CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The People of the Sky
The vibrant sunset over the canyon bathed the landscape in a stunning palette of oranges and purples, invigorating Dison, Rivera, Clara, and Kale as they soared through the sky on their majestic griffins. Towering mountains loomed above, casting long shadows that stretched like fingers over the lush forest below. As Dison peered down, his keen eyes spotted various animals meandering across the open terrain. A solitary elk stood proudly on the mountainside, its dark eyes glimmering with curiosity as it watched the group glide gracefully overhead.
At that moment, Dison's gaze shifted to the bracelet Rosetta had given him. Its surface glowed with a warm, transcendental light that pulsed with energy. Filled with a sense of connection, he tilted his head skyward. He glimpsed Rosetta and her escort soaring effortlessly through the evening air, high above the stunning scene below them. He smiled as he heard her moaning and crying.
Rosetta held her eyes closed on the back seat of Urision's griffin. The winds blew against her face. She opened one eye and glanced down. "Oh, no!" She quickly closed it and cried out. "Get me down!"
"You keep squeezing me like that. You're going to break my ribs, sis!" Urision laughed until he noticed Silvara looking at him with irritation. "Sorry!"
Silvara glanced over at Ryallda, who stood alone on her majestic griffin. Her fingers gripped the reins tightly, filled with determination and focus. In the distance, towering mountains soared into the sky, their peaks shrouded in thick, swirling clouds that seemed to whisper secrets of the unknown. As the group urged their griffins onward, the air grew chiller, and the terrain became steeper. The mist enveloped them like a soft veil, diminishing visibility and transforming the ascent into a mystical journey through the ghastly gray surrounding them.
"Trust the griffins!" Ryallda shouted to reassure the others. "They know where they are going!"
Urision felt Rosetta tighten her grip on him as he looked ahead, anticipating their destination. At the last moment, the griffin dodged a rock. "Whoa!" He took a deep breath and tried to regain his composure. As the mist cleared, his eyes widened in wonder. "Rosetta, open your eyes. Now Rosetta."
Rosetta slowly opened her eyes and gazed with wonder at the sight before her. Vast floating islands adorned with vibrant green vegetation and waterfalls streamed off them into the haze below. Giant crystals sprouted from them, flowing with magic. So many drifted through the air like strings held in the sky. Intrigued by the scene, she did not even remember being in the sky. "Are you seeing this, Dison?" She mumbled.
Ryallda flew in front of the group. "Welcome to Golandria, home of the Nuriel! The people of the sky!"
They navigated between the islands until they reached several massive islands connected by stone structures. One island featured an enormous lake surrounded by towering plateaus with towers and buildings resembling an ancient city. From a distance, they gazed at great, bird-like creatures soaring all around them.
Landing on a giant stone slab in the center of the town, Rosetta and her companions encountered a group of creatures that had just arrived in front of them. The beings stood upright and appeared to be a mix of humans and birds, with their wings draped around them like robes. One creature approached Rosan, its eyes lowered as it surveyed him.
Voric looked to Arminas. "You need to announce yourself, my prince."
Arminas walked to the front of the group. "Greetings, I am Arminas, prince of Lisorin." He looked around at each creature in wonder. "Do they understand me?" He asked Voric.
Voric shrugged. "I don't know. Ask them where the prime minister, Leonis, is."
"I understand you." A female voice came from the crowd. She emerged from the group of creatures. Her elongated face bore ancient markings. "I am Nayalmi, Princess of the Nuriel." Tell me, why have you brought humans here? This is a sacred place."
"They are my escorts," Arminas declared with authority, panting. "As a prince of the Lisorin Empire, I have permitted them to accompany me here. You must abide by my decisions." Arminas spoke unconvincingly.
"Aw, Prince Arminas!" a high-pitched and irritating voice called out from behind the creatures. An elf draped in green and gold walked up to the crowd, followed by Elven guards.
