Episode 23: Afternoon Sunlight

Griswa settled into the right seat of the flying ship and motioned for Malaes to sit in the left one. Yesdar stood nearby, watching intently. "Alright, let's see what we can do here," Griswa said, examining the controls.

Malaes took her seat and asked, "So, what do we do first?"

Griswa noticed a lever on his right side. "This might make the ship hover," he said. Without much hesitation, he moved the lever from 0 to 1 in one swift motion.

The ship lurched upwards suddenly, kicking up a cloud of dust and sand. Yesdar stumbled, almost losing his balance, while Malaes gripped her seat tightly, her heart racing. "What the—?!"

"Whoa, easy there!" Yesdar exclaimed, trying to steady himself. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"

Griswa, remaining calm, observed the ship now floating in the air. "Hmm, okay. So that's how it starts floating. Not too hard."

Malaes shot him a look. "Don't startle us like that! You did it again!"

"Yeah, seriously," Yesdar agreed, wiping sweat from his brow. "A little warning next time."

Griswa closed his eyes and smiled. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't know it had to be done slowly."

Malaes took a deep breath and asked, "So, what next?"

Griswa pointed towards the right. "We need to go in that direction. We'll have to turn the ship a bit."

"How do we do that?" Malaes asked, puzzled.

Griswa pointed at a steering wheel-like control. "I think that's the one. You'll have to rotate it. But do it slowly."

Malaes smirked. "I know. I'm not like you." She carefully began to turn the steering wheel to the right. The ship rotated in the direction she steered.

Yesdar, struggling to keep his balance, said, "Whoa, this is making me dizzy."

"Stop when it's pointing that way," Griswa instructed, keeping an eye on their new heading.

Once they were aligned, Malaes stopped turning. "Okay, I think we're good."

"Now what?" Malaes asked.

Griswa pointed at the steering wheel again. "Pull that same steering now. Think of it like riding a dragon or something. Just concentrate."

Malaes took a long breath. "Alright, here goes." Her hands were steady on the steering wheel, but she hesitated.

Yesdar, trying to lighten the mood, joked, "Don't kill us, okay?"

Malaes shot him a nervous smile. "I'll try not to."

With a deep breath, she pulled the steering wheel fully at once. The ship suddenly accelerated, with violet energy bursting from the jets at the back. They shot forward at high speed.

The ship's sudden burst of speed caught everyone off guard. Yesdar yelled, "AHHHHH!" He clung to the back of Malaes's seat with his hands, while the broken windshield allowed hot wind and sand to whip through the cabin.

Griswa, his eyes wide, shouted, "Malaes, what are you doing?! It's too fast!"

Malaes was struggling to maintain control. "I'm trying, but it's like riding a dragon without gravity belts!"

Griswa's mind raced. "We might reach the destination soon at this rate, but what about you two?! If we crash, I won't be the one dying. Slow down, slow down!"

"I'm trying!" Malaes cried out, her voice panicked.

In her panic, Malaes began turning the steering wheel instead of slowing down. The ship spun and swerved, narrowly avoiding mesas and buttes. The altitude shifted erratically, adding to the chaos.

Yesdar, holding on for dear life, screamed, "We're gonna die!"

Memories of their desperate escape from the Yahunyens on the heist night flashed through Malaes's mind. Sivera's face came to her in a sudden, vivid memory. She steeled herself, pushing back on the steer to reduce the acceleration.

Slowly, the ship began to decelerate. Malaes managed to regain control, bringing the ship to a more manageable speed. Yesdar, panting heavily, collapsed to his knees, his hands still gripping the back of the seat.

"Thank the gods, NO! NOT YOU GRISWA." Yesdar gasped. "That was insane!"

Malaes, breathing heavily, looked back at him. "Sorry about that. Guess I got carried away."

Griswa, trying to steady his own nerves, chuckled. "Well, at least we know this thing can move fast. Let's try to keep it a bit more under control from now on."

Malaes nodded. "Agreed. Let's not do that again."

Yesdar, finally catching his breath and laying down, added, "Yeah, next time, maybe we stick to walking."

