The next morning, they prepared their airships and set off for Saoulhul. Travelling north-west, the land grew colder and the natural landscape was bare and harsh. However, between the wild sections of the short tundra grass and frozen ground, were fields of bright, vibrantly colours. These were the unique spices that grew only in the northern regions and had made Saoulhul’s fortune. The spices were originally found by a farming family, and they had quickly become the most profitable crop to grow and trade. Thus, the start of the spice road had begun and Saoulhul was the hub. Cities in the south paid large sums of money for these spices and their unique, crisp taste.

Five days passed before the aeronauts were able to see Saoulhul. Around the entrance were lanterns that lit the way for farmers and travellers coming into the city, and they were as old as Saoulhul itself. A kilometre away from the entrance, two large vents stuck up out the ground and today, like all days, smoke and gas were escaping from them and dispersing into the air. Arvin and his crew descended into Saoulhul, and they were saddened to see that tier 1, that was usually full of spices ready to be exported and it buzzed with activity, now lay bare and some lonely three people were walking around its barren floor.

They descended deeper, and much of the city was laid out the same as Auksand, with farms, houses and schools on the respective tiers. Back in the good old days of trading, children would come down to the markets and hear adventures and stories of merchants and travellers. Excitement would fill their hearts and they would listen intently to the stories as they didn’t want to miss a single piece of it. The people had been full of imagination and intrigue, and once a year they had a lantern festival where everyone in the city made a lantern that depicted their favourite tale from the outside. In shapes ranging from dragons to people, they would let them off into the sky and Arvin remembered watching them rise from his father’s airship.

Sadly, the city had become faded and as they landed on tier 13, which was a tier unique to Saoulhul as it was where the centre ended and didn’t run any deeper. They were not greeted as they once had been, nor did children run up to them and begin climbing all over their airships. Instead, people glanced at them for a moment, before they continued on, as they were not willing to engage with aeronauts as they once did. The tiers below tier 13 were sealed off from the outside light, and this was not too much of a problem, as most people worked in the market, or they had once. All the fumes from the mines were re-diverted up the vents that came out away from the city’s entrance.

Arvin began walking around the empty market and he noted that the few stalls that were still in business, were selling small items and necessities like meat, furs and gas containers. He looked up and saw that much of the beauty inside of the city remained: banners of many different patterns and lanterns of warm, gentle colours hung all around them and they lit up the market with a beautiful, deep red light, like that of a setting sun. This light warmed Arvin’s heart as Monti went over to talk to someone on a stall.

“What has gone on? Why has all the joy gone from these markets?”

“It’s MA.”

“Mountain air?”

“Yes. It began a year ago after the child died at the lantern festival.”

“The one who suffered severe burns and died in hospital?”

“That’s the incident. People began becoming warier towards travellers in the markets, and they would stop their children from listening to the stories. This cautious approach grew in popularity, and soon all the children stopped coming to the markets. A few people began spitting and cursing at the travellers, while others refused to sell them their goods. This behaviour soon turned to merchants and they very quickly they lost interest in our markets. The supply of spice began to dry up as the farmers were coming less and less to the city and trading with the merchants outside of the gates. There are a few who would like to see the old days return, but a few months ago people began talking about MA and they became scared. We have only ever been market traders and very few of us stepped outside of the city. Saoulhul is dying my friend and I fear that is beyond repair. It is too late to change what has become of the people and I myself will be moving out to a farming village close by in three days time, once I have finished my current affairs here.”

“I dare say that is wise, however, I am saddened by this news as I too would love to see the old days return.”

“They were better days, but nothing is to be done now. People once thrived off daring and adventurous tales, but now they hide from them. I recommend that you buy what you need and leave. There is nothing here for aeronauts now.”

“Thank you my friend and I wish you good speed to the village when the time comes.”

“Thank you, and I hope to see you again someday.”

“That you will,” Monti said before he went to join the rest of his crew.

“What did you find out?” Arvin asked.

“MA has spread here, like ivy infesting a tree, and the people have become fearful. There is nothing that we can do here.”

“I do not like it. The decorations that are still hanging up are making me uneasy,” George added. “I have also spoken to a few of the people here and they have said the same. They are also talking about leaving, and I think that it is time we also go.”

“I agree. It makes me sad, but there is nothing that we can do here. If residents themselves are talking of leaving, then the situation is truly dire,” Arvin said before they headed back to their airships. Upon leaving Saoulhul, Monti began to notice the merchants who were trading with farmers nearby. They seemed to be joyful and they were joking light-heartedly as he heard their distant laughter. Saoulhul had once been a place full of life and joy, but not longer it seemed.