Flight and Fight

-----Yui's POV

It was finally my turn to soar the skies with Kaede. She said that Mell held onto her from behind, but that seem way too risky in my opinion. I could just fly off and that'll be me. So instead, Kaede lifted me up bridal carry style, with my arms wrapped around her neck from the front.

Kaede: "Ready?"

Yui: "Mm!"

And in the next moment, we shot out from the caravan as it was still moving. We nearly crashed straight into the ground, but Kaede managed to just barely lift us up with her wings, kicking up a dust cloud in the process until we get above the caravans. I cling to Kaede tighter as I watch the ground get further and further away. I didn't think I'd be afraid of heights as back in my past life, I have traveled on planes before. But maybe with this being a lot more immersive, the feeling of being dropped is a lot more prevalent; not like Kaede would drop me that is.

Kaede: "You doing okay?"

Yui: "Mm!"

Kaede: "Fufu~ Look out in front of you. It's a lot better than hiding your head in my chest."

I suppose with this position, I can really only see the ground, which in turn, makes my sense of vertigo even worse. I close my eyes tight before tilting my head forward, just like what Kaede instructed. The feeling of the wind crashing into my face made it more difficult than I thought to open my eyes, but I push through it slowly.

All of a sudden, all that fear and sense of vertigo had disappeared, as I look onward at the spectacle in front of me, no, all around me. The sharp mountain ranges, the long, stretching river accompanied by dense forest.

Kaede: "So? What do ya think?"

Yui: "...Pretty."

Kaede: "Hehe."

Yui: "You've got the hang of flying so quickly."

Kaede: "I guess it's similar to a bird. By instinct they know how to fly. I guess it's sorta like that."

Yui: "Cool."

I'm pretty jealous of Kaede right now. I doubt I can ever feel like this unless Kaede flies me again, but even so, I doubt it's nothing compared to flying yourself. Hmm... Maybe if more of Kaede's blood invaded my system, maybe I could also sprout wings? I wonder how that works?

Kaede: "Maybe Mai can teach you how to use flight magic one day."

Yui: "But you know how limited I am with magic."

Kaede: "I guess... But you'll never know!"

That would be quite a miracle to be able to use magic like that, but that's just a fantasy dream. I guess there's no harm in learning the theory behind it though.

Yui: "Thank you."

With my arms wrapped around Kaede's neck, I bring myself up to her face before planting my lips on her cheek, breaking away a moment later.

Kaede: "I-it's fun for me as well. No need to thank me."

Yui: "Really? I would think it's awkward carrying me like this. I'm probably quite heavy, straining your wings."

Kaede: "Hehe. Not in the slightest. You forget that I'm pretty strong. In fact, carrying you like this is a lot easier than when Mell was on my back."

Yui: "That so?"

Kaede: "It was okay since she's lighter, but it did limit the movement of my wings. With you like this however, I can comfortable fly with no problem."

I'm delighted to hear that I'm not being a burden to Kaede. Maybe we can do this again sometime, after this trip is all-

My eyes suddenly lock onto a settlement of some kind, breaking me from my thoughts. Maybe it's a town? Is it part of Yarene? The thought of us finally arriving sends excitement throughout my body.

Yui: "Hey! You see that?"

I point out with one hand to the town whilst my other hand is still wrapped around Kaede's neck.

Kaede: "It's, a town."

Yui: "We're getting close now!"

Kaede: "I should probably bring us down then. Someone could spot us flying like this."

Yui: "Oh, yeah-"

Kaede: "Sorry to cut it short."

Yui: "No no, I understand. We'll have plenty of time to do this again."

Kaede: "Mhmm."

And so, we glide gently back down before slipping back into the caravan. Kaede gently lowers me down to my feet as I proceed to tidy up my hair a bit.

Natalie: "How was it?"

Yui: "It was fun. But mom."

Iris: "Hmm?"

Yui: "I saw a town in the distance. Is that Yarene?"

Iris: "Ah, yes. You must've caught sight of Narlimar. It's the town where our supply routes go to."

So I'm right! We're finally entering Yarene! I feel the corners of my mouth rise up as my excitement from before only continues to flourish inside me.

Marcus: "Finally! It's been cold sleeping in this damn caravan for so long."

Looks like someone has had enough with sleeping like this as well.

Natalie: "You think we can make it before tonight?"

Kaede: "It was quite far away, so I'd say maybe another day of travel."

A heavy sigh from everyone followed after Kaede's statement. Seems like even Mom and Alice have had enough being cramped up like this as well.

Iris: "Okay. We'll camp out tonight before arriving in Narlimar tomorrow. One more night."

