As it turned out, neither of them had needed to worry.
The figure initially fell at a startling speed, as if in free fall, but gradually slowed halfway down before finally drifting to the ground as lightly as a feather.
She planted both feet on the ground and grinned at Xu Yi and Stille. It was Akali.
Stille gave her an exasperated glare. "Were you trying to scare us to death, jumping down from up there without warning?"
"I wanted to get here faster." Akali smiled, took a small square box from her pocket, pressed it, and spoke into it. "Hey, Avita, the President and Stille are here. Do you want to come down too?"
Avita's voice came from the box. "No need. You can report to the President. I'll keep conducting the flight tests. Do you want me to pick you up later?"
"You don't need to pick me up. But are you really not coming down? The weather's so nice today-it's perfect for swimming. Didn't you bring your swimsuit along? It would be such a waste not to use it."
"You..." Avita's voice sounded embarrassed and annoyed through the box. "I only... only brought it along just in case. I wasn't planning... planning to swim..."
Xu Yi couldn't help chuckling as he took the Magic Communication Box from Akali.
"All right, Avita, come down too. Let the researchers handle the tests for now. I happen to have a few things to ask you."
Avita fell silent on the other end of the communication box for a moment before a faint voice came through.
"Mm... all right..."
A short while later, the Mana Airship flew away overhead, and Avita floated down from the sky.
Seeing Xu Yi wearing nothing but swimming trunks, his upper body bare, Avita blushed slightly.