The Great Himmel Empire. With an expanse matching that of the sky, the great empire’s borders stretched deep into the horizon and beyond. The mightiest power entity in the continent, even the all-reaching Sol Theocracy had not much choice but to treat it with great care and respect.

And like the majestic cumulonimbus cloud that covers the vast sky, the capital city of Wolke stood in the center of the empire. Even the best of rangers with the finest of magic backing them could not see the ends of the enormous city. Buildings of bricks and stones stood in clusters while roads of concrete and mortar flowed through the city like veins.

Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Giants, Beastfolk, Harpies, even Demons and Nymphs wandered the streets of Wolke hand in hand. The riches of the world gathered in this place of diversity and prosperity.

Though none could see the ends of the city, none could hide from the soaring hill in the center of Wolke. A gigantic pillar rose from the ground and pierced through the clouds as it plateaued in the skies. Watching all over the empire from the top of the world was the land of the nobility and the castle of the emperor.

“This… doesn’t make sense…” Even Charlotte’s gloom could not undermine her confusion. When the carriage dashed into the wide roads of the city filled with more races than they could recall, the kids were fairly startled. But as they went deeper into the flanks, the steep rise of the updraft came into view.

Like a straight pillar shoved into the ground, the hill-like rise in the center stood majestically in front of them. The kids thought they would crash into it, that was what had to happen, yet unyielding road and the uncountable buildings sticking out of the place seemed to scream otherwise.

The horses neighed as Truss flicked the lead. Not slowing for a second, the horses rushed right into a hill and ran up it, the carriage followed and so did they sitting inside. Neither did the horses shake nor did the carriage jerk as they changed course and ran into the skies.

The world had turned a whole ninety degrees.

Luka peeked out the window, the ground was below him… and also behind him… and, though far, in front of him.

“We-we are all walking on walls?”

“Haha, not walls. You are on the ground,” Ophelia giggled.

Luka and Charlotte hung their heads out the carriage windows as they passed by the continuing streets of Wolke. Every house, every road, every person, every tiny animal moved around as if it were completely normal to be walking with a tilt of ninety degrees.

The higher the carriage climbed the wider the streets became as the houses around were phased out by villas and mansions. Straight ahead was another steep extension sticking out from the ground. Trees and bushes of blue and white grew out from the place with no establishments adorning it.

Before they could even realize it, the carriage had closed in and once again climbed up.

The world had flipped.

There was ground below them and ground above them. They were sitting with their legs facing the skies, yet no one fell over.

“Unbelievable…”

“How is this happening?”

The kids were lost in their musings as the carriage rushed straight ahead. Not much further, the expansive ground cut off and showed way to a sea of clouds. The horses ran without slowing down, approaching the edge of the grounds at breakneck.

“Uh, isn’t this dangerous? Won’t we totally fall now?” Luka said as the clouds grew closer than ever, just a little further and he could even touch them.

No one answered Luka’s call as the horses only picked up speed.

“Hey, hey! Slow down!!” Charlotte exclaimed.

“Ahhh!”

With a grunt, the horses dived into the sea of clouds. The children screamed and closed their eyes. They could feel their bodies get off the carriage and float into the sky, they were falling. They were surely falling before everything seemed to have come to a stop.

“Ahhhh!” Both of them continued screaming when a big hand landed on their shoulders.

“Shut up, brats,” Vincent sighed. He grabbed the kids by the nape of their necks and flung them out of the carriage. “At least look around before making a scene.”

“Ahhk! We’re falling again!!” Luka shook with closed eyes for a few seconds before finally gathering the courage to open them up. The boy’s words were swallowed back as the sight around him came into view. His hand reached out to Charlotte by themselves as he clutched the tips of her sleeves.

Charlotte too opened her eyes and immediately held her breath. The line between the sky and the earth had seemed to disappear. Mixed with lands were clouds of white and gray serving as footholds. Trees and plants grew from everywhere as gigantic buildings no-lesser than castles themselves spread magnificently over the place.

The world and the sky had come together.

