Chapter 558: Moonfall IV
I had a lot of images in my mind of how this was going to go. Papilion had removed quite a lot from my mind, and I hadn’t spent much time over the years thinking about it - I’d gone fully native - but the space shuttle launches, the vibe and the feel of them, were one memory that had been preserved. Roaring flames underneath, rattling sensations, and a whole lot of force and energy being applied.
I had no idea past that how any of it worked - that had been surgically removed with a sledgehammer - but there was a certain feel, a certain expectation I had coming into this on what launch day would be like.
We’d practiced launches, Fenrir lifting us all up, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected, simply… dissonant. He was a powerful Classer in his own right on top of being a bloody wyvern, and the ride up was smooth as a washed mango’s peel. There was a small jerk as Fenrir lifted us up, and then it was a smooth trip up.
I looked down, and watched Sanguino rapidly drop away from us. First the colosseum became a tiny dot, then the city, and suddenly I realized I was looking at a solid fraction of the world. The moons were far off to our right, their light glimmering off the Bloodmoon Bay. The Sea of Stars once again proved why it had that name, as the hundred thousand stars in the sky were reflected in the water. That was the top of Fenrir’s flight ceiling, and it was our turn.
“Ready to disengage.” Iona said.
“Aye, ready to disengage.” I confirmed, bracing my arms and muscles against the gauntlets, plagued by sudden doubt. Could I seriously push the spaceship for 11 days? Was my wrist strong enough? I could heal through breaks and fix muscle fatigue, but what about the mental fatigue?
I reassured myself again that it couldn’t be worse than Ranger Academy. I’d done worse for longer. At the same time, I didn’t have the same driving impetus. It wasn’t my entire future for me.
I glanced back at Iona, and doubled my resolve.
It was important for her. It was huge, and I’d walk over burning broken glass for her. Pushing for a few days? Bah, that was easy.