>A minute. That's a long time for Elis to do something if no one runs interference.
>In this headwind, do we think we would make swifter progress if we return to the ground?
>If so, do so.
>Either way, press forward swiftly.
>Yes it is.
>Doubtful. You'd have to dodge around or over obstacles on the ground, and your travels might attract more attention than Elis is already doing, and the last thing you want to give her is more bystanders to shoot at. Plus, the headwind isn't actually slowing you all that much. It's unnatural, but it isn't strong, certainly nowhere near as strong as you know Elis can create when she's serious. And it carries a bad smell as well, the faint scent of sulfur mixed with the odor of decomposition one finds in a swamp, topped by the smell of salty air. A plethora of things to make one wrinkle their nose, as Rin is doing now.
>You do however start to descend again back into the clouds, coming down towards Moonside at an angle, hoping to catch Elis from behind. Plus the thought of diving straight down out of the sky makes your stomach spin a little bit. As your altitude drops, you keep your senses peeled for any sudden surges of power, either from the Air Champion or from any of the others at Moonside. But no such surge comes as you close the distance between yourself and home, just the same sense of concentrated power from Air, and an intensification of the link you detect between her and Sanae.
>And, worryingly, a slight increase in the power flow between Patchouli and the cell where the Water Champion lies imprisoned. That's all that you need right now, for that cell wall to fail at a time like this.
>Uncertain about what you'll find when you arrive at Moonside, your worry only increases more and more as you dive down towards the back yard of the apartment building. One stroke of luck is that this time, you are coming in from behind the Air Champion. She is currently hovering in her humanoid form just above Nitori's shack, facing down into the back yard of Moonside. Standing several feet in front of her are Kanako and Suwako, who have plainly placed themselves between Elis and Sanae. The green haired woman is standing just behind them, Patchouli and Reisen next to her. Arrayed behind these two are Reimu and her bodyguards, all three with swords in hand. But there is no sign of any violence having taken place, though judging from the angry expressions on Kanako and especially Suwako's face, you don't think either one is very far away from launching themselves at the demon.
