The corridor shimmered with pale gold light as Alden boarded the medium class vessel assigned for the journey to Mistvine The ship was smaller than the heavy merchant carriers but faster and built to handle unstable currents It had a narrow pointed bow flanked by curved mana wings that helped keep the ship balanced through tricky airflow The design came from an old engineer guild that specialized in sky tunnels and it carried a reputation for cutting through turbulence with minimal drag

Tarin stood at the center of the deck staff in hand his cloak fluttering in the wind The crew worked around him securing the last supply crates and adjusting the mana vents for corridor alignment Mira had insisted on calibrating the ship’s stabilizers herself She moved from vent to vent drawing thin lines of light along the edges to ensure nothing reacted too strongly during the flight

Elen arrived at the last moment handing Alden a crystal ledger Before you leave Administrator review these numbers Mistvine’s current supply records remain inconsistent If Cloudport influences them further our market charts will become increasingly unreliable

Alden browsed through the numbers quickly The supply dips were deliberate too systematic to be random If Cloudport continued buying high then bribing Mistvine council members to slow official exports Skygrain would lose its most stable supplier

He closed the ledger and handed it back I will speak to the elders directly They have always valued Skygrain’s honesty We need to remind them the city stands with them not just when times are good

Elen nodded before stepping off the ship Dax stood waiting near the edge overseeing the guards preparing for possible escort duty He approached Alden with a stern expression One message before you go Cloudport eyes everywhere Do not let their agents get your attention out there Do not accept private meetings and do not trust any courier unless they show a verified Skygrain seal

Alden nodded I know the risks

Dax’s tone softened for a moment Skygrain needs you alive Alden And the market cannot afford chaos out there

Alden appreciated it even if he did not show it He moved toward the helm where the pilot stood ready The pilot was a quiet man named Rolan known for his steady hands and ability to read wind shifts almost as well as Mira The ship’s hum deepened as he activated the core engine

The vessel lifted gently leaving the north deck behind The glowing line of the corridor pulled them forward like a trail of lanterns strung across the sky The morning sun rose higher revealing drifting white shapes of cloud patches resting between the floating islands The sky looked peaceful but every experienced skyfarer knew danger often hid beneath those calm patterns

Tarin stood beside Alden as the ship gained speed The corridor feels strong he said The anchors are holding The shaping team did good work

Alden watched the lines of light bending between the drifting islands They passed the first anchor without issue The air shifted slightly around the vessel but the stabilizers compensated quickly The new corridor was smoother than he expected for something drawn overnight

As they approached the second anchor Alden noticed faint currents drifting from the west The currents shimmered faintly with blue light That color worried him It meant mana shifts often caused by artificial shaping Someone nearby might be using a shaping engine

Tarin saw the same thing You think Cloudport has scouts here

Alden narrowed his eyes If they do they are keeping their distance But they are watching

The ship passed through the third anchor The air thinned briefly then stabilized They were halfway to Mistvine The floating islands surrounding them drifted like massive stones suspended in layers of light One island covered in tall crystal trees reflected bright beams into the corridor Another shaped like a half moon cast long shadows across the clouds

As they reached the midpoint Rolan slowed the vessel The air ahead shimmered again this time in deeper blue patterns Not natural at all Rolan looked back The currents are being influenced Administrator We will have turbulence

The ship trembled as they entered the disturbed zone The deck tilted slightly forcing Alden to brace himself Tarin steadied his stance and raised his staff The tip glowed faint green creating a soft barrier that helped ease some of the shifting pressure The crew held onto the rails as the vessel pushed forward

Mira’s voice echoed from the communication crystal which Alden had clipped to his belt Pressure spikes detected You are near a Cloudport shaping signature They may be probing the corridor

Alden responded Keep monitoring Send us the drift angle

Mira sent the numbers Rolan adjusted the helm following her correction The ship wove through the unstable currents The shaking lessened They passed through the disturbance and emerged back into calmer air

Tarin shook his head They were testing us Seeing how stable the route is

Alden replied Or seeing how we react

The ship proceeded to the final anchor marking the exit of the corridor Mistvine Island came into view drifting slowly in a sea of pale blue clouds It was one of the most beautiful islands in the archipelago Its forests glowed with bioluminescent vines and its fields shimmered like silver waves when the wind passed over them Mistvine was sacred to its people The island grew fruit that fed half the skyborn economy

As they neared the main docking platform two Mistvine guardians flew up to meet them Their wings were translucent shaped from mana threads woven into their cloaks Each carried a carved spear glowing faint silver They halted the vessel with a raised hand State your purpose

Tarin stepped forward Staff lowered We seek audience with the Mistvine elders on behalf of Skygrain Market We come with peaceful intent and urgent need

The guardians studied him then turned to Alden Your identity

Alden presented a crystal ring with the Skygrain seal The guardians’ eyes softened for a moment Recognition mixed with curiosity They lowered their spears You may enter But tread with respect The elders have been troubled since sunrise

Alden exchanged a look with Tarin Troubled by what

The guardians did not answer They simply gestured them forward The ship drifted toward the docking platform The glowing silver fields of Mistvine stretched before them serene and beautiful Yet Alden sensed an undercurrent of tension The island felt unsettled

Cloudport had already reached Mistvine He could feel it in the air like a storm gathering beyond the horizon

As the vessel landed Alden tightened his grip on the railing Mistvine awaited them And whatever came next would decide the future of Skygrain’s economy