After Ssarak finished his meal, he and Meirin went somewhere more open. While it was not necessarily voided of others, as there were some other students and guards around, there was much more open space than within the dinning hall. Meirin had goosebumps all over her and butterflies in her stomach, excited for what was about to happen. She turned to Ssarak just barely able to conceal her excitement. [b]"Are you prepared?"[/b]

After a brief stop by Ssarak's room so he could offload his armor and axe, the pair made their way out to a clearing large enough for Ssarak to take off comfortably. Of course, he did not require much space, but being in an open area would likely be calming to Meirin. He had changed into his fur coat and trousers, but even they could not keep him completely warm in the cold night air. Regardless, once he was in the air, he would likely feel downright hot from the heat his body would be producing. 

Ssarak nodded. "Indeed I am. I understand many Humans have a very reasonable fear of heights, especially when they have no ground upon which to stand. I will take it slow at first and let you decide whether we should go higher. Do not worry, I will keep a tight grip on you, so you will be in no danger of falling. I believe, if anything, you can trust that I have the strength to carry you. Now..." He began as he walked around behind her. "...are you ready?"

[b]"Yes!"[/b]

Smiling at her enthusiasm, Ssarak grabbed her in his arms, then, with a brief running start, outstretched his wings and jumped to assist him with his take-off. With his full wingspan now visible, the already-large Esyire appeared almost gigantic. The sheer force of the wind being pushed beneath his wings could knock someone off of their feet if they were not prepared. Due to the limited space within the college walls, he flew in slow, tight circles.

Just as Ssarak said, he went slowly at first. Meirin kept her breathing steady as he held her in his arms. Despite looking like a dragon, he was oddly warm to the touch. Perhaps it had to do with the fur coat he wore, but his body itself felt like it was being heated by a fire. Or maybe Meirin was just getting cold from her anxiety. She held onto Ssarak lightly at first, but it wasn't until they were a good thirty feet off the ground that she started to grip onto his arms with more strength. It was quite high, but they weren't even above the college's walls yet. [b]"Let's try to go a bit higher. Maybe... Above one of the towers?"[/b] While holding tightly with one hand, Meirin pointed towards a tower in the distance. It wasn't the tallest they had, but it was a good four stories high.

"Of course." Ssarak responded, having to speak a bit more loudly due to the sound of the wind. With a few strong flaps of his wings, he pushed them higher until they were above the height of the college's walls. Now that he had more freedom of movement, he was able to keep them on a more steady, straight path until they reached the tower. All the while, he made sure to keep a tight grip on Meirin. Not enough to cause her harm or restrict her breathing, but enough to constantly remind her that he had her secure. As they made their first pass by the tower, Meirin would be able to see the first actually impressive view of the landscape beyond the college. It was a view Ssarak had seen many times flying around the college, but even he could appreciate its beauty, especially around sunset. 

Meirin held onto Ssarak tightly and, admittedly, had her eyes closed for a short duration of the flight. Though he could move with more stability this also meant that he was moving a bit faster, which made Meirin a bit scared even though Ssarak had her safely in his arms. Meirin only opened her eyes when she felt Ssarak turn, and that's when she saw the world from above. The moon was high into the sky, lighting everything below in a dim light. But the college itself was glowing brightly from the various fires and light sources, presenting a sight that she would have never seen from the ground. It was breath taking, and Meirin was speechless. But while it was certainly impressive, it was not the highest. Deciding that she was confident enough at this height, she tugged on Ssarak's coat to get his attention. [b]"Try... Try to take me as high as you can!"[/b]

Ssarak, laughed, enjoying Meirin's enthusiasm. It was good that he practiced regularly at carrying loads in flight, as it meant he was hardly fatigued, and wouldn't be for a while, especially if he took advantage of the updrafts the buildings created. "How about we start with the top of the college, then go from there. As high as I can go is, well, pretty high." Ssarak brought himself near one of the towers, though not close enough to worry Meirin, and added the force of his own wings to the updraft to lift them even higher. He did his best to keep himself steady as they rose in altitude. Although he was more than capable of performing complicated maneuvers, he doubted Meirin would appreciate that at this point. For now, the simple act of flying would be amazing enough. It took a few minutes to climb, but eventually, they were on the same level as the tallest point at the college. At this height, all of the college was in sight at the same time. After circling the tallest tower a few times, he started to fly a bit farther away from the college so that she could see a more complete, and impressive, view of its structures. "So, is it everything you hoped it would be?"

