Sophitia and her party set out from Medoh the next morning. This time, they were joined by High Chief Kanelo and a large number of other Rito, including Chief Revalco. While Rito normally preferred to fly rather than travel by mount or by cart, it was Kanelo's will that they travel alongside the Hylians for the journey to the Wind Temple. So, the high chieftain joined Governor Koridai in his carriage while Chief Revalco rode atop a majestic Tabantha moose. Some of the other Rito traveled in a similar fashion, while others flew above them or scouted ahead.

Sophitia and Lancel had elected to travel on horseback, hoping to speak with Revalco and perhaps smooth things out with him before they journeyed to the sky together. However, as expected from the general attitude the falcon-headed chief had held at the meeting the day before, he had proven to be rather resistant to smalltalk. Riding next to him was intimidating enough as it was. The moose he rode was two feet taller than Sophitia's horse, and its large, shovel-shaped antlers looked like they could gore her to death with ease. The chieftain himself carried a large, ornately carved wooden bow on his back, and Sophitia had no doubt the Rito knew how to use it.

"This is not going well," the princess confided in her retainer, riding together several yards ahead of the Rito part of the convoy. "If I am to grant lordship to Chief Revalco, I must be able to speak with him more… pleasantly than this."

"He doesn't like Hylians," Liliana stated matter-of-factly. "It is not entirely uncommon, especially the further you get from the capital."

"Yes, I know." This trip had certainly been a grim reminder of that. "Perhaps if I became closer with High Chief Kanelo instead. Maybe he would have an easier time getting through to Revalco."

"Or maybe I could talk to him," Liliana suggested.

Sophitia furrowed her brow. "I am not opposed to the idea, but what makes you think that would improve the situation?"

"I am not a Hylian," the round-eared girl reminded her. "As far as he should be concerned, I'm just another poor, unfortunate victim of Hylian expansion from the far corner of the continent."

Sophitia was confused by her friend's words for a moment, but then the realization hit her. "Ohhh…" The princess smiled. "And when he hears your thoughts on the matter…"

"He will be more likely to listen to someone he views as in the same situation as him," Liliana finished for her.

It sounded like a great idea at first, but then Sophitia thought about it more. "And you are certain you are up to the task?" the princess asked. "I trust you with my life, but, well, diplomacy has never been your strong suit, Liliana."

"I was able to negotiate my way into a rather cushy job as your retainer, wasn't I?"

"If you have found it 'cushy' to be guarding my life so far, then perhaps I truly am paying you too much."

As the two of them spoke, the convoy moved into the canyon beside Strock Lake. Soon they would be reunited with the rest of their retinue who had been left behind on the way to Medoh. Sophitia knew that Governor Koridai would feel safer once there were some more Hylians in the party to balance things out in case anything went wrong. The Rito leaders had also been informed ahead of time that they would be joining up with the extra guards at Kolami Bridge, so there was no risk of them mistaking it for some kind of ambush.

Above her head, Sophitia heard a bird squawking. Looking up, she saw it was one of the Rito returning to the group after scouting ahead. However, he was flying very unsmoothly, like he was injured and struggling to stay in the air. The princess craned her neck to see over the crowd when the Rito landed. He began shouting frantically in a language she did not understand, and all the other Rito looked alarmed, many of them tilting their heads upward.

Chief Revalco spread his wings and lifted himself into the air. "We are under attack!" he called in Hylian. He then switched to his own language and began squawking orders to his men. Some of them took to the skies with him, rising above the canyon walls, while the rest circled around the carriage containing their high chieftain.

"Under attack?" the princess asked, having horrible flashbacks to the last time they had been ambushed while traveling through a canyon. "By whom? Where are they?"

"Stay close to me, Princess," Liliana ordered. "Guards! To me!" she shouted. The rest of Sophitia's protectors formed up around them, ready to fight if need be.

Screeching noises filled the air, causing everyone to look up. From the south, a horde of winged Lizalfos flew into the Rito, clashing with them in midair.

"Aeralfos!" someone called. "Bows, upward!"

"Mind your aim! You mustn't hit the Rito!" Sophitia yelled quickly, realizing the possibility of friendly fire was dangerously high.

As a hail of arrows soared into the sky, Captain Reede rode up beside Sophitia. "Princess, we must keep the convoy moving. We will be safer if we can rejoin with the rest of our forces on the other side of the pass."

Sophitia looked behind her. The carriage containing the governor of Hebra and the Rito high chieftain was still safe, being guarded by their combined forces. The princess did not wish to leave Chief Revalco and his forces behind to continue fighting without any ground support, but prioritizing the VIPs and getting them out of there safely seemed like the smarter diplomatic option. "Very well," she said. "Give the order."

"Yes, your highness."

