Page 15 of Heatbound Hearts

"Crystal formations," Zyx explains, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. "They absorb and emit magical energy. Some even communicate with gifted noctari."

I shake my head in amazement. "Communicating crystals. Unbelievable."

Kairos and Naia are just behind us, listening and walking, though they mostly talk between the two of them. I find myself grateful for that, wanting Zyx to myself.

I've never felt that way before.

As we continue, I notice the ground beneath our feet subtly shifting. It's as if the earth itself is alive, breathing. Zyx catches my questioning glance.

"Oltyx's influence," he says with a hint of pride. "The land here is ever-changing, always in motion."

Suddenly, a low rumble echoes through the air. I tense, old instincts kicking in, but Zyx places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Look," he whispers, pointing to our left.

My jaw drops as I witness a mountain literally moving, its peak slowly rotating like the hand of a giant clock. The sight is both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

"Living mountains," I breathe, remembering Zyx's earlier explanations about Terramyst's unique features.

As we walk, I notice strange, glowing fungi dotting the forest floor. Their soft bioluminescence reminds me of the stories I'd heard as a child about fairy lights. Zyx plucks one and offers it to me.

"It's edible," he says with a smile. "A delicacy, actually."

I hesitate for a moment before taking a small bite. The taste explodes on my tongue - earthy, sweet, and unlike anything I've ever experienced.

I turn toward Naia, seeing her eyes wide as she does the same. "Woah," she says. "That's incredible."

I giggle, finding that it's been so long since I could just enjoy myself that I'm clinging to moment. With another human, a demon, and a noctari.

How odd.

We come to a river, but it's like no river I've ever seen. Instead of water, it flows with what appears to be liquid gemstones, a kaleidoscope of colors shimmering in the perpetual twilight.

"Rivers of flowing gemstones," I murmur. "It's beautiful."

As we continue our journey, I find myself drawn closer to Zyx. His presence is comforting in this strange new world, andI can't help but feel safe when he's near. His wings, currently folded against his back, catch the light in mesmerizing patterns.

I'm struck by how different the noctari are from humans. Zyx towers over me, his lithe form graceful and strong. His skin shifts colors subtly as we walk, adapting to our surroundings. It's fascinating to watch.

A deep, resonant hum fills the air, growing louder as we travel. "What's that sound?" I ask.

Zyx's eyes light up. "That's the song of Terramyst itself. The very essence of Oltyx's realm."

I close my eyes for a moment, letting the vibrations wash over me. It feels ancient and powerful, yet somehow soothing.

As we continue our journey, I find myself drawing parallels between the wonders of Terramyst and the myths and legends I grew up hearing on Earth. The moving mountains remind me of the Greek titan Atlas, forever holding up the sky.

"You know," I say to Zyx, "on Earth, we had stories of a giant who carried the weight of the heavens on his shoulders. These living mountains make me think of him."

Zyx's silver eyes sparkle with curiosity. "Really? Tell me more about these Earth stories."

His genuine interest warms my heart. "Well, we had tales of gods and magical creatures too. Like the Norse god Thor, who controlled thunder and lightning with his hammer."

As I speak, I notice Naia listening intently. She turns to me with a bemused expression. "It's fascinating how different our myths are. On Protheka, we had completely different legends."

"Oh?" I ask, eager to learn more. We're both human, but planets apart.

Naia nods, her curly hair bouncing slightly. "We had stories of the Thirteen instead of the Seven. Or I did, growing up with dark elves."

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