The eastern field buzzed with relentless activity as the sun climbed above the horizon. Ethan stood near the center of the construction zone holding the newest set of diagrams carved on wooden boards, easier to carry than parchment in the open wind. The boards displayed updated flow patterns for the wind rails. Air mana did not behave like fire mana. It swirled and drifted, and if left unstructured, it created chaotic drafts that could destabilize the hover racers. But that challenge only energized Ethan more

Workers prepared trenches where mana rails would be laid. Earth mages shaped smooth channels, while mana channelers infused raw air stones with gentle steady pulses of wind. A soft humming breeze drifted over the field as conduits awakened one by one. The sound resembled distant flutes playing a quiet melody. Ethan smiled at the harmony. It reminded him of the early days testing audio systems in theme park attractions back home

He gathered the team and introduced the first prototype hover racer. It was not yet beautiful. A simple elongated frame with curved edges and reinforced braces. Four small mana slots were carved into the bottom to hold air stones. Workers carried it to the test area using levitation spells because the vehicle was too fragile to roll across uneven soil. Ethan examined every angle of the frame. The weight distribution needed adjustment, but the core idea was solid. The racer floated slightly above the ground even without the rails. Just a few inches. But that was enough to spark wonder

Aradine arrived with her apprentices. She inspected the floating frame with the same fascination she once reserved for Emberclaw’s fire cycles. She said air mana felt lighter, freer, and more delicate. She warned Ethan that even slight emotional fluctuations of nearby creatures could disturb the flow. Ethan nodded thoughtfully. Safety systems needed redundancy. He asked the Conclave to help develop mana stabilizer stones that absorbed turbulence. Aradine agreed and began sketching new rune patterns on the dirt

Ethan then tested the first rail segment. He signaled a channeler to activate the embedded air conduits. A shimmering line appeared above the trench like a ribbon of clear wind twisting gently in place. Ethan lifted a small feather and let it hover near the rail. The feather followed the rail’s path exactly. Workers stared in amazement as it glided along a curved route as if guided by invisible hands

Ethan laughed softly. He held up the feather telling the workers that if they could make a feather follow the rail smoothly then a hover racer could follow it too. They nodded excitedly. The field burst into activity as more workers hurried to expand the path

The next test involved placing the prototype racer above the first rail. Workers stepped back. Ethan positioned himself near the stabilizer stones, Aradine on his left, Lina on his right. Ethan gave the activation cue. The mana stones under the racer lit with soft blue light. The frame shuddered then rose gently into the air. It aligned itself above the shimmering rail without touching anything. The workers gasped in awe. The racer hovered quietly like a leaf suspended in air

Ethan signaled the channeler. Air conduits pulsed. The racer glided forward a few feet. Slow at first. Hesitant. But then smoother. Silent. Graceful. Ethan felt goosebumps. The workers cheered loudly. Even Aradine let out a quiet laugh of surprise. Lina clapped her hands while shouting instructions to the operations trainees observing from behind safety markers

But the moment was fragile

A sudden gust of unnatural wind blasted across the field. The racer trembled violently. Aradine shouted that someone was disrupting the mana flow. Ethan turned quickly. Cloaked figures stood far beyond the boundary stones. The Ember Priests again. Their leader stood at the center raising a staff that glowed with swirling red and gold fire. It was a new spell. One Ethan had not seen before

The wind rails flickered. The shimmering ribbon collapsed in sections. The racer tilted dangerously. Workers panicked. Ethan sprinted toward the rail while shouting for everyone to fall back. Lina yelled for the protective mages to activate the shield, but the shield had not yet been expanded to cover the eastern field

The racer lurched sideways. Ethan leapt toward it. He grabbed the frame and pushed down with all his strength. The hover stones sputtered, then dimmed. The racer dropped into the trench with a heavy thud. It struck the dirt but did not shatter. Ethan rolled aside as a burst of wind shot over him

Aradine slammed her staff into the ground releasing a pulse of blue energy. The air shimmered. The rogue wind collapsed. The Ember Priests watched coldly from a distance. The cult leader lifted a burning ember in his palm. The flame twisted into shapes resembling wings. A threat. A message. They wanted to claim the sky. They wanted no one else to fly

They vanished into smoke

Ethan rose slowly brushing dirt from his arms. He checked the racer. It was damaged but salvageable. Workers approached timidly, not from fear of the project, but fear of losing it. Ethan placed a hand on the hovering frame and told them calmly that setbacks were part of progress. That flight was never easy even in his world. But they would rise again

He stood tall and looked at the eastern field. At the broken shimmering rails. At the workers ready to rebuild. At Aradine’s determined gaze. At Lina’s clenched fists. At Emberclaw watching from afar with burning eyes. Ethan whispered that the sky would belong to joy. Not fear

The workers nodded and returned to rebuilding the rail. Aradine expanded the protective field to cover the eastern site. Lina reorganized the operations trainees for new drills. And Ethan placed the prototype racer back on the table with a proud smile. It had flown. Even if it was brief. It had flown

Progress continued
Despite the wind
Despite the shadows
Despite the cult

Flight had begun