Pre-chapter Note: I'm sorry about the large chapter length if the Webnovel app sends you flying to the start because of some stray scroll gesture. Let me know here if it's a prevalent issue and I'll divide it into two parts.
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I wish I could say that I awoke at break of dawn's first light, but that would've been a lie. Even though my new physique removed any need for long hours of sleep, I continued to stick to a set sleep schedule. Doing so was not without its advantages, however. Slipping into my dreams brought me to the Paths without fail.
And in the Paths, where the passage of time was a fluffy, mostly weightless concept, I continued to test the limits of my titancraft. Ymir joined me for these exercises more often than not. Her hesitance and anxiety melted away under long 'hours' working together, building strange and fanciful structures that no human engineer would ever approve of, then toppling them as titans afterwards.
Ymir, particularly, liked making weird, funny, googly-eyed caricatures of people she had once known during her captivity. These mini titans were kinda uncanny and I wasn't their biggest fan in the beginning, but they amused her to no end- especially when she attached cocks smaller than a Greek hero between their legs. I do admit that watching noodle-armed bobble heads trying their best to smack each other around, had its charm.
I peeked down at Ymir, who lay slumbering on my arm, her face buried in my chest. Any attempt to quietly pull away would only result in mumbles and guilt-inducing whimpers, so that was out of the question. I also knew she'd wake up regardless, so why bother? Somewhere during the one month we had been together, I had become her alarm clock. We may enter and exit the Paths at different points in time but, eventually, one of us would notice the absence of the other in the shared dream. Which meant that the little gremlin clinging to me would wake up soon.
True to form, her eyes flew open and her grip grew painfully tight, her heels digging into the side of my thigh. Then relaxed just as quickly once she looked up at me.
"Hello there." I grinned. My grin grew stiff when she eeped, her head ducking back down and her nose digging back into my chest. Did she like that or not? I couldn't tell because of the rule I had imposed to not peek into each other's thoughts.
Damn it, Damian, Star Wars references don't get you girls! You're not Obi-Wan Kenobi, even though you do have telekinesis and a bit of foresight. It's the lack of a plasma sword, isn't it? Damn, I really need to get my hands on one of those someday, they definitely add to the aura.
Nidhogg expressed its confusion about why I required a sword made of 'star blood'. In its own words, "A sword of burning star blood is an inefficient weapon for close contact combat. It would burn you well before it burns through your enemy. A better combat strategy would be to drop it on your enemy's head. That or to send a spear of the substance flying at them."
I closed my eyes for a moment and sighed. The burden of upholding and justifying the rule of cool is indeed heavy. With a thought, I sent the eldritch serpent my memories of Star Wars and lightsabers. Nidhogg was equally interested and confused by the concept of the Galactic Republic, specifically the part where species with different dietary/social needs, ideologies, and cultures were able to co-exist without absolutely murdering the fuck out of each other.
Suddenly, Nidhogg let out an eldritch laugh that rippled through the Paths. I frowned, wondering what was so funny.
The glowing serpent was all too happy to point it out. "That red creature survived being cut in half by a star blood weapon! He should've been ashes before he fell to the ground. Humans craft such humorous tales." Then it looked through my accursed memories of the Ahsoka TV-show. I sighed as I knew what it was going to comment on.
It didn't say anything but I could tell that Nidhogg was highly amused. These memories would keep it entertained for some time.
I lightly shook Ymir by the shoulder, "Get up sleepyhead. It's almost time for the flying lessons." I added another nudge to her shoulder. Ymir looked up, eyes half-closed, then slumped down again. This lazy girl… She loved sleeping more than she did flying apparently.
I sighed dramatically, "Fine. I guess I shall teach our volunteers how to fly without you." That got her to jerk up and fix me with a sad and betrayed gaze.
I simply raised an eyebrow. Your tricks won't sway me this time, you little minx. A moment passed and Ymir blushed and pouted. "Please don't go without me… husband," she added with a husky whisper.
