The steel-gray wings soared at an altitude of ten thousand meters, with the rows of engine nozzles continuously spouting blue flames. Due to their incredible speed, the exhaust trails interwove like sinusoidal curves, forming dazzling circular patterns at points of overlap—phenomena famously known in physics as “Mach rings.”
Under the propulsion of triple rings, even the heavy aircraft cut through waves of turbulence, traveling faster than the speed of sound.
Hestia reclined on a wide seat by the window, taking a brief nap. This transport aircraft had its usual cargo hold—meant for transporting mechs and tanks—converted into a passenger module.
The room she occupied was roughly the size of a classroom, resembling a luxurious and tastefully decorated lounge. It was equipped with a drink bar, an automated kitchen offering various foods, and a bathroom complete with a bathtub. However, Hestia had little interest in indulging in these amenities for now. She was the sole formal passenger on this flight.
Because this was a government and military aircraft, only those with explicit clearance and requirements could board. Hence, Aileen wasn’t accompanying her.
If Hestia were to advance further in her journey as a songstress, the Star Region government might eventually assign her a private aircraft—similar to what Princoco had access to—available for her use at any time. But that wasn’t the case yet.
As the young girl rested, the aircraft pierced through layers of clouds, approaching its destination.
Towering mountain peaks stretched endlessly. These once treacherous and uninhabited areas had become rare sanctuaries during the corrosive acid rain that plagued Verdant Veil. Relying on the natural barriers of the mountains, people constructed rain-diversion towers encircling Northern 1st District. These towers caused the rain-laden clouds to empty their burden on the mountain slopes before reaching the interior, protecting the region from acidic damage. This system leveraged orographic rainfall—the most common form of precipitation caused by terrain.
Additionally, artificial lakes outside Northern 1st District collected the corrosive rainwater, which was purified at nearby treatment facilities and then transported into the zone for use. Such was the ecosystem of Northern 1st District.
Occasionally, Hestia spotted mountain peaks jutting out of the sea of clouds like islands, and in thinner patches of mist, glimpses of cities and buildings below appeared.
The aircraft descended slowly, cutting through the humid clouds until it reached its designated landing zone—a secluded military and emergency airfield in Northern 1st District, rarely visited in ordinary times.
The thunderous roar echoed through the valley, startling various birds into flight. The air currents from the engines bent trees, while the intense flames were palpable even hundreds of meters away.
Finally, the aircraft stabilized. The boarding ramp lowered from its belly, and Hestia awoke from her nap.
So soon? she thought. It felt like just a short afternoon rest.
Not wanting to linger in her seat, Hestia stood, stretched briefly, and was then guided by two staff members toward the exit.
The airfield was nestled within a vast canyon, flanked by towering walls of a dusky rose hue—closer to dark crimson. The imposing mountains loomed high, enclosing the view of the sky.
Around them grew trees that favored shade, and the occasional bird or terrestrial animal could be glimpsed among the woods.
Accompanied by the staff, Hestia crossed the expansive airfield to a nearby building, where faculty from Swallow Garden Academy awaited her.
“Good morning, Miss Hestia~”
Emerging from what seemed like the forest, a teacher in a brown jacket, with a leaf still stuck in his hair, waved at her. Two senior students stood beside him.
“We were planning something grander, but Lady Isabelle suggested a low-profile approach would better suit your future life. So, we kept things simple.”
“No need to worry, Mr. Schneil. I actually prefer quiet settings,” Hestia responded with a gentle shake of her head.
“Haha, that’s a relief! Oh, let me introduce these two by my side.” He patted the shoulders of the students next to him, nudging them forward.
“Vetrina, the president of Swallow Garden’s student council. You might have heard of her already.” The girl in a black-and-red skirt uniform smiled and nodded at Hestia.
“This is Orcas, also a new student like you. He’s exceptionally talented—perhaps you’ll become both good friends and rivals.” Schneil then introduced the boy, whose dark-brown skin bore a few scars near his eyes, hinting at a life spent in the wilderness.
“Hello,” Orcas greeted with a slight bow before retreating into silence.
“Well, everything else can wait until we’re at the academy. Let’s get going.” Schneil nodded to the personnel accompanying Hestia. After signing some documents for transfer, the aircraft carrying the staff departed, vanishing into the distant sky.
“Follow me, Hestia.” Schneil adjusted his glasses and led the way. Vetrina helped carry Hestia’s luggage as they chatted, while Orcas trailed behind, seemingly serving as a lookout and rear guard.
The group left the building by the airfield and followed a shaded path through the woods.
A cool, moist breeze swept through the air. By mid-August, the rain-diversion towers encircling Northern 1st District temporarily ceased operations, allowing some rain to spill over the mountains. During this season, the toxicity of the rainwater diminished significantly, posing little threat.
After walking roughly 500 meters, Schneil stopped. Only then did Hestia notice they had reached a cliff edge. Beyond the precipice lay a deep ravine with sheer rock walls on either side.
“Wait a moment,” Schneil instructed as the group sat down briefly. He then took out a flute and began to play near the cliff’s edge.
The melody dispersed through the mountain air, mingling with the cool mist and spreading across the valley.
Soon, small black dots appeared in the distant sky. They grew larger and larger, revealing massive birds with wingspans nearly ten meters wide. These giant raptors dived toward them, spreading their wings effortlessly to hover as they neared, before landing gracefully on the ground.
“These are the academy’s trained Crimson-Feathered Falcons.” The six towering birds ambled around Schneil, their orange-red eyes and jet-black pupils gleaming brilliantly, diverting attention from their otherwise ordinary feathers.
“Coo, coo~” The falcons chirped softly near Schneil. Some turned their heads curiously toward the students, tilting them as they observed.
“They’re transcendent beasts, a Primordial Sequence 3. Highly intelligent. They’re probably curious since they’ve never seen you or Orcas before,” Schneil explained as he stroked the birds’ feathers.
“Once you’re familiar with them, you can summon them like I do. Within Northern 1st District, there’s no freer way to travel than riding on their backs.”
“For now, let me secure Hestia’s luggage on two of them. Then we can ride them back to the academy.”
“Okay.” Hestia nodded, her gaze lingering on the majestic birds, filled with wonder.
_______________
Species: Grayback Falcon (Transcendent Subspecies)
Status: Healthy
Pathway: Primordial Sequence 3 – Crimson-Feathered Falcon
Talents:
Grayback Feathers: Their broad wings provide enhanced flight capability and superior carrying capacity, allowing them to lift heavy prey, such as mountain tortoises, and drop them into ravines.
Abilities:
Flowing Wind: Grants limited control over air currents, significantly improving flight, though not usable for attacks.
Swift Reflexes: Accelerates reaction speed, enabling quick adjustments even in high-speed flight.
Toxin Resistance: Offers slight resistance to transcendent toxins.
Skills: [Flight Lv.5] [Endurance Lv.2] [Rapid Movement Lv.3] [Diving Wing Strike Lv.4] [Claw Strike Lv.3]
Built predominantly for flight, they lack strong offensive capabilities but make excellent companions.