Little Cloud
Once the most manoeuverable flying ship available to heaven's flying legions, the Unprepossessing Heavenly-mist cluster class Flying Ship are a sight to behold, agile like a flying fish, but packing a punch.
"I remember the first time I saw that accursed ship!"
"Calm down grandfather, it's only a toy."
"It can't be just a toy, I see it, in my mind, it's six stories tall and long like a parade ground!"
"I can't believe you agreed to give her up..."
"Ah, Snow, my friend, no, my brother, you know it does no good to keep such a ship locked up..."
"Well, there is the small matter of even being able to afford the repairs..."
"Precisely, and I don't mean just these past ones..."
"Oh?"
"Where would the money come from, if I take her out today, and use her to attack our 'new partner's' newest Black Sunshine warehouse?"
"I don't know, I must admit I'm at my limits, even trying to do simple repairs on these.."
"Were you able to trace the ship back to its origin?"
"The registration plate says Yu-Shan, year five, second deliberative... And is signed by Queen M..."
"Queen M? The original holder of the mandate of heaven?"
"That's what the registration says, it's unlikely to be a forgery..."
"Why not?"
"The registration's not signed in ink... It's a seal made of magical materials, attesting to the information, and now part of the magic of the ship, you cannot even alter the registration without risking the destruction of the ship..."
"Was that common?"
"Common? No. One of the chosen of the unconquered sun, the original two-hundred and fifty, had to labor for hours to make a seal that subsisted for millenia. I've seen such a seal only once, and you did too, Venatori." Using his given name was a risky way to get his attention...
"What? I did?"
"We both visited the Imperial Manse brother, the main door has a similar plaque, just to attest to its foundation date..."
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