With his eyes wide in wonder and intrigue, Yeosang scaled the gangplank to Hongjoong's ship. He kept both of his hands on the handrail left and right of him, as instructed, and didn't mind Mingi's giggles behind him as he jested about Yeosang's complete obedience. Beneath him, clouds formed a thin sheen between the docking station on the cliff and the ocean. He could still hear the mighty waters in the distance. It rhythmically crashed against the cliffs as if trying to crack them, and Yeosang respected it enough that he would instead hold tight onto the railing than fall into a deadly embrace.

Jongho was right behind him and watched the process of him traversing onto Hongjoong's ship. It would safely take them up to the two cities after he showed them their surroundings. Seonghwa had asked him to fly them a few miles up so they could get an eyeful of just how far landward the canyon ran and get an idea where they could try and connect the two cities.

The view of the port that stretched far over the cliffs connecting to the ocean alone had Yeosang gaping with wonder. Ships of all kinds and sizes docked to the steep stone walls here, and little lifts brought them up to their destination, either Zey or Asora. Nobody questioned how they had flown out of the canyon on Hongjoong's smaller aircraft a while prior. People either knew to keep the secret, or they didn't care enough to mind.

Now, Yeosang couldn't get enough of all the sights. All the enormous airships, some with single balloons, some with two, or even three of them sat docked to the walls as if they were little insects. Hongjoong's ship itself - the Puppeteer as he introduced it proudly - had one ovally shaped balloon with a slight greenish tint to it where the nethicite that powered it contrasted with the yellowing canvas. The shine made it look as if it were made from glass that floated weightless as it carried the ship.

Hongjoong's grin was bright, and his blue hair was ablaze like burning sapphire in the sun when he welcomed them on his ship with open arms. His crew was already on board and operated busily. They greeted their captain with hasty calls.

Seonghwa looked around with just as much amazement as the rest, even if he had been on airships before. However, his focus was mainly on Hongjoong and his pointy, fairy-like features that beamed so boastfully.

Yeosang hopped down from the little step that led up to the plank. He held his hand out for Jongho to take and moved further back once they were safely balanced on the wooden planks. San and Mingi followed behind them with heavy steps, while Bricky cheerfully whirred around their heads.

Once everybody was accounted for, Hongjoong beckoned two of his crew members to raise the anchor. While they were busy, Hongjoong led the rest of them on a little tour over the relatively narrow and small ship while they talked. Yeosang stared up at the mighty balloon that was far larger than the ship's wooden body. All the nets and ropes and mechanics that surrounded the object were too intricate for him to understand. Rather, he appreciated the general sight of it. Meanwhile, Jongho murmured under his breath with Mingi about some of the mechanisms and their genius functions.

San wasn't too interested in the ship. Upon asked, he informed Yeosang that he spent a lot of time on aircrafts when he travelled for Qam. He was one of their prominent people that were responsible that they always had enough food. Qam had their own ship, and in times the food rations were low, it was his job to join the crew and fly to a nearby place to account for everybody. He had never visited Asora or Zey before, though. He had only ever seen it from above.

Jongho was just about to come over and ramble to Yeosang about the beautiful wonders of this ship when Hongjoong called for their attention. At once, they all huddled together to go over the plan once more.

"So, we will fly up and get an overview for now. Then, we will discuss how we are planning to do this. I believe Wooyoung mentioned something about possible allies in Zey?" Hongjoong had to look up to meet Seonghwa's eyes. The prince nodded, his face back to being a mask of professionalism that bordered icy resolution. He had finished all fun and games, and now he fixated on the task at hand.

"Correct. Yeosang also reached out and mentioned that the presence of Wooyoung himself might be a great advantage for us. We will have troubles getting around the Bishops, but since we have to get the picture behind the new army anyways, we will try to retrieve them."

The ship gradually rose into the skies then the hot air in the mighty balloon swelled. The gas was additionally supported by the nethicite cores that Hongjoong used. They were far smaller than the one they had found in the canyon, smaller, and less powerful since they were only made to fuel a ship. Still, now that Yeosang knew the comparatively common material's true worth, he viewed it with as much importance as it deserved.

While he still focused on the conversation, Yeosang also overlooked the slowly disappearing docks and the humans on there that got as small as tiny ants. They busily ran around and did their work, but Yeosang felt detached from them. Truly, the skies meant freedom.

Mingi next to him revelled in the feeling of wind in his wild hair. He looked at peace with his current location. Yeosang understood him all too well.

"Zey's local gangs have been on the move for years. If it is as he predicted, then they might utilise the timing of the king's war against Gizfall soon. It seems as if there is more unrest in the palace itself, though. Wooyoung mentioned a certain tension." Jongho had no issues to partake in the discussion. The Jongho from a few months ago would have dodged any conversation about politics, but by now, he seemed to be just as invested as the rest of them.

Seonghwa pensively looked out into the skies. The further they rose, the more they broke through the clouds. The cliffs next to them seemed to grow forever. No end was in sight in the thick white fog that clung to them.

