Permission

A immense, nebulous figure began to move in our direction, each step shaking the balloon slightly, as if the very air around us was trembling. The intermittent glow of electricity across its body illuminated the basket, casting dancing shadows across our faces. Marcelina, who had seemed unshakable until now, stepped forward, positioning herself as a human shield in front of us all. 

I watched as her hands slowly rose, and the light around her body grew in intensity, radiating warmth and authority. It was as though the sun itself had chosen to reside within her momentarily. She extended one hand, revealing the card she had mentioned earlier. Her voice was firm, though a hint of tension was detectable: 

"This is the permission of the Lord of Storms. We are merely passing through your territory. We respect your sovereignty." 

The elemental paused, its dark, cloud-like body swirling slowly as it observed the card in Marcelina's hand. Finally, its coarse voice echoed again, this time with less intensity, though still carrying a power that made bones vibrate. 

"Do not worry, Mage. If all is in order, you may proceed. I have no intention of causing unnecessary conflict." 

To my surprise—and judging by the looks on the faces around me, to everyone's surprise—the elemental began to shrink. Its nebulous form started to condense, collapsing in on itself. The muffled sound of thunder accompanied the process, as if the storm itself was being bottled. Within seconds, it was the size of a common human, though still composed of dark clouds and electricity. 

It floated lightly above the basket, landing with surprising grace. When it raised a hand, a pair of metallic glasses—shimmering as if forged from lightning—materialized in the air. It held them with an almost gentle touch, placing them in front of its eyes, now two glowing circles of energy. 

"Excuse me," it said, taking the card from Marcelina's hand with a careful, almost polite gesture. 

It began examining it, holding it in its nebulous hands. The sound of the paper being handled was muffled, but what caught my attention was how the elemental conducted small tests. First, it blew on the card, causing small sparks of electricity to dance across its surface. Then it held the card up to the light emanating from its own eyes, as if searching for invisible watermarks. 

Fascinated, I instinctively focused my vision, trying to glimpse what the card said. Finally, I managed to read part of its contents: 

["Official Permit for Aerial Passage"] 

["Issued by: Magnus Storm, Regent of the Skies and Keeper of the Electric Currents"] 

["Hereby grants permission to the bearer of this card, members of the Tower of Mount Sol, and their companions, to traverse the skies under my jurisdiction. Crossing foreign territories without this permit will be considered an act of war."] 

["Signed, Magnus, the Lord of Storms"] 

The elemental stepped back after finishing its examination. It removed the glasses, which disappeared in a burst of sparks, and returned the card with a respectful bow. 

"All is in order. You have permission to continue. Proceed with caution—the air above this territory can be volatile." 

Marcelina visibly relaxed, her light dimming as she tucked the card back into her chest. 

"Thank you for your understanding," she said, her voice still carrying an air of authority. 

As the elemental floated back to the edge of the basket, its lightning-filled eyes locked onto mine for a moment. A chill ran down my spine, but it simply nodded slightly before dissolving into the air, vanishing as if it had never been there. 

When everything returned to normal, I threw myself back into my seat, my mind racing. "Elemental beings with this level of intelligence and civility… yet still as deadly as they seem. This world is truly incredible." 

Everything had happened quickly, but the impact was profound. Liam was kneeling, still trying to recover his composure after the tension with the elemental. He slowly stood up, adjusting his wrinkled clothes, and his attention soon turned to Oliver, who was lying on the floor, his eyes almost tearful. Liam's expression instantly turned mocking. 

"Hahaha! Who would've thought the mighty Oliver, the 'talented one,' is afraid of a storm? A real coward, like a child whining on the ground!" He raised his arm, pointing directly at Oliver, every word dripping with malice. 

Oliver, still with clenched fists, rose slowly. His eyes burned with a rage that seemed to heat the air around him. A murderous gleam took hold of his gaze, and for a moment, I thought he would actually lunge at Liam and put an end to his taunts. 

"How dare you, worm?" Oliver spat the words with disdain, his body rigid as if ready to strike. He took a step forward, clearly prepared to turn the mockery into a physical confrontation. 

Before anything could happen, Marcelina's soft yet dangerously calm voice cut through the atmosphere. 

"My disciple, come here…" She gestured invitingly, her enigmatic smile almost cruel. "We have some nights to spend together, here in my cabin." 

An absolute silence fell over the balloon. The young people around us widened their eyes, and some even gaped in astonishment. I could almost hear their thoughts, imagining lascivious scenes and trying to understand why Oliver had been chosen for something that seemed so… intimate. 