"Oh, prime minister Leonis, I take it." Arminas said.
"Indeed, my prince." He walked up, took Arminas's hand, and kissed it. "We have much to discuss."
Arminas felt uneasy around the minister. "Yes, I need to know why I am here," he said nervously.
"I would like to speak in private, my prince," Leonis said, glaring at the company behind Arminas with distaste. He turned and gestured him toward an extensive stone bridge that led into the city. "Follow me."
"Alright, Ryallda and Voric, will you accompany me?" Arminas asked as he walked down the road behind Leonis.
"Of course, my prince," Voric replied, walking behind the prince.
Ryallda's eyes wandered as she followed behind. "Something seems off here," she said under her breath.
Rosan watched as the minister's guards followed behind them in formation. He turned to Elayne, Talbis, Urision, and Rosetta with a worried expression. "Keep your eyes open," he warned.
The armor of an Elven guard clanked up beside Rosan. "You speak ill of a Prime Minister of Lisorin. Know your place, human."
Rosan turned to the elf, who had a captain's cape. "You're the captain of the prince's guard, Damaltis, right?" Rosan looked around, examining his surroundings. "I would be careful. Attacks could come from any direction."
"Silence your tongue, human," Damaltis commanded. "You may be a commander of humans, but that means nothing to us." He confronted Rosan directly, standing very close. "You are nothing but pathetic creature; remember that." With that, he turned and walked away.
Rosan ignored Damaltis's words, his gaze fixed on the city and the creatures surrounding him. The sky was clear and blue, but the silence was unsettling.
Meanwhile, back in Silverstone at the magic academy, Kaida experimented with potions, mixing them carefully. She turned to another woman in the lab. "Lindara, where is Clara? I thought she was supposed to teach me remedies today?"
"She's told me she had business away from the capital. She'll be gone for a few days. I am to help you in her stead." Lindara adjusted her enormous glasses. "That's not a problem, is it?"
Kaida picked up a dropper from the table and drew some potion. "It's okay. Thank you," she said in disbelief.
Lindara approached Kaida and observed her work. "You are an excellent alchemist. What more do you need to learn?" She looked at Kaida with envy. "You're a half-elf, right?"
Kaida paused her work and looked at Lindara. "I... I am. Why?" she asked, concerned.
"You may not be immortal like a full-blooded elf, but you will live for thousands of years—long after all of us humans are gone," Lindara said with wonder.
Kaida looked down, sadness in her eyes. "I understand," she mumbled. Thoughts of Dison and Tina ran through her head. "I can't even imagine it."
Lindara looked at Kaida and realized her mistake. "Sorry; I just find it fascinating, that's all. I wish I could see so far into the future. How long will our kingdom endure? There are so many possibilities."
"I never thought about that, honestly. I'm just trying to learn and grow and be..."
"Be... Be what?"
"Never mind. It's nothing." Kaida blushed.
"Oh, okay," Lindara said, her tone revealing her skepticism. "I'm just worried about the future of our kingdom, that's all."
"We will just have to wait and see," Kaida said with a friendly smile. "Do you like the elves?"
Lindara smiled with delight. "I like their history! I've studied their culture and government."
"Why should we be concerned about their government?"
"Well, we live under their reign at the moment."
"That's true. I guess."
"Yeah, we answer to our king. Our king answers to the prime minister, Amdir. I heard he can be nasty if you get on his bad side. He and the other prime ministers in other countries answer to the Grand Minister Council of Lisorin."
"Wow. I didn't know any of that. I guess the emperor reigns over them all."
"Not really. The council is led by Arch-Minister Culvarion Salvaron, the military's supreme commander. Some even say the emperor is subordinate to him."
"What about the Wyrmguard?" Kaida recalled the night Dison got injured, remembering the elf in armor walking through the flames.
"They are the elite troops of Lisorin. Able to wield powerful magic. They say that a tiny unit can destroy an army of thousands." Lindara's face changed to concern. "But then there's the Dragon Purifiers."