I very nearly avoided choking- it was a close thing. I made no outward indication of my internal shock and quickly commandeered my biology when I felt the electrical impulses race down my spine. Their destination? My cock. I internally sighed, stopping any awkward erections dead in their path. Fuck, I knew sleeping with this girl was going to be the death of me. 'As long as we don't have intercourse' my ass. It's never just about sleeping when it comes down to it. I knew sleeping in the same bed would be hard but I vastly underestimated how hard (heh) it could really be.
Here I thought I had enough self-control to not jump on this 13 year old before she was old enough and ready to make that decision herself without the onset of puberty clouding it. I was wrong. There wasn't a night that passed that the thought of taking her and burying myself into her warmth did not worm itself into my heart.
I was a wretched man, I knew. How disgusted would my older sister be should she ever find out that I had slept with a middle schooler? I wasn't on Earth and far from being a creepy old fart, that was true, and it felt right to be near her, but the thought that I was taking advantage of her naivety and deep-seated traumas did not sit right with me. She was not alright and still needed time to heal. Hmm, perhaps a few female friends her age might help her seek out hobbies other than clinging to me? I should talk to Marius about it, perhaps Lyra too could provide some insights into who would be a suitable handmaiden.
With a stone cold face, I gently lifted her arms and extracted myself from her embrace. I tried not to let the disappointing loss of warmth batter down my will. If she could, this lazy girl would keep us in bed for half a month until our stomachs were forced to growl for food. Give her an inch and she'd take a mile.
I selected a simple white tunic and a utilitarian blue jacket with grey jeans- I didn't require anything flashy for today. Steadfastly ignoring the stare burning into my back, I buckled my pants and slipped on the jacket. My lips twitched upwards when I heard a soft sigh and the rustling of bedsheets.
While waiting for her to change into something decent and presentable, I spread my awareness out over the capital until it reached the flatlands outside the city limits. Besides the fifty people riding out towards the designated spot, I found a peculiar presence stalking them through the air. A lithe, sharp-eyed hawk- a hawk with a human intelligence piloting it. A deeper look revealed who was behind the avian predator. Huh, it looked like my spy master was making good use of the powers bestowed upon him.
I pulled on the Paths as soon as the volunteers reached the designated meeting spot. They audibly gasped as a smooth, white, circular platform rose out of the ground.
"Ready?" I asked as her thin arm wound itself around mine. She lightly squeezed back. Alrighty then. Here we go.
Space bent, curved and twisted. For a moment an odd weight settled in my stomach and a shiver ran up my spine, it was gone before my enhanced faculties could even ponder on whatever it was. The transition was smoother than I expected and only a slight vertigo was felt the moment my feet touched the raised platform. We naturally found ourselves becoming the focus of the wide, astonished gazes of our people. Ymir released my arm though she did not leave my side.
It only took one to remember to kneel and the rest soon followed. A few 'Hail!'s, 'Long Live!'s and several variations thereof followed. Only a raised hand stopped the unending stream of bootlicking.
"Rise, my people." They rose smoothly with the kind of inhuman grace that would unsettle any common man's nerves. Good thing I wasn't entirely a common man anymore.
"You are here to learn the craft of flight, how to ride astride the flesh of flying creatures and command them, and upon learning all that there is to learn- serve the Empire with your lives, in any capacity deemed necessary," I concluded with a tone that reflected the gravity of their potential undertaking.
"Those among you who are undecided about whether they wish to be a part of this- walk away. There is no shame or judgement in doing so. You are a free people. Live as free people do- boldly and without fear. Do not allow yourself to be forced into a path you do not wish to commit to." With a gentle smile, I observed each and every Aetherian, from the smallest tick to the fledgling drop of cold sweat gathering in a palm, trickling down and dropping onto the earth below. Their eyes did not dare meet mine, but they did not need to. I felt their unwavering conviction in their stubborn silence.
"Look Us in the eyes and tell Us…. What. Are. You. Here. For?" They audibly gulped and slowly raised their gaze as if frightened that their eyeballs might spontaneously combust if they looked upon me. I could make them but I wasn't that sort of a monster. Not to my own people.
