The afternoon sun was low, casting long shadows across the streets of Port Centera. The market’s energy had softened into a hum, and the warmth of the day clung to the buildings and the breeze that carried hints of salt and spice. Althea, Keal, Lyssa, and Sorrow walked through the quieter streets, following the cobbled lanes that twisted toward the outskirts of the port.

  Sorrow’s pace was faster than usual, her hooded cloak bouncing with each step. Her hands gripped the straps of her bag tightly. Althea noticed the tension in her shoulders.

  “Where exactly are we going?” Althea asked.

  Sorrow exhaled sharply, her eyes scanning the streets around them. “To meet my crew. They’re supposed to be waiting at the old hangar near the eastern docks. I just… I just hope they’re still there.”

  Keal’s brow furrowed. “You hope?”

  “They should be,” Sorrow muttered. “But… I haven’t seen them in a few hours. They went to prepare for the descent to Sherbian and said they’d meet me here.”

  Lyssa’s eyes narrowed. “Sounds like trouble already.”

  Sorrow gave a small, sad laugh. “You have no idea.”

  They turned a corner, and the hangar came into view — a massive, half-metal, half-wood structure that had once buzzed with the activity of aircraft and engineers. Now, it was silent. Doors that should have been pushed open were shut or hanging on broken hinges. Shadows filled the corners, and the echo of their footsteps was the only sound.

  Sorrow froze. Her gaze swept the hangar. “No… no, no, no. They’re gone.”

  Althea tilted her head. “Gone? What do you mean?”

  “They ditched me,” Sorrow said, her voice breaking slightly. “All of them. They left me here. I… I thought they’d be waiting.”

  Keal frowned. “Why would they do that?”

  Sorrow’s eyes glistened. “I think… I think they didn’t want me. Not on the descent. They used the village as an excuse, sent me there to get rid of me while they left for safety, or… or convenience. I was just… thrown away.”

  Althea’s heart tightened. She stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on Sorrow’s arm. “I’m so sorry. That’s… that’s awful.”

  Sorrow gave a bitter smile, forcing herself to stand tall again. “It’s fine. I guess… I just have to move on.”

  Althea’s eyes sparkled with determination. “Then we’ll help you. We’ll find another way to travel.”

  Keal nodded. “We can’t exactly stay in the village forever. If the crew left you… we’ll just get our own ride.”

  Sorrow’s lips twitched into a faint, grateful smile. “There are abandoned aircraft… not far from the outskirts. They’re old, left behind when the port was expanded. Some are intact. Others… not so much. It’s risky, but it’s our only option if we want to leave Port Centera without waiting for anyone else.”

  Lyssa’s eyes flickered with suspicion. “Risky how?”

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  Sorrow glanced at her, her jaw tight. “Mechanical failures, traps, unstable platforms, and a few of the old security systems are still active. No one has touched these ships in decades. They were considered too dangerous for ordinary use.”

  Althea’s pulse quickened. “Then we better be careful.”

  Keal’s grin widened. “I like dangerous. Makes things interesting.”

  Lyssa didn’t smile. She merely tightened her cloak around her shoulders and followed. “I don’t like it.”

  Sorrow led them through winding alleys, following narrow paths and side streets that grew less populated and more industrial. The sounds of the port faded behind them, replaced by the creak of metal beams and the distant hiss of steam from the old shipyards.

  Finally, the outskirts came into view. The abandoned aircraft sat in rows, some tilted at odd angles, others resting on rusting supports. The largest one, a sleek, metallic ship with long, curved wings and several mechanical turrets along its sides, stood at the far end, half-buried in weeds but still intact.

  “That one,” Sorrow said softly, pointing. “It’s ours… if we can get it running.”

  Althea stepped closer, her eyes scanning the hull. “It’s massive. How do we even start?”

  Sorrow gave a wry smile. “Step one: get inside. Step two: see if it still has power. Step three: hope the engines aren’t completely dead.”

  Keal’s hands itched. “I volunteer for step three.”

  Lyssa glared at him. “Step one is probably the hardest. The doors are locked with old mechanical locks. And it’s rigged to warn anyone who tries to tamper with it.”

  Sorrow’s eyes flicked to the ship’s side panel. “That’s why I’ll need you two. Althea, your magic might override the circuits. Keal… I’m counting on you for manual work.”

  Althea nodded. “We’ll do it. Don’t worry.”

  As they approached, a sharp clang echoed from one of the smaller ships nearby. Althea froze. “Did you hear that?”

  Sorrow’s jaw tightened. “Probably a loose panel. But stay alert. Some of these ships aren’t just broken—they’re booby-trapped to prevent scavengers.”

  Keal laughed, shaking his head. “Great. Perfect.”

  Lyssa scanned the surrounding area. “We’re not alone,” she muttered.

  Althea followed her gaze. Shadowy figures moved along the periphery of the shipyard. Nothing definite, but enough to make their skin crawl.

  “We stick together,” Sorrow whispered. “No heroics. We find the ship, get inside, and power it up. Fast.”

  They approached the main ship carefully. Althea extended her hands, letting her magical essence flow into the panel by the entry hatch. Sparks flew, and the metallic locks groaned and shifted. Slowly, with a hiss of escaping steam, the hatch opened.

  They slipped inside. The interior smelled of dust, oil, and stale air. The control panel glowed faintly, powered by residual energy. Althea’s eyes widened. “It’s not dead,” she breathed.

  Sorrow nodded. “Not completely. But we’ll need to override the old security protocols. That’s where it gets tricky.”

  Keal knelt by the mechanical console, tools already out. “Leave it to me. I’ve tinkered with worse.”

  Lyssa remained near the doorway, scanning. “I don’t like this. Something about leaving Port Centera this way… it doesn’t feel right.”

  Althea rested a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll be careful. I promise.”

  Minutes passed, tense and silent except for the metallic groans of the ship as they worked. Then, with a final spark and a hiss of released pressure, the engines purred to life.

  The ship vibrated lightly beneath their feet. The cabin lights flickered, then stabilized. Outside, the abandoned aircraft yard stretched silently, shadows lurking but unaware.

  Sorrow’s eyes glistened. “We… did it.”

  Althea grinned. “We did it together.”

  Keal punched the air. “Yes! Let’s go!”

  Lyssa, though still uneasy, allowed a small nod. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  The old aircraft rumbled, wings extending automatically, engines warming. Althea could feel the thrill of flight, the surge of possibility. For the first time since leaving Roland, she felt the rush of control — of choice.

  Sorrow’s voice was soft, almost shy. “Thank you… for helping me. I thought… I thought I’d have to do this alone.”

  Althea smiled warmly. “You’re not alone anymore.”

  As the ship lifted from the yard, the sun dipped closer to the horizon, painting Port Centera in streaks of gold and orange. Below them, the port faded into distance, the crowds and market noises disappearing. Ahead, the unknown awaited — the outskirts, Sherbian, and whatever dangers the abandoned path had in store.

  Althea’s heart pounded. They were leaving familiar ground, stepping into uncertainty, and yet — she felt ready.

  The first step of their journey was behind them.

  And the real adventure… was just beginning.