End

Burning fire covered once great airship, one of most powerful in entire country, an Empress. Empress rarely served her purpose, only experiencing couple of battles before being used by evil red haired woman who desired to destroy the very same people who built it, with it. However red haired woman failed and one brave aviator took down Empress, sacrificing his own airship for that feat. Thunderbird, fastest airship out there, a logic defining airship who managed to prevail against Amale mountains and it's deadly winds now lied in ruin next to Empress. 

Looking on dawning Sun i felt weird, losing my precious airship and my great friend Jone, who gave his life in order for me to live. His body severely damaged by hot burns made it unrecognizable, marking it by placing two rocks between it i started heading towards ruined academy. Not hearing battle cries anymore i hoped that my comrades prevailed against Athena's guards, fastening my pace i held onto three swords, one Athena's, second Jone's and third mine. 

Walking across field i felt empty inside despite aether calming me down, i could felt the emptiness deep inside my heart for losing many good people. Wind breeze past trough me while i looked in front of me, smoke coming out from once great academy who now became a mere shell of once powerful force. We experienced many hardships, pushed off the elves every time they came back and kept our losses to minimum. But i guess, academy never expected to be struck by noble houses and mercenary forces, even civil war. 

In the end i defeat Athena along with her other crew who plagued academy, thinking about it makes me wonder who and why did sent them here. Someone with influence and mysterious goal sent Athena and others to take control of academy and it's people. What makes it weirder, Emperor never responded to our calls instead he left us alone to suffer under tyrannical foreigner rule. Getting nearer academy i could smell, smell of blood and burning flesh coming from battle ruined streets.

After walking for little less than half a hour i arrived at city dock entrance, wall gate was completely destroyed so i could march into there without any problem. As i entered inside i noticed many piled up bodies of Athena's guards along with academics. Pile of bodies were organized by group of aviators who threw each body in separate section, one for guards and one for aviators. Some were crying and some retained their composure, not letting emotions take over them, war is cruel and everyone knew that.

My walk was stopped by Captain Ludvig who was a veteran just like me, he wore torn academic uniform and had missing left eye, losing it in todays battle. Blonde haired young man with yellow eyes who once was a lady magnet, now looks like injured lion. I waved to him and he waved back, getting closer to me i stopped my further walk.

"You are alive for God's sake!"

I nodded but refused to say any word, accepting my response he looked at two swords placed on my back and pointed at them.

"Why do you carry two swords on your back?"

His questions was purely out of curiosity, even if it weren't the time for such questions i sighed and looked back to positive natured captain. Even experiencing such tragedy, he managed to retain his cheerful attitude which pleased me.

"One is Athena's sword and one is Captain Jone's sword, with that i have to inform you that Captain Jone passed away when hi sacrificed himself against Athena. And after that i managed to kill Athena and take her head off."

Everyone who did their jobs now stopped and turn to look at me, Ludvig who previously held his cheerful attitude in the face of death and despair, now began to crack. Being unable to hold his emotions any longer, Ludvig dropped on his knees and tears poured from his eyes. People around us walked closer and some of them were trying to brighten Ludvig up, seeing him like this showed how bad our academy got hit. 

"How many of ours live?"

I asked without showing any emotion on my face, i felt like inhuman due to aetheric ability to nullify emotions. 

"Only hundred of us remains, most of people died when we fought against powerful Athena's officials."

I felt like my heart stopped beating for a moment before aether emotional nullification quickly turned all my emotions off. Such loss only meant that academy is doomed, losing so many talented individuals and scholars is major blow to the country and it's people morale. So many young men died while fighting a foreigner.

"Our group here is the only one remaining, rest of academy is ruined and no one is alive outside the dock."

Inhaling and exhaling deep breath i looked around me and noticed that hundred people were all over the place. Bruised and injured everyone stood there, visibly shocked and tired. 

"Sparrow."

Ludvig's crying stopped and he called my name quietly while looking down on ground, turning my eyes back to him, he stood up and called for everyone to gather. Forming crowd of hundred people around us he climbed onto the stair who led to upper city.

