Above the Mansion, Beyond the Past - Part I

We moved at a brisk pace through the corridors, maids and butlers bowing as we passed. Father threw open the main door of the mansion, and an elderly butler followed closely behind, white-haired, moustached, dressed impeccably in a formal butler’s suit, with a napkin draped over his arm. He must have been Father’s personal attendant. Without looking at him, Father commanded, “Sebastian, prepare my ride.”

“As you wish, Master,” Sebastian replied, bowing deeply before heading toward the forest outside the gates.

Curious, I asked, “Father, why toward the forest? We already have a carriage with horses in the stables behind the house, don’t we?”

“Oh? Who said we were taking the carriage?” Father smiled knowingly.

Does that mean—

A gust of wind rustled the leaves, and suddenly a whirlwind of flower petals spun around us. A loud flapping sound echoed from above.

It was a wyvern. 

“You mean—”

“Yes,” Father said. “We’ll be riding my wyvern.”

"..."

The wyvern descended slowly to the ground. I had completely forgotten my first encounter with Father when I first transmigrated here. As it landed, Father greeted it warmly, rubbing its head. The wyvern emitted happy sounds, clearly pleased to see its master.

I was amazed. From so close, the creature’s size was terrifying, yet exhilarating. It roared upon noticing me, and I instinctively stepped back.

Father patted my head reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Elias. She’s just a little shy seeing a new guest.” He continued stroking the wyvern, easing it into calm.

"!"

A whooshing noise came from above the wyvern. Slowly, the mechanical steps of the carriage strapped to its back unfolded, clanking into place like stairs. To my surprise, it was Sebastian who had pulled a lever-like switch that triggered the mechanism.

But… how did he get it here so fast?

Was it his special skill? I stared at him, astonished. He had only just left for the forest moments ago, and yet both he and the wyvern had arrived already.

Father noticed my puzzled expression and chuckled. “Ahahaha, I see you’re wondering about Sebastian. Yes, his special skill is 'Quick Step'. It allows him to travel great distances at remarkable speed. A rare gift indeed, but it only lasts a few minutes each day.”

“Ohoho, you embarrass me, Master,” Sebastian replied with a modest bow.

The more I learned about these special skills, the more excited I became. They weren’t the childish fireballs and water-gun tricks I used to imagine back in my very first iteration; they were real, practical powers, each one unique.

I couldn’t help but wonder what Father’s skill was like.

“Are you curious about my skill?” Father asked, as if reading my thoughts. A faint smile tugged at his lips. “That is a secret for now. I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

I nodded in surrender.

“Right then,” he said, straightening. “Shall we get going, Elias?”

“Yes, Father!”

"..."

We made our way toward the wyvern’s carriage. Father walked with practised ease, while I gripped the railing carefully. After all, the wyvern stood nearly three stories tall; one misstep could send me plummeting.

Inside, the carriage was more luxurious than I expected. Plush cushioned seats lined the walls, tinted windows shaded the cabin, and gold-plated vents in the ceiling whispered cool air into the room. Elegant compartments were stocked with food and drinks. It felt like a first-class flight, something even I had never once experienced in my previous life.

My gaze caught on a portrait fastened near the front of Father, my eldest sister, and two others, a woman about Father’s age and a boy close to my sister’s, both with the same blue hair as her. Without a doubt, they were my eldest stepmother and stepbrother.

It seemed Father still cherished them, despite the political marriage that had bound him to my other wretched stepmother.

“Take a seat, Elias,” Father instructed. “And hold tight to the side handles when we lift off.”

I nodded and obeyed. With a hiss, the mechanical steps folded back up, and the capsule-like door sealed shut. Father slid a key into the locking mechanism, secure from within, I noted, perhaps to prevent intruders or accidents.

Outside, Sebastian simply leapt down from the wyvern’s back. It was a three-story drop, yet he landed gracefully, unscathed, and waved us farewell with a smile. I returned the gesture.

Then came the beat of massive wings. The carriage shuddered as the wyvern heaved itself skyward. My ears popped from the sudden altitude, but the ventilation system whirred softly, adjusting airflow and easing the pressure.

In moments, we were airborne. The mansion below shrank to a toy house, surrounded by green fields and a wide lake glistening in the sun. Perhaps, one day, I should visit that lake…

Father had been silent all this time. Concerned, I glanced at him.

He met my gaze calmly. “Worrying about me? Don't, just rest at ease. I was simply guiding the wyvern.”

“You can… speak to it?” I asked, curiosity brimming.

“Not speak,” he corrected. “Telepathy. When taming a wild beast, one must form a contract, a contract officiated by the Church. For us Vandrelis, it has been tradition for generations to bond with wyverns. They’ve been dear companions to our family for decades.”

“I see…” I murmured. The concept fascinated me. I wondered, would I one day have a companion beast of my own?

The wyvern surged forward, the world below smearing into streaks of green and gold. Yet inside the carriage, I barely felt a tremor. Truly, a marvel of this world’s craftsmanship. Not the glowing screens and digital projections of my past life, but intricate mechanics, gears, vents, and enchantments, woven together in ways that seemed to surpass even the old world.

Still, that was enough of marvelling at skills and beasts. Alice and Karen weighed more heavily on my mind.

I turned to Father, ready to press on with the conversation.