Chapter 2
Phong
Five years later…
It was March 27, 7516, the third millennium in the Era of The Eternity of the Heart-Dream World.
High above, piercing through the white clouds, three silver triangular transport spaceships floated. On the undersides of the transport spaceships, electronic letters flashed: Great Eagle Airlines. Every few minutes, the text shifted to: Destination: Flying City.
Behind a line of glass doors that ran along the transport spaceships' sides were long corridors filled with hundreds of tourists, all fidgeting with anticipation. They were all eager to see the city that was heralded as the most beautiful on The Oldwest Continent. Today, the nation of Skyborne was celebrating its founding day, and Flying City would be filled with festivities all night long and into the morning.
In the corridor of the transport spaceships, a little boy stood nestled among the sea of adults. He stood on his tiptoes, staring out the glass window, his eyes wandering through the space bathed in golden sunlight. With nothing left to see, the boy asked the person holding his hand:
- Dad, are we almost there?
His father nodded and smiled:
- We might be soon, just wait a little longer!
The three transport spaceships lowered their altitude, their jet engines roaring and blowing spiral-shaped clouds. As they passed through the bottom of the cloud sea, a city appeared before the boy's eyes. The city was perfectly round, with most of it in the bay, while the rest encroached upon the sea. The chief pilot's voice echoed through the loudspeaker:
"Welcome, honored guests, to Flying City! The transport spaceships will soon land at the White Eye District's airport! Have a good day, and may The Eternity bless you!"
The skyport was composed of an air traffic control tower with huge railways extending from its base into the sea. Each railway had twenty large transport spaceships, and they were nearly all full. The three ships landed one after another on the three empty tracks. Tourists disembarked and walked along the road next to the railways to complete immigration procedures. Behind the entrance gates, a female tour guide waved a flag at her tour group:
- Yamator country tour group! Yamator country tour group is here. Have we all gathered? We are going to visit the White Eye District! The founding day ceremony is starting in three hours, we have plenty of time! Please check your personal belongings. Alright, please follow me!
The father and son were submerged in the crowd. The boy, unhappy, jiggled his father's hand:
- I want to go to the square!
- We have to go with the tour group! - The father laughed - The ceremony is in three hours, isn't it? Come on, son! There are a lot of cool things in the White Eye District!
Everyone boarded the electric trams waiting outside the port. After the passengers settled in, the train sped away, gliding smoothly on the magnetic levitation track, with almost nothing but the sound of the wind. The father and son sat in the last row.
The boy turned around to look at the White Eye District through the glass window, his eyes captivated by dozens of blue, pointed, high-rise towers—the residences of the city's people. Below the residential towers were hundreds of undulating towers of various shapes, primarily serving life or entertainment needs.
Between the towers was a system of roads that crisscrossed the air, interwoven layer upon layer. The lower-level roads had silver railings, while the higher-level ones were enclosed in glass cages. This sight fascinated the boy, and he didn't notice the tour guide's incessant chatter about the nation of Skyborne. Skyborne has a history of two thousand years and is currently the leading nation in the Heart-Dream World.
"This achievement is thanks to Snowsun X and the Conclave Council!"
Said the tour guide, echoing the praise of pro-government newspapers. The Snowsun family name is like the sun that illuminates this nation.
Five hundred years ago, the Divine Emperor Dynasty, which once ruled Skyborne, collapsed, and various warlord factions rose to vie for power. The land was dense with military equipment, there were more battlefields than residential areas, and more dead than living.
The civil war lasted until a talented leader from the Snowsun House appeared. He defeated all the various warlord factions and unified the nation. The leader who established the new dynasty took the throne and declared himself Snowsun I. Since then, Skyborne gradually became a powerful nation. The founding day of the Snowsun Dynasty is also the National Day of Skyborne.
Five hundred years later, the Snowsun family name has gone through ten generations, and the current emperor is Snowsun X. The people of the Snowsun clan are slow to age and have long lifespans, with each emperor able to live for a hundred, or even two hundred years.
"The people of Skyborne believe that the Snowsun family line is protected by divine spirits!" - The female tour guide states.
Ten minutes later, the tram stops on the track surrounding the dining service tower. The female tour guide helps everyone down, and doesn't forget to introduce:
- The cuisine in Flying City is amazing, especially the breakfast! Does anyone want to grab a bite before the festival to fill your stomachs?
The crowd responds enthusiastically and follows the guide. Inside the tower, the corridors are divided into multiple paths with hundreds of shops close to each other, displaying thousands of colorful cakes in glass cabinets. The father and son get lost in the maze of sweet cakes.
