CHAPTER 48: FLYING CASTLE

"Are we really flying today?"

I looked up through the massive glass wall of the sky terminal and stopped breathing for a second.

Outside, dozens of grand vessels floated in the air, each one suspended by streams of glowing light that spiraled like ribbons beneath their hulls. They weren’t airplanes... They were like flying palaces, built of silver and crystal, wings made of pure light that shimmered with every gust of wind. A fleet of them drifted gracefully against the sky, each leaving faint trails of golden mist behind.

My eyes widened as I spotted the enormous emblem gleaming across one of the vessels’ sides... A pegasus, wings outstretched, cast in gold.

’Pegasus Air — Property of the Lysander Clan.’

"Lysander..." I whispered. "As in Auren Lysander?"

Lucian stepped up beside me, hands in his pockets, watching the sky with that familiar calm composure. "The same," he said. "He and his family run every major flight above this continent. Pegasus blood has always ruled the skies."

I turned to him, still in awe. "You mean this belongs to them?"

He nodded once, his tone deceptively calm. "We went to flight school together once, until one of them thought racing through a storm cloud was a good idea."

I blinked, staring at him. "And let me guess... that was you?"

Lucian smirked. "No. That was Auren. I was the one who caught him before he dropped ten thousand feet."

I gaped. "Oh. Wow... So... you really are friends?"

He gave a short, dry laugh. "Something like that. We tolerate each other better when no one’s falling out of the sky."

I turned back toward the airships, unable to keep the wonder from my voice. "Still, this is incredible... it’s like the sky itself is alive."

Lucian glanced sideways at me, a faint warmth flickering in his eyes. "It’s just an airship, little birdie."

"Just—?" I turned sharply toward him. "Lucian, there’s a floating castle outside this window. There’s nothing just about that!"

He chuckled quietly, clearly entertained. "You talk like you’re from a different world, like you’ve never seen anything like this before."

My heart skipped a beat. For a split second, I forgot how to breathe.

I forced a small laugh after, hoping he wouldn’t notice the stiffness in my voice. "Maybe my world just doesn’t have flying castles, that’s all," I said quickly, crossing my arms in mock offense.

Lucian arched a brow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Your world?" he repeated, tone light, but there was a subtle curiosity behind it, like he was testing how I’d react.

I froze for a heartbeat before words started tumbling out of me. "I mean—would an orphan who spent most of her life in an orphanage or from one home to another, ever see a flying castle?" I said quickly, forcing a small laugh.

His gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, and I felt my pulse spike.

"I’m not lying," I added under my breath, trying to sound casual. "It’s true."

Lucian’s gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, and for a heartbeat, I thought he was going to press the question further.

Instead, he exhaled softly and stepped closer. Before I could react, his arms were around me... Cool and unexpectedly warm all at once.

My breath hitched. "Lucian...?"

He didn’t answer right away. His chin rested lightly atop my head as his hand traced slow, reassuring circles along my back. "Then," he said finally, his voice low and certain against my ear, "I’ll make sure you experience everything you’ve ever wanted to see."

I froze, my hands hovering awkwardly at his chest. "W-what are you talking about?"

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his blue eyes softer now, stripped of their usual sharpness. "You said you’ve never seen things like this before," he murmured. "So after this flight, after everything... Don’t hesitate to tell me what you want to do, or where you want to go. I’ll take you there."

I stared up at him, caught between disbelief and something deeper that made my chest ache. "You don’t have to—"

"I want to," he interrupted gently, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone. "So don’t hold back, little birdie. Whatever you wish for... tell me."

The sincerity in his voice hit harder than any teasing ever could. For a moment, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I just stood there, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms and the weight of words I didn’t know how to return.

I swore, if the freaking eyes of this phoenix could cry, I’d have already filled a bucket by now.

"Alright," I whispered finally, my voice barely audible. "I’ll remember that."

Lucian’s arms loosened slightly, but his hand lingered against my back, fingers brushing just enough to make it impossible to breathe properly. His gaze softened, no trace of the usual smirk, no teasing in sight. Just quiet warmth.

"Good," he murmured, his voice low and steady. "That’s all I wanted to hear."

And before I could even blink, he turned and laced his fingers through mine, guiding me toward the boarding gate.

"Come on," he said, glancing over his shoulder with that calm, unshakable confidence. "You said you’ve never seen the world from above, right?"

My lips parted, the words catching in my throat.

"Let’s fix that," he continued, his voice softer now. "I’ll show you how beautiful our world is from above."

Something in the way he said our world made my chest tighten. Too many feelings...All tangled up, too fast and too soon for me. The sincerity in his eyes, the warmth of his hand, it was too much for me to process.

I swallowed hard, forcing a shaky smile. "Lucian... can you give me a second? I just—uh—I need to use the restroom before boarding."

His brows lifted slightly, a flicker of concern passing through his expression. "Are you alright?"

"Yes!" I said too quickly. "Perfectly fine! Just... nature calling."

Lucian’s lips curved faintly, though his eyes lingered on me like he didn’t quite believe it. "Alright," he said finally, his tone gentle. "I’ll wait by the gate."

"Right. Okay." I gave him a small nod and quickly turned away before he could read my face any further.

The moment I stepped into the quiet hallway leading to the washrooms, I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. My heart was pounding, loud, heavy, impossible to ignore.

I leaned against the cool marble wall, pressing a hand to my chest. "Get it together, Seraphina..." I whispered under my breath. "You shouldn’t get too attached—"

"Excuse me?"

The words cut through my thoughts, low and rough, husky enough to make the tiny hairs on my arms rise.