The driver gave a sharp whistle and lightly flicked the whip against the corrupted phoenix's neck.
The massive, crimson-feathered beast responded with a shrill chirp that echoed through the sky. Its enormous wings spread wide—nearly blotting out the sun—and with a powerful flap, it launched itself into the air, lifting the carriage high above the ground.
It was the first time Zane had ever experienced true flight. Shelby, on the other hand, was no stranger to soaring through the skies. He had flown in helicopters, cargo planes, and even stealth gliders during missions back on Earth—but flying on the back of a living, corrupted magical beast? That was new.
Inside the carriage, they stood near the thick, reinforced glass windows and watched the world shrink beneath them.
