Alessia entered the workshop on the fifth floor of the dungeon. Like every day, Dungeon Mistress was busy hammering iron parts for town builders. It was a humbling experience every time she saw the Dungeon Mistress working. This young woman has everything. Statues, wealth, power, and yet she was working like a normal blacksmith.

  Alessia waited until the Dungeon Mistress finished her work, and then she approached her.

  “Good day, Dungeon Mistress.” She bowed respectfully.

  “Hello Alessia!” Naomi beamed. “How are you?”

  “I’m well, Dungeon Mistress, thank you. I came to tell you that I finished the task you gave me.”

  “Already? You sun elves are impossible. I was sure it would be challenging to gather all the pieces of equipment.”

  “And it was, Dungeon Mistress. I never succeeded at the first attempt.”

  “And yet you have the whole set already. So did you fly?”

  “No, Dungeon Mistress. I came to invite you to see my first flight.”

  “I’m honored for innovation, and I promise to be there. When will it happen?”

  “Tomorrow, after the sunrise, if your Dungeon Mistress duties allow.”

  “Of course, I will have time for you. I can’t wait to see both of you flying tougher.”

  “Thank you, Dungeon Mistress.” Alessia bowed.

  The next day, even before the sun rose above the horizon next to the eastern tower, all sun elves gathered to witness Alessia's first flight. Naomi was there too. The Roc lay on the ground to ease mounting the saddle. It was a strange-looking leather construct, unlike a typical saddle. The reason was simple. While riding on a horse or any other animal, the rider sits on its back. For flying animals, it will be a problem. Extra drag of air will tire them faster. The Raider will need to lie down every time the Roc needs to fly fast or make sharp maneuvers. There was also an issue with the center of gravity. The saddle will need to be exactly in the middle of the body, so as not to disturb the balance of the animal. And there were the wings. So Naomi designed a saddle on which the rider lies the whole time. The head was high enough that Alessia could see the ground over the edge of the wings. The rest of her body was strapped with sturdy leather straps, ensuring she wouldn’t fall no matter what. The saddle also has plenty of buckles to attach saddlebags or Alessia’s weapon.

  It took her a long time to fasten the saddle, even though she had been practicing for many hours. But Alessia's life depends on that. A fall from a horse can be fatal, let alone from a height of a thousand meters. Naomi prepared for her simple parachute and even helped her train a little on how to use them. However, all agreed that it should be used only as a last resort.

  “We are ready.” Alessia finally said when she checked everything at least three times. The roc even tries to shake off the saddle to check the straps.

  “Alessia, your courage, determination, and hard work make us proud of you.” The Lady Itylara said. “Before you lies the road that no one has walked before. Walk it, remembering the gods teachings. Today, it’s the dawn of a new chapter in Sun Elves' history. You, Alessia, are a sign that the time for atoning for our sins is over. Show us what we lost because of our pride and foolishness in the past.”

  “I will do my best, and I will always follow the gods' teaching.”

  “I also should tell some wise words, but you heard my sermons every day for the last few decades,” Tarron said, visibly touched. “That's why I only said that I’m proud of you, and your mother also would be.”

  “Thank you, grandfather.” Alessia respectfully bowed.

  “And I will just say: have fun!” Naomi smiled wildly.

  “We would. Thank you, Dungeon Mistress.”

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  Alessia immediately climbed on the back of her companion, and she strapped herself into the saddle. After one more check, they were ready. The roc needed a little more space to take off because it was the first time he was carrying Alessia on his back. However, as he began flying with extra weight, it ceased to be an issue. While they start making circles around the oasis, sun elves start cheering for them. People around the oasis, who were starting their work when they saw the flying duo, began to look at them in shock.

  After an hour, Alessia finally landed. Before landing, they both tried simple acrobatics that Naomi had taught them. She wasn’t a pilot, but she was once at an air show, and she carefully studied the short leaflet she got with her ticket. In it were explained the most common acrobatic figures performed by pilots.

  When they landed and Alessia unstrapped herself, she had a wide grin on her face.

  “Congratulations to both of you. That was an unforgettable experience to see both of you flying together.” The Lady Itylara approached them.

