Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 747 - 746: Challenging the Sky

On the western side of the Dark Mountain Range, a secret military training facility is nestled within the forest.

This facility is of considerable size, characterized by gray concrete walls and a large number of buildings no more than two stories high. This color scheme and architectural style allow the entire facility to blend almost perfectly with the mountain rock background. Within the walls and sentinel towers enclosing the complex, there are simple-styled barracks and warehouses, as well as an unusually large open space where soldiers undergoing training are assembled.

The cold winter wind flutters the Empire’s flag not far away, while the soldiers in winter uniforms stand in neat rows on the open ground. At the front of the formation, Gryphon Knight Jinna is waiting somewhat nervously for the officer’s arrival.

This female knight, born into a family of Gryphon Knights, has been training here at this place called "Windcaller Camp" for nearly a hundred days, along with the soldiers who came with her.

The soldiers have not been informed about their specific mission or the purpose of this camp’s establishment. Their daily training consists mainly of two types: one involves theoretical knowledge about magic-conducting machinery and rapid calculations, while the other involves repeated operations on some kind of simulation equipment.

Even though secrecy is maintained by the higher-ups, after undergoing a certain period of training, Jinna and her comrades have more or less guessed the purpose of this facility’s establishment—

Seventy percent of the soldiers selected to come here are from Gryphon Knight backgrounds; during training, they have been repeatedly exposed to terms that seem related to flight; the large open space is very suitable for landing something...

This world is not without flying species. To these soldiers, who have all had some dealings with the sky, the concept of flight is not entirely unfamiliar.

This is a place for cultivating a new type of flying species, and this species likely involves magic technology.

Even though they have been confined within this closed facility, they have heard news of the Magic Guide Technology Research Institute successfully creating a new type of flying machine, but they have not yet seen it with their own eyes.

Jinna took a light breath, the icy air helping her maintain clarity of mind. Last night, she heard a strange buzzing sound from behind those giant warehouses. Coupled with the recent arrival of Mage Technicians at the facility and the solemn attitude of the instructor when announcing today’s assembly time, this female knight vaguely sensed that something was about to happen today.

A few minutes later, the instructor finally appeared—Silver Elf Sonia came into Jinna’s sight, walking unhurriedly towards the assembled soldiers.

This high-ranked order messenger is the instructor for Jinna and the other trainees.

At first, Jinna was curious as to why a person of another race would be the instructor for the Empire’s soldiers, but she did not question the orders from above. Moreover, she had previously fought alongside this high order messenger on the battlefield of the Plains of the Holy Spirits. She knew of this high order messenger’s superb flying skills and dependable character. During the subsequent training, Sonia indeed demonstrated her excellent qualities as an instructor. To this day, this elf from the Silver Empire has gained the trust of the soldiers.

When Sonia stood before Jinna and the others, all the soldiers saluted in unison, their movements crisp and powerful.

Sonia nodded, her gaze sweeping over these soldiers.

"Today, we enter the final stage of this training," the high order messenger said loudly. "You have been training here for ninety-eight days. Frankly, I consider this training period not long, but I believe that through these ninety-eight days of training, you should have guessed why you are assembled here.

"Just as you thought—you are here to learn to fly.

"Soldiers, most of you should be familiar with flying, but you should also have guessed that the skills you’re learning here are not meant for riding gryphons.

"Look up, and greet the companions you will fight alongside in the future."

A strange buzzing suddenly came from the sky and quickly approached.

Jinna instinctively looked up and, in the clear winter sky, saw it for the first time—

It was a flying machine made of steel, leather, and crystal, with a peculiar inverted conical main body and wings extending to the sides, resembling dragon wings.

Three identical aircraft were flying over the forest sea of the Dark Mountain Range, soaring across the clear sky towards the plaza.

They appeared heavy and massive, yet they moved with the agility and swiftness of birds. They slowed down smoothly over the plaza, stable and skillful like the finest gryphons.

After entering a hover, the crescent-shaped main wing panels on either side of the aircraft folded and retracted, forming a stable support structure. The magic symbol rings at the base of their conical bodies dimmed slightly, lifting the entire aircraft steadily, lowering its height, to land smoothly on the open ground not far in front of the soldiers.

In that instant, Jinna, who had already crammed a lot of magic knowledge, realized why her instructor was a Silver Elf.

It wasn’t just because the Silver Elf was reliable enough, and her flying skills were outstanding.

More importantly, the Silver Elf mastered the world’s most advanced anti-gravity technology.

—The moment she laid eyes on the aircraft, this diligent and inquisitive gryphon knight had already determined that it was likely flying by means of Anti-gravity Spell.

Jinna gently exhaled.

It seems that all the self-study of magic knowledge and the research into various mechanical devices has indeed been useful.

The trainees appeared a bit excited. Although they remained silent under the discipline, Jinna could distinctly hear her comrades’ breaths becoming rapid. Some even stretched their necks forward, seemingly trying to see more clearly.

"These are three training machines, with seventeen more flying machines being assembled and adjusted in the hangar," Sonia said, looking at the soldiers who exhibited expressions of anticipation, surprise, and curiosity, nodding in satisfaction. "You have learned the basic maneuvering knowledge of these machines, but actual flight will require a certain amount of time for training. Throughout this entire winter, you will be accompanied by these magic machineries—I believe you will pilot these machines as adeptly as you have piloted gryphons."

