Their footsteps were always perfectly comfortable. In their heads they knew that it wouldn’t be possible to slip even in the wettest conditions. Even the temperature was somehow controlled to be nearly perfect.

  Synexus’ bio-bridge radiated comfort. As they walked slight changes were being made and the walk across was full of wonder. Somehow the crystal roof allowed them to look out yet they were still walking in shade. Even in a world full of magic, the experience of crossing the bio-bridge would be called magical.

  “How is it you make this bridge for us to cross one time, yet we are still walking for an entire year to get where we need to be?” Zuls stopped in the middle of the bridge to stare out towards the horizon. Colors from the refracted light dance on her skin.

  When there was no answer, she turned around to look at her friend and found him sitting down clearly exhausted.

  “You overdid it again? What did I tell you last time?!” Kumo’s thundering shout echoed through the covered bridge before spreading out into the mountains.

  Synexus grinned before pulling out some fruit to help gain some mana back.

  “Growing something like this took almost all my mana. I’ll be fine. I just need a second. I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until we stopped to see the view.”

  As he was sitting, he could feel the bridge beneath him soften to an almost cushion-like feel. When the others noticed they joined him.

  “Synexus, if you learned how to make houses like this, you’d be an even richer man. I’d buy one for my family once we get to the Smiles.”

  “Don’t tell him that, Prith. I’d buy one too and never want to leave.”

  Yu laid down and stretched her entire body out like a cat before sinking into her spot. The bridge obliged and cleared a bit of the crystal to give her a warm sunspot.

  “Yes, Zuls. The sphinx need a plant like this as well.”

  “The downside of having houses made like this would be the ambient mana. Here in the mountains its fine for such a structure to be pulling in a mass amount of mana to sustain itself, but could you imagine if an entire town acted as a mana sponge?”

  “Synexus is correct. One or two structures would be the limit in most areas of the world. Even if he did create a town full of these houses, they would all be fighting to satisfy themselves with mana. Eventually one would become starved and die. More would follow until there was only one or two left.” Gene added to the conversation as they landed on a perch the bridge grew for the owl.

  “Technology could perform most of these features though. Right, Gene?”

  “Even the most advanced technology couldn’t quite do the same thing without using mana and running into the same problem. The big difference would be that the houses wouldn’t die, the functions would just cease until there was another infusion of mana like an enchantment.”

  “That still sounds promising. Some of these features don’t need to happen every second of every day. Being able to turn them off and on by using your mana might actually be an upside.” Vorin was leaning his back against the wall of the bridge, and it almost looked like it was giving him a massage.

  “You also have your mana battery that could alleviate some of the problems. Could you imagine one of my bubble domes being made like this? Luxuries of the surface with the beauty of the sea.”

  “Oh, good idea using the mana battery stone, Shell. In my trial my people seemed to rely on other forms of power as well to not overtax the mana. Mana is the most convenient power source of course, but there are other more efficient methods.”

  “You’re correct, Synexus. There are many forms of power. Electric, wind, solar, nuclear. You’d still need mana to run the enchantments of your skills though.”

  “What’s nuclear?”

  The owl looked away quickly before looking back like they had made a mistake.

  “You’ll find out. I’m sure it’s in the codex my creator gave you.”

  Half an hour later they were all rested up and ready to go. Synexus had regained enough mana that he wouldn’t feel the backlash of using so much at one time anymore. They all got up and started making their way towards the far end of the bridge.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Nearing the end, they could see that the bridge anchored itself a bit onto the cliff side instead of right on the edge which was probably for the best. It had been a wonderous stroll across a never-before-seen creation, but it was time for them to get back on track and head towards Yu’s home once again.

  Except the moment they were walking off the bridge, a couple of unknown voices spooked them. Two people were waiting for them, and they were made of clouds.

  The first of the two started making sounds that sounded like raindrops and thunderstorms before the second stopped them and addressed the group in the common tongue.

  “Greetings and beautiful skies. I’m Nim and this is Cumulus. We were floating over on our way home and saw this beautiful structure sprout up out of nowhere. Do you know of its origins perchance?”

  Everyone in the party looked at each other in confusion. They had just crossed an impossible bridge and yet they found themselves amazed. Talking clouds weren’t an everyday occurrence after all.