The captain began shouting commands, and everyone started moving again. Worried that perhaps her brother might disagree with the decision, Sophitia looked back at Lancel's carriage. Soon after they had started moving, she saw the door open up. The prince climbed out and pulled himself onto the roof, balancing atop the carriage as it rumbled over the rocky ground. For a split second, the princess was worried he was going to give the order for everyone to stop. However, he instead raised his hands and began sending lightning spells skyward, helping the Rito in their fight against the Aeralfos.

Sophitia breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived. Before they had managed to get very far, the bodies of dead or injured Rito and Aeralfos began plummeting to the ground all around them. Some collided with those riding on horseback, knocking them over. Others hit the road, only to be trampled over regardless of whether they had survived the initial fall. When a dead monster landed on one of her guards, Sophitia shrieked, quickly conjuring a barrier around herself and Liliana.

"Don't worry, Princess," her retainer called to her, shouting into her ear to be heard over the noise. "We'll be safe once we get out of the canyon."

Sophitia hoped that would be the case, but she chose to say nothing and continue focusing on keeping her barrier up.

It wasn't long before live Aeralfos began descending into the canyon. In a short span of time, three of them flew over Sophitia, striking her barrier with their swords. Others dive bombed the guards riding beside her, but the princess got the distinct feeling that she was being targeted.

Could these monsters know who I am? Or are they simply attracted to the glowing magical barrier?

Glancing back to check on her brother, she saw Lancel fighting off flying attackers as well. Some tried to strike him as they flew by, which he blocked with a hastily conjured barrier. Others landed atop his carriage, but were quickly blasted with lightning.

They are targeting us. Do they know we are of royal blood somehow?

Luckily, the end of the canyon was in sight. The camp was just beyond that threshold. At the front of the convoy, Captain Reede began shouting in order to get the attention of their allies.

"Look, Princess," Liliana said. "We're almost there. Just a little-"

"Ahh!" Sophitia screamed as two Aeralfos dive bombed her at once. The first one stabbed her barrier and bounced off of it, but the second one caused it to shatter. The monster shrieked triumphantly, flapping its wings as it reared back for another strike, but Liliana managed to parry it with her sword. Thinking quickly, Sophitia drew her rapier and thrust it into the monster's stomach. It fell to the ground to be trampled by the other horses.

Moments later, they came out at the end of the canyon. The camp was already in disarray as the guards they'd left behind scrambled to prepare for battle. Aeralfos and Rito alike were returning to the ground to continue fighting, some with injured wings and other wounds.

Sophitia intended to keep going at first. Perhaps the larger Hylian force combined with the Rito would cause enough of a distraction to allow her, her brother, the governor, and the high chieftain to flee across the bridge. Any remaining monsters that followed them could hopefully be fought off. However, she changed her mind when she spotted Chief Revalco. With a sword pierced through his wing, he plummeted to the ground and nearly rolled off of the cliff.

"Halt!" the princess shouted. "Hold here! Engage the enemy!" Those around her broke off from their formation to help the others in the fight. The carriages stopped and were surrounded by guards to defend them, while Lancel stayed atop his own and continued to sling spells at the enemy. "Liliana," Sophitia said, grabbing her retainer's shoulder. "You must aid Revalco." She pointed to the fallen chieftain, who was struggling to return to his feet as more monsters approached him.

Liliana looked shocked. "No. My place is with you."

"I'll be fine," she insisted. "I'll join my brother. Revalco must live." The princess could not fully explain herself in the heat of battle, but she hoped the message was clear. Saving their biggest opponent in the Rito council would be the perfect way to demonstrate that Hyrule was their friend. Additionally, Liliana's earlier idea, which had involved the round-eared girl being the one to gain Revalco's trust, would be much more likely to succeed if she was the one to save his life.

Her retainer hesitated for a moment longer, then reluctantly nodded. "Alright," she said, turning her horse to the side. "I'll return for you." Kicking her horse in the side to get it moving, she rode off alongside some of the other guards.

Once her retainer was gone, Sophitia turned her horse around and headed for Lancel's carriage. "Brother!" she shouted up to him as she got closer.

Lancel glanced down at her. "Ah! Sweet sister! Lovely day, isn't it?" he asked, waving his hand to his side to encase an approaching Aeralfos in ice. "Though I must say, I am not enjoying the local wildlife as much as I do back home."

Sophitia sighed frustratedly. "Now is not the time to be imperturbable."

"My apologies. I shall strive to be more perturbable, then." Stepping over the edge of the carriage roof, he hopped down to the ground, then walked over to his sister's horse and conjured a barrier around them. "Well, you have my attention. What do you require, Sister?"

"We must do something to turn the tide of this battle before more are hurt," Sophitia said, speaking as if what she was saying should be obvious. Not wishing to speak down to her brother, she climbed off of her horse and stood beside him. "I have Liliana protecting Chief Revalco, but I fear for Governor Koridai and High Chief Kanelo."