Sonia paused for a moment, her expression becoming more serious and solemn compared to the previous moment.

Jinna and her comrades instinctively straightened their bodies as they heard their instructor solemnly announce:

"Then next, according to the document from the Supreme Administration Office, the command of the military, and the decree from His Majesty Gawain Cecil, the first phase of the Cecil Empire’s Dragon Cavalry Troops is established today!

"The Commander of the Dragon Cavalry Troops will temporarily be Ginna Prince from Tanzan, and will be confirmed after the training cycle ends..."

...

After completing the initial introductions and guidance, and familiarizing the soldiers with what the "Dragonrider-I Air Combat Mech" is, giving the soldiers a basic understanding of these advanced constructs, Sonia temporarily disbanded the unit.

The high-ranked order messenger stood beside an open field, watching the excited soldiers gather around the aircraft, reluctant to leave, and couldn’t help but feel somewhat emotional.

"Combining the elves’ anti-gravity technology with humanity’s runology... it really succeeded..." she muttered softly, "this path is indeed the right one..."

Footsteps came from behind, a voice sounded from behind Sonia: "Just because he is proficient at finding the right path in adversity, that’s why I trust him so much."

Sonia turned around, seeing Soldrin standing behind her, while a small squad of Steel Dragoon Warriors was patrolling in the distance.

Soldrin and his elite Iron Cavalry are stationed here, but they are not trained soldiers; they are responsible for the security of this facility.

"Your judgment was right this time," Sonia squinted her eyes and nodded slightly, "but it is limited to your judgment this time."

"Mother, you saw too that there is indeed sense in me staying here," Soldrin said with a smile, spreading his hands, "and didn’t you also stay?"

"I’m executing Her Majesty the Queen’s orders, she commanded me to serve His Majesty Gawain Cecil temporarily," Sonia glanced at Soldrin, "as for you, when you decided not to go home for seven hundred years, it wasn’t because of loyalty to His Majesty Gawain Cecil, was it?"

A northern wind blew, lifting the golden long hair of the two elves, and Soldrin instantly recalled one reason for staying in the north, unable to help awkwardly pressing his wig—although Sonia appears as a calm and steady High-ranked Order Messenger to outsiders, she was more a mother who liked to nag her son, and every time she talked about his absence for years, the topic became quite... bald.

Seeing Soldrin’s embarrassed expression, Sonia couldn’t help but sigh, her gaze returning to the training machines and the soldiers who were reluctant to leave them.

The high-ranked order messenger thought for a moment and asked, "What do you think of that girl named Jinna?"

Soldrin: "...Ah?"

"Jinna, the one with the ponytail," Sonia pointed with her mouth, "I’ve done several tasks with her on the Plains of the Holy Spirits; she’s a steady and ambitious girl, and she will officially become the commander of the Dragon Cavalry Troops in the future. I’ve inquired, she’s unmarried..."

"Mother!" Soldrin at that instant even forgot his hair problem, said in a low voice with a wry smile, "Saying this here is quite inappropriate..."

"What’s not appropriate about it? Your father and I met on the day Her Majesty was born..."

Soldrin: "..."

Noticing Soldrin’s increasingly embarrassed expression, Sonia shook her head helplessly, her gaze slowly turning serious as she moved her focus from the knight girl from Tanzan to the three "Dragon Cavalry" aircrafts.

"Mage-conducting machinery relying on the Anti-Gravity Ring to ascend... This thing should offer some help to the challenges faced by the Sacred Stars Temple."

"Master Bannar believes so," Soldrin nodded, "he thinks that although the current ’Anti-Gravity Ring’ technology can’t be applied to repair the engine units of the Sacred Stars Temple, it can still reduce the load on them. And the process of parsing Elven Runes through rune logic has inspired him; he wants to discuss these matters thoroughly with Master Vilyana Silverstar in the next data exchange with the Sacred Stars Temple, hoping to provide some inspiration for its maintenance personnel."

"In the beginning, this technical exchange was not favored by those stubborn councilors, and the queen and the prime minister endured significant pressure for it. Yet, as more and more technical data flows between Cecil and the Silver Empire recently, those restless mouths have somewhat shut up," Sonia said softly, "No matter what, no matter how conservative the councilor, they cannot reject tangible benefits; benefit is the medicine to quiet them."

Soldrin remained silent for a moment and then said leisurely, "Benefit... also includes trade activities with the Typhon Empire, right?"

"...The queen has her considerations; it’s about the country’s interest, not personal feelings," Sonia shook her head, "The Silver Empire and Cecil are ultimately too distant."

"I know, I’m not that childish," Soldrin replied flatly, "It’s precisely from the Silver Empire’s interest that I hope we don’t get too close to the Typhon people..."

Sonia did not respond, and simply stared quietly in the direction of the playground.

She is the Silver Empire’s high-ranked order messenger dispatched to the northern continent.

The high-ranked order messenger, which is also the Silver Queen’s eyes.

"The greatest courage of mortals is to challenge the sky and the ocean..." Sonia said as if talking to herself, "Now, let us hope Cecil’s sky-challenging feat can help them break the blockade on the wasteland...

"Only by breaking this blockade can further cooperation between Cecil and the Silver Empire be possible; otherwise, everything is empty talk."