Suddenly, the little boy notices a small restaurant at the end of the path, with a sign showing only one character: Lap. Because it is hidden, no one pays attention to the shop, despite the tangle of flashing lights hanging that seem about to explode your pupils. The little boy is very curious and points:
- Can we go in, Dad?
The father looks in that direction. By the window of the Lap shop, an old man looks at the father and son with delight. However, the female tour guide says:
- This place is too narrow! I know a better, more spacious place! Please follow me!
The father and son happily leave, leaving the old man sitting there in a daze. His face looks like someone at a funeral, surrounded by a gloomy atmosphere. His appearance as a merchant with a struggling business is obvious.
"The Eternity, what good fortune is left for this old body?" - The owner sighs.
The shop is empty. Lap, the owner, rests his chin idly, like a weary young lady waiting for her prince. At times like this, he would think back to a wrong decision made decades ago. Out of frugality, the old man had not bought a stall on the top of the road but had bought the last one. It was fine on normal days, but during festivals, the shop virtually disappeared.
"How could I have been so foolish back then?!"
Mr. Lap is exasperated. But it is only a thought; over the years, his bargain-hunting nature has remained the same, as the sign outside clearly proves. The original sign read: Mr. humorous Lap's Shop.
One fine day, a group of thugs from the Garbage Market passed by. They found it an eyesore and smashed it with all their strength. The sign was broken, yet Mr. Lap did not repair it. Instead, he removed all the fragments, leaving only the character Lap and reframing it. A unique, strange name, matching the owner's stingy style.
Mr. Lap is feeling bored when suddenly he hears a clack sound! It bounces off Mr. Lap's face. He is startled and looks down to see a plate of noodles coated in rich tomato sauce. The plate is clean, with no noodles or sauce left.
Mr. Lap looks up. In front of him is a skinny young man, clothes messy, the inner shirt longer than the outer one, loose, worn-out pants. The most striking thing about him is his fiery red hair.
- Delicious as always, old man! - The red-haired guy picks his teeth and smacks his lips - Let me owe you for today as well, and I'll pay all old and new debts together this weekend!
After speaking, the red-haired guy swings his leg to leave, but Mr. Lap presses the door lock button. The red-haired guy narrows his eyes in a glare. Lap the owner remains indifferent:
- You think a few flattery words are enough? Go wash the dishes and plates, now!
- I already said I'll pay this weekend! I'll have money this weekend! - The red-haired guy snorts in anger.
Mr. Lap scoffs:
- Money? You have money too?
- Why not? You agreed to let me pay on the weekend, don't go back on your word! Today is… day… day… Saturday…
Mr. Lap interrupts him, saying:
- Oh, today is Saturday, tomorrow is the day of prayer! Weekend, kid!
- I never break my word! Please, let me owe you, old man! – the red-haired guy laughs loudly.
Mr. Lap frowns, his face full of distrust.
Half a year ago, the red-haired guy appeared at the restaurant, claiming to be a culinary expert. Mr. Lap was dazzled by his attire, which was hung with expensive jewelry, and dreamed that one day his special noodles coated in rich tomato sauce would be famous in the capital, so he served his distinguished guest with great enthusiasm. However, the red-haired guy did not pay after eating, using the excuse of "settling a month's bill at the end of the month".
Mr. Lap was suspicious and, after the honored guest left, followed him. It was not until the red-haired guy stopped in front of the garbage market, took off his clothes, and revealed his true identity as a pickpocket, that Mr. Lap nearly had a heart attack.
Thinking he had succeeded in his deception, the red-haired guy returned to swindle one last time. Unfortunately, this time he was caught by Mr. Lap and a few assistants. With no money, the red-haired guy had to wash dishes for half a month. Since then, he has been living here. He can eat, and in return, he must wash dishes for free. It has already been half a year like this.
Just a few days ago, the red-haired guy announced that he would no longer wash anything, but would instead pay for his meals. Because his only son had passed the military academy exam, Mr. Lap happily agreed. After the joy passed, the old man realized he had made a serious mistake. "He waited for the right moment!" Mr. Lap lamented.
If he continued to let the red-haired guy chatter on, Mr. Lap would find him more and more of an eyesore, so he had no choice but to open the door and chase him away. Wearing a hat pulled low over his face, the red-haired guy grinned:
- There are no customers today. Everyone has gone out to play! Go home and hug your fat wife, old man!
After saying that, he ran away quickly, laughing like a madman, ignoring the string of curses Mr. Lap was spewing. The red-haired guy patted his empty pants pocket, mocking his own predicament:
- Ancestor of The Eternity, time to work!
The red-haired guy left the restaurant, walked out of the dining tower, and joined the crowded flow of people. The young man walked into life, with nothing but his bare hands and a head of red hair. No one noticed him. He exists yet is seemingly invisible, like the wind in the vast world.
