Balloons

I was lost in thought, trying to organize the confusion in my mind about the dangers awaiting us on the new continent, when something caught my attention. In the blue sky above, small colorful spots began to form among the white clouds. My body froze, and reflexively, I pointed to the sky with my index finger.

"Look! In the sky!" I shouted, my voice filled with astonishment and surprise.

My shout was loud enough to silence the chatter around me. Marcelina paused mid-instruction, Wallace turned with a curious expression, and Liam squinted toward where I was pointing. Soon, all the acolytes had their eyes fixed on the horizon.

As the seconds passed, the colorful dots grew larger, clearer, until we could finally distinguish their shapes. Immense balloons floated in the sky, gigantic and majestic, as if carrying the weight of history and the pride of each tower they represented.

The balloon of the Monte Sol Tower was a golden and orange spectacle, like the sunrise itself. The fabric shimmered as if made of liquid gold, with stylized flame patterns that seemed to move with the wind. At the bottom, a large basket, reinforced with carved wood and gleaming metallic details, was secured by thick ropes like tentacles.

The balloon of the Dark Lake Tower was a stark contrast. Midnight-black fabric was adorned with silver details that mimicked the reflection of a full moon on water. At its center, the tower's symbol, a circle representing a lake, gleamed with a deep blue hue, emitting a faint mysterious glow that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat.

The balloon of the Ascending Stars Tower was an explosion of celestial colors. A gradient of blue, purple, and silver made it look like a piece of the night sky, torn and sewn by hand. Small bright dots, like stars, decorated its surface, blinking with active magic.

The balloon of the Verdant Crystal Tower had a vibrant emerald hue, with patterns resembling roots and leaves intertwining in an endless cycle of life. It seemed alive, as the colors subtly shifted, mimicking the sway of trees in the wind.

The balloon of the Howling Winds Tower was gray and white, like storm clouds. Its fabric rippled and appeared to change texture as it reflected the light. Swirls and wind currents adorned its surface, giving the impression it could vanish in the blink of an eye.

.

.

The list of balloons continued, as there were many magical towers in the area awaiting transportation.

They approached slowly, but their grandeur filled the sky, making us feel small before such a sight. The sound of the wind carried the faint creak of the ropes and the occasional crackle of flames keeping the balloons aloft.

"Are these our transport vehicles?" someone whispered near me, their tone heavy with reverence.

Oliver, a little ahead, just nodded, unable to take his eyes off the sight. "Yes, and they're not simple airships. They're magical balloons, equipped with a decent level of artillery. I've heard that mages use them for transportation and low-level attacks."

As the immense balloons drifted closer, the one belonging to Monte Sol Tower began to stand out among the others. Its golden and orange glow made it seem like it carried a piece of the sun itself. I couldn't contain my curiosity and immediately issued a mental command to the Virtual Laboratory.

"Laboratory, analyze the Monte Sol Tower balloon. I want a detailed analysis of its structure and functionality."

["Beep!"]

["Command received."]

["Initiating scan..."]

My field of vision was overtaken by a translucent hologram forming in the air. The three-dimensional image of the balloon materialized within seconds as the Virtual Laboratory decoded every technical detail. I remained silent, watching closely as the magic of science unfolded before me.

["Balloon Structure"]

The hologram zoomed in on the outer surface of the balloon, highlighting the fabric that encased it. It was made of a hybrid material resembling silk but reinforced with tungsten fibers.

["Material identified: Tungsten fiber. Composition: 80% organic fabric, 20% reinforced filaments for heat and impact resistance. High durability against physical attacks and weather conditions."]

The analysis then focused on the upper valves, which regulated the release of hot air to control altitude. Each valve was adorned with a polished bronze mechanism, decorated with visible gears pulsing with a faint blue energy.

["Propulsion System"]

Beneath the balloon, the hologram revealed a steampunk engine attached to the rear of the main basket. It was an intricate assembly of pistons, gears, and copper tubes, periodically releasing steam.

["Propulsion identified: Type-III Steam Engine. Energy source: Vapor energy collapse. Efficient for maintaining stability and maneuverability even in mild to moderate storms."]