"Who are they?"
"They hold supreme power over all of Lisorin and are the ones who defeated all the dragons in Elleasion. This legend dates back over twelve thousand years. Culvarion and the first emperor, Alaithor, took one thousand of the strongest elves to a forbidden continent to train for a thousand years. The training was so grueling that only one hundred fifty-seven survived and returned. The power they gained was cataclysmic, putting them almost on equal footing with the dragons." Lindara's eyes sparkled with excitement as she shared the story.
"How strong did they become?" Kaida asked, intrigued by the story.
"Powerful enough to make earthquakes, volcanoes, blizzards, and storms so powerful they could level entire cities like Silverstone," Lindara said excitedly. "The battle with the dragons was so fierce that it shook the world. Only nine of the dragon purifiers survived the battles with the dragons."
"Only nine?"
"Only nine."
"I wonder if any dragons survived."
"I highly doubt it. The dragons were so massive that it would be hard to hide themselves. Some were the size of mountains," Lindara said with certainty. "Unless they somehow change their form, which I doubt they could do that."
Kaida returned to her experiment, but felt uneasy. An ominous feeling emerged unexpectedly. "Dison, something's wrong," she thought, gazing out the window at the evening sky.
The sound of footsteps on rock echoed through the islands of Golandria. On a plateau a little way from the city of Galeirian. "Aha, the mist that blinds my sight may yet bring forth my everlasting light." Delcres said dramatically as he looked through the sea of clouds.
"You really get on my nerves." Veltress stood behind him.
"If you ask me, the fool has always been a nuisance," Kaltros said as he stepped out of the portal, followed by others in black cloaks. Masks shaped like dragon features obscured their faces. They spread out across the plateau in all directions. "Just complete the mission," Kaltros added, in irritation.
"Kaltros, silence your tongue," a deep voice came from the portal as a tall giant of a man stepped through, wearing a blood-red cloak. "We are companions in the same endeavors."
"Yes, lord Drakonion." As big a man as Kaltros was, he still looked up to Drakonion, who was head and shoulders taller than he was. "I apologize for my insolence." He bowed.
Drakonion walked to the plateau's edge and looked out into the distance. "It's so calm here. It would be sad to disturb such a peaceful sound," he said as he listened to the waterfalls that calmed his mind. "But we must do what we are here to do. Draconis, are you ready?" He turned to look at another man in a blood-red cloak sitting up on a nearby rock.
The man sat with a brooding look on his face. "I am prepared to do what needs to be done, brother." He removed his hood to reveal a pale, sickly looking, frail face. Closing his eyes, he said. "COME." His voice calmly echoed through the sky.
The group remained silent for several minutes, gazing into the mist until a mighty roar shattered the stillness. The sound of enormous wings flapping grew louder. Delcres leaned over the edge, listening to the creatures stirring below. He caught glimpses of a black, scaly tail and outstretched wings in the mist.
A woman in a blue cloak stood behind Draconis, her hood obscuring all but her scarred mouth and neck, as if she had been burned a long time ago. "My brother, such a showman. Be careful, please."
Delcres drew his falchion and waved it around dramatically, pointing the sword at the woman. "Don't worry about me, Callista. My sword will cut through my foes as it swings, for tonight, death approaches on swift wings." He fell backward off the plateau's edge and disappeared into the mist.
Drakonion walked to the edge. "Kaltros, take care of our other visitors down below. Veltress, tend to our other matters."
"Yes, my lord." Veltress said as a portal swallowed her.
Kaltros walked to the edge of the ridge. "They think they're sneaky. I'll crush them." He dove into the mist from which the sound of monstrous groans was emanating.
Drakonion walked back to the portal they had all entered. He looked at the glowing white orb in the big open chamber, which excitedly swirled around. "Another offering to father."