Everyone was breathing heavily after the wild ride. Poor Yesdar, without a seat, looked like he was going to be sick. His head was spinning from the high-speed maneuvers. Griswa's eyes were wide, but he managed to stay calm, possibly because he had experienced high speeds before. Trying to lighten the mood, Griswa joked, "Well, Yesdar, she did follow your instructions. She didn't kill us."

Malaes smirked, but as Griswa turned his head, he noticed Yesdar lying on the floor. "Oh... he passed out." Griswa said with a chuckle. "You alright kid?"

Malaes shook her head. "Well, at least now I understand how to move forward with it."

Griswa nodded. "Good. Just take it slow and steady. We'll get there."

"Alright, we've lost our original direction. Malaes, rotate the ship a bit more to the right." He instructed.

Malaes carefully turned the steering wheel to the right, the ship responding smoothly this time. "Like this?" she asked.

"Yeah, that's good. Now, move us forward," Griswa said.

Malaes pulled the steering lever gently. The ship began to glide forward at a moderate speed. The sands below blurred as they soared over the desert. "This is better," Malaes commented, relieved that the ship was moving at a manageable pace.

Griswa kept his eyes on the horizon, his senses sharp. "We should reach Ehayor soon. Just keep this speed steady."

Yesdar, slowly regaining consciousness, groaned from the floor. "Ugh, what happened?"

"You passed out," Malaes said with a laugh. "Guess flying isn't your thing."

Yesdar tried to sit up, his head still spinning. "I think I'll stick to walking. How much longer do we have?"

Griswa answered, "Not long now. We're on the right path. Just hang in there."

Yesdar grumbled, "I can't believe you two are so calm about this. That was insane."

Malaes gave him a reassuring smile. "We're getting the hang of it. Don't worry."

Griswa's senses tingled as they flew. He felt a strong pull towards their destination. "We're getting close. I can feel it," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Malaes, concentrating on the controls, asked, "When do we get out of this thing? It's hard to control with no experience. I mean, I can handle the speed because of my dragon-riding skills, but this ship is testing my patience."

Griswa understood her frustration. "I know it's tough, I would have taken the wheel, but you know what if I broke that wheel instead? Because of my power?" 

"Yeah yeah, I understand your excuse." Malaes mocked him.

"But you're doing great." Griswa continued. "Once we get to Ehayor, you can take a break. I promise."

Yesdar, still looking a bit pale, added, "Yeah, I could use a break too. This flying stuff isn't for me."

Griswa chuckled. "We'll all get a break soon. Just keep it steady, Malaes. We're almost there."

Malaes nodded, focusing on the horizon. "Alright, I'll do my best."

Griswa, sensing the energy of Ehayor growing stronger, knew they were on the right track. The journey was almost over, and soon they would uncover the mysteries of Ehayor. "Brace yourself. We're about to reach the place we always had to go."

The ship continued to glide smoothly through the air, each moment bringing them closer to Ehayor. 

Griswa's senses rushed as they neared their destination. "Stop! Stop here!" he commanded. Malaes, fumbling with the controls, pushed the steering wheel, gradually slowing the ship down. She still wasn't sure about the ship's brakes or clutches (prolly they didn't even know brakes/clutches exist), but her instincts were spot on. The ship decelerated smoothly.

"Are we there then?" Malaes asked, looking at Griswa for confirmation.

Griswa closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses. After a moment, he nodded. "Yes, we've reached the point."

"Finally," Yesdar muttered, still feeling dizzy from the earlier ride.

Griswa directed Malaes to bring the ship to a gentle stop. He carefully pulled back the lever to zero, and the ship hovered just above the ground. "Let's get down," he said, jumping out first. Malaes followed his lead, nudging Yesdar to get up.

One by one, they jumped out of the ship, which remained hovering slightly above the ground. Yesdar sighed in relief. "Finally out," he said, though his mind was still spinning. They hadn't eaten anything, so there was no risk of vomiting.

Once everyone was out, Griswa instructed, "Move back, away from the ship as far as possible." Malaes and Yesdar obeyed, putting a good distance between themselves and the vessel.