As she spoke, three monsters landed outside of Lancel's barrier, shrieking in anger. They stabbed at the magical walls, but made no progress. Giving them a cursory glance, Lancel stomped his foot, and suddenly all three of their attackers were electrocuted. "The battle is nearly over, if my estimates are correct," he said. "And worry not about the governor and our guest of honor. I have Sir Anselm protecting them." Lancel gestured with his hand, and Sophitia turned her head towards the governor's carriage.

Sir Anselm had indeed engaged the enemy. With a look of grim determination on his aged face, he hacked through an Aeralfos with his axe and bashed another with his shield, splattering their blood across his elegant black plate armor. The other knights under his command were assembled around the carriage, and they appeared to be similarly effective in its defense.

"But we cannot simply do nothing," Sophitia insisted.

"Who's doing nothing?" Lancel asked, gesturing to the dead monsters at their feet. He had been the one who slayed them, along with many others so far. Sophitia, on the other hand, had only killed one, while leaving the rest to her guards.

The only one being ineffectual at the moment is me. I cannot let Lancel outclass me at every turn.

"Captain Reede!" she shouted, calling out to her guard captain from across the battlefield. The veteran knight was on foot now, but when she got his attention, he was quick to join her by Lancel's carriage, accompanied by several of his men.

"Yes, your highness?"

"Have all other troops prioritize the defense of our archers. We need them to focus on shooting the enemies still in the air while the Rito are distracting them. And if at all possible, keep the fight away from the bridge. We cannot have it damaged if we are to cross it again," the princess ordered.

"At once." Captain Reede left her with her brother, shouting orders as he rejoined the battle.

"Huh. And here I was expecting you to draw your little sword and dance through the enemy, cutting them down left and right," Lancel said with a smirk.

Sophitia put her hand on the hilt of her rapier. "I am quite practiced with it, but somewhat lacking in practical experience," she admitted. "But I have no shortage of experience with using words as my weapon."

The prince laughed, clapping his hand on her shoulder. "You are a clever one indeed, Sister."

"I learn from the best." Sophitia could not think of a time she had ever seen Lancel holding a weapon. He was obviously quite skilled with combat magic, of course, but that had never been what she admired him for. His power of persuasion was formidable, and if she wished to beat him to the throne, that was what she needed to emulate.

However, as Lancel had predicted, it was not long before the battle was finished. After a while, the swarm of flying Lizalfos had died down, and what few remained seemed to lose their boldness, opting to flee to the east rather than continue fighting. Once the area was safe, Sophitia and Lancel decided to check on the governor and the high chieftain.

"You did well, Sir Anselm. You have our thanks," Sophitia said to her brother's bodyguard.

"Your gratitude is appreciated, your highness," he replied with a bow. "Serving the kingdom is my duty."

"And you've saved the day once again, old friend," Lancel said, tapping the elderly knight on the shoulder. "Now, how are your protectees? Governor Koridai! High Chief Kanelo! The interlopers have been slain, bested, and otherwise extirpated. You may come out now."

The carriage door opened, and Governor Koridai stepped out, followed by the large owl man. "Is everything alright?" the governor inquired.

"How many were harmed?" Kanelo asked with concern.

"We have not yet taken a headcount of the wounded," Sophitia explained. "But I can assure you, the casualties were minimal, thanks to the assistance of Chief Revalco's braves. Your people fought admirably, High Chieftain."

Kanelo nodded, his owl head twitching slightly. "I am glad to see our people can still work together. Where is Revalco?"

"He is with my bodyguard," Sophitia replied. "I shall go check on him now." Bowing, she dismissed herself.

When she found Liliana, she was thankfully no longer by the cliff's edge. Instead, she stood beside the falcon-headed Rito chief outside of one of the tents. Revalco sat on a crate of supplies while a Hylian healer tended to his wounds.

"That's enough," he told the healer. "I'm fine. It'll take more than some reptile-brained monsters to kill me."

"Very well, my lord," the healer said before taking her leave.

Sophitia had been about to approach him, but she hung back for a moment. She wanted to hear what Revalco and Liliana had to say.

"I'm impressed you're able to use a bow so well while in flight," Liliana stated. "It cannot be easy to stay aloft while your wings are busy with your weapon."

"A trifle," Revalco said, tilting his beak up almost snobbishly. "The Rito learn to do such things the moment we have wings." He extended and retracted his wing a few times, as if to test how well it was healed. For a moment, it seemed as though Liliana's compliment had missed its mark. Then, the chieftain said something Sophitia did not expect to hear. "I suppose you wield your sword well, for a Hylian."

"I am not a Hylian," Liliana replied. She brushed her hair away from the side of her face, showing off her distinctly rounded ears. Revalco stared at her in confusion, not seeming to understand what she was doing. "I'm an Ordonian," she clarified.