Draconis looked at Drakonion and then turned away, sorrow reflected in his eyes. He sighed with shame. The creatures' roars and groans gradually faded into the distance. "The war begins now," he said regretfully, looking out into the mist.
Dison, Clara, Kale, and Rivera walked beside their griffins as the evening light faded. Dison glanced up at the overcast sky and was captivated by the floating islands above. They looked like mountains descending from the clouds, and he couldn't take his eyes off them.
"Our world is amazing, isn't it?" Rivera said, gazing at the waterfall that cascaded from the islands into the large rivers and lakes in the valleys below. The group arrived at a grassy plateau adorned with vibrant flowers.
Clara hopped off the griffin and walked to the edge of a cliff. She watched as the waterfall rushed down the valley walls, her excitement causing her to smile uncontrollably. "Such a wonder," she exclaimed.
Kale walked beside her. "So, where does this water come from?"
Clara pointed up to the islands above.
Kale looked up at the waterfall in disappointment. "Okay, I meant, how does the water get to the islands? There are no rivers that lead up to the sky," he said.
"I read that the magical crystals holding the islands produce water from the surrounding air. Their magic is so powerful that it pulls moisture from the atmosphere and creates the cleanest water. She approached a puddle at the edge of the cliff, cupping her hands to collect some water. Taking a sip, she savored its freshness."
Kale walked over and did the same. "It's definitely refreshing," he said.
"Isn't it now?" Clara asked with a smile and gazed into his eyes.
Kale gazed into her green eyes affectionately until he realized what he was doing. They quickly turned away from each other, both feeling embarrassed. "Sorry, I, um..."
"No, it's fine. Let's get moving," Clara said as she hastily stood up.
Dison and Rivera stood back at the griffins. Dison grabbed his bag off the griffin, threw it on the ground, and lay against it. "This is a good place to camp."
Rivera acknowledged him. "Yeah, I think we should go sightseeing in the morning before heading back to the ship." She sat down on a nearby rock and looked up at the clouds with islands hanging from them. The night was almost upon them with a smile. "This was worth it."
"Yeah it was," Dison agreed as he drank from his canteen. "So, how much trouble will we be in when we get back?"
Rivera laughed. "Don't worry, I got everything covered."
"I don't see how," Kale interrupted.
"Just trust us," Clara added.
"Alright, but if we get in trouble, I'm blaming you." Kale laughed.
Dison looked surprised at Kale; it was the first time he had seen him laugh since Danestria. However, he remained silent, allowing Kale to have his moment while he kept thinking about what Rosetta must be doing. The sound of the waterfalls was very soothing and relaxing. Hearing a loud groan of a beast, Dison stood and drew his sword.
Rivera stood up. "Something is out there," she said. She grabbed her bow from the nearby griffin as it panicked and gently petted it to calm it down. "Shhh. It's okay."
They all looked around as fog rolled in from all directions. Dison spotted a long, scaly tail waving in the distance before it disappeared. "What is that?"
Rivera's eyes widened in fear. "No, we need to leave right now!"
A deep, piercing roar echoed through the mist, resonating across the valley as the group prepared for battle.
Eldrisa gazed in wonder at the lake below the island, being filled by the water from the islands above. Her royal dress blew in the wind. Rosetta approached from behind, preparing to speak. Eldrisa heard Rosetta's boots clattering against the stone as she walked beside her. Eldrisa looked at Rosetta with a smirk. "You can talk. We're not all about looking down on humans."
"It's beautiful, isn't it, my lady?" Rosetta said with a friendly smile.
Eldrisa looked at her with gentle eyes. "It is. I'm glad I got to come. The view was worth the trip."
"Are you and the prince close?"
"We grew up together. Arminas is like a little brother to me."
"I believe he has a higher opinion of you," Rosetta said with a smile.
Eldrisa blushed and giggled. "You think so? He's always so nervous around me, but always stands up for me." She facepalmed. "I should've known this."
