(Author POV)
This was something far beyond magic.
This was another level.
After exiting the cave, Elira had expected something mystical—glowing lights, shimmering landscapes… something purely magical. Something that screamed fantasy from every direction. Something she could at least recognize as magic.
But this?
This was not what she had imagined.
In front of her were floating lands. Not small ones, not fragments—but massive, drifting islands hanging in the sky as if gravity had simply given up on them. They moved slowly, almost lazily, like they had all the time in the world.
And not just that—there were flying vehicles moving between them. Sleek. Fast. Controlled. They cut through the air with precision, leaving faint glowing trails behind them. Some were small, others enormous, but all of them looked far too advanced to belong in a "magical" world.
People were everywhere—walking, talking, laughing, completely at ease as if this was their everyday life. No one looked surprised. No one looked amazed.
For them… this was normal.
There were towering buildings stretching into the sky, their designs unlike anything Elira had ever seen. Smooth curves mixed with sharp edges, glowing lines running across their surfaces like veins of light.
They weren't just buildings—
They were statements.
Right now, they stood on one of the floating lands, the cave behind them now looking almost insignificant compared to what lay ahead. While it was night back on Earth, here it was daytime.
The world of Auroraea stretched endlessly before her—a breathtaking fusion of nature and impossible design. Massive floating lands hovered in the sky, their rocky foundations dripping with long, silver waterfalls that vanished into the clouds below. Soft morning light bathed everything in gold, making the entire scene glow like a dream caught between reality and illusion.
At the center of one of these floating lands stood a grand city—tall, elegant towers rising like spires toward the sky, their surfaces smooth and reflective, lined with faint glowing patterns. A luminous ring hovered around the tallest tower, slowly rotating as if marking it as something important… something powerful.
Below, life moved normally. People walked along wide, curved platforms built along the edges of the floating land, talking, laughing, completely at ease—as if standing above endless clouds was nothing unusual. Gardens and greenery blended seamlessly with the architecture, giving the entire place a perfect balance between advanced civilization and untouched nature.
In the distance, smaller floating islands drifted slowly, connected not by bridges—but by the open sky itself.
Elira slowly turned her head, taking everything in, her gaze moving from one impossible sight to another. Then she looked upward, her eyes locking onto the other floating islands drifting above them.
Her breath hitched slightly.
Behind her, Maria and Cain watched her reaction in silence, their expressions calm—almost knowing. They had expected this. Anyone would react like this.
Even Elira.
No matter how sharp she was… no one could stay unaffected by something like this.
"I-It's… amazing," she whispered, her voice barely audible, like speaking too loudly might break the illusion. "I thought it would be magical, but this…"
She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
A slow smile formed on her face as she turned toward Maria and Cain, her golden eyes shining—not with confusion this time, but something softer. Something lighter.
If this was the world she had to live in… maybe… just maybe… she didn't mind.
After all, why would she go back?
Back to a place where she didn't belong.
Back to people who never cared.
And here…
Maybe… she could finally find something.
Maybe… she could find them.
Her parents.
The thought slipped in quietly, almost unnoticed—but once it was there, it stayed.
Hope.
That dangerous, fragile thing she had buried so deeply.
It rose again.
Because no matter how much she denied it… no matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise… every child still longs for their parents.
"Of course it is," Cain said, breaking the silence as he lifted his chin slightly, pride clear in his tone. "This is our world. We don't just rely on magic—we've advanced in technology as well. And you've only seen the beginning."
Elira glanced at him, then back at the sky, still processing everything.
"…Only the beginning?"
Maria smiled warmly, stepping slightly forward beside her. "Not just Auroraea—every planet has its own blend of magic and technology. They're not identical, but each one reflects its people, their traditions, and their strengths."
She gestured outward, her hand sweeping across the floating lands and distant structures. "But since Auroraea is the Capital Planet… it's the most lively. The most developed."
