They flew for four hours straight before Agnes finally showed signs of running out of juice. They finally decided to take a break.
He had already explained why he decided to kill their main competitor. She seemed to empathise with his reasons, but unfortunately, that did not solve the issue that the others might catch up to them.
Honestly, he didn't see it happening. What they could cover on foot in a day, they could make up within an hour of flying. But the captain was still ill at ease. Perhaps she was considering other things that might delay them for longer.
"If you want to reach the core fast, I have a way," he said as she finished drinking the leftover soup.
Agnes raised an eyebrow. "Did what you get from your trial let you teleport a great distance?"
"Something even better," he said.
"What is it?" she furrowed her brows.
"Just trust me on this," he grinned.
Half an hour later, they had rested enough and decided to hit the sky once more.
"So, what's your great plan?" Agnes asked.
"Give me your hand, and I'll show you." He drew his arm towards her. Agnes shot a measured look before giving her palm.
The warden clutched the captain's palm as a grin spread on his lips. Wide celestial wings shimmering with golden essence unfurled behind him, causing Agnes to perk up.
"Fasten your seatbelts," he said, "it's going to be a memorable journey."
He took flight, and in a moment of acceleration, he was hundreds of metres into the sky. The Radiant Heart pumped out to its maximum capabilities, as he used it all in the [Wings of Radiance].
Wind and the tangible dark essence slapped against their faces and all over their bodies. Agnes shuddered at first and then came closer, narrowing her eyes greatly to even make out anything beneath them flying.
"Do you know why your hair is not spreading anymore?" he asked. Agnes looked up in askance. "Because they do not want any split ends..."
If she wasn't in a dilemma, Agnes would have appreciated the joke more, but now she only shot him a judging glare. Then finally her gaze fell onto his own hair.
"How does your hair look so fine?" she asked. "Did you protect it with essence or something?"
Nope, it was all the glamour, baby, he thought. Probably.
The last time he took care of his hair was more than three months ago. He did not think that had any effect on his current hair anymore.
"This is so unfair," she grumbled, running her fingers through the unruly locks of hair, which did not want to part.
He clicked his tongue. "Let me help you."
Saying that, he brought out a bottle of oil, which he had bought from the emporium.
"Why do you carry hair oil with you into a subspace?" Agnes asked.
"You don't?" He poured a good amount of the oil into his palm and steadied her before she could argue against it. "I felt like it was the natural thing to do."
Agnes struggled a little in the beginning, but finding his fingers not hard like those of a warrior, she became obedient.
"I have seen many female soldiers with pixie cuts or other short hairstyles in the camp," he said, slowly combing her jet-black hair, wrestling it back into order.
"Yeah, long hair is very disturbing to have for soldiers," she said. "When I first joined here, years ago, they had cut my hair even shorter than yours. It was only when I rose up to the rank of captain that I could say 'fuck off' to the barber. I love my long hair, thank you."
"Must be hard..."
"No, it actually has been easier as I grew. I just keep it in a braid or bun during combat..."