Chapter 181 – Salevela Conflict 2

Don’s cabin was simple. It had a bed and a chair and a table. He used most of his time as the skyship travels, writing anything that corresponded to traveling on a skyship.

“Most of the engines are forbidden to be examine,” he thought, “and most of the crew is loyal to Dolce. She’d have me killed if I do anything that might intrude that line of trust that we built up”

His hand was holding a pen. It was a new kind of pen that he got from the demesne. It has a tube and he didn’t have to dip it top an ink bottle. It was convenient. It allowed Don to continue writing mechanically while his other hand touches his chin.

He put his pen down. He looked at the paper and nodded. He took a tube from his bag and put the letter inside. He put the tube away and hid it under his bed. He put his hands on the table. He listened in to the noise that was being created by the thrusters.

“Not as loud as the rust bucket we call as skyship,” he commented inwardly. There was a big difference between the rough skyship of Midland and the demesne. Don has been impressed by such feats of engineering. He wanted to have this kind of skyship. It would help him greatly in his search for the person he met a long time ago.

Don stood away from his chair. He put his hands behind his back and walked towards the round window of his cabin. He peeked through the window and saw the clouds that were shaped differently. Each and one of them looked like they were moving, but in truth, it was the skyship passing by the clouds. Below he could see the wide plains and forests of the continent covered in snow.

Winter was the continent’s harsh maiden. But with how things were, the whole continent might just beat winter’s harsh embrace by the use of new technology that appeared. Don finds it absurd how things changed in the past months. A year ago there were no flying ships that flew around the skies of Midland and Freelands. Before he knew there were now walkers and four-legged tanks

He was now riding on a skyship and the single-shot firearms were improved. The time of sword and axes were gone. Don understood this clearly as he fought and got hit in the arm. He saw a knight that worked under him got killed by three riflemen who had a clear shot.

Don has fought battles using his sword and pistol. He had made stratagems but the appearance of repeating rifles on the fields that he trudges upon made him reform it all. He had to change the way he fights and rethink the way his units move. It was a tiring thing to do. But with how things were. He had no choice but comply.

If he doesn’t go with how things were. There was a big chance that he’d end up as one of the nobles who were foolish enough to wield a sword in a gunfight.

...

Don was not alone in his cabin. Henry was sent to him to serve him while he was alone. Henry wasn’t talkative but they would play a board game.

They sat near a table. They move their pieces and played until there was a knock on the door. Elesia gave Don his meal. After that, he would eat and study the book he took along with him. His wounds have slowly started to heal up. His wounds were completely healed by the time the skyship fly above the sea.

There was a space inside the skyship that allowed them to view the outside world. Don was feeling nauseous so he went to that place and watched the blue sea below. The visibility was not good with snow falling around. Don was pondering when he heard someone walking towards him. He looked back and saw it was Dolce.

“Brother,” Dolce said.

“Sister,” he replied back.

“Getting some fresh air?” she asked.

“Yes,” Don nodded. “Staying coped inside a room is something that bothers me. But I guess that is different for you, sister.”

“Indeed, my brother. I feel like staying in the room would allow me to feel the silence. I am not like you who could wander around the world despite the weather. At this point, I just wish that we’ll arrive at the fleet. Is the boat that father boarded big enough? Or do you plan to hover around my ship?”

“The ship that father commanded is big enough. It carries ships like the one that I boarded. They plan to do what the Bali and Cagan natives did to Avilla.”

Dolce raised her brows. “They plan to jump and penetrate the inner island?”

“That’s right,” Don nodded. “It is a brilliant stratagem. Penetrate the heart of the enemy and take out the central command. Without the leader, they are nothing but soldiers.”

“And what if the soldiers that would drop down would get annihilated? Sounds like a waste of soldiers,” Dolce argued. To her, it was a dangerous operation.

“That is why we are only sending the best ones. Soldiers who are skilled with their rifles and are trusted because of the skills they possessed. We aren’t leaving them to die either, Dolce. We are supporting them with the ships that the demesne have. Long ranged artillery wins battles now.”

“Is that so,” Dolce said.

“You are not impressed?” Don asked.

“I am not. I’ve already seen such tactics. I was near Avilla such tactic happen. I saw them getting killed by gunfire easily. They were slaughtered as they descend down. Up in the air, they could only pray that bullets won’t kill them.”

“I know,” Don agreed. “But for the greater good, or what the father says. We must conquer the island and fortify it. Besides, the demesne has always eyed the island. We are merely assisting them to gain favor. But you do not need that favor, my sister. You are already a big deal within this world run by interest and ambitions.”

Dolce looked at her brother. “So what is your interest, brother?”

Don smiled. He didn’t reply and just walked away from the place with his hands tucked behind his back. Dolce watched his brother walk away. She was curious but she shook her head. She looked at the fleet of ships sailing together.