The Author's Viewpoint

"Welcome to Vensalor Island, Tave, Lily," Vanya said warmly, standing between them with a soft smile.

Lily, who had been struggling to contain her awe since the moment the island came into view, now stood fully captivated. Her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly agape, glowing with wonder.

"This is so beautiful…" she whispered. "It's absolutely breathtaking! I've never seen anything like this on the mainland."

And Tave couldn't help but agree.

What lay before them was a vision of serenity and brilliance. A paradise suspended above the world. A wide, crystal-clear river ran through the heart of the island, sparkling as it flowed through rolling fields of wildflowers. On either side, sweeping meadows stretched out, dotted with blooms in vivid hues that painted the landscape with life.

The air itself felt clearer here, brighter. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks veiled by silver clouds. The forests in the distance shimmered with shades of green so vibrant, they almost looked unreal. Birds circled in the sky, butterflies danced between blossoms, and gentle humming bugs flitted through the sunlit air, making everything feel… alive.

Tave was almost spellbound. The noise and weight in his mind—the worries, the questions, the burdens—seemed to dissolve into the beauty that surrounded him. It was like the very island whispered calm into his soul.

When he looked up, smaller floating islands hovered high above, rivers cascading from their edges in elegant spirals—like waterfalls suspended in time. It was a place unlike anything he had seen on the surface or even within the most surreal Rift Expeditions.

"Seriously," Lily said at last, laughing breathlessly as she turned to Vanya, "I would be thrilled to stay here for a long, long time."

Vanya smiled gently at her. "Of course, Lily. You're welcome here, for as long as you wish."

"Really?" Lily turned to Tave, her eyes gleaming.

"So, you're already abandoning your home just because of a pretty view, huh?" Tave teased.

Lily scoffed, grinning. "I'm sure anyone would say the same if they saw this place. I mean, look at it! A floating island this massive. What kind of energy does it take to keep something like this in the air for hundreds of years? It's insane. It's… magnificent."

The journey continued, and it would still take a few more hours before they reached the heart of the kingdom where the royal city stood. As the ship glided gently along the river that cut through the floating island, the scenery offered a glimpse into the life of the forest elves.

Along the riverbanks, they passed by several groups of elves. Children waved enthusiastically at the passing vessel.

Vanya remained in her disguised attire, a simple travel cloak concealing her identity, so none of the villagers recognized her. Tave and Lily, too, wore helmets and a wide-brimmed hat respectively, concealing their distinctly human features—especially their ears, which would've instantly marked them as outsiders.

Of course, their skin tones differed from that of the forest elves, but from this distance, that was hardly noticeable. They blended in well enough under the traveling guise.

As the river curved, they passed elevated stretches of land where small settlements came into view. Modest homes, crafted from a blend of rich wood and sturdy stone, dotted the hillsides.

These were the living quarters of various forest elf communities. Some were farmers tending to their crops; others were hunters who made their living from the forests. There were even seafarers among them—those who ventured down to the oceans below for trade and fish.

But more than a few of the elves were warriors.

The true fighters of Vensalor, however, resided in dedicated quarters far from the villages. These elite were trained day and night, sharpening their skills in secluded bastions designed for combat readiness. Some trained to join the royal guard, others to serve as defenders of the island in times of war.

"Princess," Tave finally spoke, turning toward Vanya.

"Yes, Tave?"

"Um, may I make a request?"

"A request?" Vanya tilted her head, intrigued.

"Yes, I mean... for the place where Lily and I will be staying. Would it be possible for us to be placed somewhere closer to the forest? I mean, somewhere more surrounded by nature. There's something I'd like to do in the woods, and also, it would help Lily and me keep training—exploring what kind of creatures live around here."

"You... don't want to stay in the castle?"

Lily turned to Tave, curious about that question too.

"No, it's not that... It's just, well, I will come to the castle when the time calls for it, right? But while we're here, I don't want to waste the chance to explore this place more deeply. Like… if that's okay with you."

Vanya responded with a warm smile. "Yes, of course... Tave, there's a perfect place for both of you... and..." she glanced over at Aura, who stood a little ways off.

