Chapter 109 - 108: Saint Sean City

Chapter 109: Chapter 108: Saint Sean City

Fortunately, after another intense collision of Magic Spirit Light, the airship finally returned to normal. Gaode pressed his face against the window, his gaze piercing through the stabilizing and fading Magic Shield. At this point, the massive figure of the Wind Element was nowhere to be seen.

"Is it dead... or was it driven away?" Gaode wondered, unable to be sure.

Inside the airship, the lights that had flickered out during the Wind Element’s attack flickered back to life. The crew bustled about, inspecting every corner of the vessel to ensure there was no severe damage. Soon, he overheard the crew members talking outside.

"Thank goodness Mage Frey is on board. That was an adult 4th Ring Wind Element, and we’re high up in the sky. If it had been any other 4th Ring Mage, they might not have been able to save the airship."

"Our luck is just terrible," another voice replied. "Wind Elements are one of the most terrifying Earth Vein Creatures in the sky. They’re incredibly rare, yet we still managed to run into one..."

Gaode’s heartbeat gradually steadied as he realized the attack was truly over. The airship regained its stability and continued along its scheduled route. He stood by the window for a while longer before returning to his cabin, but the lingering unease in his heart didn’t fully dissipate.

"Airships aren’t entirely safe either. And if something happens, it’s a hundred percent mortality rate for me. I have to find a way to fly on my own..." he thought, setting a short-term goal for himself.

The rest of the journey was free of danger or disturbances as the airship traveled smoothly eastward. However, having stayed in his cabin and knowing little about the world’s geography, Gaode had no idea where they were. That changed when a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK sounded at his door.

Gaode opened it to find a crew member in uniform standing outside.

"We’ve arrived at Saint Sean City. We’re about to land, so brace yourself and be careful not to fall," the crew member reminded him.

"Understood. Thank you."

Gaode pulled out his pocket watch and saw it wasn’t even seven o’clock in the evening yet. During the Dark Night Moon, the Sun hadn’t even fully set at this hour. Intrigued, he hurried to the window and looked down, his heart leaping in astonishment.

The endless stretches of dense primeval forests and rolling hills below had vanished. In their place flowed a breathtakingly massive river that snaked in from the edge of the horizon. Numerous large ships crisscrossed its surface, weaving through the waterways. Along the riverbanks, vast plains of golden wheat fields stretched as far as the eye could see. And not far away, Saint Sean City—the largest city in the entire Sean Duchy—came into view.

Among the clusters of buildings that still looked like mere black dots, one towering structure stood out, piercing the clouds. Even from such a distance, it remained distinctly visible. Located in the very center of Saint Sean City, it was the tallest and most eye-catching building in the area. Looking further out, he spotted another similar structure towering above a high peak just outside the city. The materials used to build them must have been incredibly unique, gleaming like polished jade under the afterglow of the setting Sun.

"What is that...?" Gaode whispered, awestruck. It was the first time he had seen such towering architecture in this world.

"Those are Mage Towers, the iconic landmarks of Saint Sean City," a passing crew member casually explained. "The one in the city center is the Royal Mage Tower, and the one outside the city is the Cyrus Mage Tower."

"Mage Towers..." Gaode couldn’t help but repeat the term.

While he was lost in thought, the Ancient Capital airship arrived above the Airship Base and prepared for landing. As the most prosperous city in the Sean Duchy, Saint Sean City saw a fair amount of airship traffic on a daily basis, including merchant vessels from other nations coming to trade. Thus, the city had built a dedicated Airship Base capable of docking and launching over a dozen airships simultaneously.

Hovering above the base, the Ancient Capital confirmed its clearance with the ground crew before its massive frame initiated final landing preparations. The lifting gas within the envelope was slowly released, drifting out like morning mist caressed by the dawn. As the gas gradually emptied, the airship began a steady descent. However, the complex and unpredictable air currents made the process rather turbulent, leaving the passengers feeling as though they were aboard a giant ship crashing through rough waves.

It wasn’t until the Ancient Capital was less than two hundred meters from the ground that the crew tossed down several massive mooring ropes. The ground staff secured the lines with practiced speed. Instantly, the shaking airship stabilized, and its descent quickened.

The brief aerial journey had come to an end.

With his luggage already packed, Gaode stared out the window at the colossal airships parked outside, his eyes brimming with excitement. He waited in his cabin for a while, allowing the Mages from the upper decks to disembark first before finally stepping out under the guidance of the crew.

Leaving the cabin didn’t mean he could just walk away, however. He had to pass through a designated inspection channel and register his information before he was permitted to leave the Airship Base. Lugging his bags like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time, Gaode somewhat shyly approached a ground staff member to ask about the procedures.

The uniformed worker, a young woman with blonde hair, was exceptionally polite and patient, answering his questions with absolute clarity. Once Gaode had all the details sorted, he thanked her sincerely and headed toward the inspection channel.

Watching his retreating figure, the blonde staff member couldn’t help but smile in amusement. Logically, anyone able to board a royal airship had to have some sort of background. Yet Gaode carried himself with an undisguised "country bumpkin" demeanor—though without any hint of an inferiority complex. His questions had been thorough, but he hadn’t seemed the least bit timid. It was a truly contradictory temperament.

After a simple registration, Gaode exited the Airship Base through the rather spacious inspection channel. Just as he was wondering where he could find a guide to learn more about Saint Sean City, he spotted a familiar figure standing outside the base.

Ms. Jelica stood tall and graceful, accompanied by her butler and an elegantly dressed maid. The three of them were clearly waiting specifically for him.

"Ms. Jelica." Taking a deep breath, Gaode hurried over and greeted her politely.

Today, Ms. Jelica was wearing a sky-blue dress, her features soft and gentle. Smiling, she handed him a faintly glowing silver card. Emblazoned upon it was the emblem of the Haines Clan—that familiar bird, wings spread as if ready to take flight.

"What is this?" Gaode hesitated for a moment before accepting the card.

"This is a silver card for the Haines Inn, which is one of my clan’s properties in Saint Sean City," Ms. Jelica explained, her voice gentle and clear. "With this card, you will receive the highest quality of service and treatment at the inn, as well as the most favorable prices. I figured you would definitely need a guide since you’re new to Saint Sean City, but I have to set off for the Cyrus Magic Academy shortly. Please forgive my lack of hospitality."

"Ms. Jelica, being able to ride this airship to Saint Sean City has already been a great favor from you," Gaode replied with utmost politeness. "I’ve heard about the Cyrus Magic Academy before—it is the highly coveted Holy Land of Sean Mages. I wish you the best of luck there." He hesitated for a second before finally adding, "...Besides, we might see each other again very soon."

Ms. Jelica clearly didn’t understand the deeper meaning behind his words. "I wish you success in Saint Sean City as well."

After the brief exchange of well wishes, she said no more and boarded the carriage that had been waiting nearby, departing.