In this unfamiliar territory, my true-old guide was a schedule. How nice. As I neared the gates, a sharp sting of uncertainty pierced me. Did I remember to inform Erebus of my departure? Or had I neglected this essential detail? A wave of guilt and anxiety washed over me. Despite being in the company of two trusted members of the guardians, Fulgor and Calida, there was no guarantee that my plans had been communicated to the rest. I contemplated retracing my steps to find Erebus. I had always been punctual, if not early, for any appointment or obligation. It was in my nature, fueled by the fear of disappointing others or missing out on something significant. But before I could act on this instinct, a loud thump echoed, followed by a gust of cold air. Fulgor and Calida had landed beside me, their massive griffin bodies casting long shadows over the terrain. Their flight had been so silent that I hadn't noticed their arrival until they were right next to me.

"Good morning, Raphael," Fulgor greeted me, a smirk on his face. "Having second thoughts?"

"Perhaps," I admitted with a hint of reluctance.

"Are you scared of exploring the world beyond?" he teased.

"No, I'm just concerned I might not have the permission to. Did you inform the others about this?" I asked, yearning for some reassurance.

"Of course we did. Isn't that right, Calida?" He turned to his partner, who appeared distracted.

"Uh oh. Sorry, what? I was zoning out," she confessed, somewhat embarrassed.

"Come on, Calida! Did we or did we not discuss with the guardians about taking little Raphael for a city visit?" His tone was laced with irritation.

"Oh yes, we absolutely did. Don't worry. They're fine with it, but remember, you should never leave our side," she responded hastily, attempting to sound convincing.

But her words did little to assuage my doubts. She could have been fibbing to mollify Fulgor or to evade further confrontation. I wished I could trust them, but something in their eyes suggested otherwise.

I nodded in agreement and followed them without further questioning. The guards opened the still shut gates for us, given the early hour. "So, are you up for a flight of... some hours?" one of them asked. I hesitated for a moment, glancing back at my wings, almost as if I had forgotten their existence, then asked, "What do you mean by 'some hours'?" He replied, "The kingdom is about five hours away by air, if you can keep up with our pace, of course." Calida chimed in, "We can take breaks every couple of hours if you need it." I considered how my wings didn't seem to sap any energy from me. They never made me feel weary, for some magical reason. I responded, "I think I can manage." He nodded and then said, "Just out of curiosity, could you spread your wings for a moment?" I was uncertain about his intention, but I obliged. He said, "Yep, you won't have any trouble with them. Nice wings, by the way." Calida added, "They look familiar to me." Fulgor, sounding annoyed, told her, "Oh, come on! Spread your wings too." She did as instructed, albeit confused. He said, "Now look at them," and she examined her own wings. Then she looked at mine and hers again and finally realized, "Oh, I see. Same shape." Fulgor said impatiently, "Alright, enough staring. Let's take off already. The sooner we leave, the sooner we get there." I waited for them to take off first. Calida went ahead. I expected Fulgor to follow her, and then me to go after them. Instead, he said, "You go next." I took off and caught up with Calida in no time. He trailed behind us shortly after. I didn’t know much about flying in formation, so I just flew next to Calida. But as soon as Fulgor got closer, she said, "Don't stay next to me. You'll tire out faster that way." I apologized and moved back a bit. Fulgor finally reached us. "Clearly, you’ve never flown with anyone before. Didn’t Akira teach you how to fly?" he asked. I said, "Only once, actually." He sighed and said, "Aargh, fine, I’ll give you a quick lesson then. Let’s start with this." He flew next to Calida on her left side, slightly behind her. I watched them from above. He said, "Now do the same thing on her right side. Symmetrically." I descended to their level and flew to her right side in the same position as him. "Stop right there," he said. I asked him, "What now?" He said, "You're good now. Just maintain your position." He flew above and to my right, then back again, until we were all three in a diagonal line.

