Annan released the balcony railing, his hand slick with sweat. He raised both hands to quiet the cheers around the City Lord's Mansion and said with feigned composure, "We did it... proud residents of the Floating City."
At that moment, the Free City People sang Annan's praises, while visitors who had yet to leave desperately asked how they could become Free City People.
"Guard Legion, check every district."
Luoxi led the Guard Legion out to inspect the streets, factories, and city's edge.
Free City had no City Wall; its territory had always been expanding. Luoxi and several Centurions reached the edge. The Arcane Core kept the winds at bay, though bits of broken soil and rock still dangled from the cone-shaped underside. It seemed the Arcane Core could hold the Floating City together even without Mountain Copper. After all, many Floating Cities could not afford it.
The drawback was that an attack could easily damage it.
Annan gave his people one last wave, then turned and took Idelia back into the City Lord's Mansion.
"Tell Master Kini Whiteman we're ready to move."
Before long, the people on the ground watched Free City tremble slightly and drift away from directly above the deep pit.
People who had never been in the air crowded to the edge and watched the earth slowly recede beneath them. It looked slow, but they were traveling nearly as fast as a dragon.
Everyone gazed excitedly at the land below, but Annan did not much like being so high up. Rather than floating far above everyone else, he preferred to stand on the ground among them.
And the sea view he used to enjoy from his window was gone...
Annan reached into his pocket, but Olmedo spotted him sneaking out a handkerchief.
"There was some dew on