Leaping Across the Vortex

Taxisis stared at the ships gathering of their own accord below, a multitude of emotions flashing through her eyes in an instant.

Only after a moment did she place Des Moines behind Olina, then extend half a wing before Xia Fan. "Come on."

Xia Fan stepped onto her wing and climbed onto her back, gripping the long horns behind her neck tightly. Half-jokingly, he said, "Don't shake me off."

"Don't worry." Taxisis snorted with laughter. "Even if I'm smashed to pieces, I'll make sure you land safely."

She then spread her wings and carried Xia Fan northward.

Once they entered the vortex's domain, the rain became noticeably denser. The gale blasting against them was like a giant hand, constantly shoving the two of them, and their previously steady flight immediately turned turbulent.

A sentence suddenly surfaced in Xia Fan's mind.

"Encountering turbulence ahead. Please fasten your seat belts."

"Seat belts?" Taxisis turned her head. "What are you talking about?"

"Ahem... I was thinking that if there were a proper dragon saddle and safety straps, I wouldn't have to hold on so desperately."

"Pfft—you think Dragonborn are mounts?" Taxisis puffed out a cloud of white smoke through her nostrils. "We don't mind carrying outsiders in battle to improve our combat strength, but that doesn't mean it's our only option, much less that we'd equip ourselves with specially made saddles and reins! Say something like that in front of an old noble, and he'd hang you upside down from the big tree by his manor gate!"

Really? But Olina had not seemed all that resistant to it.

"However..." The young woman changed tack. "Historical records do say that such cases existed in the Archipelago Kingdom."

"Oh? Dragons were willing to do that?"

"Every one of their partners was an outstanding hero among