We alternated our positions occasionally, mainly for practice. I didn’t notice much difference in the formation, but I assumed it mattered to them, so I complied. Then the air shifted. We were approaching towering mountains, flying below their peaks without any attempt to ascend above them. Perhaps they sensed that I harbored no fear of heights. Our communication was minimal, relying more on gestures than words. Time was elusive without a watch, and boredom began to seep in. I distracted myself by admiring the scenery and avoiding the glaring sun, which continued its upward journey, growing hotter with each passing minute. The wind served as a cooling relief. I wondered how I evaded sunburn. They had feathers for protection, while I only had my clothes and skin, a pale skin that had recently acquired a tan. We were nearing our destination when something struck Calida in the eye. It happened right after we switched places, and I briefly took the lead. Calida cried out, "Agh, I can’t see." I assumed it was an insect that hit her, as did Fulgor. Then I felt some drops of blood on me. I said, "You’re bleeding," and tried to get in front of her for a closer look. She said, "I know." Fulgor asked, "What’s going on back there?" I said, "She’s bleeding from both eyes." Fulgor sounded annoyed as usual. He said, "Really? This happens every time, damn it. Fine, let’s land." He guided her to the ground near a small stream in the plains. We landed, and she recovered quickly. There was no lasting damage. A little cleaning, and it was over. She had a scratch that ran from the back of her beak to her eye. She must have hit something hard to leave such a mark, even though we were flying at a moderate speed. I wondered what hit her without reaching a conclusion, but I was glad I wasn’t hit by it.

Our journey through the sky resumed. The sun was high above us, casting a sharp shadow on the ground below. It was not yet summer, but the air was warm and clear. We flew at a moderate pace, maintaining our close formation. Calida was in the center, with Fulgor leading and me trailing behind. I watched her carefully, ready to give the alarm if she faltered. But no further troubles occurred. The city, or kingdom as some referred to it, was visible from afar. The terms seemed interchangeable to them, but to me, they were all kingdoms, encased by walls that offered minimal protection from aerial threats. I spotted a guard griffin donning an absurdly bulky and poorly designed armor. It appeared more ceremonial than practical, but I suppose it lent him a certain air of authority.

We had not journeyed here for leisure, however. Our task was of a more serious nature, and our arrival was not met with universal approval. Upon crossing the city's threshold, a swift messenger took flight to herald our coming. Shortly thereafter, we were greeted by a vibrant griffin adorned with an array of colorful trinkets and artificial tints on her plumage. She served as an aide to the queen.

"Welcome back to the Griffin’s City, Fulgor and Calida," she greeted with a respectful bow.

Turning towards me, she added, "And a hearty welcome to you as well, stranger. My name is Mira. It's an honor to make your acquaintance!"

I reciprocated the courtesy with a nod and replied, "Thank you. I’m Raphael."

Her warmly said, "Ah, you must be the one the queen has spoken so fondly of. She is quite excited to meet you."

A suspicious eyebrow arched on my face, "Indeed? And how does she come to know of me?"

Her chuckle echoed in the air as she shot a glance at Fulgor, who wore a sheepish expression.

"Well, you know how swiftly rumors circulate around here. I apologize if this unsettles you," he confessed.

A wave of annoyance washed over me as I retorted, "No, what unsettles me is that despite the considerable distance from the other city, everyone seems to be privy to my existence. Who else should I anticipate recognizing me? Perhaps a dark lord with a network of spies?"

An uncomfortable silence descended upon us. He stared at me, alarm evident in his eyes, "How do you know about the dark lord?"

The realization that I had divulged too much struck me. I had heard about the dark lord from Zeno, but no one else had breathed a word of him to me. Attempting to maintain my composure, I feigned ignorance, "What? There’s a dark lord?"

The silence endured, escalating the tension. The pause was palpably awkward.

