|ESCAPE ABOVE THE CITY|

"Damn that woman, now I definitely need to stay in the air." Tanker muttered. "Do not want to get stuck in sick bay for six full months again."

Getting distracted by reminiscing on the past, the mob of 'clouds' slowly closed the distance on his craft. When he finally noticed, the mob was a mere stones throw away.

Panicking, Tanker activated full drive, causing his craft to sweep the wings back and retrofitting the engine and suit for mach speed.

Pulling away from the mob 'cloud' and ensuring that they won't catch up anytime soon, Tanker let out a imaginary sigh of relief as he was currently flying at mach 2.47.

"Crap where am I?" Tanker thought. "I've been flying at this speed for a good 20 minutes now and I have yet to break through the clouds."

Unbeknownst to him as he was wondering when the clouds would end, his jet passed through a intangible barrier and soon after, the clouds started to dispersed.

Shocked as the clouds around him dissipated, Tanker quickly looked behind him to see if any of the 'clouds' have followed him out. To his relief, no 'clouds' emerged; and so he slowed down his craft as he had to conserve what remaining fuel he had.

After slowing down to an ideal speed, Tanker started to look around to see and plot any potential landmarks for future expeditions. As he peered down, a stunning view greeted him. A city, a super massive city lay before him. Surrounding a mountain and having multiple rivers cutting through it. Surrounding the city itself was a massive wall with giant towers spread across it looming over the city, like giant guardians.

The word massive wouldn't be enough to describe it. Just taking a rough look at the city, Tanker estimated that three New York Cities could fit inside it.

"Damn..."

That was all Tanker could say at this point. Shock, disbelief, and wonder filled his head. It took him a full 10 minutes to regain control of himself.

"Just what is this world? How can there be such a massive settlement? Don't tell me that this is a Capital City of a massive empire." Tanker muttered. "It could be a fortress city, or a giant merchant city."

Many thought flashed through Tankers mind as he fiddled around some controls and started scanning the city. No matter what he thought, all he knew was that this massive city was a much better area to scan than the tiny village discovered earlier.

DUKEDOM|HENTABLE FAMILY|CARBOCES EMPIRE

In one of five spires overlooking the Dukedom City, an emergency meeting was called.

"DUKE CHRISTOFER, WE MUST STRIKE IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY! BY THE TIME WE DISCERN IT'S TRUE INTENTIONS, IT WILL ALREADY RAZE THE PEOPLE!!"

An obnoxiously large and fat man slammed on the table where many figures were seen sitting around it.

"SEIZE THE INITIATIVE! ATTACK WHEN IT LEAST EXPECTS IT!"

"What if we can't kill it Sir Garett? What if all it does is anger it and it brings down destruction upon us all?" A hooded man questioned him. "Its way faster than a drake, its even faster than the speeds of a mythical dragon recorded in the codex. In fact, there is nothing in the codex that is supposed to have its speed. The fastest beast recorded would be a Blessed Wind Spirit, but this beast is even faster than that."

The hooded man shakes his head at the knight. Resting his head on his arm, he closes his eyes as he entered his mind to access the codex in another attempt at identifying the beast.

"The time it took to reach us when the barrier detected it wasn't even three minutes. Plus its so high in the sky that by the time our flying dragoons are even a quarter of the way there to intercept, they would be noticed." A scholarly man added, agreeing with the hooded man. "Wizard Reinad, what do you suggest we do?"

"Nothing, Its so high that the common people have yet to notice it, and those that do won't believe them." Reinad spoke solemnly. "Even I myself am having a hard time believing it. If it weren't for the disturbance in the cloud maze barrier, I would have shrugged it off as someone having a hallucination."

Another slam came from the knight.

"SO? WHAT IF IT DECIDES TO ATTACK? WHAT DO WE DO THEN?" The fat knight yelled, veins bulging as he couldn't believe the words he was hearing. "IF WORD GETS OUT THAT WE LET A BEAST DO AS IT PLEASES IN OUR CITY, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO OUR REPUTATION? HUH?"

He then turned to the head of the table, where a well built man sat, raised his head high and saluted.

"MY DUKE, ALLOW ME TO LEAD THE DRAGOONS TO SLAY THIS VILE-"

"Enough."

The duke spoke in a deep tone.

Shocked, the knight stumbled back, breaking his salute staring at the duke like he just shit on his head.

"B-b-but my Duke?!?"

"Enough." The duke commanded. "As of now, you are to be silent and only speak when spoken to, understood?"

"Yes my duke. Many apologies!" The knight saluted again, with cold sweat coming down his back as he refused to meet the stare his duke gave him.

"Wizard Reinad, as much as I don't like it, Garett does have a point." The duke sighed, "But you as well as Reeve's point are also valid."

"Then Christofer, what do you suggest we do?" The wizard asked. His eyes still closed, searching all the records he has.

"We wait." The duke spoke as he rubbed his temple. "We wait for it to leave, but we must be ready if the beast does attack. Knight Garett, take lead of the dragoons and wait. If, and ONLY if, the beast starts to descend, do you have the authority to take off and attack the beast. Do I make myself clear?"

The duke emphasized his last words with a deep glare at the shivering knight.

"YES MY DUKE!!!"

"Good. Remember, Nothing about the beast gets reviled to the peasants. UNDERSTOOD?"

""Yes my Duke"" The three responded as they did their respective salutes.

"Dismissed" The Duke spoke as he clapped his hands.

Alone in the room, Duke Cristofer sunk into deep thought as he leaned back in his seat.

"Hopefully this is just a one time thing. Surely the Sueeds haven't decided to move?"

"I pray to the gods that this lasting peace continues"