“Don’t be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.”

  Richard Bach, American Novelist

  The hot air balloon was exactly what Milly had pictured. The large, rainbow-striped fabric balloon with the attached wicker basket would have fit in well in the city on a hot summer day, advertising a real estate firm.

  The burner that hung beneath the balloon was fueled by coal, though Apoi assured her that wood or even wool could be substituted if the coal ran out. The balloon’s altitude could be adjusted by the strength of the flame, but there was no way to steer the contraption. She had to aim for the currents, and hope she caught the right one.

  This balloon itself was currently deflated – the fabric laid out on the mountain – but once it was filled, the balloon would be over eighty feet tall.

  Apoi spent nearly an hour describing how to adjust the altitude of the ballon to catch different local currents and how to successfully land on an island. Milly listened politely to his instructions. She planned to use her air and fire magic to overcome the limitations of the ballon’s navigation, but it was still good knowledge to have.

  I don’t know what is out there – currents that nullify magic, or monsters that leave me drained. It’s best I know how to do it manually, just in case.

  As Apoi instructed in his deep baritone, Milly and Coco settled in the wicker basket that would be their home for these next days. The basket was large enough to comfortably accommodate ten people, with edges that rose to Milly’s shoulders. Apoi had, helpfully, added a small stepstool to help her see over the top.

  Apoi had also added small bags of coal around the inside of the basket. It was enough fuel to last for a few weeks, though he recommended refueling whenever she got a chance. Geta had stacked blankets in a corner, and Enzel had laid out one of her old blankets for Coco to use as a bed.

  Coco trotted up to the blanket, sniffed, and curled up on top of it. The undead capybara didn’t need to sleep, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be uncomfortable.

  In the corner opposite Coco, Bestian had set a sack of vegetables and a small cooking stove. Milly had tried to protest, but Bestian told her she couldn’t go sailing into the sky without anything to eat. Milly had enough food stashed away in her inventory, but, like her magic, she hadn’t revealed her inventory to the Orianes.

  “And… that’s pretty much everything you need to know,” Apoi wrapped up. “Oh, wait, I almost forgot. You can use the carpet on the bottom of the basket to repair tears in the balloon.”

  “Does that happen a lot?” Milly asked cautiously.

  “Umm… no, but it happens enough that Core Station mandated the carpets. It’s usually caused by animal attacks or extreme weather events. Hydel showed you the hotspots on the map?”

  Milly nodded. Not only were the main currents well mapped, but they were rated based on their level of safety and stability. Inevitably, the best rated currents were slow and meandering, but most Orianes used them due to their predictability.

  Milly wouldn’t be using any of those routes, so she paid rapt attention to Apoi as he explained how to patch the fabric.

  “If it does happen, you’ll want to fix the tear as soon as possible,” Apoi concluded. “The glue is in one of those coal bags. Just… try to land the balloon first. It’s extremely dangerous to repair a balloon in mid-air.”

  A bell sounded across the complex, signaling the start of the evening meal.

  Apoi’s stomach gurgled, and Milly chuckled.

  “Thanks Apoi,” Milly said with genuine appreciation. “Go get some supper. I’ll be right behind you.”

  Apoi smiled and rushed towards the main complex, his broad strides carrying him quickly across the courtyard.

  Milly strode over to the balloon and rubbed a section of fabric between her fingers. It was thicker than she expected and had a decent amount of stretch.

  Quickly glancing around her to ensure no one was watching, Milly held a tiny section of fabric and cast her air magic against it. She increased the blast’s strength second by second until she detected a slight tear beginning to form.

  “It’s surprisingly durable,” Milly concluded, letting her wind die away. “A hurricane-force storm would tear it apart, so I’m not about to unleash my full magic strength on it. But a moderate current will be fine. We should make decent time.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Coco lifted her head and gave Milly a little bark.

  “Well, we’ll be able to avoid storms. And as for the flying monsters…”

  Milly clenched her fist dramatically, her Harpy-Hunter Bracelet on her wrist.

  “… bring them on.”

  Coco rolled her eyes, and Milly laughed.

  “Oh, come on, Coco. I think I’ve earned a little bravado.”

  Milly leaned against the basket and stared wistfully across the volcano.

  “I didn’t exactly have a good life before I got sucked into the God Contest. I had no friends. No family. And I wasn’t good at anything, unless being depressed counts.”

  Coco trotted over and nuzzled Milly’s leg, and she reached down to scratch the capybara’s ears.

  “But do you know what? I’m really good at this whole magic thing,” Milly said with self-confidence. “The Witch of the Castle of Glass. And her capybara friend, of course.”

  Coco gave Milly a supportive chirp and nudged her in the stomach. Milly’s belly rumbled.

  “Yah, okay. Food first, gloating later. Come on Coco. Let’s go seek what Bestian has made tonight.”

  * * *

  “You should join the Explorers of the Archipelago when you get to Core Station,” Hydel said to Milly as he shoved a too-large bite of root vegetable into his mouth. “They won’t care about your face, or your lack of education.”