Mira swiftly intervened, "This conversation has overstayed its welcome. The queen has been kept waiting long enough, given your arrival." I nodded in agreement, "Fair enough. But are they accompanying us?" I gestured towards the other griffins who had escorted us. "Indeed they are," she responded briskly. Then, much as she had done with Fulgor, her gaze lingered on my wings as we readied ourselves for departure. "May I inspect your wings for a moment, if you don't mind?" I shrugged and obliged. It was no inconvenience to me. I unfurled my wings for her examination. She circled around them, marveling at their beauty, "How exquisite, and such unusual hues: yellow, blue, and traces of red." "Ow!" I yelped as a sharp pain shot through my wings. She had plucked one of my larger feathers, causing me considerable discomfort. "What was that for?" I demanded. A chuckle escaped her as she held the feather in her talons, "Oh, nothing. Just needed one. Don't fret over the reason." I glared at her, "Really?" I inspected the spot from where the feather had been plucked. It glowed briefly, before a new feather sprouted, restoring my wing to its original state. Mira murmured under her breath, "I wish I could regrow my feathers like that too." Overhearing her, I retorted, "You're fortunate I can. Otherwise, you would have deprived me of a beautiful feather." She neither apologized nor responded, merely gesturing for me to follow her. We soared towards another spot within the city walls, a higher point in the city.

I took the opportunity to survey my surroundings. The buildings towered above us, their entrances and windows inaccessible from the ground. This city was unmistakably designed solely for griffins. It was a vibrant city, predominantly constructed from wood. I couldn't help but wonder about the potential catastrophe if a fire griffin were to lose control here. The entire city could be engulfed in flames. However, there were numerous water sources scattered around. Fountains and streams of pristine water flowed abundantly. I noted a prevalent fashion trend of large feathers accented with red and white, but I didn't spot any griffins or feathers naturally bearing these colors. In no time, we arrived at our destination. The lack of guards at the entrance took me by surprise. The building, although not as grand as Queen Aetherius's castle, was still the most prominent structure in this vicinity.

As I trailed Mira into the building, I became aware that Fulgor and Calida were no longer with us. It was just Mira and I, and the unseen occupants lurking in the shadows of this place. We ventured deeper into the building until we reached an open gate. Through it, a stunning array of colorful glass came into view, shifting and glimmering in a mesmerizing dance of light that painted the walls and floor with a vibrant kaleidoscope. I was so entranced by the spectacle that I failed to notice the queen wasn’t before me, but rather, behind me.

"HELLO!" A booming voice jolted me from my reverie, causing me to whirl around in surprise. There stood another griffin, bearing resemblance to Mira albeit with a more harmonious color scheme. Her plumage was a blend of purple, white, and light blue, perfectly mirroring her vivacious personality. She, too, shared Mira's affinity for colors. "You startled me," I admitted, attempting to steady my racing pulse. She laughed heartily, "I know. I did it deliberately. Nice wings, by the way." I sighed inwardly. It appeared everyone was captivated by my wings. I silently hoped Mira hadn’t disclosed their regenerative abilities, or they might attempt to harvest me for an endless supply of feathers. Fortunately, this did not transpire, and I soon found myself engaged in a conversation, or rather, an introduction, with the queen.

"Thank you, I suppose. And you are?" I asked politely. She beamed and responded, "I’m Queen Astra, Astra Rhea, but you can simply call me Astra." I nodded in acknowledgement, "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty, Astra. I’m Raphael. But you probably already knew that." She reciprocated the nod, "Indeed, I’ve heard about you. It’s delightful to finally meet you in person." I replied, "The honor is mine. It seems I’ve acquired quite a reputation of late. I’m uncertain whether that’s a blessing or a curse." She cocked her head, a question in her eyes, "Why not? Popularity can be enjoyable. Does it intimidate you?" I shook my head, "No, it’s just that a lot has transpired in a short span of time." She chuckled, "Well, relax. There’s nothing to fret over. Come along, let me show you something."