Of course, I knew it was nothing like that. Marcelina wasn't a woman who involved herself in trivialities like these. Women as dark as her, with that aura of unshakable power, could only be interested in men as powerful as themselves—men capable of bending her and making her feel vulnerable, something Oliver certainly was not. 

Oliver, however, reveled in the impact of Marcelina's statement. He smiled from ear to ear, striding with exaggerated confidence toward her. 

"Of course, my master!" he replied, his voice overflowing with adulation. As he walked, he turned to Liam and, with a playful yet loaded grin, stuck out his tongue. "It feels great to be the only sun in this place. Being talented is truly amazing!" 

Liam's expression darkened, almost too dark. His face flushed with rage, and a pulsing vein stood out on the side of his forehead. He clenched his fists so tightly it seemed he was trying to crush something invisible. 

I couldn't help but observe with curiosity. "That hatred… it feels like he's going to explode at any moment." But, even filled with fury, Liam dared not utter a word. His head hung low, and he seemed to swallow his pride, unable to do anything for fear of Marcelina. 

.

.

The atmosphere in the balloon was far from peaceful, even after days of travel.

.

.

I was reclining in my seat, savoring an apple I had grabbed from the central table. The sound of laughter and chatter around me formed a background noise, but my focus was on Mia, who seemed isolated on the other side of the basket. 

"She's too shy," I thought, like a lion eyeing its prey. I raised my gaze and smiled, motioning to her with a casual gesture. She hesitated, her eyes darting between me and the other girls who were now watching us. Even so, she knew she couldn't refuse. After all, ignoring a command from me would only lead to trouble. 

"Ecli… Ecli… Eclivel…" Mia approached, stammering, unable to meet my eyes directly. 

"Sit here," I said, pointing to my lap. 

She glanced around, noticing Sophia and Olivia observing us intently. But neither of them said anything. It was as if an invisible wall of respect and fear kept them silent. 

Before Mia could protest, I effortlessly pulled her onto my right leg. I smiled, biting another piece of the apple, then held her by the chin, tilting her face for a kiss. The gesture was a bit forced, but the warmth of her skin against my lips made her stop trembling for a moment. 

Afterward, I handed her the apple and murmured, "Love, please, feed me." 

Her hands trembled, but she obeyed, picking up the apple and bringing it to my mouth between shy kisses. 

Meanwhile, chaos erupted on the other side of the basket. 

"Oliver? I saw that apple first! Who do you think you are? Want me to break your legs?" Liam's voice echoed, laced with anger. 

I glanced over at the unfolding scene. Liam was seething, glaring at Oliver, who held an apple seemingly larger and more impressive than all the others. 

"It belongs to whoever grabs it first," Oliver retorted with a smug smile, biting into the apple as if to provoke him further. 

The rest of the group stepped back slightly, but no one intervened. On the contrary, everyone seemed eager to watch the show. 

I knew what was about to happen. Liam and Oliver had been provoking each other since the incident with the storm elemental, but so far, they'd held back out of fear of Marcelina. With her occupied in the control cabin, it seemed the tension was finally about to reach its breaking point. 

Liam roared, and I raised an eyebrow. 

"You forced me to do this!" 

A low hum filled the air. 

Liam's muscles expanded unnaturally, and a bright blue aura began to envelop his body. He wasn't just a young noble—clearly, he had trained in the techniques of a Warrior, and now he was using all his inner life force to ignite what seemed to be his maximum power. 

I smirked slightly and activated my virtual lab with a mental command. 

["Beep!"] 

["Name: Liam Silver."] 

["Gender: Male."] 

["Age: 17 years."] 

["Strength: 2.5"] 

["Agility: 2.7"] 

["Vitality: 3.0"] 

["Status: Currently using a secret technique. Secret technique examination: After circulation, strength increases, agility increases!"]

A novice Warrior, but still impressive. His strength and vitality surpassed most here. It was clear Liam was ready to fight to the bitter end. 

On the other side, Oliver merely laughed, though the smile on his face was full of disdain. He tossed the apple aside, assuming a combat stance as if he had been waiting for this moment for days. 

I, on the other hand, remained completely relaxed. As Mia occasionally ran her fingers through my golden hair, I kissed her neck, feeling her tremble and warm in my arms. Meanwhile, the spectacle was just beginning. 

"They're really going to fight," I thought, a smile creeping across my face. "This should be interesting." 

With my free hand, I adjusted Mia to sit more comfortably on my lap, and my eyes locked onto the two opponents. May the best—or the most foolish—win. Either way, it would make for excellent entertainment on this long and tedious journey. 

...

1760 Words