Aila and Ronald were so engrossed in their discussion that they were completely oblivious to the scene outside the window.
Midir narrowed his eyes, trying to peer through the blinding sunlight to catch sight of the black object flickering between the clouds.
However, the high-altitude sun was too dazzling. The shadow seemed to be swallowed by the glare, vanishing from his sight in an instant.
Snapping back to reality, he lightly tapped Aila’s shoulder to interrupt her and shared what he had just seen.
“A moving shadow? You must be seeing things. We’re thousands of meters up in the air. Even the fastest birds... couldn't possibly move so fast they’d be a blur, right?”
Aila looked skeptical. She glanced out the window, but saw nothing but an endless expanse of white clouds.
“No, I’m certain I saw something. Based on what you’ve told me, could we have run into some kind of flying magical beast?”
Midir shook his head, certain of what he had seen, and scanned the area again, hoping to find a trace of the shadow.
Just as he was about to give up, his gaze inadvertently brushed past Aila’s shoulder and caught the swift shadow again in the distant sky behind her.
This time, he clearly identified it: a creature with massive wings soaring through the clouds, its silhouette flickering between light and shadow.
“Aila, it’s right behind you! Quick, look and see what it is!”
Guided by Midir, Aila spun around. With her superior vision, far beyond that of a human, she caught sight of the creature’s true form just before it vanished back into the clouds.
“That... that’s...! A dragon! An adult Red Dragon!” Aila’s voice was thick with shock. “What is a dragon doing here?!”
Her cry caught Ronald’s attention. He stopped what he was doing and stared out the window with the others at the sky where the dragon had appeared.
He quickly grabbed a pair of adjusted wind goggles and tossed them to Midir.
With the goggles' magnification, they finally got a clear look at the behemoth weaving through the clouds. As Aila said, it was a Red Dragon that looked like a raging fire. Its scales reflected a vivid red in the sunlight, and every beat of its massive wings stirred up a storm that scattered the surrounding clouds.
The dragon was incredibly fast—far faster than No. 23’s current cruising speed. Before the three could even process their awe, it vanished into the clouds again.
“It really is a dragon, not a bird! But Aila, why are you so shocked? From what I know, dragons are rare on this continent, but they shouldn't be that much of a surprise, right?” Midir asked as he sat back down.
Aila shook her head, her eyes flashing with complex emotions.
“This isn’t the kind of ‘dragon’ you’re thinking of. From what I saw, that was definitely an adult pureblood Red Dragon, not one of those mixed-blood sub-species found across the continent.”
“Pureblood? What’s the difference?” Midir asked, hearing the term for the first time.
Ronald beat her to the explanation. “Pureblood dragons are homebodies; they generally never leave the Dragon Valley. Besides, I think that dragon is a bit strange. Did you notice the odd fluctuations coming from it?”
“Are you talking about that red glow? Wasn’t that just the sunlight reflecting off its scales?” Aila frowned, trying to recall the brief moment.
“No, sunlight alone couldn't make it that bright. It’s a living creature, not a mirror. But it happened too fast for a detailed analysis... Under the circumstances, I think I need to get back to the cockpit.”
Ronald stood up with a worried expression and prepared to climb back into the cockpit of No. 23.
“True. Our current route seems to be the same as the dragon’s. I wonder if we caught its attention... Hopefully, it’s just passing through.”
Just as Midir was about to help Ronald up to the hatch, Aila’s sudden shout shattered the calm in the cabin.
“You two! Look out! Hold on tight!”
They instinctively grabbed the nearby handrails and looked where Aila was pointing. The Red Dragon, which should have been flying ahead, had turned around and was charging toward No. 23 at an alarming speed.
The dragon’s form grew rapidly in their sight until its massive body was fully revealed. Its glowing red frame was significantly larger than No. 23, and its expansive wings and sword-like tail were truly awe-inspiring.
The dragon opened its maw, filled with rows of jagged teeth, and let out a deafening roar. Even the well-insulated gondola couldn't completely block out the sound. Following the roar, a massive burst of flame erupted from its mouth, striking the gondola.
“What the—?! Are pureblood dragons always this temperamental? We were just passing by, and it attacks us?”
Midir shouted as he reached out, condensing a large amount of water elements outside the gondola. A sphere of water quickly enveloped the cabin, extinguishing the flames from the dragon's breath.
“That’s not right! My father said pureblood dragons are proud and possess intelligence higher than humans. They wouldn’t do something like this. There must be a reason...” Aila quickly explained.
However, Ronald’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Aila, now is not the time to look for reasons! This gondola has limited defensive capabilities. If we take another direct hit, we’re finished!”
Before he could finish, a second dragon breath arrived like a bolt of lightning. Midir didn't hesitate to cast another spell, raising a sturdy wind wall in front of the gondola. The powerful gusts scattered the flames, temporarily neutralizing the threat.
Seeing its attacks fail, the dragon let out an impatient, angry hiss. Its massive body traced a graceful arc in the air before it suddenly dove straight at No. 23.
“What does it think it's doing?”
Before they could think further, the dragon’s tail, sharp as a giant sword, whipped toward them with the force of a thunderclap, tearing through the air.
Faced with this sudden threat, Midir’s gaze turned cold. He blurred and reappeared on top of the gondola, his Starflame blade shimmering with a faint blue light in the sun.
With a sharp cry, Midir swung Starflame. A mana-infused blade light sliced through the sky like a bolt of silk, accurately meeting the dragon’s unstoppable tail.
The two collided with a deafening, ear-piercing metallic clang that seemed to make the very heavens and earth change color.
Rate on N.U.