Elira nodded slowly, though her eyes never stopped moving. There was too much to take in. Too much to understand.
And somehow… she didn't feel overwhelmed.
Just… curious.
Then—
A deep hum filled the air.
Elira turned her head instinctively as something massive approached from above.
A large aircraft—something between a spaceship and a jet—descended toward them, its surface reflecting the light around it like polished glass.
A strong gust of wind followed, pushing against her, forcing her to raise her arm to shield her face.
"Okay—wow—!" she muttered, squinting against the force.
The craft landed smoothly in front of them—not a single harsh movement, not a single sound out of place.
Then—its front opened.
A sleek, transparent platform extended outward, forming a walkway toward them. It shimmered faintly, almost invisible, like a thin layer of air made solid.
Its body was smooth and curved, almost organic in design, as if it had been grown rather than built. A deep metallic blue surface reflected the sky and clouds around it, while thin glowing lines traced along its structure like veins of energy.
Soft blue light pulsed beneath it, keeping it suspended effortlessly in the air without any visible engines. The front of the craft was transparent, revealing a warm, softly lit interior that felt more like a luxurious lounge than a machine.
The entire presence of the Airfly felt quiet, controlled, and advanced—not loud or mechanical, but precise and refined. It didn't just look like transportation.
It looked like technology that had surpassed limits.
Elira stared at it, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Wow… this is incredible," she said softly. "This world has gone far beyond technology."
Maria glanced at her with a small smile. "Of course. Our world is far more advanced than Earth." She gestured toward the aircraft. "This is an Airfly. It will take us to our destination."
Elira looked from Maria to the Airfly… then back to the platform.
"…That's not stairs," she said slowly.
"No," Cain replied casually.
"That's… nothing."
"It's not nothing," Maria said lightly. "It's just very clear."
Elira narrowed her eyes again. "…That doesn't make it better."
Maria stepped forward without hesitation, placing her foot onto the platform as if it were completely solid. Cain followed right after, equally unfazed.
Elira stayed where she was.
She looked down at her feet. Then at the platform. Then back at her feet again.
"…Okay," she muttered. "Don't think about it. Just walk."
She closed her eyes and took a step.
Her foot landed.
Solid.
She paused.
Then another step.
Still solid.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
The ground was beneath her—but it didn't look like it. The platform was so clear that it felt like she was walking on air. Like one wrong move and she'd fall straight through.
"Nope," she said immediately, looking straight ahead. "Not looking down. Not happening."
She picked up her pace slightly, walking faster until she reached Maria and Cain at the entrance.
"She likes it," Maria said quietly, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Yeah," Cain replied. "I thought she'd panic."
Elira shot them a look. "I am not panicking."
"You walked faster," Cain pointed out.
"I walked efficiently," she corrected.
Maria laughed softly. "I just hope she can handle what comes next."
Elira raised a brow. "That doesn't sound concerning at all."
She stepped fully inside—and froze.
Again.
The interior was nothing like she expected.
She had prepared herself for something cold, metallic, mechanical—something that felt like a machine.
But instead…
It looked like a home.
A luxurious one.
Soft lighting lined the walls. The space was open, elegant, designed for comfort rather than function alone. Everything felt intentional. Warm. Inviting.
"…Okay," Elira said slowly, turning her head slightly as she took it all in. "This is… illegal."
Maria blinked. "Illegal?"
"Yeah," Elira nodded seriously. "You can't just make something this cool and expect me to act normal about it."
Cain let out a low chuckle.
"No one else is here?" Elira asked, glancing around.
"No," Maria replied. "A pilot is there. Aside from that, it's just us."
Elira nodded, though her curiosity was still obvious in her eyes.
Maria and Cain began walking further inside, continuing their quiet conversation as if this was routine.
Cain glanced back briefly and gestured. "Don't fall behind."
Elira snapped out of her thoughts immediately and hurried after them.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," she muttered.
Because there was absolutely no way—no way—she was getting left behind in a place like this.