She navigated me through a labyrinth of corridors, leaving Mira behind. A flicker of unease sparked within me at the prospect of being alone with such a powerful and unfamiliar figure, but I quelled it and followed her. She unveiled a collection of large, vibrant feathers, each labeled with a name underneath. She explained that they were relics of the kings and queens who had reigned here before her, pointing out their portraits mounted above the feathers. Next, she highlighted some honorable mentions: feathers or nametags accompanied by brief descriptions of some notable guardians who had served here. Some of them were dragons. A few names were familiar, taken from the tales I had heard from Mira and others, but some were new to me.

My gaze fell upon an empty frame bearing my name, and a sudden chill of dread swept over me. I realized I was about to forfeit another feather. She spoke in a commanding tone, "As a queen, I require a tribute from you." I inquired, "What type of tribute? What do you seek from me? Do you require my assistance?" She gestured to the frame, "Do you see that? It would be a privilege and an honor to display a token of yours there." I pondered aloud, "What makes me worth of such honor, if I may ask?" She responded, "I am aware you are part of a prophecy, so I anticipate you will perform great deeds." I replied, "That remains to be seen, but I appreciate your faith." She then summoned Mira. Mira reached us and said, "I’m here, Astra." Astra instructed her, "Please extract a couple of feathers from Raphael." I protested, "Wait, let me brace myself for the pain. Besides, I didn’t consent to this." Before I could finish, Mira plucked another feather: "Agh!" Then another one, and another one swiftly after. They regenerated instantly. Astra bore witness to this and exclaimed, "See! I told you, you were destined for greatness. You possess the ability to regenerate feathers in mere seconds." I responded, "Thank you, but I’d prefer to retain them since losing them is quite painful." She retorted sarcastically, "You’ll get used to it, my dear." I wished to counter, but held my tongue. She personally placed the feather in the frame, like a prize, while I watched and pondered whether I would ever be able to reclaim it. It didn’t matter. When she was done, we ventured outside and resumed our discussion. They spoke of matters I had little knowledge of, such as life in the Kingdom of Aura. I couldn’t contribute much since my stay there had been brief and restricted to a certain area. I refrained from mentioning the conduct of the authorities that I had witnessed and, fortuitously so, because the authorities here didn't seem much different. Outside, the queen bombarded me with questions about my origins while Mira attempted to aid me by slowing down the queen's rapid-fire inquiries or interrupting her tactfully. The queen was amiable enough and didn't take offense easily. She even probed into how I arrived here and my personal relationships with Akira and Fyrenthos. She seemed intent on extracting every iota of information from me. It was overwhelming. I tried to answer one question, but before I could complete my response, she'd throw another one at me. It was draining. Eventually, Mira proposed something that the queen agreed to: "I believe Raphael could use a break since he journeyed all the way from the city and hasn't rested yet. Are you feeling tired, Raphael?" I seized her intent to assist me and feigned exhaustion: "Yes, I'm somewhat weary. I would appreciate that. Thank you." Astra failed to detect the lie and said, "Of course, my apologies. I want you to feel at home here. Mira, please show him where he can rest for a while. In the meantime, I'll be around. You still have to tell me about your first flying lesson." Mira acknowledged, "I’m on it. Thank you, Astra."

