POV Achous Phantomwing:

The first day of flying has gone by without any difficulty. Most of the rookies were still jittery, but for the most part they’ve calmed down. After a couple of hours of flying the most dangerous part of the expedition will start. The only thing that I can do now is steel my resolve and proceed forward with the mission.

As the hours tick by, Fregar delivers the dreaded orders, “Everyone get into your formation unit!”. I expected these orders, but some of the rookies are shocked awake after the days’ monotonous flying. Quickly we get into our preassigned groups.

Each group consists of a group of rookies and a second, or in some rare cases, a third-year explorer leading them. Because of the severe lack of returning explorers, if one ever decides to return for another year he’s almost ensured a leadership position. In accordance with this policy, I’ve been assigned as a group leader.

The group that the team leader, Fregar, is leading always contains the best performing graduate rookies and the most privileged rookies. Those rich people whose children are here to seek glory don’t want their child to die, so they use their connections to place them with the team leader. Thus, leading to this type of group composition.

Me? I’ve never performed well in the academy and my only real achievement is surviving last season. Even though I was the only one who survived in my last group… I shouldn’t think back to that tragedy. The reason why the group leader is important is that he determines the fate of the group he’s leading. If the group leader is inadequate, the group will probably meet tragedy and die God knows where. But, if the leader is exceptional then they might just have a chance at surviving.

My group is dispatched towards the south-south-east direction. Our mission is to perform a month-long exploration of the area; if nothing is found we are to report back to the flying island that’s currently making its way here. The job sounds easy enough, but the seas and weather are unpredictable. I must keep a vigilant eye out, I would like to make it back to my sapling.

As I turn towards our designated direction my group forms up behind me. I turn back to look at them and my eyes linger on their youthful faces; smiling and laughing, without a worry in the world. They’re too careless. Maybe, they trust me to keep them safe and warn them of any danger? I can’t let them linger in this false sense of security.

“Listen up, your life is your own responsibility! If you don’t make it back alive, then it’s not my problem. Follow my orders and we’ll get through this together, but first, stop playing around and keep looking for any dangers!”. After shouting my orders, they quickly quiet down, the playful atmosphere turns tense. It’s best if it stays this way, we aren’t here to have fun.

A week passes without incident. The tense atmosphere has loosened considerably, but there’s nothing that I can do about it. A full week without danger or incident gives me little persuasive power over the precarity of our situation. Maybe we’ll make it through this whole ordeal without any casualties? Alas, I can’t be too optimistic right now, we still have over two weeks left.

On the eve of the second week I finally spot something on the horizon that isn’t just water. “Sir, is that an island?” one of the nearby rookies asks excitedly. “Of course not!” I retort, but I quickly real in my anger. “If islands were that easy to find then I wouldn’t be here for my second year.”. “You idiot, that’s a gas cloud. We learned about it in the academy.” Another rookie reprimands the poor kid. “Quiet down, the night is approaching, and I don’t want anyone to accidentally wander off,” I command, seeing the setting sun on the horizon.

After an hour flying, the sun has completely set. Tonight, is a moonless one, making it one of the most dangerous times in an expedition. Behind me, the light snoring of the rookies silently drifts through the air. We’re specially trained to fly as we sleep, but still, how can they be so careless in this situation?

I turn to look behind me, then suddenly the night sky lights up as bright as day. Before I can move a muscle, five of the rookies fall from the sky. A split second later, an incomparably loud boom bursts into my ears. A rookie screams in fear but stops abruptly. Another flash of light almost blinds me, then another, even larger group of rookies fall from the sky.

I take two seconds to recover from the initial shock, but we’ve already lost over half of the group. Without any further hesitation I shout my orders, “Everyone, turn around and fly as fast as possible towards our rendezvous, don’t fly in a group. Now, GO!”. Everyone looks at me shocked, but I don’t dare stay any longer. I turn around and fly as fast as possible towards the rendezvous.

After a minute of flying the sky lights up again, I don’t see anyone around me. I’m the only one who’s made it out. The sky lights up a second time, but I don’t dare stop. Against my expectations, I’m unable to flap my wings, what’s going on? Unable to maintain my altitude, I plummet to the ocean; the smell of something burning fills my nose.

As I fall, my consciousness wavers. I’m barely able to make out the ocean below. I squint my eyes and all I see is a black cloud below me. Is this the gas cloud? He-he looks like I was right. I won’t make it home this season. Sorry, my dearest sapling, grow strong in my absence…