This was the heart of the Himmel Empire.

Stand aloft in the center of the land in the skies, the enormous castle that housed the imperial family stood majestic with the twin suns on both sides.

The kids were still dumbstruck by the sight around them when Vincent and Ophelia stepped off the carriage. Vigsius too had come up from behind them.

The edge of Vincent’s mouth went up as he gazed over the land around him.

“Guess I have truly come back here, huh.”

**

The group left their transportation back at the edge of Wolke’s higher grounds, the Greater Wolke. Cut with the finest of stones, the lavish roads spread over the Greater Wolke like spider webs, all of them leading towards the castle in the center.

The normal houses of a city were completely replaced by the estates of the imperial nobles and even of royalty from the vassal kingdoms of the empire. Few people spread over the streets, all of them the servants and followers brought over by the nobility.

“So, we just go in? Isn’t nobility like, scary?” Luka muttered.

“Well, our carriage and Sir Vigsius were enough to get us here,” Truss replied.

“Are those two really amazing?”

“And won’t we get checked? Anyone can just walk in with whatever?”

Truss giggled and continued. “Worry not, young sir. We are constantly passing by hundreds of spells and magical items at every moment. The moment you enter Wolke, you are already being checked. They must have known we were coming from a while back.”

“That’s right.” Vigsius nodded from behind. “The entirety of Wolke is covered by an ancient magic circle. The closer we get to the center the stronger it gets. We were checked right when we dived into the clouds—”

“Nope,” Ophelia interrupted.

“Hm? What is it?”

Ophelia turned to Vigsius and shook her head. “No one will know we are here. I interfered with every spell on our way.”

Vigsius and Truss stopped in their tracks at her words, even Vincent turned back in surprise.

“W-what do you mean? We are talking about thousands and thousands of spells, made with ancient magic… To say you interfered…”

Ophelia simply smirked and flicked her hair while Vincent clapped and whistled from behind.

“Well.” Vigsius crouched down to come face to face with his friends. “Will all of us be going to the castle?”

“We can’t do that.” Ophelia shook her head as she placed her hand on Charlotte’s shoulders. “We don’t know who is here.”

Vigsius gave an understanding nod and continued. “Then, Truss can lead you three to our base. I don’t think anyone would be there right now.”

“Our base?” Vincent raised his eyebrow and turned to Truss. “Is this brat better than I figured?“

“He is just convenient for travel.”

“Hey! I can do much more than that!” Truss spat back but was promptly ignored as Vincent smiled at the children and patted their heads.

“Charlotte, Luka. This place is mostly safe, but there’s a ton of rats running about that don’t particularly like me.”

“What, was dad befriending rats in the past?”

“Fool, didn’t you hear. He couldn’t even befriend rats is what he said.”

“Tsk, tsk. Sad, but expected.”

The siblings were forced shut with a flick to their foreheads. Vincent cleared his throat and continued. “It’s impossible to make portals in Wolke, so you’ll be going on foot. There shouldn’t be much of an issue, but listen to your mother's words as your lives depend on it, ok?”

“Yup,” Luka said.

“Hn.” And Charlotte nodded. Even though she made fun of her father without missing a beat, she still had a pout on her face. Seeing her downcast, Vincent made a bitter smile and rustled their hair again.

“I am… doing this to find Astolfo sooner, okay?”

The kids’ eyes shot up at his words. Since they had left Frucht, they were sure that all the actions were being taken to find Astolfo. Yet, this was the first time Vincent had claimed it out loud. They didn’t know what a good-for-nothing house husband from the boonies could do in an empire even if he got an audience with the emperor, but it was enough to give them hope.

With a much brighter face than before, the two nodded.

“Well then, Magician Tram.”

“Truss.”

“Ahem, Trass.” Vincent corrected himself. “I’ll leave them to you.”

Truss reigned in his twitching forehead and nodded. Vincent exchanged gazes with Ophelia and turned to his giant friend.

“Let’s go, Vigsius. It’s time I greet the sky.”