"You mentioned that Yongguk was interested in more information about what would happen, right? Yongguk was never part of the palace, but I wonder if he might have known people who were also dissatisfied with the circumstances. A few people in those walls always questioned the king's reign. Maybe we could reach out to them."

"But how?"

Yeosang directed his attention back to his friends. Hongjoong and Seonghwa stared at each other as if communicating through their eyes alone. Then, Seonghwa hummed.

"Wooyoung might know more. It's risky to just go there without more information. I reckon we visit Zey first and use Jongho and Mingi to get behind the gangs' plans. Maybe they already placed some moles or know the people who spy for them. If we join their team, we might have a bigger chance of getting where we want to be. And Wooyoung shall be our correspondent within."

The coup d'etat they imagined was anything but perfect. It needed a lot of planning and more people than just them. But there was no time. By the looks of it, the king only awaited the day to send out his troops. Everybody on the docks whispered about the aerial fleet being readied, too. They had to act fast now to keep the war from happening and resolve the tension between both cities before blood would paint the streets red.

Yeosang's hand was still in Jongho's. Ever since they had boarded the ship, neither of the two had let go. The man's warm skin against his considerably calmed Yeosang and spent strength that at least rose his confidence that they could get through this. Whenever he doubted and just wanted to hide away, the possibility of getting out of this mess victorious and with Jongho's hand still held in his helped Yeosang regain his energy.

"So we will start at Zey and then go as fast as possible to Asora. Best if you write Wooyoung another letter. He should know that we will be coming soon and hopefully be ready." Hongjoong nodded at them to disperse before he went to discuss something with his helmsman. Mingi and San wandered off again to marvel at the airship. In the meantime, Seonghwa pulled Jongho and Yeosang to settle down with him on the ground. Comfortably, they got a piece of paper and stared at it for a while. Yeosang held the pen, but he couldn't come up with a discreet way to warn the man. If Bricky were found and captured, then the letter had to be secretive enough that nobody would understand their intentions. From how alert the palace was by now, the risk was high that Bricky would be held up this time.

Seonghwa pondered the words with them.

"How about something along the lines of 'we are on our way'? It could be from anyone, a friend, an enemy... They wouldn't be able to pin it on us." Jongho tapped his fingers on the metal of his leg. It was a little quirk of his that Yeosang had grown to adore. He doubted that the man even noticed how much the noises of his nails on brass or the whirring of machines calmed his mind.

"A good start. But it's ominous. We don't want to trigger them attacking Gizfall early. Since they are tense right now, we shouldn't make the barrel overflow," Seonghwa murmured with a faint nod. Yeosang tapped the piece of paper. He wanted to forgo the names this time. Wooyoung by now recognised the bird, and they shouldn't cast suspicions on their friend.

"Then shouldn't we be extra obvious? Like if I wrote to him as a distant uncle or something who came by for a visit, wouldn't that be less ominous?"

"What if Wooyoung actually has such an uncle, though?"

Yeosang shrugged and began to write.

Dear Wooyoung,

After your many tales about the beauty of Asora, I can't wait to greet you there soon! In due time, I will send another letter. This is the sixth bird I'm sending; I sure hope that this one arrives! The last one came back to me a week ago in the middle of the night and woke me from my slumber!

I hope I won't be woken in your magnificent Asora! See you soon in the following letter; then I will tell you the details of my stay! Also, keep me updated in case the politics get tenser, then we can move our meeting to another date!

Please stay safe and greet your parents from me!

Best Wishes
Uncle Bricky

The other two hovered over Yeosang's shoulders with curious eyes and read every word he put down. Jongho was slower at reading, but his voice was the first to point out the hidden meanings in Yeosang's letter.

"You signed with Bricky because only he and we know the name!"

Yeosang gently leaned his head against his lover's. A hum of affirmation escaped him when Seonghwa picked up the letter to scan the words carefully.

"Six birds, it's six people arriving. In a week at night so he should stay up and await us. And if anybody finds the letter, they will either stop him from replying because they view it as a code or tell him to move the date so that they won't be bothered. It's the perfect ploy."

Proud, Seonghwa looked down at Yeosang. The wind messed up his blond hair and made him look like a god of the skies as he stood above them.

Up ahead, the end of the cliffs finally appeared. Hongjoong's ship soared high above it until they could look down on the shimmering white wonder that Asora was. Next to it, the grimy dark cloud that surrounded Zey contrasted eerily.

"In a week we will be there. And we will meet the king."

Yeosang nodded with a triumphant smile on his lips.

**********

Hello friends! So this book has ended now, and I will soon join you for the last one! For now, I will write another Seongjoong demon AU, if you want, check it out!

As usual, I thank everyone for their patience with my prolonged break, their support and every interaction you guys graced me with! It's always a huge honour and source of strength for me to see you enjoy my works!

I hope to see many of you again in book three! I will remember to notify you here once I post it ^^

So thanks again and bye!