The next day arrived with clear skies and a bright crisp wind that carried distant scents of pine and mountain frost. Ethan woke early with renewed purpose. With the coaster back on track and Emberclaw recovering steadily it was time to accelerate work on the next major attraction. The Mana Flying Racers. A ride Ethan believed would become the heartbeat of the eastern district of the park. He walked toward the eastern field where open land stretched far and wide. Perfect for something fast

Workers gathered to hear the announcement. Ethan placed a large rolled canvas on a wooden table and spread it out. Vibrant lines curved across the parchment forming a looping aerial track drawn in glowing blue ink. Workers leaned forward murmuring in awe. Aradine arrived just in time to see Ethan tap the center of the blueprint. He said this would be the next marvel. A ride that let guests soar above the ground on mana powered vehicles that floated along invisible rails of wind and light. A ride inspired by racing but built for joy not danger

He explained how the vehicles would function. Each racer would be a lightweight frame infused with air mana stones allowing it to hover slightly above the ground. Beneath the wheels small wind conduits would interact with mana rails embedded on the path creating a stable hover route. The racers would not fly freely but would follow a guided track in the air shaped by mana currents. Workers stared wide eyed. Many did not know air mana could be used this way. Aradine nodded saying the concept was theoretically possible but no one had ever attempted to build such a system

Ethan smiled and said that was the point. Building what had never been built. Creating what had never existed. Transforming magic into safe structured experiences

He walked the workers through the blueprint showing sections of the racing path. There were straightaways for speed curves for drift tunnels of swirling wind and elevated platforms where spectators could watch races safely. Ethan emphasized that the ride was not a chaotic free for all. It was highly controlled with mana rails guiding every movement

A craftsman raised his hand and asked if people would trust a flying machine powered by magic. Ethan said that people trusted dragons even though they breathed fire because dragons followed rhythms. The racers would follow rhythms too. Predictable safe reliable. Workers nodded. The idea made sense. Another asked about speed. Ethan explained that speed could be adjusted by controlling mana pulse intervals. No risk of uncontrolled acceleration. The Conclave elders murmured approvingly

Aradine stepped forward studying the diagram for the wind tunnels. She said the air mana flow must be carefully balanced to avoid turbulence that could destabilize the racers. Ethan showed her calculations based on airflow logic from Earth. She looked surprised but impressed that the concepts aligned with mana science. She said her apprentices would help design the first mana rail segment

The king arrived unexpectedly again. He always managed to appear at pivotal moments. He listened to Ethan’s presentation with deep interest. When Ethan finished the king declared that the eastern field would be formally dedicated to the Mana Flying Racers. He promised additional workers and requested that the attraction include observation decks for diplomats and foreign travelers. Ethan agreed. He was already planning guest areas that offered exhilarating views without risk

The workers moved to mark the ground following Ethan’s diagrams. Earth mages created trenches for mana rails. Channelers prepared air stones for infusion. Forgers shaped lightweight metal frames for the first prototype racer. Ethan walked among them giving guidance making adjustments drawing corrections in chalk on the soil. The field transformed quickly. Lines curved across the land forming the early skeleton of the floating track

Later that day Ethan called Lina to review the operations plan. He explained that this attraction would require its own specialized team. Staff trained to monitor mana rail alignment airflow stability and guest handling. Lina asked if she could lead the training. Ethan said yes. She beamed with pride

As the sun began to lower Ethan sat beside Emberclaw near the ridge watching the workers shape the future. The drake looked toward the eastern field curiously. Ethan smiled and whispered that the new ride would allow guests to fly without wings. Emberclaw exhaled a warm gust as if approving the idea

But peace never stayed long

Ethan saw movement far beyond the eastern field. Cloaked figures again. The Ember Priests watching quietly like shadows clinging to the edge of the world. They seemed weaker today or perhaps wary. Yesterday’s failure had shaken them. But they had not vanished. Their silhouettes flickered like sparks in wind. Watching. Waiting

Ethan rose slowly. He whispered that they could watch if they wished. They could glare from afar. They could threaten. They could burn symbols into the soil. But they could not stop him. Not anymore. Not when the workers believed. Not when Aradine fought beside him. Not when the king had committed to the cause. Not when Emberclaw stood as a guardian of the dream

He returned to the field where lights flickered and workers laughed. The blueprint of flight lay open on the table glowing beneath lantern light. The coaster survived. The theater advanced. The racers began. The park grew

He whispered to the night
This world would soon learn to fly