Pillar of Yita

”Goo goo, goo,” these gigantic, walking fluff balls are the White Feather Giant Owls, or perhaps Short-Feathered Giant Owls. They have pointed ears and large, round eyes that look curiously at these people, with their chests puffed up, standing about one and a half persons tall, with a wingspan of over five meters. The Druids of the Forest Elves often regard them as companions.

Tianlan reached out to touch the big goo-goo, which awkwardly moved its paws a step back, making a gooing sound, and tilted its head to look at the human girl.

”Alright, I’ve covered almost everything,” Fang Hong also concluded his statement, glancing at everyone. ”That’s the plan. Does anyone have anything to add?”

Everyone withdrew their gaze from the shadow in the air, nodding in understanding.

Miss Natural Historian, hugging her big book, quietly said, ”Brother Ade, we all understood.”

”Alright, Gita, let’s all disperse now, go and prepare.” Fang Hong turned around just in time to see Miss Atira walking over with a middle-aged elf he didn’t know. Elves have long lifespans, and this middle-aged elf is at least several hundred years old.

”Ade, how is the preparation going?” Atira asked as she approached.

”Just waiting for you, Miss Atira.” Fang Hong looked curiously at the middle-aged elf, who remained half a step behind Miss Atira, showing considerable respect for her.

”Alright,” Atira nodded, not introducing the other to Fang Hong, ”Let’s set off now.”

...

Fang Hong placed his hand on the saddle behind the Giant Owl and climbed up. The walking fluff ball turned its head to make a gooing sound. Fang Hong petted its feathers; the White Feather Giant Owl is a highly intelligent creature, gentle and obedient, which is why elves choose them as companions.

The Elf Falconer below informed them about flight precautions and how to operate the White Feather Giant Owls. Fortunately, their first experience riding flying creatures was brought by the Giant Owls, rather than temperamental creatures like bipedal dragons or griffins.

The Elf Falconer didn’t say much, quickly loosened the reins, and said something in Elvish to them. ”He said we can give it a try,” Atira translated simultaneously.

Fang Hong gently placed his hand on the reins, having some theoretical experience on how to control this large bird. He turned back to look at the others, ”Stick close with Bakins, Miss Atira, and me when flying—”

The group nodded.

Fang Hong lightly grasped the reins, thinking, ”Fly, bird.” The big goo-goo sensed the force transmitted through the reins and flapped its wings a few times. It took small hops before suddenly taking off, spiraling upward from the towering ancient trees of the Elf Forest.

”Oh my, Brother Ade, it’s really flying! Whoa—” he heard Tianlan’s exaggerated shout from behind. Turning to look, he saw she almost fell off the White Feather Giant Owl’s back, but despite the bumps, it successfully took off.

Others followed suit. Except for Parker who was slightly slower, everyone quickly took flight. The elves below raised their heads to watch as the scene unfolded above the treetops.

Fang Hong’s group didn’t immediately fly high but first circled above the tree canopy, waiting for others to join. Nevertheless, their flight caught attention from mid-air.

Two dragons flew down one after the other from the Giant Tree Tarn, approaching them, trying to inquire why the elves were taking off at this time. Fang Hong glanced in that direction and said softly in their team communication channel, ”Avoid them, accelerate upwards.”

The group understood, and immediately commanded their White Feather Giant Owls to comply.

The Giant Owls spread their wings, departing from the canopy layer, starting to climb into the sky, avoiding the domain where the two dragons flew, heading directly towards Giant Tree Tarn from another direction.

The Dragon Knight temporarily puzzled over what madness the elves had, but realized something might be wrong. One dragon flew back towards the airport while the other rushed straight at them.

The knight on the dragon’s back pulled out a metal whistle, using a sharp whistling sound to signal the elves to stop, but Fang Hong’s party wouldn’t stop—instead, they urged the White Feather Giant Owls to fly faster.

The Dragon Knight finally sensed something was wrong, pulled a signal gun from his saddlebag, and fired at the sky. With a bang, a red light soared into the sky, bursting into a dazzling firework.

As the firework exploded, the entire Orlenze City seemed to come alive.

Tianlan looked up to see a shadow appearing above everyone’s heads; it was the griffins pouring out in droves. They spread their wings, overshadowing the sky, flying out from under the tree canopy of Tarn.

The Griffins, under the command of the riders on their backs, glided shortly and then suddenly dipped before spiraling towards them.

To the south of Orlenze, a group of Dragon Knights began ascending into the sky, looking like a mass of bats assembling from afar.

Simultaneously, two airships bearing the Orlenze emblem sailed from the airport, coming towards their direction front and back.

Though the group anticipated a grand scene might follow, they didn’t expect it to be this grand. And it’s just a city on the edge of Nogness Kingdom; what would it be like in a city around the bustling routes surrounding Cloud Sea in northern Colin?