"To Live! To Serve! To Die! For Freedom! For Aetheria!" Their right fists hit their chests with loud thumps while the other arm remained stiffly fixed at their sides. Their eyes did not dodge mine now so I could see it clear as day, a fire that had no name, one that burned without falter. Believe it or not, I did not teach them that salute, it was something that somehow trickled down into their psyche when I had made the Aetherian biology template. I really needed to be careful in the Paths, even the slightest stray thought shifted the sands.
"Good." I nodded and opened my hand, a leather drawstring pouch appeared out of a fist that could not have contained its heft. I shook the pouch, the mystery objects within clacking crisply against each other. Five large steel tables rose out of the ground. Showmanship was an art in itself.
I placed the leather pouch on the one in the centre, loosened the string and then reached inside. Before fifty curious pairs of eyes- and one avian- I dangled a 3 inch long, dark grey, curved talon. I flipped the talon between my fingers- a neat party trick- then tossed it over to the side. The light of the sun glinted coldly off the talon as it fell, the point of it digging into the dirt.
The talon trembled. A low, serpentine hiss cut through the silence, sharp and unnatural, causing the volunteers to shudder. Then came the burst- steam exploding outward in a dense, boiling cloud no wider than five meters. Within the cloud some thing moved. It was large, clearly. The audience did not have to wonder for much longer, for the creature within flapped its wings, the cloud of steam vanishing like the morning mist under the rising sun. The revelation caused much shock and awe, nothing I did not expect.
Its colouring was white with streaks of light grey in each of its feathers- each as large as a grown man's arm up to the elbow, light, incredibly flexible, and sharper than any steel besides dragonsteel, though so far I had not tested it against any. The wings themselves were massive and powerful, and could cast a shadow over six grown men standing side by side.
At first glance its legs looked like that of an eagle, but upon closer inspection one would find them to be thicker than any avian leg had any right to be. The scales that protected them were hexagonal so as to cover the limb, resist, and distribute force efficiently- hexagons were indeed bestagons. The feathers too, were strongly rooted and grew in a hexagonal pattern.
The beast was not as tall as it was long. From head to flank, it was 2.5 metres, the tail adding half a metre more, making it a total of 3 metres. Unlike the griffins that it had served as my inspiration, its neck didn't grow upright like a horse's but remained on the same horizontal/spinal axis, quite similar to a proper lion. Its cruel, slightly curved beak could easily reach up to the stomach of an average Aetherian citizen who stood at 6 foot 3 inches. That was shorter than the average horse and for a good reason- a quick getaway when shit hit the fan. An Aetherian with a wounded leg- or any other injury- would find it harder to push off the ground or pull themselves up and mount the beast if it had been as tall as a horse. It was, thus, also easier to dismount.
Swift, aerodynamic, silent, and deadly when it needed to be. The gryphon stood proud and looked just as mean as expected of a mythical aerial predator. It didn't spew stone-melting flames but I didn't need it to because it wasn't meant to be used as a WMD. It was built as a biological, multi-purpose fighter. To that end, I think I did a pretty good job.
Now all that was left were the riders. I turned to said prospective riders, "This is an Imperial Gryphon. It shall be your mount, your eyes in the sky and if need be- your weapon against the Empire's foes." I trailed my fingers over the deceptively soft feathers of my gryphon. "Take one talon and summon your mount." I hid my grin when Ymir took that as her que to glide over and get her hands on her own gryphon talon.
Only after their revered empress had taken her talon, did the volunteers line up to take theirs. They were quick to summon their gryphons but assumed that theirs would be as docile and agreeable as ours. They soon learned the folly of assumptions and not asking vital questions before trying their hand at an entirely new craft- a common mistake among overly excitable rookies.
A few aspiring riders were knocked flat on their asses as their gryphons reared up and sent them flying. These little shits were lucky I had enhanced their entire biology when I made them my citizens, else they'd either be a pile of broken bones, paralysed below the waist, or the living sigil of House Bolton.
Only a few had the good sense to establish a positive rapport with the proud animal before trying to mount its back. For them, the results varied, from their gryphon ignoring their existence and digging up worms to being cautiously curious and letting them pet it.