Arriving at the tram station outside the tower, the red-haired guy takes out a few coins and gets on the tram to the city center. On the tram, he gazed out the window, his eyes following the watercourse below the tracks. The watercourse flows in from the sea, and then cuts across Flying City in an arc. People are accustomed to calling it "the Greenbelt River." The greenbelt divides the city into two parts: one part shaped like a crescent moon, called Crescent District, and the rest, shaped like an eye socket, is called White Eye District.
The red-haired guy had never been to Crescent District, because every time he set foot there, his shabby appearance would attract the attention of the police. He only sees some strange buildings, with domes shaped like turtle shells, and above them are about two or three spherical buildings and several small towers. Each building is independently laid out, surrounded by wide boulevards; along the largest boulevard, at the northernmost point is the Imperial Palace - which is both a government office and the royal residence.
The tram stops at the platform. The red-haired guy gets off, weaving through the crowd towards the plaza by the Greenbelt River. "Welcome to the National Day" banners are everywhere, and fluttering flags that constantly change color fill the air. The sounds of laughter and joy are noisy throughout the city. Some people are having fun, while others are excitedly taking photos. The crowd consisted of residents of the Flying City capital and tourists from all over the world. The Skyborne Empire is multi-ethnic, so it is difficult to distinguish a Skyborne person from people of other countries.
In the center of the plaza stand two huge gray stone tablets, used to mourn the fallen soldiers. At the foot of the two tablets are many white flowers. The pure white seven-petaled flowers, which never wilt regardless of rain or sunlight, are called "Immortal Flowers" and are only used for funerals or memorial ceremonies held by the Skyborne people.
The once-large plaza is now crowded with over fifty thousand spectators, with a deafening roar of noise. Around the plaza, white national flags embroidered with the red wings of the Skyborne Empire fly in the sea breeze. A marble path that vertically cuts across the plaza is where the parade passes. The emperor and the government are attending the ceremony at the west grandstand.
Below the grandstand, the Imperial Guard is lined up neatly, shouldering rifles and wearing long swords at their waists. Fleets of flying ships pass overhead from time to time, casting shadows on the ground crowded with people. Like many thieves, the red-haired guy really likes the excitement of festivals. He squeezes into the crowd, his eyes darting around in search of careless money bags. Suddenly, he sees a few people pointing at the grandstand and hears them saying:
- Did you see the princess?
- I haven't seen her?! Where? Where? - Another person replies.
- To the right of the emperor! Look closely!
- Ah! I see her! Is that really Princess Luc Chau?
Hearing the words "princess," the red-haired guy asks curiously:
- Princess? Where?
The man joyfully hands him a pair of binoculars:
- Here! Look at her until your eyes fall in love, buddy!
After the red-haired guy aims the binoculars at the grandstand, he quickly recognizes the person being called "the princess." She is wearing a white dress, with long brown hair draped over her back, and her face is full of melancholy, but what is most remarkable are her deep blue eyes like the ocean. Just by looking at her, the red-haired guy feels like a mangy toad trying to eat a swan. He blurts out:
- I hope...
Everyone laughs, doubled over. Realizing his slip of the tongue, the red-haired guy changes the subject:
- The princess's name is Luc Chau?
- That's right! - The person who lent him the binoculars confirms.
The red-haired guy nods, muttering "Remember this name." His eyes are glued to the princess. He notices the earring on her left ear. The pair of earrings seems to be made of onyx and is inlaid with a red feather. The red-haired guy begins to think that if he could "pluck" this thing, he would have more than enough money for several years. His thieving gaze continues to sweep over the objects on the princess's body one by one, finally landing on the silver necklace on her neck. The wire is quite coarse, the joints are uneven in size, and it is even worse than the cheapest silver chain. It is hard to believe that the emperor's daughter would wear such a thing.
After a while of waiting, Snowsun X stands up. Behind the grandstand, the silhouette of Snowsun Emperor appears, looking like a giant stepping into the plaza. The people applaud loudly, cheering thunderously. The Emperor stands in the highest position, right next to Princess Luc Chau.
The emperor is wearing a yellow-orange men's formal suit, a turn-down collar coat with the red wing national emblem, and dark black gloves and boots, looking more like a commander-in-chief than an emperor. Waves of wrinkles ripple across his face. His eyes are a deep blue, just like the princess's, but his gaze is as hard as the light radiating from a blue diamond. The emperor is seventy years old, quite young compared to the Snowsun clan, but his face is like that of an ordinary old man. "Mr. Snowsun looks older than his actual age!" - people say to each other.