  “I apologize. I’m Vorin. This is Gene, Yu, Prith, Zullany, Kumo, Shell, and the man you’re looking for, Synexus.”

  “Ah, no worries. We are aware how strange this must be. Our kind almost never come down from the skies. What has it been, Cumulus? 60 years or so?”

  The other cloud flashed like a bolt of lightning and then the whistling of the wind followed.

  Nim nodded. “My counterpart does not speak the common tongue, but he says it’s been more like 140 years. How time flies!”

  Synexus focused in on Nim to see what System designated their species as.

  Name: Nim

  Race: Cloud

  Class: Sky Cartographer LV 92

  “Like our leader said, I’m Synexus. The bridge is of my design.”

  “Well, I must commend your work. The beauty is superb.”

  “If you like the look, you should try laying down inside.” Zuls chuckled after making the suggestion.

  Curiosity struck through Nim’s eyes like a lightning bolt and they widened. Synexus was entranced by the pools of deep black with white cloud wisps floating within.

  “May I?”

  “Of course, it is for everyone as a means to cross the valley.”

  Nim laughed at the people not being able to fly across before moving into the bridge and attempting to lay down. He simply floated above the floor.

  “Hm, it feels quite the same as my bed at home.”

  Zuls threw everyone a look, but as they were working through the strange comment the bridge started to form a gentle flow of warm air from holes right above and right below the odd cloud.

  “Woah! Now this is quite something! I think I could fall…”

  He didn’t even finish his sentence before falling asleep.

  Cumulus looked on with curiosity before gesturing toward the party to go into the bridge. They all looked at the cloud and nodded with affirmation.

  He laid by his friend and another collum of warm air was created. Cumulus let out a satisfied sound before closing his eyes.

  “Should we just let them sleep?” Kumo had been suspiciously quiet with the Cloud’s presence. Given her class, Synexus thought she would want to ask a few questions.

  “I suppose so. We do have somewhere to be.” Vorin declared before turning around and walking off the bridge.

  They didn’t get more than a few feet before Nim came rushing out and asking them to wait a second.

  “Young Synexus, that truly is a wonder. How did you do it?”

  “My class allows for me to do wonderous things. It is hard to explain and it was quite complicated.”

  “I will not pry; however, I would like to invite you all to our home.”

  “Where is it that you call home?”

  “The great sky city of Atmosphere of course! Home of us and the legendary Cloud Gardens.”

  Vorin stepped up next to Synexus and jumped back into the conversation.

  “We would be honored to visit such an incredible place. We have heard many stories. Alas, we do have an urgent mission currently.”

  “Ah, don’t make a storm about that! The invitation is open. Come when it is convenient and ask for me at the gate. I am the oldest Sky Cartographer in the whole Cloud civilization.”

  “I was raised in the settlement of the Branch and Shell here is Wave. We will make time to visit your home as soon as possible. What is it that a Sky Cartographer does anyways?”

  “We map out the skies of course! I suppose we also map out the ground with our superior view, but the sky is more fascinating. The wild cloud landscape is always changing after all.”

  At that moment, Kumo stepped into the air with her Cloud Walking skill. Nim sucked in a comical amount of air.

  “A cloud walker! Cumulus look! A cloud walker! I haven’t seen one in ages. You must come now. Walk the skies with us and learn the ways of the Cloud!”

  “Like Synexus here said, we will most definitely take you up on your generous invitation.”

  With that both of the Cloud lifted back into the sky before disappearing into the wild cloud sea.

  “What a weird day.” Zuls said as she looked up at the sky.

  “Agreed. Let’s get moving. Double time everyone! We have a lot of ground to make up!”

  “Yes, Captain!”

  They all shouted at once before taking off at a respectable pace down the mountain pass once again. Three more months until they reached their destination and Yu would be reunited with her sisters.

  ***

  Az hopped and smiled as she watched the party set out once more in a jog. She had found great entertainment in watching the strange group have their adventures.

  The sphinx had nearly sent out a retinue towards the sickly towns when the fabled beast made itself known, but Az had called it off at the last second deciding to trust the safety of Yu with her new friends. Growing with the System needed risk and it wasn’t their place to step in if it wasn’t absolutely needed.

  “You’re almost home, sister. Just a little more and we shall be reunited once more!” Az shouted and the seer sphinx nodded along with enthusiasm.

  “Of course, once she’s here, I’ll lose my entertainment.”