I made a mental note of the individuals that had succeeded within the first few attempts, those were the ones to look out for and possibly grant some sort of authority in the near future.
The first to smoothly mount their gryphon was a young dark-skinned boy from the Summer Islands, and the other, unsurprisingly, was his twin sister. The other two to succeed at their task were a blonde, green-eyed man from the hills of Andalos and a square-jawed, former shepherd from Lhazar.
Once everyone else had gotten on their gryphon without an instant ejection, I commanded them to dismount.
"Wonderful. You've passed the first hurdle- getting the gryphon to like you. Now, slice your palm and feed it your blood. Doing so deepens the connection between man and gryphon," I gave them the most important tip of all. Those that did, blinked rapidly and stumbled as they felt the bond snap into place. "You will feel the beast's presence in your mind, its overall health and vitality. No muscle shall twitch without you knowing about it." I waited patiently as they grew accustomed to the bond and once they did, I demonstrated how to turn the gryphon back into an easy to carry talon. Yeah, I just ripped off Pokémon, so what? If it works, it works.
"Gather round. Don't be shy," I waved them over to the tables that were completely bare a moment ago. The first item to be distributed to the trainees was a shock-resistant helmet with a mouth-piece that would help them breathe in thin air, with orange tinted, anti-glare lenses set into goggles. The second was a suit designed to retain heat and keep the rider warm at high altitudes, while also being tough enough to resist the fast-moving dust and sand particles. "Never fly without these," I warned them sternly. The trainees nodded rapidly.
Next up was a saddle that would allow the riders to not only ride their gryphons comfortably for prolonged periods of time but also aid them with positioning their legs in such a way that they did not dangle awkwardly down the animal's flanks. I called upon the Summer Islander, Zalhabhol Xhaas' sister, Lazanta Xhaas, and guided her into the appropriate riding stance (steadfastly ignoring Ymir's glare)- torso resting on the cushioned memory foam, legs slightly raised and angled backwards- quite similar to the one adopted by superbike racers. While it did look uncomfortable from an outsider's perspective, I made sure that it was anything but.
The saddle, once attached, would remain on the gryphon until its rider's demise. The gryphon could also be unsummoned and the saddle would follow it into the Paths from whence it came.
Once each of them had received their saddles, I walked over to another table, this one laden with whitish-blue backpacks. I picked one and explained what it did, "Now, normally, an Imperial Gryphon has the extraordinary ability to rapidly heal itself from any surface wounds and minor punctures quicker than you can scream out for your mama." A wave of quiet chuckles passed through the group.
"This backpack is for those rare circumstances where your gryphon is injured in such a way that it cannot heal itself quick enough to avoid a nasty ground collision." There were plenty of winces and gulps at that- their bond with their mounts fed them a certain kind of confidence, so they'd never considered that there was a chance that they'd ever fall from the sky. "Or in the rare case where you might find yourself in an unwinnable situation- because remember, my brave Aetherians, your continued survival is more important than any vain pursuit of glory." I continued on with the lesson, stoically ignoring the looks burning with admiration. Basking in the awe and swelling emotion was a luxury my lack of narcissism would not allow.
I hooked my finger through the hole of the ripcord, making sure everyone had seen it, "Once you've safely unsummoned your mount and are freefalling through the air, pull on this ripcord. Doing so would deploy a large sheet of fabric held together by ropes strong enough to bear the weight of your body- a 'parachute' is what it's called. This parachute will slow your fall. Pulling the right or left handles above your shoulders will steer it in that direction and rapidly increase your descent speed. Pulling both handles simultaneously will significantly slow you down."
I could see that it was hard for them to visualise a parachute and the forces involved in an emergency or tactical descent. No matter, practical experience was irreplaceable for a reason. I was not here to hold their hands, after all. They were here to learn to become my sword in the sky, so I'd teach them.