The engine was powered by a reactor located at the core of the machine. The hologram zoomed in on the core, revealing its intense glow and the constant flow of vapor energy into the connected tubes.

["Basket and Controls"]

The basket was a spectacle in itself. Made of treated wood and reinforced with black steel beams, its base was equipped with control levers, pedals, and small dials with needles measuring the balloon's internal pressure.

["Control systems: Based on simple physics. Primary mechanics: Internal pressure control and manual adjustment of a rear rudder for steering."]

There was a rudder positioned at the rear of the basket, operated by a system of cables running through pulleys along the balloon. Small adjustments could be made for greater precision.

As the analysis concluded and the hologram displayed the system functioning in real time, I felt a smile spread across my face. All this complexity, all these mechanisms… They were impressive for this world. But for me, coming from a place where vehicles powered by internal nuclear energy were common, it seemed almost rudimentary.

"Of course," I thought, "these balloons are masterpieces in this world, but if I had access to more technological resources and a few weeks of work, it wouldn't be hard to replicate them—or even create something more efficient."

My smile widened. "It's fascinating how something so advanced here can feel so archaic to someone who has seen the pinnacle of engineering in the year 3000 AD."

As I watched the real balloon land with the soft creak of ropes and a gentle hiss of steam escaping the valves, a mix of curiosity and ambition stirred within me. "Could that steam battery be used as a weapon? If so... have the mages already understood the power of a pistol or a machine gun? I assume magical energy pistols are quite powerful..."

Eclivel was full of questions, but he quickly shook his head and thought directly. "Maybe an anti-matter pistol would be more powerful than magical energy. After all, if magical energy is what mages emit from their bodies, it's nothing more than radiation at a distorted level."

After the balloons landed, a faint hiss of steam escaping the pressure valves announced the opening of the side doors. From within emerged mages dressed in white, their garments gleaming in the sunlight. They walked with an air of confidence, yet there was a certain calmness to their faces. It didn't take long for some of the older instructors from the camp to approach them, exchanging quick words. They seemed like old acquaintances, perhaps even accomplices in matters we, the Acolytes, would never understand.

A voice echoed from one of the mages: "Everyone must proceed to the balloons of their respective towers."

As usual, Marcelina stood out. She was sipping something from a glass goblet, the red liquid gleaming intensely. "Blood? Or just magical wine?" I wondered to myself. She seemed slightly intoxicated, yet still composed, as if her drunkenness was calculated not to compromise her authority.

I walked to the center of the group, my eyes scanning the expressions around me. There were familiar faces from our previous journey. Some recognized me and smiled back, while others murmured among themselves, excited about what was to come. This was a moment of transition for all of us, and the mix of anxiety and enthusiasm hung in the air like an invisible shroud.

To the right, I noticed Luny, Cleo, Lana, and Styg all heading to the balloons of their towers. They waved at me enthusiastically, clearly happy to see me. I raised my hand in response but quickly averted my gaze. "I'm going to miss these girls' pussies," I thought. "But that's inevitable." I quickly suppressed the feeling. There was no room for weakness now.

Once we boarded the balloon, a large basket revealed itself, equipped with several padded chairs. Marcelina, still holding her goblet, gave quick orders and walked to the control cabin, disappearing from view. The interior of the balloon was surprisingly comfortable. The chairs were made of soft leather, but the space was cramped, reminding me of train seats from my previous world. "Functional, but nothing luxurious," I observed mentally.

Liam assumed the role of leader, though it was obvious he did so more to assert himself than out of real necessity. "Alright! Let me assign your seats for this journey!"

Before he could continue, Oliver interrupted, clearly irritated. "Screw you, man... Who cares about what you think in this damn place?" He marched to seat number 18 and flopped into it, crossing his arms defiantly.

Liam turned pale, then red, his clenched fist betraying his internal struggle to keep calm. After a few tense moments, he regained composure and resumed assigning seats. Wallace, Raynor, and I were in the same group. "Eclivel, you'll be in seat 20," he finally said.

Without protest, I walked to my seat, located near the edge of the basket.

...

1620 Words