Chapter 132
Shhh, shhh.
Every time a loud noise echoed, the flames flickered. They were burning on a massive basket that could hold several people.
Next to it was a huge balloon, just starting to inflate.
At a glance, it was clear what it was.
“A hot air balloon!”
It was the same kind she had seen with Irene when they rode a carriage to the capital at the start of the vacation. Back then, she couldn’t take her eyes off the balloons floating in the capital’s sky.
And now, one was right before her eyes.
It wasn’t only Evi who was excited.
As soon as the children got out of the carriage, they hurried toward the hot air balloon.
“Wow! It’s huge!”
Ruska circled the balloon once and gasped in admiration.
Even Arselma, who hardly reacted to anything, seemed a little excited and approached to take a closer look.
The sleepiness that had clouded their eyes on the way there had long since vanished.
“You’ve arrived, Miss Irene. We’re ready to depart soon.”
The staff preparing the balloon bowed to Irene.
Irene returned their greeting, then turned, crossed her arms, and said proudly:
“Here, this is what I prepared to celebrate our vacation.”
At Irene’s words, Ruska looked at it with astonishment.
“Isn’t this super expensive?”
“Do you know who I am? I’m Irene Te. Rin. S. This much can easily be covered with my allowance.”
Irene tossed her hair over her shoulder elegantly and smiled, and Ruska teased her.
“Who else but the ‘Fierce Fist of the South.’”
“…You’re not riding.”
“My apologies, Princess of the South. I guess my mouth hasn’t fully woken up yet.”
Evi giggled at Ruska immediately becoming obsequious and turned her gaze to the balloon, which had inflated even more.
Even from afar, it had seemed large, but up close, the balloon’s enormity was even more vivid. It was amazing to think something this big could rise into the sky.
Once the balloon had inflated sufficiently, the staff gathered the children and gave them instructions.
“The basket is securely attached to the balloon, strong enough to hold even a cow. Still, do not jump or shake it inside. If a gust of wind causes it to sway, you could get hurt. Also, if you suddenly feel dizzy or have trouble breathing, let us know immediately.”
“Yes!!!”
The four children answered vigorously, as if such things would never happen.
Once the children climbed into the basket with two staff members, people outside moved busily.
Meanwhile, the flames above roared louder.
As the balloon inflated perfectly, the ropes holding it down were released.
“One, two, three!”
With the shout, the balloon lifted into the sky.
“It’s flying!”
Instantly, the balloon rose above adult height, and Evi clutched the edge of the basket, peering down.
“Have a good trip!”
“Be careful! The wind will be strong!”
“The wind?”
Evi reached out her hand. There was barely any wind—why the warning?
She soon realized the reason.
The higher they rose, the stronger the wind became.
“What if it falls?”
Ruska exclaimed, eyes wide in awe. Irene immediately stepped on his foot without hesitation.
She pressed so quickly and firmly that the balloon wobbled slightly.
“Don’t say such unlucky things…!”
“Miss! Calm down, please!”
“Ah! Sorry! Let go of my foot!”
As chaos ensued inside the basket, the balloon soared even higher.
“Goodbye! We’ll be back!”
The people waving from below soon disappeared from view.
Even the capital’s buildings were barely visible, only the scattered lights catching their eyes.
As those too grew smaller, Evi’s fear rose.
“Irene, why are we riding a balloon at dawn when nothing can be seen?”
“I asked around, and everyone said sunrise was the most beautiful. But…”
Irene shivered.
“I… I kind of regret this a little…”
At first, she thought riding a balloon wouldn’t be difficult. They didn’t move—it was the balloon that did.
But as they climbed higher, Irene began to regret her choice.
The wind is strong! It’s cold! And it’s dark!
Unlike the ground, the higher they went, the colder it became, and the wind was biting.
But the hardest part was the pitch-black sky.
Sure, the stars were there, but the sky was much darker than early evening.
“Evi, do you want to go down if it’s scary?”
Irene sniffled and asked. She worried about how scared little Evi must be, even though she herself was taller and frightened. She also wondered if she had been greedy, insisting on riding for the sunrise.
Evi shook her head.
“No. I want to see the sunrise.”
This was the spot Irene had prepared because Evi had loved balloons on the first day.
It wasn’t only Irene—Arsel and Ruska had intentionally joined early as well.
And the staff had woken up even earlier to prepare the balloon.
Seeing everyone work for this moment, Evi felt she had to witness the most spectacular scene.
The balloon climbed higher and higher.
Now, every gust of wind shook the basket.
Even Ruska, who had been joking non-stop, grew silent.
Evi looked up at the sky.
The flames above made it bright, but ironically, the stars were invisible.
The sky without stars felt oppressively vast.
Looking down, Evi saw the city lights, now the size of tiny dots.
Shivering at the sense of being swallowed by darkness, she instinctively clutched the basket’s edge. Arsel, behind her, grabbed her shoulder.
“You okay?”
She wanted to say yes, but the words didn’t come.
Understanding, Arsel gently patted her shoulder.
“It’s natural to be scared. We’re so high up.”
Feeling the warmth of his hands, Evi unconsciously leaned against him.
Arsel held her close, letting her bury herself in his chest. The fierce wind momentarily calmed, and the cold that wrapped around her disappeared.
Evi clutched his hand and whispered softly.
“It’s so dark, it’s scary.”
She had never seen the sky so dark. Looking at it, it felt as if they were falling into the darkness rather than rising.
Arsel hugged her tighter.
“It’s darkest just before the sun rises. So… let’s wait a little together.”
Evi nodded and held on. If someone stayed with her, she could endure it.
“Arsel, I… I also…”
At that moment, Irene, holding the basket, grabbed one of Arsel’s arms.
Ruska, refusing to be left out, grabbed his other arm.
“Hey! I want to hold too!”
Seeing the two, trembling despite their size, Arsel sighed but didn’t push them away.
Thus, the four children floated as one through the dark sky.
“Look over there!”
The staff, adjusting the flames, pointed east.
The children followed his finger.
“Ah…”
A thin streak of blue appeared in the pitch-black sky.
It gradually widened, changing the sky’s color from black to blue, and then to orange.
“Wow…”
A gasp floated in the wind, and nothing else could be heard.
A moment later:
“Look there!”
“Wow! Over there!”
Waves of colorful light rolled across the sky.
As the four children gasped in awe, the morning sun began rising from the distant mountain ridge.
Everything changed.
The cold wind turned warm, and the starless sky now revealed the dawn stars.
Not only the sky—the ground, once only dots of light, now revealed buildings and people walking between them.
The fear of floating aimlessly between earth and sky vanished.
With the light, everything became clear.
Where they were, what they were doing—it was all clear.
Though they had witnessed countless mornings, none had been as vivid as this sunrise.
Even as another day began, the four clutched each other, gazing at the dazzling sun with an indescribable exhilaration.
In everyone’s arms, Evi thought:
When I feel lonely or scared, I’ll remember this moment.
Then nothing will feel frightening.
And so, the four’s vacation came to an end.