I tossed the backpack at the Summer Islander boy. "Pull on that metal piece and open it up," he steadily unzipped the compartment I had pointed out, the one which didn't house the parachute, his eagerness warring with good manners. "Pull out the items within and show it to your comrades." He pulled out a black water flask, made of a heat-resistant alloy, sturdier than any metal found on this world. Its surface did not reflect the light- perfect for infiltration missions, wouldn't want a glint of sunlight or moonlight to give my soldiers away. He retrieved four other items, a metallic rod with twisting grooves at the base, a dark grey lighter, a yellow tube containing oval pills, and finally, a shockproof and waterproof compass.
How did I manage to make any of this? The Paths provided me with ample time to experiment with the basic ideas and layman concepts floating around in my head. Titancraft also opened up tech trees that were bizarre enough to pass as magic and efficient enough to leave any tech my world had dreamed up in the dust. Case in point- the lighter.
It looked like a zippo but didn't use any batteries, lighter fuel or flint to spark a steady flame. Instead, it had a dimly glowing, red stone the size of a pinky embedded where the wick should've been. The sharpened tip of the ember stone, as I had begun to call it, ignited with a bright flame whenever it was exposed to oxygen in the air. The energy contained within this small stone was simply unbelievable. "A flame at the slight flick of a thumb, tune up the wheel inside for a hotter, more precise flame." I handed the lighter back to the boy, who tested it out and then passed it on to his sister. The lighter changed eager hands, leaving giddy smiles behind. "It'll last for ten years before the ember stone needs to be replaced." That bit of information didn't dull their grins at all.
"This…" I aimed the cylinder at the sky, careful to keep it well away from my face. I didn't really need to, my enhancements made the thing harmless. It would, however, give any Aetherian a nasty burn if they weren't careful and the best way to teach safety parameters was to apply them yourself. "Is a flare." With a light twist of my wrist, the grooved knob clicked and a hot ball of bright light shot up into the air, leaving behind a trail of smoke. "If you find yourself in trouble or are grounded, it serves as a distress signal- the smoke trail lingers in the air for a full hour, making it easier for the rescue teams to locate you. On the other hand, it's an excellent distraction, and with the right aim and a steady hand- may be used as a weapon against other flying enemies."
I didn't specify who the 'flying enemy' was, but the way the trainees exchanged glances made it clear they understood. However, it wouldn't do to forget that there was potentially more than one faction in this world that had mastered flight.
I held up the pill bottle, "In the case of severe injury, poisoning, burns, or frostbite. One of these would regrow severed limbs, staunch bleeding immediately and restore you to perfect health. However, consume it while healthy, and it will grant your body the energy needed to survive without food or water for a week, with the added benefit of gaining- temporarily- the strength of two dozen men."
I tossed one to the Andal man, Davos of Rock Hill Point, and summoned a moving stone knight for him to pummel.
Suffice it to say that the crowd was cheering, and the knight was demolished within five minutes. Davos bowed deeply, the bloody scrapes on his elbows and knuckles healing at a visible rate.
"This is a compass…" Now this one really blew their minds.
….
Once I had demonstrated the mandatory, state-issued gadgets for my flyboys (and girls), it was time to put them through their paces. The trainees were tasked with a series of exercises. They were to summon and unsummon their gryphons, and practice mounting and dismounting without any wasted movement and unnecessary delays. Once everyone had mastered buckling and unbuckling themselves from the saddle, they were instructed to strap on their backpacks, mount their gryphons, and follow my lead- that also included Ymir.
A mighty gust of wind rose as nearly five score gryphons beat their wings, flattening tall grass and weeds to the earth.
The first flight was a bumpy one. Motion sickness- or air sickness- the likes of this was something none of them had any experience with whatsoever. It was much like sudden turbulence on an airplane, except you couldn't choose to sit in the aisle row, plug in your ear pods, turn on your Steam Deck and forget that you were going up, up, up. I noticed that those that had prior experience with months-long journeys on a ship, found their 'footing' far quicker than those that did not. Not unsurprising as sea sickness was a bitch and a half to battle.
