Anomaly of Fate
Chapter 103: The Skyborne Citadel

Chapter 103: The Skyborne Citadel

Velren hadn’t intended to indulge quite this much, but at some point, his initial hesitation had been completely forgotten. The sheer variety of dishes had effortlessly drawn him in. He was no stranger to food—if anything, he had an appreciation for the culinary arts that far exceeded the average person—but this was on a whole different level. Every bite was a revelation, each dish offering a delicate balance of textures and flavors that spoke of years of refinement.

’How in the world did they make this?’

The thought nagged at him as he savored another forkful of an intricately layered dish, his mind already working through the possible ingredients, the techniques required to achieve such perfection. It wasn’t just about enjoying the food anymore—now it was a challenge. A puzzle he wanted to unravel.

If he ever got the chance, he was going to recreate some of these dishes. Somehow.

Nobles and aristocrats moved about in their refined manner, their laughter light, their words veiled with the kind of meaning Velren couldn’t be bothered to decipher. He was content where he was, appreciating the food far more than the company.

Then, the airship’s intercom flared to life.

"All passengers, we are now approaching our destination. Arrival will commence shortly."

With his curiosity piqued, Velren set his utensils down and turned toward the side window. Expecting to catch sight of land below, he instead found himself greeted by an endless stretch of clouds, dense and unbroken, as if the world beneath had ceased to exist. He frowned slightly.

’Where exactly are we landing..?’

As if noticing his confusion, a voice beside him cut through his thoughts.

"You’re looking in the wrong direction."

He turned to see the queen watching him with a knowing expression, her gaze steady as she gestured toward the front of the airship instead.

Velren hesitated for a moment before he followed her lead, weaving his way through the hall until he reached a vantage point where the front view of the airship was visible. Whether it was through a grand viewing window or by stepping out onto an exterior platform, the moment he saw it, he felt his breath catch in his throat.

Suspended in the endless sky, a vast cluster of floating islands stretched before the airship, each one distinct yet seamlessly connected in an awe-inspiring formation. Towering spires of stone and crystalline veins glowed faintly along their surfaces. Bridges of metal and light linked the islands together, their structures both intricate and impossibly delicate, as if woven by unseen hands.

Velren’s eyes traced the largest of the islands—the heart of it all—where a grand citadel loomed, its towering walls and sprawling courtyards defying gravity itself. Airships, smaller than the one he was aboard, drifted in synchronized patterns, their sails catching invisible currents. Below, waterfalls cascaded off the edges of the floating landmasses, their mist vanishing into the endless clouds beneath.

It was a scene unlike anything he had ever seen.

And here he thought that nothing could surprise him anymore in this world.

Boy, was he wrong...

"Beautiful, isn’t it?" The queen’s voice was calm as she stood beside him.

Velren, still unable to tear his eyes away from the sight before him, simply muttered.

"Yeah..."

Yet, even as he marveled at the breathtaking spectacle, another thought crept into his mind—one far less awe-struck. For all its grandeur, for all its impossible beauty, this place was also precarious. Suspended islands, floating bridges, waterfalls that plunged endlessly into nothingness. It was mesmerizing, yes, but it also meant that if anything went wrong—if something, anything, were to happen up here—there would be no ground to catch them.

Just open sky and a long, long fall.

The queen’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"My dear," her tone was measured yet carrying something in it, "may I ask a favor of you?"

Velren turned to her, slightly surprised.

"Yes?"

Her gaze remained fixed on the floating citadel ahead, but there was something distant in her eyes.

"No matter what happens, I ask that you stay by my daughter’s side. No matter the cost."

That much was obvious, wasn’t it? It was the entire reason he had come along in the first place—to accompany Solenne, to watch her back when needed. But still... something about the way the queen spoke unsettled him.

This might not be his place to ask, but—

"...Sorry if I’m overstepping, Your Majesty," he began, hesitating before pressing on, "but... what about you? Would you not be joining us?"

At that, the queen finally looked at him, a small, knowing smile gracing her lips.

"I have my own role to play in this summit... And for that, I cannot afford to be bound to one place—or one person." Her gaze softened, just barely. "But you... you must be where Solenne is."

Something about the way she said it—

"...Yes Ma’am"

***

The airship descended onto one of the floating islands, aligning itself with the docking platform. A subtle jolt ran through the deck as the vessel settled into place, the mechanical clamps securing it with a faint hiss of compressed air. Outside, the landing crew moved with practiced efficiency, guiding the process while banners bearing intricate sigils fluttered in the high-altitude winds.

Inside, the passengers were already forming an orderly line toward the exit ramp. Nobles straightened their attire, murmuring amongst themselves, while the guards assumed their positions, scanning their surroundings with disciplined vigilance. The queue moved steadily, and soon enough, it was Velren’s turn, standing right behind Solenne.

He followed as she stepped forward. But as he reached the edge of the ramp, he made the mistake of looking down.

Immediately, his stomach churned.

A sheer drop stretched beneath him—no ground, no safety net, just an endless abyss of clouds that might as well have been a death sentence should anyone slip. His mind unhelpfully supplied an image of himself plummeting through that vast emptiness, which only made things worse.

’Now why the hell did I do that...?’

"Velren?" Solenne’s voice pulled him back to reality. She had turned slightly, regarding him with a raised brow.

"Are you okay?"

He exhaled slowly. "Yeah. Just wondering how many people have—uh, you know—accidentally tested gravity here."

She huffed in amusement. "Not as many as you’d think. Now, come on.

With one last cautious step, he forced himself to move forward, following her down the ramp.

As they walked, Velren finally voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind.

"So... what exactly is this place?"

Solenne glanced at him before gesturing toward their surroundings.

"This is the Skyborne Citadel. The political heart of the region. It serves as both a diplomatic hub and a stronghold—neutral ground where matters of state are settled between nations."

Velren took in the grand structures around them—tall spires, intricate stonework laced with veins of glowing minerals, bridges that defied logic by connecting floating masses of land. It looked like something straight out of a storybook.

"And the whole... floating island thing?" he asked. "I assume that’s not just for show."

"It isn’t," she confirmed. "The islands are stabilized by some kind of network—ancient constructs that keep them suspended. Some say they were created by the first rulers of this land, while others believe they’re remnants of an even older civilization."

Her gaze swept over the skyward bridges and airborne vessels docking at various stations.

"Either way, they allow this place to exist above the world, untouched by the chaos below."

Velren hummed, trying to wrap his head around it all.

"So basically, this is a floating city for politicians."

Solenne smirked. "That’s one way to put it."