"…."
A few minutes after Theo's confession and the group embracing him, he was already beginning to feel awkward again. He felt like the beach sand should swallow him whole, unable to bear the embarrassment he felt.
'How could I say something so cheesy?' He cried inside. 'I've never told anyone that.'
The group had moved closer to the shore, their feet even touching the cool water as the setting sun remained visible beyond the horizon. What wasn't visible, however, was the ride that the group promised.
'I still see nothing…' Theo thought to himself, wondering if it was some invisible ship that couldn't be seen with natural eyes. However, if that was the case, why were the members of the Zenith looking up?
They were staring at the orange tinted sky, pointing in a particular direction as they said unfamiliar words to themselves. Words like 'gondola' and 'rudder', as well as 'balloonet'. It seemed they were identifying parts of something, and their location. Terra, Dinah, and Damon were the ones pointing out the precise positions of these things, but based on the casual manner that they conversed, this appeared to be a regular occurrence and there didn't seem to be any problems at all.
"Okay, we're ready to board." Fae said. "We don't usually have an additional passenger with us, so someone will have to help you get on."
Theo still didn't understand what 'get on' meant when they were looking at the sky, but he nodded anyway. Fae seemed to be paired with Terra, while Damon, Drake, and Dinah were alone. Jake suddenly crept up behind him, touching him on his shoulder.
"I'll do it." For the first time ever, Theo heard his voice.
"Great, Jake!" Fae smiled. "Then… let's go."
"Once again, who made you leader… I wanted to say that, and…"
"What was that?" Fae responded to Damon's murmur, but the man said nothing and hurriedly jumped into the air—creating a severe gust of wind that caused everyone's hair to violently dance with the roaring sands.
VWUSH!
Theo was forced to close his eyes, and by the time he opened them, Damon was nowhere to be seen.
'Huh? Where did he go?' He wondered, looking around and even above. 'He vanished? Is this teleportation? No… I don't think so.'
The next to go were Drake and Dinah, and the two simply floated in the air—flying high into the sky until they also became invisible. It started with their upper bodies, but eventually… their entire forms were obscured from sight.
'Hold on… there's something! Something is in the sky!' Theo's eyes widened. He turned to Fae, who was already being cradled by Terra, as if she was a baby. He instantly thought this was cute, causing his speech to falter.
"W-what is tha—?!"
WHOOSH!!
Before he could conclude his inquiry, a much more powerful gust of wind burst from where Terra previously stood and both women were lifted high into the air before vanishing almost immediately. Theo tried to shield his eyes from the sands so he could get a good view, but it all happened too fast.
In what seemed like a flash, only he and Jake remained on the beach.
'This is awkward…' He thought, glancing at the hooded fellow right next to him. Jake was quiet, his gaze focused high above until he sighed gently.
Then—
FSHWIIIIUUU!
Black shadows began to appear all around the two of them, creating a concrete platform of darkness. The dark floor began to rise slowly, lifting both of them into the air as Theo watched in marvel. They were surrounded by barricades to ensure no one fell off, but such a measure seemed unnecessary as both of them were immobile during the ascent.
Theo was amazed, both his eyes and mouth wide open as he watched the distance between himself and the sandy beach increase over time. While he gawked in marvel, distracted by the novelty of his experience, he didn't notice the soft smile on Jake's face.
Within a minute, the construct finally reached a precipice and stopped.
"You can get off now." He heard Jake say.
"Eh? Just like that?"
Theo looked around him and saw that he was high above the ground. It seemed like if he stepped forward, he would simply be falling to his death. However, not once did that thought cross his mind, as he took the step of faith and found his legs touching a solid platform.
Jake saw this and smiled even more, nodding in acknowledgment.
Theo didn't see this, though.
He was too distracted by the new sight his eyes were forced to feed on the moment he got off the shadow construct. He saw metallic walls around him, feeling a strange warmth while hearing the soft hum of an engine.
Jake walked past him, his shadow construct vanishing as he stepped further inside the corridor. Theo followed behind him, looking around him as the invisible entrance to the floating construct shut itself tight. They only walked for a few seconds before entering what seemed like a wide room that could make for a luxurious lounge.
"What is this? Where am I?" He whispered in wonder.
"Our airship." Fae's voice echoed in the room as she appeared from nowhere and flashed a welcome smile at him. "We call it 'Ambition', and it's the official vessel that we use as Ak'ashi's Zenith."
"Airship…"
Theo's voice trailed for a moment, once again taking a good look around him before muttering words that displayed the depths of his bewilderment. "What is an airship?"
