home was to tip the scale to our favor and secure total victory.
The airship landed at a plain by the river, on the Zeref army's side of course.
There were five other ships on the plain, all property of the Zeref Household.
The ships were seen being refueled and maintained by the mechanics assigned to each ship.
Judging from the dents and the trails of smoke pouring out from some part of the hulls on all ships, it seemed they were out on patrol and took some damage from the monsters.
They did not seem would be flying anytime soon.
"Refuel and perform thorough maintenance check on all weaponry. Be ready to be airborne at any time."
"Yes, my lady!"
I left the bridge and sent my maid to get my belongings I left at my cabin.
I promptly left the ship through the extendable stairs and was immediately welcomed by three uniformed men right at the bottom.
Their uniforms were more extravagant than the knights who escorted me before. And each of them had a magnificent sword strapped on their waist.
But a man, who looked much older than the other two, wore the most extravagant black and white uniform and possessed the most magnificent sword of all people there.
The two younger men were in their late twenties. One adorned with stark crimson hair, the other raven dark hair like mine.
They were my twin older brothers. Leongard and Aizengard Zeref.
The third was a tall middle-aged man.
Brandished with crimson hair like Leongard, but this man also possessed a majestic-looking beard. His posture was dignified and fearsome.
He was indeed my father, Viscount Belgard Zeref.
The three men each had their own signifying features. But they shared something in common.
A pair of ocean-blue eyes like mine. A sign of the Zeref blood.
Once I approached them, my father immediately pulled me to his arms.
"Welcome back, Fina!"