  Nubs nudged the man in the ribs with her elbow, though the old woman never looked up from her own plate.

  “What? I’m right,” protested Hydel, not taking the hint. “Obviously her deformities will keep her from the more prestigious jobs, but once the Explorers learned she climbed Delver’s Mount, they’ll … hey!”

  Hydel dropped his fork as Geta elbowed him from the other side.

  Milly just laughed. It was hard to be offended given she was a different species, even if the Oriane’s hadn’t realized it yet.

  “I don’t intend to stay at Core Station,” Milly reminded him. “I’ll just be there long enough to find a way home to my family.”

  “Oh, but you’ll want to stay,” breathed Hydel whimsically. “It’s the center of everything – of knowledge, of culture, of beauty…”

  “Of pretentiousness,” Geta interrupted, and everyone laughed. “Seriously, Hydel. It’s just another island. Only larger, and far more crowded.”

  “Crowded with knowledge,” Hydel sighed, lost in his memories. “And the architecture. The pure white walls of marble. The spires. Geta, how can you not get giddy just thinking of it?”

  “Because I grew up in the gutters of those spires,” Geta reminded him. “What? Do you think that place just runs itself? For every researcher that toils away in its labs, there are ten that must feed and maintain it. And those workers, unlike the scientists, don’t receive praise for their toils. All they get is to live beneath the shade of the upper crust’s brilliance.”

  She clutched Apoi’s hand. “That’s why Apoi and I chose to come to Research Station Omega. A chance to be free of that class divide. A chance to make our own way, where we can be part of the team, rather than being faceless, nameless workers.”

  “Well, that’s one way of looking at it,” remarked Hydel, dejected. “A terribly depressing way. What do you think, Milly? Will you let depressing social inequities spoil your first glimpse of the incredible monument of the Archipelago?”

  Milly had just taken a bite of her supper, and a silence fell across the table as everyone watched her chew and waited for her response. Enzel snorted as she watched Milly chew, and even Nubs chuckled at the awkwardness until Milly finally swallowed.

  “Oh, um…,” Milly started, a bit embarrassed. “I guess… I understand where Geta and Apoi come from. I’m a faceless, nameless worker too. My boss used to call me Milby. It’s hard to take pride in what you help build if the people who benefit don’t even know your name.”

  Hydel looked dejected, but Apoi and Geta had a look of renewed appreciation for Milly.

  “Well… you’ll just have to see it for yourself,” Hydel huffed, dejected.

  A gentle tapping of a spoon on the table drew their attention as Bestian rose to his feet. It was a perfect opportunity for a toast.

  “Core Station a wonderful place – not quite as wonderful as our little slice of paradise, of course, but a sight to behold nonetheless. And tomorrow our new friend, Miss Milly Brown – the mysterious castaway who found herself on the shores of our island – will depart to judge it for herself. Milly, I wish you were staying longer. Three days is not nearly long enough to delve into the mystery that you are, but I would never keep anyone from reuniting with their family.”

  Bestian raised his glass.

  “Here’s to your journey, Milly Brown. May your fondest desires be found at its end.”

  A chorus of cheers rang out from the gathered residents, and Milly blushed from the attention.

  “Well?” asked Enzel expectedly.

  “Well, what?” Milly said with confusion.

  “You’re supposed to give a toast back,” whispered Enzel. “It’s rude if you don’t.”

  “Come on girl,” nudged Nubs with a cackle. “Were you raised in a barn. Stand up!”

  Milly recalled the last time she’d was pressured into giving her thoughts in front of a crowd. It had been in the lobby of the Castle of Glass, the day after they’d arrived, and Jacob Stone had challenged her for her thoughts in front of everyone. She hadn’t handled it well. She’d run away, and Stone’s laugher had followed her out.

  It had been the start of his efforts against her. The start of becoming the enemy of the tower.

  But she was no longer that timid girl. She swallowed and got to her feet, her knees only shaking slightly.

  “Thank… thank you for letting me stay with you,” she started simply. “For your food, and your kindness, and your endless debates.”

  She glanced over at Hydel, and they laughed as Hydel gave a mock ‘oh shucks’ motion.

  “I’m heading to find my family tomorrow, and I know I couldn’t have done that without your generosity. The balloon. The food and fuel. Enzel, Coco thanks you for your blanket. It is more than I could have asked for, and you gave it without question and without expecting anything in return. For that, I am grateful. I wish I could have gotten to know you better. Perhaps, one day, we shall meet again, and we can do just that.”

  Milly raised her glass. “To the wonderful people of Research Station Omega.”

  A cheer rang out as Milly sat back down, feeling proud of herself. Coco nudged her leg happily.

  Conversation flowing freely long after the meal was finished, until the sun began its journey over the western horizon. As she started to help clean up, Bestian pulled her aside.

  “Milly, a moment of your time before you settle in for the night,” Bestian said, as the others carried the plates to the kitchen. “Come, let’s go for a walk.”

  The Non-Canonical Aftermath: