One and a Half Years Later
November 21st
Zephyr's Island Space Center, Eastern Teyvat Coastline
The sun hung high over Zephyr's Island, casting long shadows across the newly completed orbital elevator that rose like a needle into the heavens. A shimmering monolith of polished alloys and latticework panels, it stood as a symbol of Teyvat's ambitions—peace, power, and progress.
But today, the elevator wasn't the main attraction.
The island's vast spaceport was overflowing. Hundreds of thousands of people had gathered for the first Zephyr's Island Airshow—an event that was as much a celebration of aerospace marvels as it was a tribute to the engineers and visionaries who had redefined flight.
At the far end of the electromagnetic catapult runway—Teyvat's mass driver system—stood the star of the event. Towering, motionless, and radiating silent menace under the sun was the Sepharis Bird Prototype: Karatel.
A massive unmanned aerial arsenal carrier, the Karatel spanned nearly the length of a football field. Its eight heavy-lift contra-rotating propellers were currently idle, but each was capable of moving enough air to flatten small trees. The hull bore the markings of the Teyvat Aerospace and Defense Agency, and its fuselage was sleek yet brutal—an airborne fortress designed to dominate skies for years on end.
Crowds thronged the edges of the observation area, necks craned and phones out, trying to get a better look at the behemoth.
Among them, stationed at the VIP perimeter closest to the launch area, were five individuals who most believed to be little more than honored dignitaries and allies of President Imena.
In reality?
They were ghosts.
The Emberhowl Aces: Emilie, Mona, Ayaka, and Mualani—the pilots who had ended the Dawnfront War under complete blackout conditions. Heroes with no medals. Legends scrubbed from the records. As far as the world knew, they never existed.
But they were here. Alive, well, and living civilian lives beneath carefully maintained covers—quiet protectors in a time of peace.
Emilie let out a low whistle, shading her eyes from the sun as she looked up at the Karatel.
"Fucking hell… That thing's even bigger than I thought."
Mona, standing beside her in her old bomber jacket, nodded slowly, her eyes tracking along the carrier's fuselage.
"Yeah. We saw the hangars during the war... I figured it'd be big. But this? This is a goddamn sky-fortress."
Imena, standing slightly behind them in her tailored civilian suit, chuckled at the comment.
"You think the real deal is big? Wait till you see what they're cooking up in the next orbital deployment platform."
Mualani squinted at Mona's jacket and leaned in slightly. "Wait—hold up. Is that a Martin-Baker pin and patch?"
Mona grinned, giving a sly wink. "You know it."
Emilie gave her a playful nudge on the shoulder. "Well look at that—our very own member of the Martin-Baker Tie Club."
Mona rolled her eyes, but she was clearly enjoying the moment. "Come on, you know I was gonna end up in the club the second I got shot down over Safhe."
From her pocket, she pulled out her phone and tapped through a few screens before turning it toward the group.
"Check this out—Martin-Baker even posted about it the day it happened."
The screen showed a post dated November 17. It read:
"Earlier today, a Fontaine Air Defense Force (FADF) Grumman F-14A Tomcat was shot down during an operation in the Safhe Region, Deshret Desert, Sumeru. The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker GRU-7A seat."
Emilie blinked, half-impressed. "Shit. They really did post it, huh?"
Mona nodded, sliding her phone back into her jacket. "Yep. Applied for the Tie Club the same week. They mailed the tie and the pin straight to my place in Windrise."
"Not bad," Emilie said with a smirk, then turned to Imena. "Hey, while I've got you—mind if I ask something?"
Imena tilted her head slightly. "Of course. What is it?"
"The Razushitzel," Emilie said.
Imena's brow lifted. "Ah. What about it?"
"I heard it's being sold off for scrap. That true? Isn't that the successor to the Faxi-class subs—Nuckelavee and Leviathan?"
Ayaka raised a hand. "Wait, wait... what's a Razushitzel?"
Emilie turned to her. "You remember the two Faxi-class subs we sank on October 4 and November 14?"
Ayaka nodded. "Right. The ones that could deploy drones while submerged."
Emilie nodded back. "The Razushitzel was supposed to be their replacement—officially part of the Razu-class. Same submersible carrier concept, but with a twist. It could launch actual fixed-wing aircraft underwater. Not just drones."
Mualani let out a low whistle. "Holy hell. That's a step up."
Imena crossed her arms. "It was originally meant to be deployed during the Dawnfront War. But our ground offensives delayed it so badly that by the time it was ready, the war was over. So Natlan agreed to scrap it."
"Where'd it end up?" Emilie asked.
"Southern harbor in Snezhnaya," Imena replied, tapping her chin. "I think it was called... Bespokoynaya Harbor? Part of the ceasefire treaty. We pushed for an arms reduction clause, and that sub was too dangerous to be left afloat."
Emilie nodded slowly. "Makes sense."
Just then, loudspeakers crackled to life across the island's PA system.
"All attendees of the Zephyr's Island Airshow, please begin clearing the Mass Driver area for the launch of the Sepharis Bird: Karatel. Repeat, please clear the Mass Driver area. Launch procedure is imminent."
"Once again, to all attendees—please begin vacating the launch perimeter. Thank you for your cooperation."
Imena chuckled and turned toward the others. "Right on cue."
She gestured toward the upper terrace of the space center's command tower. "Come on. We've got the best seats in the house."
Flanked by plainclothes secret service officers, the five of them moved away from the crowd and toward the tower, leaving the looming Karatel behind as it awaited its first flight.
For today, there would be no conflict. No hidden threat.
Just a celebration of ambition—rising, quite literally, into the sky.
They continued walking until they reached the flight line—an expanse of tarmac flanked by fighter jets lined up in immaculate rows. F-14s, F-15s, F/A-18s, F-16s, Rafales, Typhoons, and even a pair of F-22s gleamed under the fading afternoon sun.
Emilie's gaze settled on an F-14A parked beside a Rafale.
"Man... I do miss flying sometimes," she murmured, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Mualani chuckled beside her. "You should invest in a general aviation aircraft, Emilie."
Emilie raised a brow. "Like what?"
Mualani tapped her temple with a grin. "Well, what are you thinking of? Reciprocating engine, or are you going full-on private jet?"
Emilie rolled her eyes playfully. "Something smaller. Probably reciprocating. I'm not looking to fly luxury."
Mualani snapped her fingers. "How about a Bonanza? They've got two main versions. There's the iconic but rare V-tail Bonanza, and the conventional tail version too. Though don't mix that one up with the early Debonair models."
Emilie snapped her fingers as well, the memory clicking into place. "Yes! The V35, to be specific. Classic and distinctive. I've always loved those. I've actually been saving a good chunk of my boutique's profits."
Mualani grinned. "See? I knew you had GA plans brewing."
Emilie laughed and draped an arm around her shoulder. "Honestly, I kind of forgot about it. I'll have to check the aircraft fund account once I'm back in Fontaine."
Ayaka raised a finger. "Wait, how can you say you miss flying when you're practically on a plane every other month? You fly all over the place collecting local aromatic ingredients from the different nations."
Emilie chuckled. "I meant I miss piloting. Not just flying in a plane. I miss the feel of the stick—or, the yoke, in the Bonanza's case. I miss the checklists, the pre-flight walk-arounds, the startup hum."
Ayaka nodded slowly. "Ah. I see now."
Imena laughed lightly. "You girls haven't changed one bit."
Emilie gave her a smirk. "Well, old habits are hard to kill, Madam President."
They continued down the line as the sun dipped lower on the horizon, flanked by a discreet but firm security detail. People gathered along the walkway, many waving to President Imena.
Imena returned their waves with a warm smile.
Emilie's ears picked up fragments of murmured speculation from the crowd.
"Who are the four walking with Imena? Astronauts?"
"I don't know, but one of them's got a Martina Baker patch. I'm guessing fighter pilots."
"Could they be... the pilots of Wolfsbane? Or Emberhowl?"
"Maybe. Or just veterans from the last war."
"Definitely veterans. I heard Wolfsbane and Emberhowl are younger pilots."
Emilie closed her eyes and chuckled quietly. "They really don't know the full story, do they?"
Imena shook her head. "Nope. But in a couple months, the Teyvat Council meets. Every nation's leadership will be there."
Emilie raised an eyebrow. "And the agenda?"
Imena smirked and winked. "You'll find out soon enough."
They arrived at the command and control building at the end of the mass driver, entering a facility humming with anticipation and technology. Inside, they were greeted by the launch director.
"Madam President! Welcome!" said Beatrice, head of the Mass Driver Control Division.
Imena shook her hand. "It's an honor to be here."
"The honor's ours, Madam President. Truly," Beatrice replied warmly, then glanced at the others. "And if the rumors are true... these four are the Emberhowl Aces?"
Emilie raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Beatrice laughed. "Don't worry, Captain Emilie. We've all signed NDAs. Your identities as the Emberhowl aces are safe here."
A man at one of the control stations chimed in. "What's said in this room, stays in this room."
Ayaka chuckled. "Preferably just for today."
Laughter rippled through the room.
Beatrice gestured toward the observation platform. "Right this way, everyone. We're about to begin the launch sequence."
A voice came over the PA system:
"Sepharis Bird Karatel launch in T-minus two minutes. All personnel to stations."
Beatrice turned to her crew. "Final checks. Let's go."
"Flight controls?"
A hand raised. "Flight controls are go!"
"Navigation?"
Another hand. "Navigation is go!"
"Propulsion?"
"Propulsion green and ready!"
"Telemetry?"
"Telemetry, go!"
"Teyvat Orbital Elevator communications?"
"Orbital Comms are a go!"
Beatrice gave a sharp nod. "Begin countdown."
"Sepharis Bird Karatel launching in 20 seconds."
The team turned their eyes to the live feed. Cameras mounted along the mass driver showed the immense SSTO platform locked in place.
The twin main propellers began to spin up. A moment later, six auxiliary propellers roared to life in sequence.
"Engines running at full thrust!" came the call from propulsion.
Beatrice nodded.
"Ten...
Nine...
Eight...
Seven...
Six..."
A sudden boom echoed as the rocket boosters ignited, their thunder shaking the building.
"Five...
Four...
Three...
Two...
One...
Launch!"
The Sepharis Bird shot forward, its propellers and boosters roaring in synchronized fury. The long mass driver track blurred beneath it.
"Airspeed's alive!"
"Sepharis Bird Karatel passing Checkpoint One... Two... Three..."
The craft began to rise, following the curvature of the mass driver's exit ramp. Then—
It left the launcher.
The Sepharis Bird Karatel was airborne, leaving a thick contrail of smoke as its boosters propelled it skyward.
"Sepharis Bird Karatel airborne and climbing!"
"Speed is still increasing!"
Emilie blinked, staring at the monitor.
"What an eerie sight."
Imena chuckled. "How so?"
"Something that massive taking off like that... that's megalophobia for you."
The final call came through.
"Sepharis Bird clear of Zephyr's Island. Now following orbital approach route. She's alive!"
Cheers erupted across the room.
"We did it!"
"The Bird of Peace is airborne!"
From Navigation:
"Sepharis Bird passing Waypoint One. Turning 40 degrees right to intercept Waypoint Two."
Then another update:
"Solid rocket boosters off. Main propellers taking over."
"SSTO has detached. Sepharis Bird now at 270 knots and still climbing."
Beatrice turned to Imena, placing a hand on her hip.
"Madam President, what do you think?"
Imena nodded, smiling with quiet pride. "A sight to behold. The Bird of Peace is airborne."
Mona smirked. "Isn't the Skywarden a more literal Bird of Peace?"
Imena nodded. "It is. But with this year's defense budget, we figured we'd hold the World Conference at the exosphere deck of the Orbital Elevator. It holds 5,000 people—not much for tourism, but more than enough for diplomacy."
The sun began to set, bathing the tarmac and the sky in gold.
The airshow came to a close.
Over 400,000 people had attended—now a world record for the largest airshow turnout in history.
Above, the Sepharis Bird Karatel circled the Teyvat Orbital Elevator, soaring in its high-altitude orbit, safeguarding the skies with silent grace.