A sudden jolt ran through the airship.

  Instinctively, Salome clung to the railing, struggling to keep her balance. Her heart was racing. Above her head echoed a deep humming sound originating from inside the balloon. The noise fluctuated, occasionally punctuated by sharp hisses as though air were escaping from the interior of the fish-shaped construct. Every so often, deep, distant booms resembling far-off thunder shook the chains encircling the vessel, making them rattle. Like a storm was raging inside.

  Another jolt vibrated through the wooden planks, and Salome watched in amazement as the scaffold that served as a pier slowly slid past them. The ship started moving as though it were gliding on water. The wind roared through the harbor, making the countless lanterns embedded in the high stone walls flicker wildly.

  Wide-eyed, Salome peered down over the railing at the stone floor far below. Nothing but emptiness separated the ship from it, yet the vessel floated resolutely through the air as if borne by invisible waves, steadily approaching the wide gap ahead. Standing beside her, legs apart and arms folded, Van gazed calmly toward the partly concealed exit, seemingly without any doubt that the ship would stay its course. A bit further away, Sori rested her chin dreamily upon her crossed arms on the railing, staring into the distance.

  The roar of the wind intensified the closer they got to the gap. Salome feared they might crash into the heavy wooden planks, when suddenly the gates began to move. Inch by inch, the harbor doors rose upward, pulled by thick ropes reeled in by unseen mechanisms.

  A wide smile stole across Salome's lips as a gust of cool night air tousled her hair. Without thinking, she held it back with both hands, releasing her cautious grip on the railing.

  Finally.

  As though looking through a window, she gazed out onto the boundless cloud ocean stretching gently beneath her, bathed in a silent silver shimmer under moonlight and starlight. How dearly she had missed this view! It filled her heart, making her forget everything else. She wanted to laugh but felt tears rising in her eyes at the same time. Who would have thought that a few days underground could awaken such longing?

  The ship approached the opening, slowly passing through the gate, leaving behind the harbor and the hidden city—then it soared out over dizzying heights above a bottomless abyss.

  Salome held her breath. Only the wooden planks of the ship’s deck stood between her and the vast emptiness below. Yet, the ship remained steady, enveloped by rushing wind and accompanied by the constant creaking and humming of the balloon as it flew confidently through the realm of clouds.

  Above them, the island rose into the sky like the cap of a gigantic mushroom. The pillar behind the ship filled Salome's entire field of vision, as if the world ended here in sheer black rock.

  The harbor entrance became a dull shimmering rectangle in the darkness, shrinking further the deeper they glided into the night. Soon the doors closed, hiding the secret inside the pillar.

  There was no turning back now.

  Slowly, Salome released her grip on the railing and took a few cautious steps across the deck. Her legs felt unsteady. Emptiness surrounded her in all directions, causing an uneasy feeling in her stomach. The constant gusts of wind didn’t help matters either. She felt utterly vulnerable and had to keep herself from whispering desperate prayers. She might even have been frightened, if only it weren’t so incredibly exciting.

  Van gave her a playful grin as she wobbled past him at a snail’s pace.

  “So, what do you think?” he asked. “Enjoying flying?”

  “It’s… breathtaking,” Salome replied truthfully, grasping the railing once again for support. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the massive cloud banks shimmering silver far below. Pillars rose from them everywhere, stabbing into the starry sky—black giants casting faint shadows. It had never occurred to Salome that there could be shadows at night, even without flickering fires nearby.

  “Right?” said Van enthusiastically. “I felt the same the first time I flew. I remember it vividly.” He leaned his elbows on the railing next to her, gazing at the cloud sea. “Since then, I’ve flown so much that I feel more at home on a ship than anywhere else. My home isn't down there on solid ground, but up here among the clouds.”

  Salome had to admit to herself that she envied him. What she would have given to grow up here, sailing through the skies all her life, accompanying the wind and savoring boundless freedom. Instead, she had spent her days in a world where even breathing felt heavy.

  In the distance, islands rose level with the ship or far below. Salome recognized grassy hill clusters, sparse forests, low mountains with bald peaks, and untouched plains. Yet far above her head, countless other worlds stretched out…

  “By the way, where exactly are we headed?” Sori suddenly asked, appearing next to them. She seemed relaxed, as if she had sailed the skies hundreds of times before.

  Van studied her for a moment. “Master Lom did tell you about the reason for this journey, right?”

  “Of course! I was just wondering about our precise destination,” Sori replied with a smile.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Better ask our captain about that,” Van said, glancing toward the steering cabin. “Right now, as far as I can tell, we’re heading northwest. If Kiran holds the course, we should soon reach a more populated area, I think.” He looked thoughtfully up at the stars. “Should be able to pinpoint our position from here…”

  Salome also turned her eyes upward toward the countless sparkling lights adorning the night sky. Could he really read their patterns? If so, Van definitely needed to teach her that skill.

  Another item for her list.

  She sighed and carefully pushed herself away from the railing, heading toward the cabin.

  “I’ll talk to Kiran,” she announced.

  The door wasn't locked; it stood slightly ajar. Soft light leaked from inside, drawing a thin golden line across the planks of the night deck. Pushing open the door, Salome saw a small lamp dangling from the ceiling. Kiran stood with his back to her, gripping a wheel fixed to a waist-high control panel with various levers and switches spread out on both sides.

  “Everything alright?” Salome asked, cautiously stepping into the small cabin, which barely had room for three or four people.