*************
'Stunning!'
Theo had never seen anything like it. The airship, a marvel of wood and metal, soared effortlessly above the vast ocean, held aloft by glowing stones etched into its hull. The deck beneath his feet hummed with barely contained energy, a constant reminder that he was riding a miracle beyond conventional engineering.
The great sails, woven with shimmering threads of thick fabric, billowed in the wind, adjusting their angles seemingly of their own accord. Massive propellers at the stern whirred in unison with the crystals embedded along the ship's structure, their faint blue glow pulsating like a heartbeat.
Standing by the rail, Theo gripped the polished wood tightly as he peered down at the endless expanse of ocean below. The waters stretched infinitely, their surface kissed by the orange light of the setting sun. The reflection shimmered like molten metal, waves rolling lazily beneath them. Every so often, they would pass small islands—some barren, some lush with greenery, and others dotted with ancient ruins that jutted out of the ground like the bones of forgotten civilizations.
The airship cut through the sky with an elegance that defied its sheer size.
It wasn't just a vessel; it was a kingdom in the clouds.
The Zenith served as the crew members, and they moved about with well-practiced efficiency, adjusting the rigging, monitoring the 'arcane' conduits, and ensuring their course remained true. Drake was the ship's captain, and he stood at the helm, hands resting firmly on a wheel that gleamed with inlaid strange symbols.
The very air carried a scent Theo could only describe as electric, tinged with the salty breeze of the sea far below.
For hours, he simply stood there, awestruck. The journey felt surreal, as though he had stepped into one of the old tales of legend. He had never once imagined that the sky could be conquered in such a way, yet here he was, flying as effortlessly as a bird.
Then, in the distance, a shadow loomed on the horizon. At first, it was little more than a dark smudge against the ocean's brilliant blues, but as they drew closer, Theo's breath caught in his throat.
'The Ak'ashi Guild!'
A colossal island, vast enough to be mistaken for a small continent, emerged from the waters. Its edges were jagged cliffs, rising like natural fortifications, giving way to sprawling forests that blanketed the majority of the landmass.
Rivers carved silver veins through the terrain, winding their way toward the center—a place that looked like another world entirely.
In the heart of the island, civilization flourished in a breathtaking fashion.
Towers of smooth stone and reinforced steel reached toward the heavens, their surfaces adorned with glowing sigils that pulsed with power. Bridges of translucent energy connected various sections of the city, and beneath them, streets bustled with people from every corner of the world. Individuals wearing uniforms moved with purpose among the crowd, assisting in various tasks, and the entire landscape brimmed with order.
The centerpiece of the Ak'ashi Guild was an enormous structure resembling both a fortress and a palace. It was a marvel of design, blending conventional stone-wood architecture with sleek elements of iron and gold. Enchanted banners hung from its many spires, each bearing the insignia of the Guild—an eclipsed sun encircled by intertwining gears and surrounded by stars.
Even from the air, despite it being nighttime, Theo could see the immense greatness of the Ak'ashi Guild.
"This is… amazing!"
As the airship descended toward the grand port, Theo could make out the docks—floating platforms that extended over the water, equipped with towering cranes and a docking station designed specifically for this airship. The entire vessel was an Arcane Instrument, and it was further reinforced with other Armaments, making it one of a kind.
The port buzzed with activity as other regular ships, large and small, came and went, their sails folding in as they docked with practiced ease. With a soft shudder, their ship touched down, the resonant energy keeping it aloft settling into dormancy.
"Haa…" Theo exhaled, realizing only now that he had been holding his breath. The gangplank was lowered, and as he stepped off, his tattered boots met the smooth stone of the port, surrounded by the hum of activity.
"Welcome, Theo, to our home." Fae smiled, touching his shoulders as she whispered into his ears.
The other members of the Zenith soon disembarked, and the staff waiting for them bowed their heads, some rushing to the airship soon after for its scheduled maintenance. As they all stood around him, a question was asked.
"So… what do you think?"
He smiled.
"What do I think?" A myriad of thoughts rushed through his mind as he looked around, his eyes consuming so many new and strange views that he nearly felt overwhelmed. Still, he kept his breathing under control and turned to the group with a smile.
"This is paradise."
All through the journey, he had spent an immeasurable amount of time wondering what this place would look like, and it surpassed all of his expectations. Theo understood the moment he landed here that this was the genuine article—nothing else.
He had truly arrived at the Ak'ashi Guild.