SKY OF PAPER: AN ASIAN STEAMPUNK FANTASY

CHAPTER 48

Those that lived in the Republic of Brien were quite knowledgeable in predicting the patterns of the winds and thus the fickle emotions of the weather. The celebration had been chosen for that day because the winds were predicted to be slightly more tame. But for all their talents, none of them could forecast the very nature of the ether itself.

A series of colored flares shot up from the emperor's ship. It was a signal that the shyo mu on watch had seen an ethereal storm approaching. With urgent haste we began turning our boats back. I was reluctant at first, and as we coasted back towards the ship, it didn‘t help that the Young Emperor teased at my urge to continue flying. 

"Why end the fun now?" he said. "Let's stay a few more minutes. Surely you have more tricks worth showing."

I had almost given in to his temptation, but at that moment it was fear that convinced me otherwise. The others never saw it, but they heard its thunderous roar. A pillar of lightning crashed through the ether, spearing the air just at the bow of our boat, one which I clearly saw with my second sight, but remained invisible to everyone else. A deafening followed clap, bellowing throughout the heavens as if an enraged demon had suddenly appeared to frighten us off. 

"What was that?" Kassashimei cried out, but no one answered.

Several more bolts of lightning flared around us like the roots of a tree, tearing holes in the currents and leaving behind only empty space, which caused the boats to flounder as they fell into the gaps. Some teetered back and forth while others suddenly dropped like rocks for some distance before abruptly floating again. Passengers and chienkuu ko alike were gasping, screaming, holding on for fear of capsizing or falling out of the sky. 

Though we‘d been caught up in the sudden commotion, it was only the unseen things that kept us in disarray. Strangely, the course of the wind and air remained unchanged, and even amidst the thunderous sounds, the people below seemed to hardly notice; a curious sign that they were used to such things. This was, after all, a country where every current of the world converged like angry giants and clashed unceasingly.  

"How could this be happening," I said. "I've never seen a storm in the ether before, let alone seen lighting shoot through it. I didn‘t know these storms could move so fast."

"Lightning?" The Young Emperor held Xiangfeng close as the boat rocked from side to side. "Is that what's causing this roaring?"

"Yes. We need to hurry back." 

I tried desperately to balance myself at the bow, but the shaking was too much. I had only the strength to hold on to the pedestal like a small boy clutching his mother. 

"Well, are we going back or not." He said impatiently.

"I can‘t. Look around. I don‘t think anyone can." 

The sky boats spun and dove without any semblance control, with their passengers as well as their chienkuu ko guides holding on for dear life.

Amidst the chaos our airship began to drift sideways. The decorative fiery wings that plumed from its sides spiraled outwards like vicious snakes reaching for some unseen prey, then bounded from boat to boat sending the passengers reeling. One of the boats caught fire. Screaming, they pounded away at the flame with their jackets and robes in a hurried attempt to put it out. 

"Do something," Xiangfeng demanded. 

Kassashimei's hand grasped my ankle, beckoning my attention. She looked up at me, unafraid. 

She said, "stop pretending. You know you‘re not as helpless as you think you are."

There was a bold calmness in the way she spoke, as if to her, I was the only person that existed in her world. Without another thought, I let go of the pedestal and turned towards the sky.