Oliver and his companions move closer to the colossal hot air balloons as their eyes widen in awe. They tilt their heads back, craning their necks to behold the immense, towering structures that peer over the station. Their hearts quicken as they halt before one of the balloons.

"Here we have, ladies and gentlemen, hot air balloons!" Christopher stated, spreading his arms wide. "Renting one will cost you around fifty silver coins, and it comes with a driver!"

Oliver glanced at his friends. "Hey, Ed, how much money do you have?" he asked.

"I didn't bring any money with me," Edgar replied sheepishly, casting a slightly embarrassed glance at his empty pockets.

"Sarrah?"

"I spent almost ninety percent of my money when I paid for our food during our trip to Hannsbarrne..." she responded. "...I only have twenty silver coins left," she sighed, looking down.

"How about you, Bethany?"

Bethany smiled, trying to remain optimistic. "Well, I have one hundred silver and a hundred bronze coins!" she replied, her voice carrying a glimmer of hope. But, as she continued, her smile faded, and her tone turned sombre. "...But... we're not even halfway through our journey yet. We'll spend half of our money before we reach our next location. How will we afford the ride back home, especially with the costly travel...?" she pondered aloud, her voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, we might end up stranded," Sarrah said, crossing her arms and tightening her lips.

"I already spent fifty gold coins for our ship ride here," Oliver interjected. "And it costs fifty gold coins per person. So, with five of us, that's... around..." Oliver paused, furrowing his brow as he calculated, his gaze shifting to the sky above.

Before Oliver could finish his mental calculations, Gregory ventured. "Two hundred fifty gold coins," said Gregory.

"Yeah, that's right," Oliver replied. He paused, taking a deep breath to collect his thoughts. "And... because of that..." Another brief pause followed before he continued. "...I don't have any money left," Oliver stated, his voice tinged with disappointment.

Amelia stepped forward, her grin filled with enthusiasm and a desire to help. "Oh! Oh! I can offer you money, Oliver, in return for helping our town!" she offered kindly.

"It's alright, Ma'am!" Oliver shook his head bashfully. "It's fine! We'll... we'll, uh—" he trailed off, his voice fading as he pondered the situation, searching for a solution.

     Oliver turns around, his eyes fixed on a hot air balloon. He squints, carefully observing the details of the majestic balloon. His gaze lowers to the spacious basket, envisioning the passengers standing inside during the ride. Oliver takes a step closer, boarding the vehicle.

     Placing a finger under his chin, Oliver raises a brow, contemplating the adventure ahead. A subtle smile curves his lips as he runs his hand along the sturdy railing of the basket, designed to accommodate up to six people. As he immerses himself in his thoughts, he senses the presence of someone approaching from behind. Turning his head, he sees his spouse standing beside him, and their eyes meet.

"Greg, you're a man of science," Oliver said, raising a brow as he smirked. "Can you explain how this works?"

"Oh, sure," Gregory stepped up to the hot air balloon with Oliver. "Easy physics," Gregory immediately began looking up, where he could see furnaces. "Hm," Gregory started explaining. "Uhh. If I can recall, this type of transportation is called a hot air balloon. A hot air balloon has three components... the envelope or this gigantic balloon we see up there, the burner or that furnace on top of us, and... uh, the basket or where people stand or sit during the ride."

Oliver stood still, stunned by his lover's eloquent explanation. "Hm... one of the things I love about you is your intelligence," he said.

"Hm!" Gregory's grin widened in response to Oliver's compliment. "So! The burner located up there is powered by coal or another fuel source. It ignites and burns, producing flames," Gregory ventured. "And the hot air produced by the flames will make the air molecules spread faster and quicker. Thus! The envelope of the hot air balloon will inflate until the hot air balloon floats to the sky!"

Oliver nodded. "...Oh, I can summon fire," he mumbled, glancing at the furnaces above him.