Meirin's fear was replaced with amazement. Flying so high in the night sky was much more impressive than she had expected. The night often hid things in the dark, but from the skies she could see everything. She could see hundreds of people milling about in the college, the forest at the far edge of the horizon, and the moon that was just out of this world. Somehow it seemed much bigger in the skies, but maybe that was because she was closer. When Ssarak asked if she thought it was as she hoped it'd be, she just pressed her body closer to his body. [b]"It's more than what I could have ever imagined. Thank you for allowing me to see something like this, Ssarak. It's... I'm speechless, honestly."[/b] Meirin gazed at the world below, taking in all the sights. Burning it into her memories.

"I am always glad to help a friend." Ssarak said with a smile, not that she could actually see it from her angle. He started to bring them back closer to the college, but maintained his altitude. Once they neared the central tower again, he motioned towards it with a nod of his head. "You see that tower, the tallest one? I happen to know that it is safe to land inside those arches. Or, if you wish to be ambitious, on top of the dome itself. A bit more dangerous, but there is enough room to stand, and there is the spire at the top to hold on to. Plus, it is the highest point at the college. Would you like for me to set down there?" He asked. 

Meirin watched the skies as Ssarak brought them back towards the college. Ssarak asked her if she wanted to land at what looked like a bell tower. Ssarak said that it was possible for him to land inside, or maybe even on top. She had to admit, if Ssarak wasn't here she would be scared out of her mind. Being back on solid ground would be nice. But something told her that she should take the highest ground she could, even if she just went higher in the skies. [b]"Let's land on the dome! It'll be nice for us to put our feet on something solid again."[/b]

"Right away." Ssarak responded. He brought them a bit higher, then approached the tower from above. He circled once to slow himself, then flapped his wings with as much force as he could muster as they neared the spire at the center of the dome. The sound from the wind rushing beneath his wings would likely be overwhelming to Meirin, though Ssarak was of course used to it. The moment his feet touched the dome, he grabbed the central spire while still keeping his other arm wrapped tightly around Meirin. Once they were stationary, he lowered her enough that she could place her feet on the dome as well, but did not release his grip. He was taking no chances with her safety. "Okay, I want you to take a few moments to regain your bearings before I let go. We are [i]very[/i] high up, and I want to make sure your balance is stable before releasing you."

For some reason Meirin chuckled as they landed on the dome. It was so dangerous, but so exciting now! Their life, or at least hers, was in great danger. She relished danger. Once Ssarak landed Meirin put her feet on the ground. She was wobbly at first as the flight had made her unprepared for a solid footing, more so since it wasn't even. But after a few seconds, she was able to keep a firm foothold on the dome's surface. Even though she could stand on her own feet, she still held onto Ssarak. Not for his support, but simply to hold onto him. She looked around the college area. While it was not quite as impressive as it was before, it was still a sight to behold. But now she felt more relaxed, calmed, and even allowed herself to lean again Ssarak as a means to feel more comfortable. He was warm, which was nice as the night's chilly air would have made her shiver. Meirin looked into the skies, specifically the moon. [b]"You know, I think this moon is exactly how it was when we first met, back at the opening ceremony. I remember... I remember that you were in pain. And I wanted to help you. But now it seems like you have become much stronger since than, and now I'm the one who should thank you."[/b]

Meirin clung to Ssarak tightly as she watched the clouds move in front of the moon. She rested her head against his chest, her red hair flowing in the wind.

Ssarak looked out over the horizon as Meirin was gaining her bearings. The view from the apex of the tower was impressive, but she was experiencing it on an entirely different level from himself. In a way, he envied her. An experience that was, for him, mundane, was exhilarating to her. Majestic vistas and superb views of landscapes were normal when in flight, so he had grown used to them long ago. He wished he could look upon them with the same wonder as when he was a child. Still, to see Meirin's reaction was entirely worth it, in his mind. To know that he had been responsible for the happiness of another gave him quite the warm feeling. Even as she regained her footing, she held on tightly to him, which suited him just fine. Not only could he share in her warmth on the cold night, but at such a height, the closer she was, the safer she was. He looked to the moon as Meirin called attention to it. Indeed, it did seem that their positions had shifted since the first day they had met, though he was glad he was not having to save her from excruciating pain. That situation would be much less pleasant than the current one. 

"I am glad you are enjoying it. Even if I cannot appreciate these sights the same way you can, to see how elated you are brings a smile to my face. I enjoy helping friends, especially since you were so willing to take the time to help me. If you ever need help, or want to go on another flight, you need only ask." He said, glancing down with a smile. 

The wind, though cold, felt pleasant on Meirin's face as she rested against Ssarak's body. It was a perfect night, despite all that's happened. The moon was bright in the skies, people below were enjoying their lives, and she was with pleasant company. She didn't think anything could ruin the mood. [b]"Thank you Ssarak. Just remember that... You're not alone either. If you ever want my help, or even just want to talk, you can always come to me. I like being with you."[/b]