The emperor raises his hand to signal for silence. The noise gradually stops, and silence quickly covers the plaza. The emperor speaks, his voice hoarse and echoing:
- Today, March 27, 7516, the third millennium in the Era of The Eternity, is the National Day of the Skyborne Empire, the day we ended the long civil war! Let us remember the soldiers who fell to end the civil war, allowing the nation to turn a new page in history! Let us also honor those who sacrificed themselves for the nation's independence and security! We will never forget their noble self-sacrifice. Every generation of the Skyborne people must remember the two stone tablets in the capital plaza! I, Snowsun X - the Skyborne Emperor, swear by all my honor that the Skyborne Empire will definitely become stronger and stronger! May The Eternity bless the Skyborne people and the friends of the Skyborne Empire!
A thunderous applause breaks out. The red-haired guy has no time to appreciate it. Firstly, he does not care about the emperor's speech. Secondly, he is busy observing the princess. From the beginning of the ceremony, the princess has not smiled, but the red-haired guy continues to gaze, without being bored. She is beautiful, that's obvious. It's just that the red-haired guy has a strange feeling about the princess, but he doesn't know what it is.
The military parade begins with hundreds of armored vehicles slowly driving across the marble pavement. The soldiers draw their long swords, line up neatly, their steps straight. The flying ship formation moves coolly, shaped like a school of giant sharks swimming in the sky. In front of this symbolic display of military might, cheers and applause are unending, while the red-haired guy is busy looking for money. Now is his time to get rich.
The parade ends half an hour later, and people pour out of the plaza to participate in the festival. Millions of red wing-shaped confetti fall from high above, shining like ten thousand stars rising in broad daylight. The sound of musical instruments rings out, and in the crowd, people of all ages and genders hold hands and dance gracefully to the lively music. Everyone is in high spirits, but only the red-haired guy is focused on pickpocketing. He slowly moves closer to a blonde girl, muttering to himself:
- The girl, keep screaming loudly, louder, louder!
He deliberately gives the blonde girl a push. She stumbles, almost falling, and he catches her. His hand quickly reaches into her pocket and steals the wallet. With practiced, quick, and nimble movements, he hides the wallet and pretends to ask:
- Sorry! Are you okay? People were pushing too hard from behind!
- No... I'm fine... - The girl answers blankly.
- That's good then!
The red-haired guy grins. After saying that, he immediately leaves the crowd, avoiding complications and trouble. But the red-haired guy has only walked ten steps when he hears a loud shout from behind:
- Thief! Stop, you thief! Red-haired guy, everyone, grab him! Grab him!
The red-haired guy jumps in surprise, turns around to see the girl rushing toward him, her face filled with rage like a furious demon. It is then that he notices that she is wearing a silver-white long-sleeved jacket with blue trim, and a wing-shaped badge on her chest.
- Ancestor of The Eternity! The Sacred Envoy's guard! Touching them means rotten bones in prison!
He silently curses while running away at full speed. The blonde girl accelerates madly in pursuit, continuously shouting "Thief! Thief!"
Some people nearby shout to catch the thief. The plaza is suddenly thrown into a commotion, with one group of people pushing another, and some falling down. The red-haired guy rushes through the plaza, jumps onto the overpass that hangs across the Greenbelt River, and shouts loudly:
- Get out of the way, everyone! Please get out of my way!
The red-haired guy sprints, followed by the incessant screams of dozens of people. The scene is like a movie star being chased by fans. People understand what is happening and immediately seal off both ends of the bridge.
Cornered, the red-haired guy stops, his eyes constantly moving back and forth, looking for an escape. The situation is like a fish lying on a cutting board. The girl arrives, gasping for breath, and points directly at his face:
- Give me back the wallet!
The red-haired guy wears a worried expression, thinking that whether he returns it or not, he will still 'tour' prison. He can be hit, but he cannot lose his freedom. Just as he is thinking about prison, a police squad arrives on the scene. The crowds on both sides close in, determined not to let a social canker escape. The red-haired guy jumps onto the bridge railing. The girl, thinking he is in a panic and wants to commit suicide, runs over and shouts:
- Hey, don't do anything crazy! Stay right there!
The red-haired guy laughs loudly:
- See you next National Day, little girl!
After saying that, he jumps down. The girl, a Sacred Envoy's guard, can only reach out in time to grab and tear the red-haired guy's shirt. He falls into the river. The girl rushes to the edge, but all she sees are bubbles on the water's surface. She shouts for everyone to catch the thief, but it's no use.
The red-haired guy swims far away, climbs onto the bank, and disappears into the bustling crowd. He runs, soaking wet, laughing maniacally. Because he is very happy, he does not notice that his shirt is torn at the shoulder, revealing a rank printed with a line of small text:
Vo Phong. Earth Element. Deputy Squad Leader.