Elevation of Mana Chapter 194 Unwelcome Rider

As the first rays of dawn lit up the canopy our army came to life. Like ants moving in a swarm I could see the land based troops below making their way towards the roads. Nobody was flying but us just yet, but I was sure when the fighting began at least a few would see the benefit.

Ropes were thrown off, moorings loosed we rose taking to the air above our compatriots, well, most of them.

“You could have at least brought in another seat,” complained Matriarch Neera from atop a pile of munitions.

“You were not planned for, nor invited to join us in here,” I responded unhappily.

Most were not willing to speak to her like that and it showed. She'd all but forced her way into our cabin, and the small woman was not taking up space we'd told quite a few people they weren't welcome to have.

“Walking that far would be exhausting, and I do not have the magics to undo such tiredness, nor do I wish to waste me energy flying.”

“And so you're coming to bother us? I'm sure you could have found someone to soothe your muscles and feet Matriarch, rather than insist on getting into my very small vehicle.”

“It's not so small, and I'm light. You could have easily had four or five people in here with you.”

“And if one of them mishandled one of the small pots in that box you're sitting on we'd all die in a brilliant ball of fire.” That wasn't specifically true, since those would need to be lit before being dropped, but it could happen.

The little Ancient looked at her seat with a clear amount of worry as I spoke, she at least didn't doubt that I could make potent weapons. Good, let her think about how terribly rude she was being. I also felt her begin weaving a shield around herself, going right against what she'd claimed about wasting mana. Not that she didn't have enough to spare while we traveled.

Chien of course said nothing. While I might be able to mouth off to someone as old as her and get away with it I suspected he believed he wouldn't get the same grace. Personally I was a bit taken aback by that, since if she'd actually done anything against my assistant I would personally have gone nuclear on her. It might have been because of the light scolding she'd given him when she joined us, not like she'd dare to try anything against him with me here.

Rather than care for Chien instead Neera peppered me with questions about the craft.

“So what's in these boxes?”

“Various things, mostly nasty ones.”

“That's hardly an answer.”

“It's the best you're going to get,” I told her coldly.

“Fair, but what about the craft itself, why does it fly?”

“Why does a boat float?” I returned.

“Because it's made of things that float,” she answered seamlessly and incorrectly.

“Why do they float?” I tried again.

“I don't know. Never thought about it all that much honestly. Some things float, some things don't. How does it matter to how this flies?”

“They use the same principle.”

“Stop speaking in riddles, it doesn't make you sound clever,” she said from her perch, frowning deeply.

“Think about it and then ask me again later.”

That didn't improve her mood, but I didn't care, because it got her to shut up for awhile. She did look to be thinking though, going over what I'd asked in her head as we floated along. It wasn't like there was much for us to do, just some light steering and keeping an eye on the rest of the army below us.

As the sun got low I saw the army of elders begin to make camp, a small circle of lights appearing down on the ground, and so we came down ourselves. We didn't land fully, but we'd get close enough to anchor to the ground and float nearby. Since all of us could fly it wasn't an issue to pop down to the ground to cook or check in with the others.

While I was preparing our dinner Neera meandered off for a bit, for what reason I neither knew nor cared. When she came back though she seemed keen to revisit our earlier conversation.

“It floats because it is its nature to float. Many things can, and do, but they do because that is their nature.” Her explanation sounded like something from Greek philosophy.

“No.”

“You sound so sure, so tell me if you think you've a better answer.”

“Can metal float?” I asked.

“No, it's too heavy.”

I took a bit from some spare parts I had on the ship, some nuts and bolts and made a little metal boat.

“Go find some water and try it out,” I instructed.

When she came back she looked actually surprised, sitting beside me.

“How?”

“It weighs less than the water that would be where it is in the water.” Trying to explain density without any preceding information wasn't really natural to me.

“So because it is lighter than the water would be the water moves down, like rocks in a lake.” That was actually an excellent explanation.

“Yes.”

“But your flying craft, what is it lighter than?” she asked, finally understanding.

“The air.”

“When this is over you should come work for me. You'll have everything you desire without any issue, I'll see to it myself. You can have women, foods of whatever kind you like, materials for your work, anything I can provide you.” Her eyes were sharp, for even if she'd basically hidden away for most of her life she wasn't a fool.

“I'm uninterested.”

“You should reconsider, others will see what you're doing and planning on doing. They might try to use force, but if you came to my side none would dare to come for you or yours.”

“If you're really that desperate to learn what I have to teach all you have to do is come to Atal. I won't teach you everything, but I'm more than willing to teach you many things. For example what I already have.” As I spoke I nodded to the little boat in her hand. “Do try to be less of a pain though.”

Over the next few days she was considerably less of an irritant. She still insisted on riding with us, likely some ploy to get closer to us or learn what she could. Neera also asked questions here and there, nothing too deep to me, but things she was curious about, like the few dials and notes in the ship.

It was Chien who eventually broke down and gave her a basic rundown on my writing system, before working on putting as much math as he could into a lecture. He ran through a lot of the basics, even doing some light geometry over the course of days.

On the afternoon of the eighth day though he had to stop, for we had neared the mountains. Hills rose up as the peaks stretched towards the sky before us, and atop one of those peaks stood a creature that resembled a raptor from my days as a child playing with dinosaurs. All around it was nothing but fire though, and it seemed far too big for what it was.