A look of understanding came over Revalco. "Ah, I see. From far in the southeast, on the opposite side of the continent." This was likely his first time ever meeting a round-eared human, given how far Ordona was from Hebra and how isolated both groups tended to remain. "So what are you doing here with these knife-ears?" he asked, gesturing vaguely in the direction of all the Hylians in the camp.

"I serve as personal attendant and bodyguard to Zelda Sophitia Hyrule, fourth child of the king," Liliana explained, using her charge's full name and royal title.

"I see," Revalco replied, speaking absentmindedly as he lifted up his bow to examine it. "Such a shame."

Liliana narrowed her eyes. "And why is that?"

"These people took everything from you, and rather than fighting back, you chose instead to serve them like an obedient dog." Revalco set one end of his bow down on the ground and began adjusting the string.

"The Hylians did not take everything from me. They gave me everything that I have, and no one has done more for me than Princess Sophitia," Liliana rebutted.

"Oh really? And how is that?"

Liliana stood with her hand on her sword and pursed her lips, thinking for a moment before speaking. "Back in Ordona, I was a fisherman's daughter," she explained. "The Kingdom of Hyrule has schools set up all throughout the province, even in tiny villages like mine. I received a proper education, despite not having the money for it. And, every year, the kingdom selects promising students from across the land and gives them a chance to attend the Hyrulean Royal Academy in the capital. I was selected when I was twelve. So, despite being a fisherman's daughter from the outer reaches of the continent, I received the same education as the sons and daughters of the wealthiest nobles in the kingdom. And then, the princess of Hyrule chose me personally to live with her in the castle and be her number two woman. I was given wealth. I was given status. I was given a chance at a better life. And my family back home has been well cared for ever since."

"You could say that," Revalco said after she finished speaking. He still sounded somewhat dismissive and uninterested, but Sophitia could tell he was now only pretending to fiddle with his bow to appear nonchalant. "But from where I'm standing, it sounds like you were given the chance to do anything you wanted, and you chose to be a mere servant."

"I chose to follow someone who I believe can change the world for the better," Liliana countered without hesitation. "Those of your tribe would say they follow you for the same reason, would they not?"

The falcon-headed Rito was quiet for a moment. Then, he took his bow and stood up, letting out a sigh. "You are naive and idealistic, as to be expected of one so young." He took a step as if to leave, but he stopped. "However, the tribe should always follow the chieftain they choose to follow. I supposed you've chosen yours." It was more of a statement of fact than anything else, but his intent was clear. He approved of Liliana choosing her own leader.

Hopefully, when all of this is over, he will choose me as his leader, too.

When Revalco walked away, Sophitia hesitated. Having just heard Liliana say everything she'd said… She'd already known most of it, but hearing it all said at once like that…

"Princess," Liliana addressed her, having noticed her standing nearby.

Sophitia flinched, then put a smile on her face. "Liliana. I see Chief Revalco is safe?"

"Safe and sound," her retainer confirmed. As she approached, she had a confused look on her face. "Is something the matter, Sophitia?"

The princess felt her cheeks burning as she toyed with her hair. "Did you mean all that?" she asked. "About what the kingdom has done for you? What I have done for you?"

Liliana was silent for a moment. As usual, her blank expression was difficult to read, but Sophitia guessed that the round-eared girl was almost as embarrassed as she was. "Ah. So you heard all that, eh?"

The princess nodded. "My apologies for eavesdropping."

"It's fine," Liliana said. "And… Yes. That is how I feel."

Sophitia stared at her retainer, somewhat at a loss for words, then placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have done much for me as well. I hope I can continue to be the woman you wish to follow."

Liliana nodded her acknowledgement, then turned away from the princess. "Very well. Come, your highness. We must prepare to move once again."


When Sophitia and her party arrived back at the Wind Temple, Sage Balla and Grand Archivist Botrick were there to greet them.

"High Chief Kanelo, it is wonderful to see you again," Balla chirped upon their approach. "Governor Koridai, Prince Lancel, Princess Sophitia. Welcome back. I hope your journey was free of danger."

"Yeah, well, it wasn't." Revalco shoved his way to the front of the group. "We got hit by a swarm of Aeralfos on the way here. The clerics in the camp outside are tending to the wounded now, but if you got any other healers in the temple, send them out now."

"Chief Revalco, please," Kanelo interrupted, holding up a wing for his silence. "Hello again, my dear," the owl-headed Rito went on, turning his attention to the young sage. "I would love to continue with our pleasantries shortly, but Chief Revalco speaks truthfully. Some of our wounded still require aid."

"At once, High Chieftain." Balla turned to her shamans and chirped something out to them. Several of them spread their wings and took to the air, flying back to the temple, presumably to fetch whatever healers they had inside.

