He took my arm into his and led us into the front garden. I was shocked, though I really shouldn’t have been, that it was an actual chariot outside, or, I guess, some cross between a chariot and a rowboat. But, even more surprising than that were the two pairs of flying horses tethered to it, one pair at the front and the other at the back.

Their wings, shimmering like gossamer and bathed in golden light, flexed and cast a pale shadow over the grounds.  As the pegasi noticed us, they huffed and dug their hooves into the soft earth below as if they were telling us to hurry up already.

“Pretty, aren’t they?” Ophiel guided me closer.

“Yeah, they are. You don’t have any unicorns hiding somewhere, do you?”

He laughed softly, “I’m afraid not.”  

Seeing the Pegasi up close, I realised just how huge they were, at least a foot above a stallion’s usual height. Each had their own unique coat in variations of pale gray and mottled white. It had been years since I had been near anything equine.

“You can touch them if you’d like. They’re surprisingly calm near you.”

“Oh? How are they usually?” I murmured, reaching a hand forward, letting them sniff me.

“Hmm…they don’t particularly like anyone but me, if I’m honest.”  He stepped forward and patted the mottled one’s neck.

“Well, I used to volunteer at a farm once upon a time, so it makes sense that they’d take a liking to me.”

“Oh, really? Then, I’ve learned something new about you, my dear bride.”

“Ah, have I impressed you a little bit?” I muttered a half-laugh.  It really wasn’t that big of a deal, especially when compared to him, I felt a tad unremarkable.

“More than a little bit.” He smiled. I felt heat creep up my neck once more. Our score is officially 2-0.

“Now, then,” he continued, “we should go. We’ll be late if we delay any longer.”

“Wait, could you tell me their names?”

“Vraelia, Occharis, Strivath, and Erinthea. Vraelia, in particular,” he pointed to the ivory white pegasus nuzzling my hand, “seems to like you the most.”

“Awesome…” I replied, still a little awestruck.

“Shall we?”

“Yeah, yeah, of course. Sorry. I know we’re running late.”

“No need to apologise. I’m glad that it seems I’ve impressed you as well.” With that, he peeled open the carriage door, lending a hand to help me into the carriage. Does that count as 3-0? Nah, I’m not counting that one.

The way the chariot flew was interesting. Rather than being pulled into the sky on one side, it was carried, lifted into the air gently from both sides. It rocked slowly as the Pegasi synchronised. Looking over the edge of the carriage, I watched as we rose further and further away from Rannon manor. The gardens and little structures that seemed so grand up close became miniature.

Before I knew it, we were well past the gate and hovering above the clouds I had fallen through not too long ago. In the distance, I finally saw the sun. It illuminated the clouds below and those above with brilliant pinks and oranges and yellows.

“So, this is what you see when you’re flying?” I asked. My eyes darted from place to place.

“Not usually.”

“Mmm, I guess it would depend on the time of day.”

“Ha!” From the seat across mine, he laughed, nearly jostling the chariot. “I suppose that’s another reason.”

“Well, what about weather? Does it ever rain here?”

“Quite often, in fact. But it rarely occurs across the Etherium at the same time. It’s localised, just as it is on Earth.”

“Oh…cool. Cool. Can you ever--” I wasn’t sure how to ask. “Can you ever see Earth from up here?”

A passing frown appeared on his face, though it quickly morphed into his usual amused smile. “Even when the clouds clear, you cannot see Earth from the Etherium in the same way that you cannot see the Etherium from Earth. From the Etherium, the only thing you can see below is the Abyss.”

“The Abyss? That sounds terrifying.”

“It is terrifying. So, in the future, try not to go jumping off of islands.”

“Haha, very funny. You’re not going to let me forget about that, are you?”

“Not a chance.”

“Hmph,” I feigned a pout.

…

After some time of travelling in silence and admiring the sights, I suddenly had the desire to touch the clouds beneath, but, as soon as I reached down, I felt Ophiel pull me back.

“Be careful with that. If you leave your hand amongst the clouds for too long, you’ll attract the etherfish or, worse, the litnyr.”

“The what now?”

“Take a look,” he said, gesturing to my left.

Out of the clouds leapt a school of small iridescent creatures with clear, butterfly-like wings. They swept through the clouds, their tails leaving an s-shaped trail behind them, before diving back below the surface.

“Whoa! Are those the flyfish?” I leaned against the edge of the chariot, trying my best to get a closer look.

“Indeed. Sunsets are the best time to observe them.”

“Then, what about the litnir? Will we see them too?”

“Trust me. There are two creatures whom you do not want to meet in the clouds: the thundyr and the litnyr.”

“Y’know, when you say that, it makes me want to see them even more.”

“They’re dangerous, so don’t seek them out, I implore you. There are plenty of other beautiful creatures in the Etherium.”

“Well, I doubt that any of them are more beautiful than you.”

He stared at me blankly, his mouth falling agape.

“Hey, you’re not the only one who can flirt.” I smirked, a little too pleased with myself as I saw red tint his ears.