     Oliver and Gregory stepped down from the hot air balloon, their feet touching the solid ground. They veered to their right. Then, they headed towards a spacious vacant lot between the hot air balloons.

"Mr Podeshire, if you need the money, I'll gladly provide it," Christopher offered, raising a finger as he closed his eyes.

"It's not necessary, sir," Oliver replied, smiling at Christopher.

     Oliver turns around and stands before a vast, open space. He gazes to his left and right, surveying his surroundings. Taking a deep breath, he exhales slowly, glancing at his palms.

     Gradually, a crowd begins to gather behind the Remaining Podeshire. Their curious eyes fixate on him, drawn by his presence as they move closer. They watch intently, peering at him.

     Oliver closes his eyes and extends his hands forward. A shimmering golden glow emanates from his palms, transforming into radiant beams. The luminous rays begin to swirl and form intricate circles.

     In the gentle dance of the radiant light, a structure emerges and transforms into a basket large enough to accommodate a dozen people. Resembling the earlier hot air balloon, it expands upward, taking the shape of a furnace with a grand, pale brown balloon steadily inflating. As the last glimmers of sparkle fade away, a fully-formed hot air balloon stands before the crowds, newly created and ready for adventure.

"Y-you made a hot air balloon!?" Gregory's jaw dropped, the weight of his amazement causing a slight strain under his chin. "With your elemental powers??"

"Mhm!" Oliver nodded enthusiastically as he hopped onto the hot air balloon.

"Wow," Christopher gawked at the hot air balloon summoned by Oliver's power.

"Come on, guys!" Oliver invited his companions to join him aboard the hot air balloon.

"Woah," Sarrah walked forward, her eyes locked on the hot air balloon.

"Cool!" Bethany rushed towards the ride, eager to embark on the adventure.

"Very cool indeed, I say!" Edgar chimed in, following Bethany's lead.

Meanwhile, Sophia beamed at her parents, smiling at them as she tightly held her mother's hands.

"Hmm, go on~" Amelia smiled.

Sophia hugged her parents tightly, standing between them. "I love you! You're the best! Bye!" she exclaimed, bidding her farewell with a wave. She then turned around and hurried towards Oliver and the others.

Oliver's grin widened, radiating an unimaginable joy. "Sophia, you're coming??" Oliver asked eagerly.

"I am!" She replied, hopping into the vehicle.

"Splendid!" Oliver leapt in excitement. He reached out and shook Sophia's hand. "Welcome to the crew!"

In the meantime, Gregory pulled the entrance closed and locked it securely. He then looked up at the burners. "Wait. Does the burners have coal?" he inquired.

"Well, I can summon fire at will," Oliver smirked, closing his eyes halfway through as he glanced at Gregory.

     Oliver claps his hands twice, and suddenly, the burners ignite into flames, defying the absence of traditional fuel like coal or wood. The fire intensifies, crackling loudly, as the envelope of the hot air balloon expands even further. Slowly, the lower part of the vehicle begins to lift off the ground, gaining altitude inch by inch.

     People break into exuberant applause, their faces beaming with wide grins as they clap. They wave and cheer, their enthusiasm punctuated by joyful whistling. The crowd gathers closely, resembling molecules clustering together, as they witness the departure of the Remaining Podeshire from Hannsbarnne.

     Oliver feels his stomach rumbling as he senses the disconnection from the solid ground. It is as if his stomach acids churn with a hint of nausea, prompting him to hold onto the railings tightly. However, as seconds pass in the mid-sky, a smile slowly forms on Oliver's face, widening with each passing moment.

     Oliver and his companions bounce in the basket, waving their hands to the crowds. Though they gradually float away toward the horizon, they can still hear the heartfelt farewells bid by the townspeople. Soon, the hot air balloon carrying the Remaining Podeshire and his companions ascended higher into the sky, disappearing as it passed through thick clouds. And the sky turned blacker every minute like an ink.