High above the clouds, a considerable distance from Vidona, a bronze-colored airship, propelled by a magical thrust device, was speeding through the sky.
Its exterior resembled the gasbag of a blimp, lacking the usual lower gondola. Inside, it was divided into three levels: a grand hall on the first, the crew’s resting quarters on the second, and the control room on the third.
Currently, a scattering of over a dozen heroes occupied the first-floor hall, where they were holding a gathering.
“With Lady Skyfire leading us, even if this beast tide brings Sixth-tier demonic beasts, it will be nothing more than a single forbidden spell.”
Raising his wine glass high, the grizzled, bearded hero toasted the young woman seated at the head of the table. He then drained his drink in one gulp, a gesture of remarkable boldness.
The hero beside him chuckled, adding, “This mission is less a business trip and more a vacation. I haven’t visited Vidona much, so this is a perfect chance to explore.”
“Lady Skyfire is so young, yet already a Seventh-tier powerhouse. Forget the Rossi Empire; you’d struggle to find another hero like her in any other empire, wouldn’t you?”
These heroes hailed from the city of Urgal. Upon receiving a plea for aid from Vidona’s governor, they had immediately boarded the airship, flying nonstop towards the city.
Seated at the head of the table, amidst the lavish praise of all the heroes in the hall, was Urgal’s pride and joy: the Sage-tier Hero, Skyfire.
Having been famous for some time now, she had grown somewhat adept at handling such situations. With a gentle wave of her hand, she chuckled softly and spoke:
“Even if I am Seventh-tier now, all of you remain my seniors.”
At her words, the heroes, though verbally protesting with feigned humility, were practically beaming with delight.
While their seniority indeed surpassed Skyfire’s, their talent did not. Consequently, they had been forced to watch their former junior rise to become a Sage-tier senior.
Undoubtedly, their hearts harbored a deep imbalance. Yet, constrained by the vast disparity in strength, no matter how displeased they felt, they could only flatter Skyfire.
Now, with Skyfire’s humble remark, their spirits lifted considerably. They even began to praise her modesty.
Taking a small sip of her drink, Skyfire observed their reactions, then shook her head with a resigned sigh.
She disliked this atmosphere intensely; the heroes’ behavior was far removed from her own ideals of what a true hero should be.
Just as she was about to find an excuse to leave the hall, her communicator flashed urgently. A sense of foreboding settled heavily in her heart.
Opening the communicator, the message within caused her to suddenly stand. Uttering a quick apology for her abrupt departure, she hastened towards the airship’s second level.
This level served as the crew’s resting area, housing the heroes’ bedrooms. However, Skyfire bypassed her own room, heading directly for the one furthest down the corridor.
When the heroes had boarded, this particular room was clearly marked as unoccupied. Yet, Skyfire forced herself to calm down, then knocked on the door with utmost reverence.
“Please, come in.”
The voice from within filled her with relief. She grasped the doorknob, pushed the door open, entered, and then carefully closed it behind her.
One side of the bedroom featured luxurious floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a sweeping view of the landscape beneath the airship. Before these windows stood a woman with fiery red hair.
She wore a crimson gown, its hem sweeping the floor, and perched on her shoulder was a small bird, wreathed in red flames. Her beauty was undeniable, imbued with an aura of boundless nobility.
Skyfire bowed her head in a respectful greeting, then addressed her deferentially: “Teacher.”
“Is there something you need me for?”
“The beast tide in the Silent Forest has erupted.”
“…As I expected.”
As if she had long anticipated this turn of events, the woman gently stroked the little bird’s head perched on her shoulder, then asked, “Is the airship currently at full speed?”
“Yes, it’s at maximum throttle.”
“How much longer until we reach Vidona?”
“One day.”
After Skyfire’s reply, the woman fell silent. She gazed blankly out the window, her sight seemingly piercing through the glass and the clouds, reaching the place she longed for.
“Teacher, are you worried about your sister?”
“…Yes, this beast tide is exceptionally dangerous. She is still only a Fourth-tier hero. If we don’t get there quickly, her life might be in peril.”
Her beautiful eyes lowered slightly. The woman knew there was nothing to do but wait, and could only pray that the beast tide would not breach Vidona’s defenses within the next day.
Soon after, something else came to mind, and her fists involuntarily clenched.
“Moreover, Vidona is her hometown…”
Hearing this, a flicker of curiosity stirred within Skyfire’s heart.
She knew precisely whom her teacher spoke of. Over the years, while imparting magical techniques, her teacher would often mention her old acquaintance—the Silverbloom Sword Princess.
Indeed, the woman was Chiling, a veteran councilor of the Hero Council, a former teammate of the Silverbloom Sword Princess, and an Eighth-tier Hero. Skyfire, of course, was her student.
Skyfire’s ability to escape three Seventh-tier demonic beasts and dismantle Urgal’s underground forces was entirely due to the weapons and knowledge Chiling had bestowed upon her.
The external rumors claiming Skyfire was more powerful than Chiling were pure nonsense. Skyfire had often tried to quell such debates, fearing she might leave a bad impression on her teacher, but her efforts had been largely in vain.
Fortunately, her teacher never paid attention to such things. Even when she heard them directly, she would merely smile and let them pass without consequence, which always brought Skyfire a sense of relief.
Senior Silverbloom was the person her teacher mentioned most frequently. The events of that year seemed to have become Chiling’s eternal regret.
Yet, Skyfire remained curious: what kind of person was Senior Silverbloom, to be remembered so deeply by her teacher?
She voiced her question, and Chiling, covering her mouth with a soft laugh, replied:
“Ah, she was such a gentle and meticulous person, always carrying a faint smile on her face. Every day, she would go to great lengths to tend to everyone’s emotions.”
“However, she rarely thought of herself, sometimes even pushing herself to exhaustion. If you didn’t keep an eye on her, she’d recklessly neglect her own body.”
“And she was also incredibly dense, like a block of wood. Despite being the most renowned hero, adored by so many, she seemed entirely oblivious to it all…”
It was the first time Skyfire had heard her teacher speak so much. She listened quietly, but as Chiling continued, her voice grew increasingly sorrowful, even tinged with a slight choke.
“Teacher…”
Skyfire understood this feeling acutely. She, too, had lost comrades in the past, and that pain had left her utterly devastated, nearly causing her to abandon her path as a hero.
“It’s been over twenty years now. If only I had a chance to see her again…”
Chiling’s hand rested on the windowpane, her gaze fixed on the turbulent clouds beneath the airship. Gradually, she regained her composure from the wave of sadness.
“My apologies, I was just speaking nonsense.”
Silverbloom had remained in the Demon King’s City forever, for their sake.
After escaping the Demon King’s City, she and her other teammates had tried to devise a way to rescue Silverbloom. However, without her, they were simply no match for the demon race.
Now, more than twenty years had passed, and there was still no news of Silverbloom. Perhaps it was time for her to finally face reality.
“You don’t need to apologize, Teacher. I understand that feeling.”
Skyfire wanted to comfort her, but Chiling had already regained her composure. Her hands clasped together, she began to pray for the lives within Vidona.
“I pray that when we arrive, no one will have perished because of this beast tide.”