The imperial knight noticed the gesture and walked over. "Is there something I can assist you with, Princess?"

"Aura... would you..."

Vanya went on to explain Tave's request and asked Aura to personally accompany them, offering any assistance they might need under any circumstance.

Special treatment from an Imperial Knight?

Tave offered a faint smile, aware that Vanya might be going a bit overboard with her request. Honestly, they didn't really need Aura to escort them. The truth was, Tave never felt completely at ease around someone as clever as Aura, who masked her sharpness behind a polished, composed kindness.

Still, if she could slowly open a line of communication and build some rapport with this Imperial Knight... could that be possible?

At the very least, it would make things easier. Especially when it came to getting permission to explore different parts of the island.

So yeah, no real reason to complain.

Aura's expression remained open and warm as she listened to the princess's explanation. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she stepped closer and turned to Tave, a light smile playing on her lips.

"Of course, I'd be happy to accompany you both," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. "If the forest is where you feel most at ease, then that's where we'll begin. I've wandered through nearly every path the woods of Vensalor offer. I know where it's safe, and I know where it's… interesting."

She paused, her eyes narrowing just slightly with an amused glint. "Besides, it's been a while since I had company with the courage to request the wilds over the castle. I'll make sure no unnecessary trouble finds you. And if it does…" She let the sentence hang, her smile widening a little. "Well, let's just say I'd be curious to see how you handle it."

Her tone was light, almost teasing, but there was something in her gaze that hinted she wasn't joking entirely. Tave felt a flicker of both reassurance and challenge in those words. He nodded, not quite able to hold back a grin of his own.

"I'll take that as a blessing and a warning, then."

Vanya laughed softly. "Don't worry, there's a place that should be quite comfortable for you two. Just say the word if you need anything—Aura will be there to help."

As time passed, the heart of the empire gradually revealed itself. Towering city walls rose in the distance, perched high on the hills. Beyond them, a grand castle loomed, its massive structure gleaming under the sun. The walls shimmered as if they were made of polished glass, catching the light with an almost unreal brilliance.

But the ship came to a stop well before reaching the city's heights, easing to the riverbank. Aura stepped forward, guiding Tave and Lily to disembark first. Vanya waved gently from the deck as they stepped off ahead of her.

Soon, only Tave, Lily, and Aura stood on the river's edge, the boat slowly pulling away behind them.

Tave glanced over at Aura. She wasn't particularly tall, just about eye-level with him.

"Let's go, special guests. Follow me," Aura said warmly.

The Imperial Knight led the way with an easy stride, while Lily still looked mildly puzzled by Tave's odd request. After all, wasn't the royal castle supposed to offer better accommodations than anything outside?

In truth, the castle grounds were mostly made up of decorative gardens—beautiful, yes, but not so different from what lay beyond its walls. Inside, it was too quiet, too polished. Too boring. The real wonders of this island were out here, in the wild.

So yeah, in this brief moment, Tave had no intention of wasting the opportunity.

After traveling for some time, the path opened up into the forest's edge. The trees grew taller here, their branches swaying gently as the wind murmured through the leaves, and sunlight broke through in scattered patches, painting the trail in soft gold.

Aura glanced back occasionally to check on them, but Lily was too enchanted by the scenery to notice—her eyes darted everywhere, still not done soaking in the wonder of it all.

Tave, in contrast, remained composed, his expression calm and unreadable. He met Aura's glance with an easy, quiet look that seemed to say, We're just waiting to see more.

And so, the Imperial Knight continued guiding them forward.

They could have hurried, perhaps even run or taken a faster route—but why rush in a place like this? Here, even the silence seemed worth savoring.

Then, as they turned a gentle corner, a house came into view. It rose ahead of them, sturdy and welcoming, built from seasoned timber and warm-toned stone that matched the earth. It seemed to rest there naturally, as though it had grown from the land itself. Broad wings stretched out to either side, and the house stood two stories tall, strong yet peaceful in its presence.

"This," Aura said, her hand motioning toward the home, "will be your residence for as long as you remain on the island."