Upon the Flying Ship: Rewritten Records of the Illiterate Author

Chapter 5

"And this," Fyeuin pointed down from the open Bay Doors, "is a small town in Northleans called Winthered. I'll assume you read the few articles I found about this town?"

Mondy nodded. "Secluded town that burrowed into the mountain range. Barely any access to the rest of Northleans, and the DSS will get stuck maneuvering between these spires. We have to do this ourselves.

"Better than last time. Parachute?"

Mondy tugged at the straps around her waist and shoulders.

With no warning whatsoever, Fyeuin hopped out of the ship. Her parachute quickly unfolded, a bright splotch of color in the middle of gray-and-white backdrop. Mondy watched, terrified, as she dodged yet another spire.

"DeMondine. Go. Jump. Want me to push you?" Pteppic stood behind her, noting her shaking knees.

"No." Mondy jumped, eyes open wide, exhilaration and adrenaline pumping through her. And then the winds were tossing her around as the parachute slowly unfolded above her. Everything slowed as clouds brushed past her, snow-laden and heavy. She was like a leaf, fluttering this way and that, but somewhat in control.

Then her boots hit rock, and Fyeuin caught her as her knees buckled. The huge parachute covered them, shielding from the winds, the tiny snowflakes, and a couple curious villagers poked their heads out from inside a small door in the stone.

And then, as Mondy traced her path through the air, two small figures detached from the ship. The ship then began to move. Faster and faster, leaving three DeSSers, one apprentice, and two possible recruits alone. On a mountain. Away from civilization.

"Pteppic? Miyana? Why- oh." Fyeuin sighed. "Dear stars, why now? Please tell me this is an elaborate trick."

"Sorry, if it was, we're not in. If Liblie thinks this is funny, I'm murdering her myself and taking the job."

"Not so loud, otherwise other people will think they can also do that."

"They can't! I'll murder them too!"

"Okay, okay. Calm down, Pteppic. Better tell me, did you read the articles I found about this town?"

Miyana looked at the small sign that said, in half-erased letters, "Winthering". "Mmm, it's called 'Winthering'. It's a town... inside the mountain."

Fyeuin looked in the same direction. "Congratulations, Miyana, you can read. Why is it you two, anyway?"

"Well..." Miyana shrugged. "I'll find clean water and that guy can cut down trees. Good enough?"

"I also do knives." muttered Pteppic.

"So can she," Fyeuin pointed at Mondy. "You're not special anymore."

"You wound me." Pteppic pressed a hand to his chest.

"That's not where your heart is."

"That's why I'm not dead."

"Hey! Guys!" Mondy was standing by the door, next to a couple villagers. "I think I found the two recruits!"

They were two teenages, a girl in a short white dress, tights, and long, bound hair. The boy was wearing gray, with inky swirls spilled on the bottoms. He looked threatening yet withdrawn, and Fyeuin could imagine him as a villain in a scary story written to make kids stay in bed at night.

"I'm Luzelitta, and my brother here is Noxin. We're twins, and my power is light, and his is shadow." She looked up. "Where's the DSS?"

"Gone." Fyeuin couldn't think of a way to break the news nicely. So she picked a tactic called 'bluntness', or 'brutal but honest truth'.