Their gryphon bonds ensured that the trainees did not become so sick as to throw up off the side. Soon the gryphons' ingrained instincts fed back into their rider. This was as convenient as I was willing to make it for my air force.
Ymir was the happiest soul in the sky, her golden braid arcing like a comet, dancing with every shift in the wind and lift. Her eyes met mine and she grinned, I responded with one of mine.
I led the trainees through diving maneuvers that ranged from gentle descents to stomach-turning drops and weaves- these would be incredibly useful.
Once far enough west, I raised my arm and signaled the riders behind me to bank right. A few struggled at first to turn so suddenly but managed to keep themselves within the bounds of the formation. Our flight evened out until we were soaring back towards Othrys, its walls growing closer.
I projected my voice into every ear. "We are drawing nearer to the city limits. The soldiers on the walls have their orders- protect the city. If that means shooting down any flying bastards attempting to fly over the walls, then so be it. Your orders are to survive and, if possible, strike back or incapacitate the defenders without turning them into mincemeat upon first contact." A wave of shock and panic rippled through the trainees. Good. They should take this seriously because-
A deadly jet of pressurised water neatly cut off a gryphon's wing. The shot had missed its target, the soldier operating the water cannon had been aiming for the chest or the head, but the damage was done. The gryphon screeched and spun through the air and sharply lost altitude. Its rider let out a scream of shock and pain as he was caught in the scariest tumble of his life. His gryphon left a twisting ribbon of steam as it spun, the wing was regenerating but the gryphon wouldn't be able to reorient itself quick enough to catch the wind before it crashed.
I could sense his life flashing through his eyes, panic and desperation warring for a spot on the podium to screech away at the mind. Fucking hell! Unsummon the beast and pull the damn cord, you fool!
Before I could warp space to negate the fatal forces that would meet him when he hit the ground, a sudden resolve bullied its way to the driver's seat. The boy did what he was supposed to, his panicked grip on the saddle loosened and his gryphon turned back into a talon in a burst of steam, which he then caught and quickly stuffed into his suit pocket. He then smoothly twisted his arm to reach the ripcord behind and pulled.
It took a second and a half for the parachute to fully flare out as it caught the wind. The parachute's meta-fabric resisted and bent the sunlight- from a pale white to an earthy brown and green as it bent the light around it. The further it fell, the clearer the image of the ground beneath it became. Soon enough the boy and his parachute could no longer be seen. He could not hide from me but his suit and helmet, made of a similar metamaterial, would obscure him from his enemies if he was careful. Credit where it was due, at least the boy remembered how to use the handles and set course towards a soft grassy patch.
The water cannon operators, on the other hand, were not satisfied with the elimination of one gryphon rider. Not at all. It was their duty to defend their homeland, and they did so with a focused ferocity. Their shots grew more accurate the closer we came to the walls. Streams of deadly fast water shot a few more trainees out of the sky. Most, however, were able to successfully avoid such a fate. Those shared gryphon instincts definitely came in clutch.
The formation split into five and then completely dispersed to avoid clumping together and making an easier target of themselves. Evasive maneuvers such as weaving, downward corkscrewing, and barrel rolls were performed to make it as hard as possible for the wall defenders to get a bead on them.
Lazanta and her brother demonstrated extraordinary agility, dodging whistling nets and exploding clouds of dispersion foam as if they were made of smoke. I watched, impressed, as Zalhabhol made his gryphon tuck its wings close to its body and dive straight down at a breakneck speed, only spreading them at the right moment.
The two soldiers manning the cannon let out a cry of primal fear as the gryphon swooped and snatched them up in its frontal talons, taking them up for a joy ride that they would not forget anytime soon. To add insult to injury, Zalha's gryphon flicked them at approaching dispersion foam cannisters. Following her brother's example, Lazanta too grabbed a pair. I snorted at my mental description.
Soon enough, the gryphon riders were either snatching up defenders or pushing them off the walls. I patted myself on the back for considering such an outcome and creating spatial folds in the air beforehand to disperse much of the force with which they fell, preventing them from going splat. It wasn't technically death at first contact, so… eh. Fair play.