I took advantage of the opportunity to escape from the queen’s presence, with Mira as my guide. We put some distance between us and the royal building, and I whispered my gratitude to her. "Thank you. Truly. She’s quite a handful, isn’t she?" Mira responded in a louder tone, "I'm well aware. She’s my sister after all." I was taken aback by this revelation. "Really? Does that mean you’re a princess too?" She shrugged. "Technically yes, but only by lineage." I sensed there was more to the story, but I refrained from prying further. I didn’t want to be as intrusive as the queen had been. We ventured further into the city, where I hoped to catch a glimpse of Fulgor or Calida, but they were nowhere to be found. I queried Mira, "Do you have any idea where Fulgor and Calida might be? I was instructed to stay near them at all times." She frowned slightly, a hint of concern coloring her expression. "I'm not certain. I believe they went to visit some of their friends, as they often do when they come here. I lost sight of them too." A wave of anxiety washed over me. "Do we have a rendezvous point and time? I’m unfamiliar with this city. I feel somewhat disoriented, and I don’t know when I should return." She smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry, you’re not expected to return today. You’ll spend the night here, and then you’ll join them sometime tomorrow." I was confused. "Oh, alright. I wasn’t aware of that. They told me something different." We continued our amiable conversation as she showed me around the palace grounds and later, the city streets. Everything was fine until it was time to head back to the palace rooms. We flew across the city from the opposite side, under the cover of night. Only a handful of griffins were still out and about, and we flew close to some buildings that were lit to help us navigate. That was when I encountered trouble. I lagged behind Mira for a moment and lost sight of her. I tried to catch up with her without drawing too much attention.

The moonlit sky was my canvas as I soared through it, only to be abruptly ambushed by a trio of griffins. I was snatched from the air and hurled across the cityscape, crashing into a building with a force that sucked the breath from my lungs. The impact was so fierce, I found myself unable to make any sound to call out for Mira. Dazed and disoriented, I found myself in a dark, unfamiliar place. The only illumination came from a window where two griffins perched menacingly. The third griffin had me pinned to the ground, his talons biting into my neck. His voice dripped with mockery as he said, “You should be more cautious, winged stranger, when you fly alone at night in the city.” I longed to retort, but fear and breathlessness held my tongue hostage. He continued his taunting, “Good, you keep your silence. Not that you have many options.” Another griffin queried, “What now? Is this the one?” The griffin restraining me scrutinized me once more, relaxing his grip slightly. He confirmed, “Yes, it’s him.” The other griffin crowed with delight, “Excellent! I wonder how much the Faded Feather will pay us for his capture.”

Seizing the opportunity their distraction provided, I reached for the blade I had concealed at my side. It was more akin to a dagger, really. With it, I slashed at the back of the griffin's leg, aiming to sever his tendons. A muffled scream escaped him as he released me. He snarled, "You cunning little cur. Don’t move.” Ignoring him, I gasped for air and scanned the room for an exit. I spotted an unlocked door and made a run for it. The other two griffins lunged at me with such ferocity that they would have crushed me had they caught me. I managed to escape into another room, which was brighter than the previous one. The building was deserted except for an open window. It was small, but large enough for me to squeeze through. It was a potential hindrance for them. Adrenaline surged through me and I made a break for it. I barely managed to flap my wings and escape outside. I darted into the first street I saw, twisting and turning at random corners to lose them. I was clueless about my whereabouts, and I knew that flying higher would make me more visible. Less than a minute later, I saw the same three griffins in the sky, scanning the area for me. I concealed myself in a dark corner, so dark that I could barely see my hand in front of me. They didn't spot me, but one was always nearby, ready to pounce if I made the slightest movement. I was trapped. I prayed for someone to come to my aid or for them to abandon their pursuit. Even the wounded griffin seemed doggedly determined to capture me. His leg was drenched in blood, which shimmered in the moonlight. I remained statue-still for what seemed like an eternity, the chill of the night seeping into my bones. I knew I had to move, but I dared not.

Suddenly, other voices broke the silence. The voices of the sentinels and the guards. “Get down. You’re wounded,” one of them ordered the griffin I had injured earlier. He ignored the command and fled with his companions. Another griffin, who had been hiding in a cloud high above, swooped down and bellowed, “Halt, Slashers!” They ignored him, so he slammed into one of them with a resounding thud. They crashed behind some buildings, out of my sight, but I could hear the ruckus. The remaining two ‘Slashers’, turned back and attempted to rescue their fallen comrade from the guards. That was my chance to escape. They had bigger fish to fry now.