Alice: "Seems as though we packed just the right amount of rations for the trip. A few more days and we'd be completely out of food."

Alice checks our stock of food at the back before handing out sandwiches to everyone. I got to hand it to mom for how well thought out this all was. I didn't even think about a food shortage happening until Alice brought it up just now. But once we're in Narlimar, all our worries should just fade away.

-----Fabian's POV

We made it back to the academy as the guards let us in through the gate. Seems as though many of the students also returned from the sudden appearance of spiders.

Male Student1: "Where's the headmaster?!"

Female Student1: "What is the army even doing?"

Many students are all asking the same questions, but no one had an answer to them.

Female Student2: "Prince!"

At a girl's call, everyone took notice of our arrival as their grim expression slowly turns into a smile.

Classmate: "Fabian!"

Someone from my class spots me as they run over to the both of us.

Fabian: "Is everyone here?"

Classmate: "Yes. We barely left the academy when it happened, so everyone's basically here."

Good. I'm quite confident in my classmates since I've been with them for 3 years now. It feels like a sliver of hope as risen up inside of me... However, that attack from before that easily destroyed the prince's barrier, I'm not sure how we'll deal with something like that. What's worse is that it just left us to run away, as if they're in no rush to kill us. I'd even go as far as to say the teachers will also find it difficult to go up against that...

Leon: "Do you know where the headmaster is?"

Classmate: "Prince! Ah, no, sorry. But-"

Teacher1: "Everyone! Move inside!"

At the teacher's call from the entrance to the main building, everyone began to run forward, pushing though each other to get inside the building as soon as possible. The Prince and I both follow suit as we enter the building as well.

Teacher2: "Auditorium, now!"

Another teacher at a corner guides us and everyone else to the auditorium. I guess that is a decent place to defend as there's only really one way in, and the room itself can hold everyone in the entire academy. A perfect place for a choke hold when the spiders do reach us.

When we arrive inside the auditorium, countless students were already inside as it seems as though we're the last group to enter. I don't know why, but I end up scouring through the students in hopes to find my sister, even though I already know she's no longer here anymore. She picked one hell of a time to leave, haha. Or maybe she knew of the spider invasion was going to happen and left with mom and everyone else? I guess that could be a possibility as well...

Suddenly, the loud sounds of explosions could be heard once again, only this time, it was close. Almost as if it's right outside the academy.

Julius: "Everyone! Listen to me! We don't have much time. Move swiftly though here-"

The teacher then slides open a secret entrance under the stage of the auditorium, leading what looks to be staircase leading downwards. Everyone wastes no time as they slowly make their way down the staircase while the other teachers stay on guard near the entrance of the auditorium.

Leon: "It'll take too long to get everyone down there."

Fabian: "You know where that leads?"

Leon: "I don't know if it is what I think it is, but I am aware of a tunnel that connects the castle to the academy in case of emergencies."

Fabian: "But wouldn't the spiders end up attacking the castle anyways?"

Leon: "That's why I'm not sure..."

Another explosion could be heard just outside as it startles everyone inside.

Julius: "Quickly! Everyone!"

?: "My my, Look at all of you packed up neatly inside this box for me."

The same voice from before entered my mind, but I can't tell which direction it's coming from. It's almost as if she's speaking directly into my mind. And looking around, everyone else seems to be hearing it as well as the room quickly fills with chatter amongst everyone.

It was then that the door to the auditorium was blown clean off as smoke began to creep into the room. I freeze in place as I focus on what's inside the smoke. I could faintly see a pair of glowing red eyes piercing through the smoke, but I couldn't see anything else. As the smoke continued to make it's way into the room, I could also hear the sound of footsteps, as if the thing inside the smoke isn't a spider at all.

?: "I'll give you two options. Swear fealty to me, or be eaten."

At her words, spiders began to slowly emerge through the smoke, however they didn't move in to attack anyone, as if they're being controlled right now.

Fabian: "What now?"

I whisper to Leon for any suggestions.

Leon: "...We're trapped in here. They block the only exist besides that stair case."

I didn't realize it, but it still seems as though students are still trying to escape through the hidden staircase. Suddenly, a teacher shot several water strikes towards the spiders, but they were cut down by... Hair? Hair emerged through the smoke, dispelling the water strike before they could strike the spiders.

A loud thud could be heard as the teacher that shot the water strike just suddenly collapsed onto the floor, not moving a muscle. I didn't catch what just happened, but did he just-

?: "What about the rest of you?"

I find myself grasping hold of the hilt of my sword, but unable to draw it to fight as I believe no one here is a match for the being that's in front of us. The Prince also seems that way as he also is hesitating to act. Why is this happening?