Maxim blew a whistle as the gang plank retracted and "Begin assent. Slowly, slowly lads."

The airship began to pull away from the tower, carefully being piloted out between the tower and castle wall. Once it was out of reach of any other buildings, the side thrusters turned vertical pushing the airship up three hundred meters above the city.

Quake got shaky legs running below deck. "Nope. Nope. Nope."

"See you when we land, Quake!" Irzen called out before the Earth Elemental disappeared from view.

Alyson spread her arms out wide taking in the fresh air like the girl from Titanic.

Irzen closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of the air moving around him.

Serna stood in wild-eyed disbelief as she took in all the sights around her.

Madeous walked up next to the Swordsman, "I take you've never been on an airship before?"

"I've been on an airplane before and in a hot air balloon once," The Swordsman replied without opening his eyes, "My other half has not! I guess that is why I am running the show at the moment. Still, I do enjoy the feel of the morning air and the breeze when I can. It's easy enough to get both riding in a balloon not so much in an airplane."

Alyson dropped her arms and grabbed the railing, "Now this is more like it. High in the sky with the wind beneath us and flowing in sync."

Caliaphy jumped down off of Serna's shoulder, her wings folded and trotted up to the elementalist, "So, you're not mad at me?"

"A little. More like you scared me because of how you freaked out back then. All you had to do was leave." She sighed.

"I know." The kurori grabbed Alyson's hand. "I thought this thing was going to eat you."

Serna looked over at Caliaphy and shook her head with a grin. How she saw The Realm compared to how Caliaphy saw it were two entirely different things.

Captain Lion walked out of the bridge cabin and stopped next to the shield maiden. "So what do you think of the airship now, Serna?"

Serna looked up at Captain Lion, "Now that it's moving it's twice as wondrous as when I first arrived. The clouds, the wind, the suns, it's a wonder you and your crew ever desire to land, Captain Lion, one could lose themselves so high up in the sky."

The kurori still held onto the elementalist with Captain Lion standing so close. "So where are we sailing to?"

"There were sightings of islands in the sky from a scout balloon some time ago. So that's where we are heading." The captain stated.

"Islands in the sky," Irzen mused to himself, "The fabled home of the Sky Elves I trust? Rumor has it that they can fly or glide on currents of air just as easily as any bird. Is there any truth in that, Captain Lion?"

He approached the group with a telescope and looked through it to determine any possible way through it. "Sky elves, or Avariel as they're known by their land dwelling cousins have bird wings. They vary in color indicating rank in society. Although, the elves there may not be avariel. I heard of a lost race of elves who have adapted to living on these islands. Grand Master Shinrin spoke of them in his many tales."

"Who or what is a Grand Master Shinrin?!" Irzen turned towards Captain Lion, "Never heard of him. His name sounds like some sort of incurable disease."

Serna giggled a little at that comment.

Lazheros added, "Master Shinrin is the grand master of the order of the Green Dragon. They are an order of monks and warriors of the orient. They watch the inland borders of Asylum from any threats. Even with your particular skill set, swordsman, one of them would get the drop on you with a stunning strike. A technique to immobilize any opponent, allowing an ally advantage."

"He would get the drop on me with a stunning strike, if and only if, I allowed him to get close to me," Irzen replied with a vicious grin, "Against such an opponent I have a tried and true method of defense--kill him from range with lots and lots of arrows!"

"Have you ever watched one of those old Kung Fu movies back on Earth, Irzen? I have." Alyson chimed in.

"Though I have not my human half has," Irzen replied, "He's enjoyed his fair share though to compare a kung fu movie from Earth to what these monks can do is hardly a fair comparison."