Though… I might need to call off the exercise soon as the defenders were getting more and more desperate by the minute as their winged opponents grew used to their firing patterns, adapted, and grew increasingly comfortable with the evasive maneuvers for each type of attack. Panic and the unknown no longer ruled their minds, it hadn't for a while. It was only a matter of time before both walls and the few remaining men- less than half of the original fifty- would be overwhelmed.
A gust of wind, one not from my gryphon's wings, blew a lock of my hair astray. I glanced left and saw Ymir's gryphon flapping its wings, hovering by my side. Her expression was what gave me pause- to describe it as a bubbling cauldron of frustration, anger, and poutiness wouldn't be incorrect. She was glaring down at the walls.
"What's wrong?" I sent a whisper to her ear. She jerked in her saddle and met my eyes.
"Nothing," she whispered back. Another fat pout.
She was clearly upset with the defenders at the walls, but why- oh. Right.
For obvious reasons, the soldiers defending against the trainees' aerial raid did not attack or defend themselves against Ymir. It didn't matter what angle she approached them from or with what intent- the soldiers simply refused to fight back. Attacks ceased wherever she passed, creating a sort of mini safe zone around her. The trainees, of course, knew not to take advantage of said zone as this was a training exercise made to test how well they could fly in a high stress situation as well as their evasive aptitude.
Yeah, I could see why she was so pissed off. There was no way any Aetherian would ever dare attack her, even if it was just a training exercise.
I whistled to catch her attention once more. She tilted her head, confused. A spark of lightning and hot steam coalesced into a repeating crossbow which I promptly pointed at her. Her eyes widened and she quickly dove before the first rubber-tipped bolt flew.
Aetherians might not be willing to challenge their dearest empress but I had no such reservations.
Let the dogfight begin!
I grinned as Ymir sped away, giggling as she dodged my bolts with the grace of a ballerina.
I slapped the side of my saddle. "C'mon boy! Those birds are taunting us! Let's get 'em!" My gryphon companion screeched, its pride flaring and muscles thrumming with excitement.
Ymir was natural at flying. To deny it would be to deny that water was wet. She performed aerial stunts few- except perhaps the Summer Islander twins- would ever have the guts or skills to attempt.
I tilted my head to the side as two rubber bolts passed where my head should've been. Her laughter rang through the cold air as I continued to pursue her. This was the most fun I've had since I had begun messing around with magic. We would definitely have to make this a frequent fixture of our time in the Paths.
Our Tom and Jerry chase continued for half an hour, though it felt far shorter as time passes swiftly when you're having fun. By the time we called a truce, we looked around and found that the exercise had long since stopped. The wall defenders and the gryphon riders had all gathered on the wall to watch us play-fight. Their mouths gaped and their eyes were wide with amazement- this, I could feel, was an experience they would recount for years to come. It was also kinda embarrassing.
Well, I guess there was no need to call for a stop to the exercise anymore.
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I looked down at the hundred trainees gathered before us. The two platoons looked mighty nervous and anxious, though props to them for not fidgeting and standing perfectly at attention.
I did not walk across their field of vision, hands behind my back, face all blank and serious-like. I wasn't cosplaying as a military officer with a stick up his butt. Instead, I kept up a relaxed smile as I addressed them.
"Over the course of this training exercise, my brave warriors, each one of you has pushed your limits. You have faced down your fears, adapted to the pressures of conflict, and executed your objectives with precision. What we have witnessed here today is not just a simple training exercise, but the demonstration of what it means to be an Aetherian soldier- to be ready, resilient, and reliable."
Their spirits visibly lifted and their eyes sparkled with unspoken emotions. I continued, "Your performance has been outstanding, despite what you may believe or feel. From the adaptability of your tactics to the teamwork and unity you displayed under stress, you've shown that you are prepared for any challenge that lies ahead."
"Do not be disheartened by any defeat," Ymir added, her smile gentle and radiant. "This was simply the first of many tests before you are sent to battle the enemies of Aetheria. Continue to improve upon what we have taught you and make us proud- make your nation and its people proud."
