Chapter 103: The Skyborne Citadel
Velren hadn’t intended to indulge quite this much, but at some point, his initial hesitation had been completely forgotten. The sheer variety of dishes had effortlessly drawn him in. He was no stranger to food—if anything, he had an appreciation for the culinary arts that far exceeded the average person—but this was on a whole different level. Every bite was a revelation, each dish offering a delicate balance of textures and flavors that spoke of years of refinement.
’How in the world did they make this?’
The thought nagged at him as he savored another forkful of an intricately layered dish, his mind already working through the possible ingredients, the techniques required to achieve such perfection. It wasn’t just about enjoying the food anymore—now it was a challenge. A puzzle he wanted to unravel.
If he ever got the chance, he was going to recreate some of these dishes. Somehow.
Nobles and aristocrats moved about in their refined manner, their laughter light, their words veiled with the kind of meaning Velren couldn’t be bothered to decipher. He was content where he was, appreciating the food far more than the company.
Then, the airship’s intercom flared to life.
"All passengers, we are now approaching our destination. Arrival will commence shortly."
With his curiosity piqued, Velren set his utensils down and turned toward the side window. Expecting to catch sight of land below, he instead found himself greeted by an endless stretch of clouds, dense and unbroken, as if the world beneath had ceased to exist. He frowned slightly.
’Where exactly are we landing..?’
As if noticing his confusion, a voice beside him cut through his thoughts.
"You’re looking in the wrong direction."