"Splendid." Prince Lancel stepped forward, clapping his hands together. "It is marvelous to be reunited on this most illustrious of days. As much as I would love to converse about the many other important matters we still have left to discuss, I fear there is one matter in particular that is of the utmost urgency. As you can see, if you tilt your head up to the heavens, the great City in the Sky will be overhead shortly."

Upon the prince's reminder, everyone looked up into the sky, facing west. The floating city had been visible during their journey through the Tabantha Frontier as well. It had appeared on the horizon at some point, coming down from the Outer Continent, and it had been getting closer and closer ever since.

"Oh yes, quite right, quite right," Grand Archivist Botrick muttered in agreement. "Hm. Sage Balla, perhaps we should bring everyone to the roof so we might show them the Grand Artisan's creation."

"Very well," Balla said with a nod. She gestured towards the temple's entryway. "Shall we proceed?"

"Yes, please," Princess Sophitia replied, stepping forward. "I very much look forward to seeing the structure he has created."

"We'll meet you up there," Revalco said. Without another word, he and his braves spread their wings and took off, flying directly to the roof and leaving the rest of them to walk.

"I do apologize for his rudeness," High Chieftain Kanelo said, remaining with those who were walking.

"It's quite alright," Governor Koridai replied. "We shall all reach our destination eventually."

Walking through the halls of the Wind Temple, Sophitia was once again hyper aware of the way the Rito looked at them. There had been some hostility directed at them the last time they were in the temple, and with someone like Revalco around, those who objected to the Hylian presence in Hebra would only be emboldened. The princess knew she was well guarded, and both the Wind Sage and the Rito High Chieftain were on their side, but she still felt unsafe.

Liliana must have sensed her unease. Her bodyguard stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Don't worry, Princess. I don't see anyone armed in the vicinity aside from us."

Sophitia nodded, reminding herself that their visit would be brief this time.

"It will take some time for the City in the Sky to pass over us," Grand Archivist Botrick said, explaining the situation to everyone as they slowly climbed the stairs. "If our calculations are correct, we should have time to make three trips from here with Rodan's sky lift. Each group will land in a different location, however."

"No matter," Sophitia said. "We shall split up; bring a few Hylians and a few Rito in each group. We can all meet where we plan to make camp." The others took no issue with her suggestion and voiced their consent.

As Sophitia climbed the final steps up to the roof, she was in awe of what she found. It was as if a brand new extension had been built into the roof in the short few days they had been gone. The sky lift was a cylindrical structure with a wide base and a domed roof, large enough for several dozen people to fit inside. There were also strange protrusions jutting out from the walls on the outside of it, which Sophitia assumed to be related to the wind magic propulsion system they wished to use.

"Ah, marvelous!" Prince Lancel approached the Goron artisans who were standing outside of the sky lift, still moving supplies around and putting the finishing touches on it. "Grand Artisan, as always, I am astounded with the speed and quality of your work."

The gigantic Goron chuckled. "Well, it's a good thing you gave this job to me. Anyone else would've needed another week."

"I suppose it helps that you can probably lift the thing by yourself, after all," Lancel joked, although he probably wasn't too far off.

"It is not large enough for you, though, is it?" Sophitia questioned. The regular-sized Gorons he'd brought with him could fit inside easily, but Rodan was too large to even fit in the door.

"Aye," the Goron agreed. "We were constrained by time, material, and space to build up here," he explained. "Plus, I doubt even the Wind Sage's magic is powerful enough to lift this," he said, tapping himself on his rocky back. "You lot can go up into the clouds without me."

"We'll bring you some nice souvenirs," Lancel promised.

"You'll be bringing me a lot more than that, if I recall our agreement."

One of the other Gorons opened the door and gestured inside, so several Hylians and Rito went into the sky lift to see what it was like. Before going inside, Sophitia eyed Chief Revalco and his warriors. They were standing away from the rest of the group, watching over the proceedings. Revalco had his wings crossed and his big bow slung over his back. Having come up to the roof ahead of them, he'd probably already had his fill of looking around.

He doesn't appear to object to the sky lift. I suppose that means he finds no flaws in its design.

"Alright, everyone. May I have your attention for a moment?" Lancel stood beside Rodan, calling everyone over to him. "You as well, please, Chief Ravalco."

The Rito warriors looked to Revalco before moving, but once their chief walked forward to rejoin the group, they followed him.

"Splendid. Now," the prince went on, clapping his hands together. "As we've said, the lift cannot hold all of us at once, so we are to make three trips with a mix of Hylians and Rito each time. The wise young Sage Balla and her talented wind shamans will be needed to power the lift, so they shall stay aboard until the final ascent. I propose the first ascent be led by Grand Archivist Botrick and Chief Revalco, then next by High Chief Kanelo and myself, and the last by Governor Koridai and my lovely sister."

