Chapter 119: The departure for Sylvaris 2

She considered for a moment how best to explain it.

"Two beasts of the same bloodline can have very different current power levels. But the bloodline determines their overall potential, their innate abilities, and how far they can reasonably evolve."

Adam understood immediately.

"So, a kind of genetic potential."

Elaria agreed.

"That’s a reasonable comparison."

Vespera raised a hand.

"There are nine recognized categories."

Adam memorized it immediately.

"Servant."

The lowest level.

"Elite."

"Leader."

"Warrior." "

"Commander."

"Sovereign."

Then the three highest categories.

"Legendary."

"Mythical."

"And finally..."

Vespera finished:

"Divine."

Adam mentally rehearsed the entire sequence.

Servant.

Elite.

Leader.

Warrior.

Commander.

Sovereign.

Legendary.

Mythical.

Divine.

He then pointed to the three large green mounts.

"And these?"

"Warrior bloodline," Vespera replied.

Adam raised his eyebrows slightly.

"So, the fourth category out of nine."

"Yes."

He studied the steed again.

"They already seem much more impressive than a normal horse."

"Because they are," Lyriana replied.

She placed a hand on her own horse’s neck.

The wind around the mane shifted slightly.

"A well-trained adult Windsteed can reach about 150 kilometers per hour on suitable terrain."

Adam looked at her.

"150?"

"Yes."

He observed the creature’s long legs.

"That’s faster than many ordinary cars in my old world."

No one really understood the comparison.

But it didn’t matter.

Elaria continued:

"Their greatest advantage isn’t even their top speed."

"Endurance?"

"Exactly."

She indicated the mount.

"They can run for almost an entire day without truly stopping if they aren’t constantly pushed to their top speed."

Adam whistled softly.

"So fast and enduring."

Lyriana nodded.

"It’s one of the best land mounts for long-distance travel within the kingdom."

"Why not use them everywhere?"

Isadora replied this time:

"Because they remain expensive to raise. Their diet is more demanding than that of an ordinary mount, and the good bloodlines are carefully monitored."

"Makes sense."

Adam approached his mount.

He placed a hand on the saddle.

The Windsteed remained perfectly calm.

The knight quickly explained a few specifics.

Leg pressure.

Rein control.

The commands used to request a slowdown or a stop.

But Adam had already ridden in his former life.

The basic principles were still familiar enough for him to grasp quickly.

He placed a foot in the stirrup.

Then he mounted.

The change in height was impressive.

"Okay..."

At almost three meters high, the world suddenly seemed much lower.

Selene burst out laughing.

"Are you scared?"

Adam looked at her.

"No. I just realized that falling from up there would be much more humiliating than I thought."

"I can catch you."

"Thank you for your trust."

The steed took a few steps.

Adam naturally adjusted his posture.

The creature responded to the slightest movements.

Much more docile than he had imagined.

"She’s really easy to control."

Lyriana mounted in turn.

Her posture felt immediately natural.

"Wind Steeds are intelligent. Once they understand you’re their rider, they almost cooperate on their own."

Elaria took the third mount.

As always, she seemed perfectly calm.

Adam looked at her.

"Do you know how to ride?"

"Yes."

"Of course."

She adjusted her glasses.

"Why ’of course’?"

"Because I’m starting to accept that you all know how to do far too many things."

Selene smiled.

"You’re making progress."

Adam shook his head.

The final goodbyes began.

Isadora approached first.

She looked at Adam.

Then at her daughter.

Then at Lyriana and Elaria.

"Be careful on the road."

Lyriana inclined her head slightly.

"Yes."

Isadora then looked at Adam.

"And don’t forget that the goal isn’t just to arrive fast."

Adam understood.

"If something looks dangerous, we go around it."

"Exactly."

Elena approached Lyriana.

"Contact me as soon as you arrive."

"Of course."

Then she looked at Adam.

"And you too."

"Promise."

Shiora raised a finger.

"And if you find any interesting products along the way..."

Adam stared at her.

"Shiora."

"What?"

"I’m going to meet Astraea. Not to open a new trade route."

She smiled.

"The two aren’t incompatible."

Adam sighed.

Elaria, already mounted, added calmly,

"She’s not wrong."

Adam looked up at the sky.

"Why is everyone against me today?"

Vespera approached next.

Her attention immediately went to Adam.

Or rather...

To his mana.

"Are you still maintaining the compression?"

"Yes."

"Even on horseback?"

Adam concentrated briefly.

The circulation remained steady.

"For now."

"Maintain it for the entire journey."

Adam remained silent.

Then he looked at the others.

"I knew there would be a trap." "

Vespera completely ignored the remark.

"The mount’s uneven movement will be good exercise."

Adam sighed.

"Even when you don’t come, you find a way to train me."

"Of course."

Selene approached last.

She looked at Adam.

Then Lyriana.

Then Elaria.

"If you encounter anything interesting..."

Adam interrupted her immediately.

"No."

"You don’t even know what I was going to say."

"You were going to tell me to fight it."

Selene thought for a moment.

"Yes."

"That’s it."

She smiled.

Then her expression shifted slightly.

"Just make it back in one piece."

This time, Adam wasn’t joking.

"I promise."

They exchanged a few more words.

Then Lyriana urged her mount forward.

The Windsteed left the stable with surprising lightness despite its size.

Adam followed.

Elaria brought up the rear.

Once in the courtyard, Adam immediately felt the mount become more energetic.

The breeze around its mane intensified.

The three riders passed through the gates of the estate.

Then those of the ducal quarter.

Valoria stretched out before them.

The city was already fully awake.

The main streets were bustling.

Merchants.

Craftsmen.

Adventurers.

Guards.

Passersby naturally stopped to watch the three enormous green mounts cross the city.

Adam held the reins lightly.

His Windsteed responded almost instantly.

He needed only a few movements to indicate the direction.

Lyriana led the way.

Her long, silvery hair billowed in the wind from her mount.

Adam followed a few meters behind.

Elaria brought up the rear.

They finally reached the great gates of Valoria.

The guards recognized them immediately.

No prolonged inspection.

A few greetings.

Then the outer gates opened.

Before Adam stretched the great road.

To the east.

Still to the east.

Somewhere, far, far away at the end of that road...

Lost Sylvaris.

The World Tree.

Astraea.

The last Fragment of Technology.

And probably many other things whose existence Adam was still completely unaware of.

Lyriana turned slightly.

"Ready?"

Adam gently tightened his fingers around the reins.

He smiled.

"Yes."

Lyriana gave the signal.

Her Windsteed accelerated.

Adam did the same.

For a few seconds, the speed remained reasonable.

Then the creatures truly began to run.

The wind whipped across Adam’s face.

The walls of Valoria receded rapidly behind them.

The sensation was completely different from riding an ordinary horse.

No heavy movements.

No jarring impact with each stride.

The wind mana seemed to lessen some of the strain and make their gait surprisingly fluid.

Adam laughed in spite of himself.

"Okay!"

He now understood why these creatures were used for long journeys.

Lyriana was already slightly ahead.

Adam adjusted his position.

His mount responded.

The distance closed.

Elaria remained behind them, perfectly steady.

And so...

For the first time since his arrival in this world, Adam truly left Valoria for a long journey.

Lyriana in the lead.

Adam in the center.

Elaria bringing up the rear.

Three Windriders set off on the northeast path.

With, at the end of the road...

The Forest of Sylvaris.