Northern quickly made his way to the veranda. As he reached it, he could see the vast mass of a dark storm casting a shadow over the river, making it all look like dusk was descending yet again.
He flew off the veranda, launching straight into the sky. The airship was already surrounded by multiple Seraphae—bucklers raised, fierce expressions locked on the vessel.
Anike was there waiting ahead of everyone, her gaze strong and her spear poised to strike.
As she saw Northern flying towards her, relief washed across her face. But she immediately seemed to reproach herself and said to Northern instead:
"Child. You do not need to worry about this. Have a good rest and let us take care of this."
She looked at the massive airship, her gaze dark and taut with tension.
Northern awkwardly chuckled, scratching his cheek.
"Uhm, actually... that’s mine."
Anike looked at him with ical disbelief.
"Yours?"
Northern nodded.
"Yes, the airship belongs to me. I was thinking of leaving very soon, so I directed it here."
Anike’s face immediately twisted with hostility.
"You... brought an army? To our... land?"
’How is everyone ing to that conclusion?!’
Northern sighed.
"No, I didn’t. Why would I possibly bring an army to your land? I didn’t even bring anything! There’s just a few people—fewer than five, in fact!"
Anike looked at Northern with disbelief, her mouth slightly open. She looked at Northern, then at the ship.
Then at Northern again.
"Why do you have to bring such a great vessel for just five people...?"
Northern exhaled and looked away in slight embarrassment.
"That’s the smallest of my rides..."
Anike looked like she really couldn’t take it anymore. She was staring at Northern, her face like that of a nine-year-old who genuinely could not prehend their homework. Worse still, the teacher had taught it well, so she definitely thought she had a grasp of it—only to get home and have the whole thing scatter somehow. Now she just sat there, staring in ical confusion.
The air was silent. There were people around, and they had also heard what Northern had just told Anike.
The silence was starting to get oppressive. Northern felt like he wouldn’t know where to go from here, just suspended in an awkward limbo if he didn’t speak soon.
"Uhm. So... Shin is there, although still recovering, and a few of my panions. That’s it. I apologize for not telling you about it. I just did it on a whim and intended to talk to you, but I slept off... in the bathroom. Haha."
’Was that last part really necessary?’
Northern himself was slightly flustered. He wasn’t used to intruding on people’s privacy like this. And when he did, he always tried to apologize regardless of his intentions.
After all, if anyone were to intrude on his privacy—regardless of their excuse—he wouldn’t be merciful.
Anike, hearing about Shin, widened her eyes. "But Eisha said—"
Northern nodded.
"Well, yes. His brother had him. We had a talk... he decided to let him go in good faith."
’Now I have both of them.’
Northern, of course, minced his words. He didn’t want to add "defeated the Patriarch of the Kageyama clan" to the mix. At this point, they should be getting used to him, but still—it was better to be safe than sorry.
Anike looked relieved and happy.
"Shin is alive and well. Eisha would be so happy."
Northern nodded and smiled. "Excuse me."
He flew towards the storm, easily passing through it. He reached the airship and landed on the deck. Immediately, Knight Chrysler and Eskedar—already tensed and ready for battle—shot toward him, but slid into sharp kneeling positions the moment they noticed it was him. They were too mitted to the sprint to stop abruptly.
"Master!"
"Your Highness!"
’I don’t know if I’m ever going to get used to these titles.’
He sighed. "What are you guys doing? Why aren’t you ing out?"
Eskedar responded sharply, standing up.
"We thought it was more sensible to await your arrival, sir!"
Oland was already ing out as Chrysler spoke.
"More importantly... we couldn’t fly."
Oland joined them with a respectful bow.
"The ship just started ing here on its own, so I figured we were heading to your location."
Even though Oland was the Tower Master and registered driver of the Thunderhead Dreadnought, he would forever be in awe of certain ways the vessel bent to Northern’s will. Ways he’d never taste.
Northern looked toward the cabin.
"My father?"
"He’s been considerably better," Oland responded. "Movement is too much of a stretch right now."
"He just needs to sleep a lot from how I see it," Chrysler added. "He doesn’t have any wounds. Just pure fatigue. He must have been in one hell of a battle or torment. Maybe both."
Northern looked at them.
"So, right now?"
"He’s sleeping," Oland retorted curtly.
"Alright then. The rest of you, follow behind me. This place is an entire civilization, so be careful."
Northern levitated off the deck.
[You’re using Wind Manipulation]
He used the current of wind to lift the weight of the others, descending with them into the clouds. The Seraphae—with Anike’s gestures—flew toward them and each picked one from the air.
Anike looked at Northern with concern.
"And Shin?"
Northern returned a smile.
"He’s currently resting. He’s been through a lot in the past few days. What about Mother? I should inform her of—"
"Lael! Lael!! Is it true? Is he here?!" Eisha shouted as she was being carried toward them by Judgment.
Anike smiled softly.
"I called for her."
Northern smiled awkwardly as his mother arrived.
"Is it true? Shin is here?" Tears were rolling down her cheeks.
He nodded in response.
"He’s currently sleeping now though—"
"I don’t care, take me to him! I want to be by his side when he wakes up!"
Northern nodded obediently and took Eisha into his arms, cradling her carefully. He flew straight to the airship and landed softly on its deck, then followed her to the cabin. They entered an en suite room where Shin was tucked into a fine flowery blanket, fast asleep.
’He looks peaceful, at least.’
Eisha moved toward the bed immediately, her hand already reaching for her husband.
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