My smile widened as their right fists hit their chests and the air reverberated with their chants.
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Five individuals stood before me: the Summer Islander twins, Davos the Andal, Ashem of Lhazar, and a lithe Lyseni youth with long silver hair and striking lavender eyes, who called himself Daeron, no given surname.
Each of them had proven their prodigious talent and ability to think and perform beyond the barebone basics taught to them. They also took initiative where others had hesitated. I wanted men and women like them to lead and command my air forces and told them as much.
"Each of you is hereby assigned command of ten gryphon riders. You will train them, discipline them, and forge them into an aerial force worthy of fear and respect. Is that understood, Commanders?"
They saluted with vigour. "We hear and obey, Your Majesty!" Nice.
"Good. That's what I like to hear. Now go. Eat, drink, and celebrate to your heart's content. Just make sure you're back on your feet the day after tomorrow to train your squadrons." My words were met with shy grins. "Dismissed." They saluted and bowed before leaving the palace solar set aside for meetings like this one.
Galmar entered the room as soon as they left.
"Your men performed well," I said to which Galmar grimaced.
"Not as well as I had expected, Your Majesty," he replied and I tsked softly.
"You expect too much of them, General," I chided. "Imperial Gryphons are not what those wall defenses were made to counter. I crafted those defenses for creatures half as fast, less than that as agile or resilient and with not as many flexible attack vectors. Your men were also commanded to decrease the pressure on the water cannons prior to the war game and forbidden from placing the riders in their sights. They performed as well as they could with the restrictions that were placed upon them. Tell them that and reassure them. I do not wish to see any lingering self-doubt in my men, General," I sternly reminded him.
General Galmar saluted, "Forgive my baseless worries, my Emperor. This one thanks you for the knowledge and reassurance that you have graciously provided."
I nodded. The last thing I wanted was for Galmar to think that his men had failed the test. Ah, before I forget. I walked over to my desk and retrieved a silver key from a drawer. Galmar deftly caught it. "Take this to the assigned vault. Have the guard open it. Inside, you'll find light, one-handed crossbows, combat knives, and first-aid kits. Ensure these are delivered to the gryphon unit barracks without delay. Tomorrow, inform the unit they are to bring these weapons, blunt ammunition, and their kits to training. You," His spine straightened, "will teach them how to shoot, stab, slash, and defend themselves. Then you'll teach them how to set bones, and stitch flesh should they receive any sufficiently grievous wound- because if they fight, they will bleed."
"Consider it done, Lord Emperor!"
I nodded, signifying the end of the audience.
Once Galmar left, Ymir poked my hand to catch my attention. "What?"
"Can we… fly?"
"We just did?"
She bit her lip. "I meant… in our dream."
"Oh. Sure. Why not? Just wait until night falls and we'll do just that. Now excuse me, my dear, I need to go and tame some magical lightning- preferably without frying my nerves." She perked up.
"And, no, you can't watch. You have other commitments- Lyra requested an audience with you about your future handmaidens. Every empress must have a few at least. Give her the go ahead. Tell her to find suitable candidates among the citizens."
Lyra didn't ask for any audience- the poor woman. Oh well, she's smart and spry. She'll manage, I'm sure. Better that than getting stared at while trying to conjure lightening.
A mage needs his privacy when testing out new spells. Absolutely vital, that. Yep.
Ymir thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay." Stomp on my heart, why don't you?
I watched her leave and sighed. She'd never learn to stand on her own two feet if I let her cling to me all day. I knew that was the right call but lying, especially to one's partner- one that was close to my soul- just didn't feel good. It didn't feel good at all.
….
I shed my flight clothes and warped into my laboratory/magic testing arena and cracked my knuckles. Let's get to work.
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Author Note: An air force! Woohoo! If you wondered why I didn't have Damian teach them how to slice up other creatures by slashing them with the gryphon's wings or attacking with any other ability their gryphon has- the simplest answer is: they are currently grappling with the basics and introducing proper dogfighting when the riders are still learning different dodging techniques and flight maneuvers would be a bit too much for the first day of flight school.