Sophitia raised an eyebrow, knowing Lancel must have had a reason for that specific order. Revalco would likely wish to go first since he wouldn't trust the Hylians to be up in Skyloft without him. Sending Botrick along with him was the right move because Revalco was less likely to murder a Hylian archivist than a Hylian prince or princess, and Botrick was more expendable than them in the case that Revalco decided to kill him anyway. Lancel surely wanted to go next so he could beat Sophitia there, possibly giving himself time to explore without letting her know exactly what he was up to, while also giving himself alone time with the High Chieftain. That left the governor and Sophitia for the last trip - the two Lancel had the least reason to try to impress or manipulate.

What is he after? Why does he wish to explore the City in the Sky without me?

The princess could not be sure that her brother had such ulterior motives, but if she wanted to prevent him from pulling in front of her in their race for the throne, she had to take every precaution. "Perhaps Governor Koridai and High Chief Kanelo should travel together?" Sophitia suggested. "They have experience working together already. It might allow the journey through the ruined city to transpire more smoothly."

"That sounds reasonable," the governor agreed. "High Chieftain?"

"Yes, indeed," Kanelo said.

"A splendid idea, sweet sister," Lancel said, although Sophitia could tell he was eying her with suspicion. "Very well. Any objections?"

Sophitia glanced at Revalco, expecting him to say something. However, her earlier speculation must have been correct, as he was apparently satisfied with being among the first to ascend.

"We are in agreement, then," Lancel concluded with a bright smile. "Now, let us finish the preparations and get all our supplies together before we embark on our most historic journey."


Watching the City in the Sky passing overhead was quite awe-inspiring. Even with how high up it was, Sophitia could tell it was massive. It wasn't simply a large sailing vessel moving through the sky rather than the sea. It was well and truly an entire floating city. Even without considering the tactics behind it, she wished she didn't have to be in the third ascension party. She wanted to board the floating city as soon as possible just to see what it was like up there.

"Won't be long now, Sister," Lancel said, sitting atop one of the runic pillars that lined the roof of the Wind Temple. "I can see the sky lift coming back down."

"I see it, too, Brother," the princess replied, holding her hand to her forehead to block the sun as she gazed upwards. "I must admit, I am quite excited."

"But of course! We're making history today, you and I," Lancel said, swinging his legs forward and hopping down to the ground. "Whatever else happens after this, the two of us shall go down in history as the members of the Royal Family who finally reclaimed our ancestral homeland."

"Do not let your guards down," Sir Anselm reminded them. "He may be well behaved now, but I do not trust Chief Revalco."

"Duly noted, old friend," Lancel replied cheerily. "But I shan't be letting the omnipresent threat of death damper my mood today."

The royal siblings and their bodyguards watched as the sky lift was lowered back down to the roof of the Wind Temple for the second time that day. It was a testament to the skill of the wind mages inside of it that they were able to manage it so smoothly. Soon after it landed, the door popped open with a gust of air.

"Last call," Grand Artisan Rodan called, standing by the entrance. "All aboard!"

Sophitia and her brother were the first to file in, followed closely by Liliana and Sir Anselm, and then another dozen or so Hylians and Rito.

"Is that everyone?" Sage Balla asked as the doors shut again.

"Yes, it is," Sophitia replied. "We once again owe you a great debt, Sage. You and your shamans deserve a nice long rest after performing these strenuous feats of magic."

"Thank you, your highness," the sage said in return. She then turned to her wind shamans and lifted her baton, waving it as if conducting them. Together, they swayed and sang to the music of the wind, and the stone contraption they found themselves in began to rise.

"Oh!" Sophitia stumbled, losing her balance at the sudden shifting of the craft. Liliana caught her under her arm.

"Careful, Princess," she said, helping her to right herself. "I suppose you don't have your sea legs yet, eh?"

Sophitia laughed haughtily. "Well, we can't all be lucky enough to be a fisherman's daughter." While it was true that Sophitia had sailed upon the rivers of Hyrule, she had never been out into the open ocean. She did not know how it compared to being inside of a flying machine, but she imagined it was just as disorienting.

As they rose higher and higher, Sophitia moved to one of the windows to watch the ground slowly shrink away. The windows of the sky lift were tall and thin; wide enough to see through and to allow for ventilation, but not large enough to fall through. At first, the sight was incredible. They quickly reached a higher point than she had ever been - even higher than the towers of Hyrule Castle. However, as their ascent continued, the princess began to feel sick to her stomach.

"Oh, my," Sophitia said, stepping away from the window.

Liliana rubbed her shoulder reassuringly. "Fear not, Sophitia. We are safe in here."

"My word!" a Rito on the other side of the sky lift called out.

"Is that-?"

"Wow! It really is!"

"Quite a commotion over there," Liliana noted, watching as the other passengers began crowding around on one side. "What do you think they're looking at?"

