The Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses achieved speeds roughly equivalent to ordinary automobiles traveling on highways, though their initial startup created quite a spectacular commotion.
"Goodness, what intense G-force."
Only after their Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse's acceleration phase concluded and it maintained steady velocity did Hermione finally release her death grip on the right-hand support and Glenn's thigh. She patted her chest with lingering apprehension, watching the rapidly retreating scenery blur past the window while catching her breath.
The Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse truly embodied its "ox-horse" designation—its startup sequence literally involved the construct rising from a kneeling position, then explosively launching forward with tremendous force. Due to inertia, the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse's instantaneous acceleration pinned both passengers firmly against their seat backs, rendering them completely immobile. For a terrifying moment, Hermione genuinely believed she might be crushed flat.
"Apart from that startup phase, this mechanical construct isn't producing the slightest turbulence during travel. Absolutely remarkable..."
Glenn traced the carriage wall with his fingertips, extending his enhanced perception outward, penetrating through multiple layers of sorcery restrictions embedded within the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse to explore its intricate internal mechanisms.
"Oh my word, Glenn, look outside! We're actually traveling through the sky! The roadways Dragon Kingdom constructed for Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses extend into the heavens themselves—utterly incredible!"
"Is this designed to prevent sorcery constructs from disrupting ordinary citizens' daily lives? Or perhaps to circumvent ground-level obstacles and minimize travel distances?"
Hermione mused aloud, deducing the answers through her own reasoning. Although Dragon Kingdom hadn't concealed the existence of sorcery and spiritual power from the general populace, they hadn't actively publicized such matters either. Since Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses required extensive construction projects and occupied considerable space, Dragon Kingdom's leadership had wisely decided to build these thoroughfares at high altitude to avoid interfering with non-magical citizens' everyday existence.
Truly exemplary of Dragon Kingdom's legendary infrastructure capabilities.
Glenn's investigation revealed that the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse had been imbued with sophisticated wind-resistance sorcery to ensure mechanical stability during high-speed travel. Consequently, the breeze flowing through the small windows flanking their carriage remained pleasantly gentle—merely a refreshing whisper that significantly enhanced Hermione's aerial sightseeing experience.
Though this wasn't their first aerial journey, airplane travel represented one experience, riding Hippogriffs another entirely, and traversing sky-bound passages aboard Wooden Oxen and Flowing Horses constituted yet another unique adventure altogether.
However, compared to Britain, Dragon Kingdom demonstrated vastly superior air quality management and environmental preservation. Britain's atmosphere perpetually appeared gray and overcast—Glenn and Hermione had rarely witnessed such crystalline, pristine azure skies as now stretched endlessly before them. Even Glenn temporarily set aside his mental catalog of concerns, clearing his thoughts to join Hermione in appreciating this soul-stirring celestial panorama.
But this magnificent scenery abruptly vanished after approximately one hour, replaced by a gossamer veil of ethereal mist materializing before their astonished eyes.
Yet this mysterious fog seemed almost illusory—a single blink caused it to evaporate completely, restoring the immaculate sky to their vision.
Had Glenn and Hermione not been enthusiastically monitoring the exterior throughout their journey, and had their dynamic visual acuity not been exceptionally acute, they likely would never have detected this phenomenon.
"Did you witness that?"
Hermione rubbed her eyes uncertainly, turning toward Glenn as if seeking confirmation while raising her finger to indicate the window.
"I observed it, and our geographical position has shifted as well... No, something is concealing that entire region."
"The sun's position has deviated slightly from its previous location before that mist appeared. Solar radiation is being refracted at specific angles."
"I believe we've reached our beast-hunting expedition's destination—that legendary 'secret realm.'"
Glenn swiftly intercepted Hermione, who was preparing to crane her head outside for direct solar observation, drawing the girl protectively to his side and shielding her eyes. He activated sensory sharing while simultaneously engaging his Mystic Eyes, transmitting his enhanced visual perception directly to Hermione.
Gazing backward along their traveled route, though the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse thoroughfare appeared perfectly normal in the distance, Glenn's perspective revealed successive layers of continuously undulating magical fluctuations enveloping the entire firmament at the pathway's terminus. Beyond these mystical disturbances, the roadway appeared unstable and wavering, resembling wind-blown tapestries.
This undoubtedly represented the concealment barrier his grandmother had described for protecting secret realms.
Precisely as Glenn anticipated, their Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse began gradually decelerating. The deceleration process proved far more civilized than their initial acceleration—they merely experienced their safety harnesses tightening momentarily around their waists before normalcy resumed.
The retreating landscape gradually transformed as azure sky yielded to verdant forest canopy. Their Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse commenced a gentle descent, ultimately returning to horizontal orientation upon reaching minimum velocity. Hearing subtle rustling emanating from the construct ahead and carriage doors opening, Glenn recognized their arrival.
"Shall we proceed?"
Glenn opened their carriage door and stepped onto solid ground, extending his hand gallantly to assist Hermione's descent.
Beyond their Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse stretched magnificent wilderness. The trees achieved impossible proportions, their flourishing branches and luxuriant foliage creating a natural cathedral that filtered sunlight into dancing patterns. Below, diverse shrubs and undergrowth carpeted the forest floor, while numerous precious magical botanical specimens that Glenn and Hermione could immediately identify grew in wild profusion beside weathered stone outcroppings. The atmosphere carried pristine freshness, suffused with organic fragrances utterly distinct from the outside world. The climate felt pleasantly humid, with earth beneath their feet remaining soft yet stable—recent gentle rainfall had blessed this sanctuary. A crystalline stream meandered nearby, and Glenn's focused observation already distinguished countless footprints and territorial markings left by Dragon Kingdom divine beasts.
Assessment: Supremely comfortable environment, treasures abundant everywhere.
He now comprehended why those dark sorcerers and Death Eaters coveted this realm's resources so desperately.
From an alternative perspective, honestly, Glenn harbored similar desires.
However, this wasn't the moment for immersing himself in this paradisiacal treasure trove. Reaching their destination meant approaching danger by one crucial step.
Naturally, their mission carried substantial weight, considering Hermione still intended utilizing this opportunity to locate her divine beast companion. Glenn hadn't forgotten their original and paramount objective.
Therefore Glenn chose to amplify his enhanced perception range, which he normally maintained continuously. He established the detection radius at precisely one hundred fifty meters.
Within this one hundred fifty-meter perimeter, no anomaly could evade Glenn's surveillance.
Deep within the shadows, when Glenn's perception swept past, someone leisurely opened their eyes and couldn't suppress a knowing smirk.
"How... intriguing."
Murmuring softly to himself, those bloodshot orbs vanished back into concealing darkness.
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