  “Of course,” Kiran replied flatly, without turning around. He was staring straight ahead through one of the three large windows angled at the ship’s front. The lamplight was reflected softly in the glass panes.

  “I was just wondering… where exactly we're headed. Or how long it might take.” Salome moved closer to the window, looking curiously at the various levers and knobs. Among them were strange glass-covered dials, their thin needles twitching back and forth or spinning in slow circles. Everything appeared incredibly complicated, yet Kiran occasionally reached for a lever or adjusted a knob without even looking. Clearly, he knew exactly what he was doing. Salome gently brushed her fingers over a row of dials.

  “Don’t touch that!” Kiran suddenly snapped. Salome recoiled in surprise. He glanced at her, then awkwardly turned his head away and sighed. “Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Just... be careful. The instruments are delicate.” He returned his attention to the wheel.

  “Are you really sure everything is alright?” Salome asked again. It was obvious that Kiran had been particularly tense ever since they'd left Adamer. She could sense that something was troubling him.

  “Yes. Don't worry,” Kiran said anyway. “As for your question—I don’t have an answer for that right now.” His silhouette was reflected in the window, his face hidden in shadow.

  Salome frowned. Could he genuinely not answer her question? Or did he simply not want to? And why wouldn't he look at her? His dismissive attitude irritated her more than she was willing to admit. Feeling a surge of quiet frustration, she positioned herself firmly beside him and glared up at his face.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “What do you mean by that? You’ve got to know where you're flying.”

  He continued staring straight ahead. “Of course I do. But it’s not quite that simple.”

  “Then explain it to me. What's the problem?”

  Finally, he looked at her. He hesitated for a moment, then said: “For now, I know the path but not the final destination. We might have to adjust our course several times, though I can’t say how often. The issue is, we're supposed to find someone who is constantly on the move.”

  “So, you actually don't know where you're going,” Salome said, surprised.

  “Nonsense,” Kiran scoffed. “I have some leads, just nothing concrete.”

  Thoughtfully, Salome looked at the endless mass of clouds spreading out beyond the window. So for Kiran this journey’s destination was just as uncertain as for her...

  “Who exactly is this friend of your master?” she asked.

  “I've never met him,” Kiran admitted, “but I know some stories. He's the leader of a community of hunters who roam the unknown world. Apparently, he has extraordinary abilities and is really strong. And he’s old. Very old.”

  “Is he… like master Lom?” Salome asked hesitantly, her voice a whisper.

  “Who knows. It's possible there are—or were—other glass dragons in Firmament. But master Lom has never spoken about his kind.”

  A sudden cool gust of wind entered through the partially open door, gently swinging the lamp hanging from the ceiling, causing it to creak quietly.

  “Maybe you should rest a while,” Kiran suggested softly. “It’s late. You must be tired.”

  “What about you?” Salome asked.

  “I want to put as much distance as possible between us and Adamer before dawn. I don't want to waste time, and someone has to steer the ship, after all. But don't worry, I'll sleep later.” He glanced at her. “Go on now, get some rest.”

  Salome nodded hesitantly and stepped back outside, but not before giving Kiran an appreciative glance. Apparently, he could actually be quite friendly.

  Outside, Van was coming toward her.

  “Well?” he asked. “What did you find out?”

  “It’s… complicated,” Salome said, walking across the deck in the cool wind. She was feeling more confident in her footing now, her steps more decisive. Seeing Van’s confused look, she explained the situation as best she could. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Sori again leaning against the railing, dreamily playing with her necklace. What was that strange girl thinking about?

  As if sensing her gaze, Sori suddenly looked up, smiled warmly, and waved cheerfully. But immediately afterward, she returned her attention to the pendant.

  “Well, this should get interesting,” Van said after Salome finished her explanation, an adventurous gleam appearing in his eyes.

  Salome stayed on deck a while longer, gazing at the world drifting slowly by in silver and shadow. Eventually, she tore herself away from the mesmerizing sight and let Van lead her toward the stern. They descended a shallow staircase and passed through a low door into the ship’s belly. From stern to bow ran a narrow corridor, with doors on either side leading to small cabins. The ceiling was so low Salome had to duck her head to avoid bumping it. Van had to bend almost double.

  “I stored your things in here,” he said, indicating the door on the right. “Each cabin has two beds. Kiran and I will sleep on the other side. You get the pleasure of sharing with Sori.” He grinned mischievously. “I’ll stay up on deck for a bit longer, but make yourself comfortable in the meantime!” With that, he turned around and climbed swiftly back up the stairs.

  Salome opened the door to her cabin. Considering the ship’s size, it was appropriately cramped, with everything arranged as space-efficiently as possible. There was a small chest of drawers built into the wall, a cloudy mirror, and a tiny table. A simple chair stood against the far wall beneath a small round window, through which silver moonlight streamed. Most of the space, however, was taken up by a low bunk bed. The ceiling here was slightly higher, allowing Salome to stand upright. Her bags were leaning against the wall next to the chair.

  She rubbed her eyes. Now that the excitement had faded, she realized just how exhausted she really was. Mechanically, she pulled off her boots and climbed the short ladder into the upper bunk. A thin linen blanket was waiting for her.

  Wrapping herself up in it, Salome gazed out the small window at the silvery clouds gliding far below. The bed might have been small and hard, but right now, she couldn't imagine a more beautiful place to sleep.