"Come see for yourselves!" Lancel turned away from the window, waving them over with a grin on his face.

Curious, Sophitia and Liliana complied, joining the prince by the window. They peered outside, and it was instantly clear what everyone was talking about.

Drifting past the window was a gigantic blue frog. It lay atop a fluffy white cloud, hands behind its head and slumping back in an oddly human-like, relaxed posture.

"By the gods," Sophitia exclaimed. "It's… a god."

"Praise Lord Zephos!" one Rito shouted.

"We thank you for the favorable winds, my lord!"

"May the winds bless us further!"

The relaxing frog god opened one eye, then the other. He turned his head as if noticing them for the first time. Shifting his body atop his cloud, he stretched and yawned, letting out a deep, unmistakably frog-like croak. The sky lift rose past him, and Sophitia wondered if the god would say nothing to them.

Such a shame. So rare it is to see a god, even for us.

However, before he was out of sight completely, the frog uttered two words in a deep, bellowing, yet oddly calm voice - "Welcome home." Then, with a lazy gesture of his blue, amphibian hand, the sky lift's speed suddenly increased as a gentle wind blew them upwards towards their destination.

"Oh, heavens!" Sophitia called out, stumbling once again. Just as before, Liliana caught her.

"Careful, Princess," she said. "We're almost there."

At last, the City in the Sky came into view. Sage Balla and her wind shamans carefully lowered the sky lift onto solid ground, like a crate being lowered onto a ship's deck. When it landed, their vessel shook like it had when they took off, causing Sophitia to stumble one last time. The sage and her shamans ceased their birdsongs, and all of them nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

"Help them outside," Sophitia ordered, raising her voice so her subordinates would hear her. The Hylians in the sky lift voiced their compliance, giving the Rito mages a shoulder to lean on as they walked them through the doors and out into the floating city.

As soon as Sophitia stepped outside, she was in awe all over again. The ruined cityscape was like nothing she had ever seen before. The architecture was ancient, yet advanced at the same time. It was beautiful, yet surreal, and even eerie. The city was built across many floating slabs of earth, some large and some small, and all of them interconnected by bridges or buildings that spanned multiple floating islands. Much of it was in disrepair and did not look particularly safe or easy to navigate.

"We'll have to do something nice for that old giant," Lancel said, stepping out of the sky lift and patting its walls. "This thing worked like a charm."

"Shall we get moving, my prince?" Sir Anselm asked him, standing nearby with his hands clasped behind his back. "We may wish to meet up with the other expedition teams before nightfall."

"No," Sophitia objected, shaking her head. "The shamans are in no condition to travel. We should set up camp here." The elderly knight eyed her unamusedly, which made the princess realize she had answered a question that had been directed at her brother, not her. "M-My apologies for interrupting."

"No, no, you make a good point, Sister," Lancel said, although the smirk on his face told her he was enjoying her embarrassment at least a little bit. "We shall send some of the other Rito ahead to fly over the city and search for the others. The rest of us shall camp here."

"Very good, your highness." Sir Anselm bowed to the prince, and then did so to the princess as well, as if to apologize for making her feel uncomfortable a moment ago. Then he turned to the Hylian soldiers who had gathered around them. "You heard the prince. Unload the supplies and begin setting up camp."

"Yes, sir!"

Sophitia stepped over to the Sage of Wind, who was currently seated on a fallen column, pressing her wing to her forehead. "How are you feeling, Sage?" the princess asked.

"I am well," she said. "I feel so honored to have been aided by my Patron."

Sophitia smiled. The sages were some of the only people to interact with their Patrons even semi-regularly, yet it was still considered a special occurrence for some of them. "We plan to spend the night at this location, but we would like to send some of the Rito to scout ahead for the others. Would you mind making this request for us?" The princess knew that the Rito would be much more willing to accept a request from a Rito sage than from a Hylian royal, and deferring to Balla was the more diplomatic approach either way.

"Certainly, Princess," Balla replied. Standing up, she chirped something out in a Rito language. Some of her people who had been helping carry supplies out of the sky lift heard her and came over to them. After a brief conversation, they nodded and returned to the group. Several of them unfurled their wings and took off soon after.

"Much appreciated, young wise one," Sophitia said, bowing in gratitude.

Afterwards, the princess stepped away and stood by her bodyguard for a brief period, overseeing the proceedings as everyone else worked to get the camp set up. "I feel like taking a walk," she said aloud, turning to Liliana. "Care to join me?"

"Have I a choice, Princess?" Liliana asked dryly.

"Let's say, 'no,'" Sophitia replied.

"Then it would be my honor," the round-eared girl replied cheekily, taking Sophitia by the hand and gesturing forward. Sophitia laughed haughtily and began to walk away from camp.