  “And we can’t wait for our next flight. But first, I will need to go to the temple of the Lady to show my gratitude for this day.” Alessia answered.

  “Yes. You should.” Her grandfather nodded.

  “But before everyone will go, there is one small thing to do,” Naomi said. “I heard stories in my world that pilots, people who fly flying machines, get the special pin from their seniors when they finish learning how to fly.” Naomi gestured to the elven kid to come in. He was carrying a small cushion with two silver objects on it. They were looking like the wings of a bird. “So let me give both of you those two pins to show your achievement.” She pinned one set of wings to Alessia’s jacket and another one to the front strap of the saddle, which was still on the bird's back. “Now, for both of you, waits the greatest task someone could face. Learn about flying and teach others. And when you find someone courageous like you, you will give him the same pin.”

  Alessia didn’t know, and Naomi only suspected, but there was one person who was very close to being the second person to fly. A few months ago, an adventurer arrived at the oasis. His name was Okkish, and he was a naga, also the second son of a viscount from the kingdom in the far south. His oldest brother was competent and surrounded by hardworking advisors, so his presence wasn’t needed. Also, their parents were of prime age, and they still had the final word on the most crucial matters.

  To minimize the temptations for eventual schemers to divide the family over succession rights, Okkish decided to become an adventurer. Honestly, he dreamed of seeing new kingdoms and discovering the secrets hidden by the gods. Ruling was never his vocation. His final argument to sway reluctant parents was a promise that he would not abandon his family ties and that he would find a way to help them from afar.

  The first valuable gift for his family was a map and a preliminary survey of the mountain at the edge of his family's territory. Until now, no one has made claims for it, because no one was sure if this would be profitable enough to offset the costs of fighting wild animals and monsters lurking in the woods and caves. After receiving the map, his family immediately started working to profit in any possible way. Now, fifteen years later, they were one of the richest and influential families in the kingdom. During this time, Okkish traveled extensively and gained fame. His skills in mapping, navigation, and scouting make him a valuable addition to any party or expedition. When news about a new dungeon reaches him, he immediately packs his belongings and finds the first caravan heading there. When he reached the oasis and entered the maze for the first time, he was overjoyed. Dungeon Mistress was a creative person full of surprises. But the best surprise waited for him on the floor with monkeys. When he saw the flying trap for the first time, something stirred deep in his soul. It took him two months to acquire an intact basket hanging under the enormous sack. The array over it turns out to produce a lot of very hot air. With the help of scholar Selphie, they deduced that hot air can actually be caught, and because it always tries to move upwards, if someone catches it enough, there is a chance to be lifted into the air. Okkish doesn’t need anything more. He used all his savings and took a small loan to build something similar to a flying trap, but twice as big.

  One month after Alessia’s first flight, he was ready. At first, no one was paying attention to him and his helpers as they prepared everything. The basket was tethered to four boulders acquired from the dig site. The envelope was partially supported on a tall wooden frame to help catch hot air. Filing it takes half an hour, but when the balloon started to take shape, people began stopping their work and staring. Someone ran for Naomi, and she managed to make it on time to see take off. To slowly lift it upwards, Okkish carefully unwound the ropes securing the basket to the ground. He only prepared twenty meters of the rope. When he finally landed, he was brought by the guards to see the Dungeon Mistress.

  “It’s a great honor to meet you, Dungeon Mistress. I’m Okkish and this is my path.” He respectfully bowed.

  “Nice to meet you.” Overjoyed, Naomi answered. “I must say you surprised me. I didn’t expect someone to try this so soon.”

  “I was inspired by the success of the elven lady and her flight last month. She showed me that my dream to reach the sky isn’t just a dream.”

  “And speaking about her. Alessia, I think he is worthy of his own wings. What do you think?” Naomi turned to the elven woman.

  “Yes, Dungeon Mistress.” She answered. “Sir Okkish. I welcome you to reach the sky. I was told to teach those who will follow my steps, but I just started learning about the sky myself. So instead I propose that both of us discover its secrets together.” She said.

  “It will be a great honor for me, Lady Alessia.” He answered.

  “Then, let those silver wings be the symbol of your achievement and a new path.” Alsessia pinned silver wings to his shirt.