I climb onto his back, wrapping my hands tightly around the smaller horns of his neck. Eulee is nestled in his claw, looking small and vulnerable against his massive talons. With a mighty flap of his wings, we ascend into the sky, leaving the city behind us. I glance back and see Phirel watching us with a tense expression on his face.
As we cross the southern borders of Endia and enter into Kaladis territory, the scenery undergoes a complete transformation. The clouds part beneath us revealing the glass dome of the library, bringing a comforting feeling to me as I take it all in.
Theo descends gracefully onto the soft lawn in front of the majestic library, carefully lowering Eulee to the ground. Alyndra bursts out of the building, her eyes widening at thesight of Theo’s magnificent Dragon form. It dawns on me that this is her first time seeing him like this.
“You sure do know how to make an entrance, Princess.” She says cleverly. I dismount and walk over to her, Eulee tagging along at my side. Theo, still in his Dragon form, extends his head towards Alyndra, his scales glistening in the sunlight. She hesitates for a moment before gently placing a hand on his muzzle. The moment lingers, and I know there’s a connection forming between them, one that is both powerful and delicate.
Alyndra takes a step back, her eyes widening as Theo shifts down into his elven form. His wings fold away and suddenly he’s standing there in all his glory, not a stitch on him. Alyndra’s eyebrows shoot up, her gaze dropping southward before she catches herself.
“Well,” she says with a low whistle, “I guess ‘Dragon’ applies in more ways than one.”
I feel my cheeks flush as I hastily shrug off my coat and toss it to Theo. He catches it with a grin, wrapping it around his waist.
“I think I finally understand why Rose is so... cheerful now days,” Alyndra quips, fanning herself dramatically.
Theo winks at me, clearly enjoying the reaction. “What can I say? It’s not easy being me.”
Alyndra clears her throat, gesturing towards the library. “As... enlightening as this has been, maybe we should take thisinside? I’d hate for our battle plans to be overshadowed by your... other assets.”
I sneak a glance at Theo, and his eyes widen in awe as we enter the massive library. His gaze roams over the towering shelves, filled with books of all shapes and sizes.
Alyndra leads us to a central reading table made of polished crystal. We all take our seats around it, marveling at its beauty. With a snap of her fingers, a dazzling array of pastries and steaming cups of tea suddenly appear before us.
“I’m sure you’re all famished after your journey,” Alyndra says kindly as she invites us to indulge in the delectable treats. My stomach grumbles in agreement as I eagerly reach for a plump round sweet roll and a delicate teacup.
“And Eulee?” I ask hopefully. She gives me a knowing smirk and snaps her fingers. Suddenly, a large round plate of raw rabbit meat materializes on the floor. My patient wolf immediately pads over to it, sniffing before digging in hungrily. A bowl of water also appears next to the plate, and I gratefully thank Alyndra for her thoughtfulness.
Alyndra begins, “Ruvyn has a penchant for hiding within the most intricate of spells, ones that cannot be easily disrupted. If we are to find Mikyl, we must first locate the entrance to the Fortress of Silence... and that… in and of itself will be no easy feat. He will have it well hidden, surrounded by protective spells and traps.” She pauses, drumming her fingers on the table. “The task ahead of us is certainly daunting, but if we want to help your friend, we must be ready for whatever challenges may come our way.”
Alyndra unrolls a worn map, the edges wrinkled and stained from years of use. I lean in closer to study the intricate details of Quillyan displayed before me. My eyes trace the jagged lines of mountains and valleys, taking in the vastness of this land—our land. Alyndra’s finger draws along the southern coast of Kaladis Territory, just south of the towering Temple of Felix.
“We should make our way by foot to the edge of land,” she pauses and looks up at Theo. “We need to reserve your strength as much as possible. But from there the fastest way will be to fly by Dragon back across the Sapphire Siren’s Sea. We’re looking at about a full daylight’s worth of travel.”
I long for the ability to translocate all of us instantly to our destination, but my new-found powers are still in need of refinement, and time is not on our side. Every second counts as we embark on this journey, and I fear my abilities may not be enough to ensure our success.
“I think it would be best to have more daylight when we arrive at the mountain. Don’t you?” I question, motioning toward Alyndra.
“Yes and no…” She responds trepidatiously. “I know it may seem safer in the grand scheme of things, but I really think it would be easier to find the entrance if it were the only light we could see engraved within a dark mountain.”
I consider the timing for a few seconds before answering. “If we depart immediately, and nothing unexpected occurs or causes any delays, we should reach our destination in the early hours of the morning. This will give us ample time to see the entrance before dawn.”
Alyndra carefully rolls the map up before replying, “Well then, shall we begin?”
Chapter Thirty
Rocks and dirt crunch beneath my feet as we trek along the rugged path south. The golden rays of the setting sun paint the western mountains in a breathtaking array of warm hues and dark shadows. Our path is lined with towering trees that sway gently in the breeze. Eulee bounds along at our side, her energy matching our own.
The roadway changes from dirt to cobblestone as we reach the outskirts of Beetlebark—a small Human town—tucked away between the Whispering Woods. Eulee’s fur stands on end as she lets out a loud, piercing bark and sprints forward. Theo’s eyes widen with curiosity as hequickens his pace to keep up with her.
“She claims to hear Lenna’s voice,” he shares, beckoning for me to listen more closely. My heart races with excitement at the thought of seeing my friends again.
Eulee’s tail wags enthusiastically as Lenna and Ava lav-ish her with hugs and affection. I can see the joy on all their faces as I get closer to the group.
Lenna catches sight of me and exclaims, “Rosanhi!” Her voice is filled with joy as she rushes towards me with open arms. Ava follows close behind, her bright blue eyes gleam-ing with love.
I wrap my arms around them both tightly, feeling tears prick at my eyes. We stand there for a moment, savoring the euphoria of our reunion. Theo and Alyndra hang back a few steps, observing us with warm smiles. Theo’s eyes glis-ten with emotion as he senses the depth of our bond.
“It’s been too long,” I whisper, gazing into Lenna’s smil-ing face. She nods in agreement, tears threatening to spill over. As we pull apart from our embrace, Lenna’s gaze shifts and her eyes widen in shock.