"Academy is doomed everyone!"

Everyone looked at each other and nodded, doom of academy is already done and there's no going back now. Whispers stopped as Ludvig clapped with his hands again and continued his speech.

"This means that we have to inform the Emperor as fast as possible, rest of you go back to your homes. But before everything else i want to announce that famous Sparrow, aviator who flied trough Amale mountains. Destroyed Empress and killed Athena, greatest feat in entire history of academy!"

Everyone cheered up, hearing the news of Athena's death bring everyone to joy. People around me started to cheer me up and compliment my feat. But i didn't take death of Athena as my victory, without Jone i would never manage to defeat her. Without his potions who activated my magic further i would never heal and would probably be dead by now. My gloomy thoughts stopped quickly after i heard voice inside my head.

"You did well, don't blame yourself for his death. He served his purpose and died for greater good, Jone would be very proud of you right now."

Mysterious voice echoed inside my head and i though i was going crazy, everyone other went into slow motion. 

"Now go, go and live a life full of freedom."

Everything turned back to normal and voice disappeared, i formed a smile on my face and looked back to Ludvig who clapped once again to continue his speech.

"That's it everyone! Now we will burn the bodies and after that we will use couple of remaining airships to travel to the capital, after that, well it's up to you. I personally will be retiring inside the capital, i want to open a bar."

Ludvig announced and everyone returned to their duties, while they burned the bodies i went back with couple of aviators to help me and carry Athena's body and Jone's. Arriving at the scene they saw destroyed field, scared of bloody battle against red haired devil. Two of men picked up Jone's corpse while I with one more guy picked up Athena's along with her head. 

Moving back to docks everyone were waiting for us, placing Jone's and Athena's body in the pile, Ludvig threw a torch and burned stacked bodies. Fire grew larger and larger, smell of burning flesh made everyone else cover their noses. Looking for last time our burning comrades each of aviator felt major hit to his heart, memories of academic days are now just that, memories. 

Hour later bodies burned and everyone were finishing their preparations for final trip out of academy. Everyone gathered in the center of the docks and awaited for Ludvig's orders, but before he could announce anything i yelled at them.

"Guys!!"

Turning their gazes to me i held Athena's head on my left hand and grabbed spear from the ground which belonged to Athena's guard once. Using the spear to stab it into the ground and mount Athena's head on it, marking her defeat. Others remained quiet until cheers erupted and i climbed down. Ludvig checked two of airships who were used for long distance travel and organized each of us. 

Soon after that both of airships began to fly, marking end of academy. Airships flying trough sunny horizon to capital of Arnes Dynasty left sad but victorious feelings behind them. Freedom isn't cheap and our battle proves that, destroying much powerful enemy we proved our strength and closed one chapter in the book of life.

*

News of academy destruction spread trough whole country, erupting like volcano leaving only ash and magma behind it. Morale of the people lowered when they heard such tragedy but two names got well known among whole continent of Cardal. 

Sparrow and Jone are the name of heroes who dueled against Athena and won, Jone sacrificing his life for greater good and Sparrow dealing final blow to evil red head noble. Athena Tsugikuni coming from noble family of mercenaries and criminals who had unique abilities and powers. Athena being the strongest of them all, was sent to take over academy and after that, whole country. 

But she was eventually stopped and killed by the hero named Sparrow. Emperor Mathius proclaimed him for national hero and offered him title of general in his army. However civil war broke out and emperor's family fell after many centuries of ruling. Angry people and protested and rebelled against corrupted emperor who refused to do anything and left academy to rot. 

Empire of Arnes fell which left the country in chaos and anarchy, year later however situation got under control and once great empire was now split into bunch of city states and independent villages. Other countries seeing this attacked but being unable to conquer the capital, focused on themselves leaving other towns and villages alone. 

In the end Sparrow didn't found anything more about Tsugikuni family nor Grumpy's and Shane whereabouts, deciding to live a life full of freedom, Sparrow was granted one of most polished and valuable airships from emperor before he fell. Naming it Golden Bird he destined himself to fly and once again fly in the skies.

*