As the giant dragon Little Green soared into the sky,
Chu Tian instinctively shielded the girl in front of him, space magic at the ready—if they fell, he would never let the girl before him come to harm.
After a moment, when the violent jolts finally eased, Little Green’s flight smoothed out, and only then did Su Nian cautiously open her eyes.
The instant she realized she had taken refuge in the arms of the Horned Demon, her cheeks flushed red, and she hurried to put some distance between them.
Fortunately, Su Nian didn’t stay embarrassed for long—her attention was soon captured by the breathtaking scenery before her.
Just a single glance made her forget everything around her in an instant.
She was now already over a thousand meters high in the sky.
Beneath her, endless mountains rolled on and rivers wound like silver ribbons; far off, fields crisscrossed like a patchwork of colorful brocade.
Sunlight pierced the thin clouds, casting dappled shadows across the vast land below—a magnificent, boundless sight.
Even as a captive of the Horned Demon, gazing down at such majestic rivers and mountains stirred an indescribable thrill within her.
“Little Green, higher! Let’s see above the clouds!” Su Nian’s voice carried a barely perceptible tremor—excitement, and a fleeting longing to break free from her bonds.
Little Green obeyed, letting out an excited, low cry, then flapped its wings and soared upward, bursting through clouds and mist.
As a wind-elemental dragon, flying was what it did best.
Su Nian couldn’t help but let out a faint gasp of wonder.
Anyone who’d ever ridden a dragon would know: this feeling of soaring free… was truly exhilarating!
Chu Tian looked down at the girl in his arms, her cheeks tinged pink with excitement.
Though the scenery was magnificent, the vivid sparkle of the girl beside him surpassed even the wonders of the world.
After the first rush of excitement, Su Nian found the high-altitude wind rather bitter and piercing.
Instinctively, she shrank her neck and inched closer to the relative warmth of the arms around her, then immediately grew vexed at her own reaction.
During the flight, at a single thought, the fluffy Little Violet was summoned from the Void Beast Lair.
The little creature was still somewhat weak, but her spirits had improved.
Quietly, she curled up in Su Nian’s arms, basking in the ongoing healing of her Light Magic.
Little Violet’s bright eyes still carried a touch of natural pride; every so often, she nudged Su Nian’s warm palm with her head, purring with satisfaction.
Behind her, the body heat of the Horned Demon and his fierce, predatory aura clung to her like a shadow, making Su Nian a bit uneasy.
She forced herself to focus on Little Violet in her arms and the spectacular view before her.
Little Green’s speed was astonishing; with a few beats of her wings, she had already flown dozens of kilometers in just minutes.
In no time at all, they reached a dense forest at the outskirts of Academy City.
This place was remote, seldom visited—a good spot to land.
Little Green adjusted her posture and landed steadily in a relatively open clearing, her massive body stirring up a flurry of dust and fallen leaves.
After landing, she snorted in displeasure and glared menacingly at Chu Tian as he dismounted from her back.
Then, lifting her huge, ferocious head high, she seemed to silently flaunt her unrivaled speed and pride as the ruler of the skies, not to mention her utter contempt for a certain two-legged creature.
The villain who ambushed her on the battlefield!
Su Nian gently patted Little Green’s rough but warm neck and said softly, “Good work, Little Green. Go back and have a good rest.”
Before the words had fully left her lips, she returned Little Green to the Beast Nest Space.
She dared not let her stay longer; if Little Green lost her temper and fought with the Horned Demon, she would only be the one to suffer in the end.
As for Little Violet, she was held right in Su Nian’s arms.
Though this little one was a powerful space-type Ling Cat, her body was no different from a common house cat, with fur a pure shade of black-violet—so cute that bringing her into the city wouldn’t draw much attention.
Most importantly, she was soft and comforting to hold!
Entering Academy City, the streets were crowded and bustling, filled with lively voices and the mouthwatering aroma of food.
The long-missed atmosphere of city life left Su Nian momentarily dazed.
She was back again.
She murmured inwardly, a wry smile touching her lips.
Only this time, she’d been “caught” and brought back by this damned Horned Demon…
Her identity had shifted from the holy Dragon Knight who challenged the Horned Demon, Saint Magus of Water, Fire, and Light, to his personal “slave girl.”
“Why is the city so lively today?”
Looking around, Su Nian saw that Academy City had shed its usual solemnity; everywhere was decorated with lanterns and banners, and shopfronts hung with colorful flags, brimming with a festive atmosphere.
Unwilling to strike up a conversation with strangers, she simply took out her Magic Phone from the Beast Nest Space and opened the Magic Feather Fantasy group chat she hadn’t checked in a long time.
[Magic Feather Fantasy Family]
Amy: “Girls! Big news! The Third Prince himself is coming to Academy City to host this year’s Winter Festival alongside the City Lord Marquis!”
Qiao Miya: “Which Third Prince?”
Amy: “Silly Qiao Miya! Of course it’s that Third Prince Erwin of Red Maple—the one voted ‘Most Desired Perfect Husband No.1’ by Red Maple Lady magazine!”
Amy: “His Highness the Third Prince is handsome, talented, and supremely powerful!”
Buluoling: “I’ve heard too—reliable sources say, not only will His Highness host the Winter Festival, but afterwards he’ll be studying at our Red Maple Magic Academy for a while, to experience academy life.”
Qiao Miya: “Wow! Really? That means we might get a chance to see His Highness’s legendary looks in person? I heard he’s a hundred times more handsome than his magical portrait!”
Amy: “It’s just a pity the main venue for the Winter Festival is set on the Floating Fortress—a pinnacle of alchemy and magic, like a city in the sky! Without an invitation, regular people can’t possibly get up there.”
Buluoling: “Of all the Red Maple princes, only the Third Prince isn’t married… I hear quite a few noble ladies are already on their way to Academy City, hoping to attend the Winter Festival. Their real goal is probably… Princess Consort!”
Amy: “It’ll be a battlefield between noble ladies… tsk tsk.”
Amy: “But hey, do you think His Highness the Third Prince might have unique tastes—not fancy those pampered noble girls, but instead… fall in love at first sight with a lively, hardworking, and adorable commoner girl like me?”
Lise: “Amy, wake up, wipe your drool—anything’s possible in a dream.”
Amy: “[〇·A·○] Lise! We’re not friends anymore!!”
Su Nian scrolled through the group’s chatter.
She had little interest in the Winter Festival or the Third Prince, but that “Floating Fortress” caught her curiosity.
Usually, buildings like that in stories she’d read had only one fate—either getting blown up or falling from the sky.
‘That thing… Surely it won’t be that unlucky, right?’ Su Nian muttered to herself, a faint sense of unease rising in her heart.
Even if it did fall, it probably wouldn’t land on her…
Just then, a new message popped up—from Commander Matthew.
Matthew: “@Everyone Big news!”
Matthew: “Our Magic Feather Fantasy has received an official invitation—we’ll be special guests, performing at this year’s Academy City Winter Festival! The show will be held on the Floating Fortress, once the floating magic array is activated!”