Griswa stretched his right hand forward, just as he had when he destroyed the first ship. He concentrated, and the ship exploded in a fiery burst, sending debris raining down. "Yeah, go to hell!" Yesdar muttered, satisfied with the destruction.

By now, the sun was falling below the horizon, also indicating that this particular journey was over. Exhausted, Yesdar and Malaes collapsed onto the sand, the day's trials taking their toll. They looked around, seeing nothing but sand in every direction. "Where is Ehayor?" Malaes asked, confusion evident in her voice.

"Yeah, we only see sand. Are you sure this is the right place?" Yesdar added.

Griswa himself was puzzled. Though there was nothing visible, he could sense the energy of Ehayor strongly. "It's here. I can feel it," he insisted, though he couldn't see anything that resembled their destination.

Determined, Griswa began moving forward. "Follow me," he called back.

Malaes groaned. "We're too tired. Our bodies are immovable," she complained.

But Griswa encouraged them, "Just a little while more. We're close, I can feel it."

With great effort, Malaes and Yesdar rose to their feet and trudged after Griswa. He led them through the sands until they reached a rocky outcrop. Hidden within the landscape was a cave, its entrance partially obscured by sand and rock.

"This must be it," Griswa said, feeling the energy stronger than ever. The cave was dark and foreboding, with jagged rocks framing the entrance. The setting sun cast long shadows, making the cave appear even more mysterious.

"Are you sure about this?" Malaes asked, eyeing the cave warily.

"Positive," Griswa replied. "The energy is pulling me like a magnet. This has to be Ehayor."

Yesdar, still weary, looked at the cave entrance. "Let's hope there's something good inside. I'm not sure how much more I can take today."

Griswa smiled reassuringly. "We've made it this far. Just a bit more and we'll find what we're looking for."

Gathering their remaining strength, the trio entered the cave, driven by the hope that Ehayor lay just within reach.

As they stepped into the dark cave, Griswa's senses tingled with anticipation. Before them was a white, veil-like substance, but dense and more foreboding. It rippled gently, as though inviting them to step through into another dimension. Yesdar and Malaes, filled with uncertainty, hesitated momentarily but followed Griswa's lead. He moved through the veil without hesitation, his focus persistent.

Crossing the veil, they felt no physical change, but the scenery around them transformed dramatically. They found themselves inside a grand, dome-like structure. The cavernous space was vast, far larger than the cave had initially appeared from the outside. The high dome was adorned with intricate ancient writings that spiraled up the walls towards a hole at the top, letting in a beam of 'afternoon' sunlight. The inscriptions glowed faintly, illuminating the room with an eerie but majestic light.

The floor of the dome was covered in various objects that hinted at the presence of a sage or scholar. Scrolls, old books, mystical artifacts, and alchemical equipment were scattered about, each item seeming to say tales of ancient knowledge and history of all existence. The atmosphere was thick with all of this.

As Yesdar and Malaes marveled at the unexpected expanse and the ancient artifacts, two men burst through a large door at the far end of the room. One was an old man, his long white beard and his red robes indicating his age and wisdom, while the other was a young man, his clothes like a sorcerer supreme with a long ornate overcoat, a slight beard and well groomed hair, but with a face etched with concern.

The younger man, gasping for breath, shouted, "You two, move away from that boy! Now! As fast as possible!"

Yesdar and Malaes exchanged confused glances. "What? Why?" Yesdar asked, bewildered. "Who are you people?"

The young man's deep voice was urgent. "Just listen to me! Move away from him! It's for your own safety!"

Griswa, remaining calm as ever, gently instructed, "Yesdar, Malaes, do as he says. Step back."

Who were these people?

Why did they come rushing in?

Why did they ask Yesdar and Malaes to move away from Griswa?

What were they planning?

(Yeah, I know you guys know the answers already lol, predictable af. But I just thought of representing this episode in 80s or 90s style where after every episode, there always came a narrator's voice in the end asking questions like these to excite people to watch the next episode airing next week and stick to the series. One such example can be Dragon Ball Z.)

To Be Continued.