"Be careful," Sir Anselm called after them in warning. "There is no telling what ancient horrors lurk in this place."

"Of course, Sir," Liliana said over her shoulder. "I shall keep her safe."

The two of them found a nearby stone bridge and cautiously walked across it. There were small signs of disrepair, but nothing that made it seem likely to collapse. Sophitia decided to peer over the edge, expecting to be terrified of the height she found herself at. However the city was apparently passing through some clouds at the moment because she could not see the earth below. "What a strange place," she said. "A city in the clouds. It's like something out of a fantastical painting."

"I can honestly say I never thought I'd ever go somewhere like this," Liliana said, leaning over the railing beside her charge. "When I was a little girl, my father let me climb up into the crow's nest of a merchant vessel owned by an associate of his. For a while, I thought that was the highest point I'd ever stand upon."

Sophitia laughed. "When I was little, standing at the top of Hyrule Castle felt as dangerous and exciting as this. Perspectives sure do change as one grows older, do they not?"

Liliana nodded, then furrowed her brow in curiosity. "What exactly is the mechanism keeping the city afloat?" she asked, pointing to the undersides of several floating platforms and buildings. Many of them had spires and strange protrusions beneath them, some of which had spinning propellers on the end.

"Well, the land was originally lifted into the sky by Hylia's divine will," Sophitia replied. "But there appears to be some sort of arcane technology at work here. Perhaps something of Oocca design?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Liliana said. "It's all just magic to me."

"Yes. I do wonder." Sophitia turned away from the bridge's edge and continued along it. "Come, now. Let's explore."

The bridge connected to a flat chunk of floating earth with a field of rich grass growing on it. In the center of the field sat a tall statue surrounded by smaller ones. The larger statue depicted Hylia, but the smaller figures resembled chickens with oddly-shaped, human-like heads.

"What are those little monsters?" Liliana asked.

"Those are the Oocca," Sophitia replied.

"Truly?" The round-eared girl sounded almost skeptical. "Odd. They appear so alien. One would scarcely think them Children of Nayru."

"Perhaps. But they were quite intelligent, and they played a significant role in shaping my people's civilization." Sophitia looked up into the face of Hylia, then closed her eyes and made the sign of the Triforce as a quick prayer.

Liliana nodded, then glanced around them. "Are we far enough away from your brother now?" she asked.

The princess smiled, chuckling slightly. "You know me so well."

"Well enough to know Percival has succeeded in making you paranoid."

"It is not paranoia to be cautious of Lancel," Sophitia rationalized. "He is leagues beyond my own intelligence, and I know he is up to something."

"True. You do appear rather dimwitted next to him."

"Ah." Sophitia gasped in mock indignity, slapping her retainer on the shoulder. "Come now. Whose side are you on?"

"Yours, of course." Liliana brushed her sleeve where the princess had touched her. "I'm afraid I simply do not understand what game you are playing with Lancel anymore. You both want the crown. It is in both of your best interests to facilitate the success of this campaign. What sort of trickery could your brother possibly get up to?"

Sophitia stepped away from the statue, peering up at the many tall structures that rose from the floating islands all around her. "I fear what Lancel told me about his plans for this place," the princess said. "I understand his goal is to create peace, but if that peace should come from the threat of this city being used as a weapon… Well, that is not the kind of peace I would have. Not if I were queen."

Liliana followed her charge's gaze, examining the floating cityscape. "You believe your brother wishes to search the city for weapons, then?"

"Yes. I do not know what weaponry Skyloft may have, but what if he uses them on the Rito? Or threatens to use them, in any case." The princess turned back to the statue of Hylia, looking up into her stone eyes. "Hylia created Skyloft to keep my people safe," Sophitia stated. "She allowed herself to be reborn here as my great ancestor. She would never approve of this sacred place being used for such… tyranny."

"So this isn't about competing with your brother for the throne?" Liliana asked.

Sophitia blushed. "I… I still wish to be queen," she said. "But… What kind of queen would I be if I could not resolve things peacefully with the Rito?"

"One who does not take the easy way," Liliana replied, her hand twisting the hilt of her sword.

Sophitia laughed. "I suppose so."

Liliana nodded. "Very well. Just tell me what needs doing, and I shall do it."

Sophitia smiled gratefully, then put on a more serious face. "To start with, we need to head back to camp and keep an eye on Lancel," the princess explained. "If any of his guards are sent on an errand, we must be sure to send some guards of our own to accompany them. If Lancel knows what he is looking for, we must not allow him to find it without us knowing. And, if he doesn't know what he's looking for, we need to ensure that we learn everything he learns."

"Sounds like we should have brought some Sheikah," Liliana said. "Although I suppose there could be some among us, lurking in the shadows."

"Yes, if only." Sophitia took one last look at the statue of their goddess, then began walking towards the bridge. "Come along, old friend. We have work to do."