Rosetta laughed and placed her hands on her hips. "I feel like I've noticed you, too. If you feel the same way, why not act on it? I mean, he is a prince, after all."
"I couldn't," Eldrisa said with haste. "He's betrothed to another."
Rosetta placed her hand on Eldrisa's shoulder. "Don't let that stop you." She winked.
"Step away from Lady Eldrisa, human," said a voice behind them, belonging to someone in armor.
Rosetta turned to see the Damaltis walking toward them. "I didn't mean..."
"Hold your tongue. Another word, and I'll discipline you myself." Damaltis approached with his hand on his sword.
Eldrisa walked up to Damaltis and said, "That's enough. I gave her permission to speak with me."
"My lady, you should not even talk to such filth." Damaltis walked to Rosetta. "Talk to a noble again, and I'll throw you into the darkest hole I can find. Now, my lady, go back to the royal guard. Where you are safe."
Damaltis grabbed Eldrisa by the arm and guided her away from Rosetta.
"Let me go." Eldrisa pulled away from his grip. She looked at Rosetta with sorrow. "I'm sorry for his disrespect; it's just stupidity." She looked at Damaltis with disdain. "Forgive his arrogance."
"I do not need forgiveness from this inferior creature." Damaltis interrupted.
"It's alright," Rosetta said.
"What did I say, retch?" Damaltis raised his hand to strike Rosetta, but the sound of armor clanked as Rosan grabbed his arm. "What? You dare lay your filthy hand on an imperial royal guard!" He tried jerking away, but Rosan held tight. "Let go! This instant!"
"You must have a death wish. Rosetta here could tear you apart," Rosan said with contempt. "And if she won't. I will. Don't you ever try to lay a hand on my soldiers, you hear?" Rosan released Damaltis's hand.
Damaltis grasped the hilt of his sword. "You disgusting parasite. You dare touch a captain of the royal guard. "He drew his sword; the sound drew the attention of the guards behind Rosan. The sound of metal grinding against metal filled the air as they drew their weapons, causing Rosan to smirk. "You sure you want to do this?"
"That's enough! Please stand down!" Eldrisa commanded.
"You've forgotten your place, human," Damaltis said, pointing his sword at Rosan's face. "Beneath my feet. Where you should be groveling."
Rosan surveyed the situation with a smirk. "It takes an entire squad to defeat a mere human."
Damaltis's eyes burned with growing fury behind his helmet. "You will suffer for your arrogance, Commander."
Rosan placed his hand on the hilt of his weapon, his expression turning serious. His breathing slowed as he felt the mist from the nearby falls on his face. He looked at Rosetta, who was concerned. Talbis, Urision, and Elayne walked toward the situation with weapons drawn. Rosan looked at Damaltis and said, after a sigh. "We don't want to hurt any of you! Don't make us!"
Damaltis's eyes remained unwavering. "I will have you punished for your..."
"The hero charges forward with bravery, and his blade triumphs with gallantry!" A resonant voice echoed across the vast expanse of the sky, capturing the attention of everyone below. Faces turned upward, eyes wide with wonder as they searched for the source of the mysterious sound, each person caught in a moment of shared confusion. "Though his heart fills with sorrow, for those he encounters will not see tomorrow!"
Rosan recalled the voice from that day back in the village, all of those years ago. "Damn it." He drew his sword with haste. "Be prepared for anything! This is no normal foe!"
Rosetta positioned Eldrisa behind her. "Stay close to me," she instructed as she searched around with caution.
Eldrisa felt a shiver run down her spine as a monstrous growl echoed through the air, grabbing her attention. She turned toward the waterfall, where shimmering waters cascaded down, and her eyes widened in fear. Through the misty spray, the formidable shape of a creature emerged—its massive wings unfurling like dark clouds and its long, sinuous tail whipping through the air. Its glowing eyes created an ominous presence, filling the group with impending danger.