Still, I dared not fly high, unsure if the guards would recognize me or attack me due to my unusual appearance. I skulked through the deserted streets, peeking around every corner, fearful of another ambush. I managed to find my way to the palace, following the same street all the way up. It took me half an hour of walking, but I finally reached it. There was no one I recognized there, nor any guards to whom I almost wished to surrender, hoping for their protection. Their absence was explained by the fact that they were all searching for me in the air, flying at such a height that they were hard to spot. They were scanning the streets below, trying to locate me despite the darkness and distance. One of them eventually spotted me and yelled, “Freeze.” I obeyed. Another one heard him and asked, “Is that him?” He approached me and asked, “Are you alright?” I replied, “I am now.” He confirmed to his colleague, “Yes, it’s him. Alert the others.” He reassured me, “Come with me, we’ll escort you back.” Then he noticed the blood on my clothes, which was not mine. My own blood had evaporated into the air in a bright light shortly after I had escaped from the griffins. The cut on my neck had healed as if it had never been there. He asked me, “Are you hurt?” I answered calmly, “I was, but I’ve healed.” He said, “That’s good. We’ve had some trouble tonight, but at least we got to you before they did.” I corrected him, “They did get to me.” He apologized, “I’m sorry about that. We’ll deal with them later. For now, let me introduce myself. I’m Jax.” We returned to the palace, where I cleaned myself up and reunited with Mira. She was worried and angry with the queen, who blamed her for letting me go. They bickered like sisters, even though one was a queen and the other an assistant but also princess. I tried to defuse the situation as best as I could. But even after everything was settled, I still could not see Fulgor and Calida. Eventually, I felt tired, which was unusual for me, but not unpleasant. I felt like a normal living being. The palace offered me a lavish room for the night, but I hardly noticed its opulence. I craved only peace and rest after the harrowing ordeal. The night did not unfold as I had hoped. I had heard of the city’s nocturnal attractions, but I had to forgo them because of the mishap.

The next morning, I faced another unpleasant encounter, not with the queen, but with the captain of the guards and Mira. Mira was supposed to watch over me, but she had lost track. I wondered why I hadn’t heard her call my name when she realized I was gone. Perhaps I was too focused on escaping or too panicked to notice. In any case, the captain interrogated me relentlessly. He was an old griffin, black as a raven, with a keen eye for details and a knack for asking probing questions. I had to think carefully before answering anything about what had transpired.

When he was satisfied with my account, he led me and a group of guards to a remote location near the city, at the foot of a mountain. It was a prison, a grim outpost where the lawbreakers awaited their fate. There I saw my assailants again, chained to the wall, not even granted the dignity of a cell. They were not alone; there were others like them, all silent and watched by vigilant guards. The captain asked me to identify my attackers from a safe distance. I saw their hateful eyes on me, burning with murderous rage. I was about to point them out, starting with the wounded one, but he erupted into flames and thrashed against his chains, spewing curses and names I didn’t recognize. His fire was useless against the metal, and he barely moved an inch. He sprouted another pair of wings, but the guards swiftly sliced them off. The severed wings vanished along with his hope. Unfazed by his outburst, I pointed at all three of them with a smug grin, feeling like a lucky victor in a battle.

They were dragged away to some darker place, while the others remained in their chains. I didn’t know why they were there, whether they were suspects or convicts, but one of them caught my attention. He was smaller and younger than the rest, and he shared the queen’s colors. He looked different from the others; he was sobbing and trembling, terrified of everything and everyone. He even begged me for help, but I was powerless to do anything for him. I didn’t know what he had done or what would become of him.

I glared at him with a look of disappointment but said nothing. The chief had already interrogated me twice, asking me to identify the attackers and recount every detail of the ordeal. I repeated that there were only three of them, no more, and that I had never seen them before. He nodded and gestured for me to follow him. We left the place where they had held me captive and headed back to the city. I was ready to leave this nightmare behind.

At the gates, the queen was waiting for us, her eyes red and swollen. She tried to apologize, as if she was responsible for what had happened to me. I told her not to blame herself or her sister. I liked Mira, she was kind and friendly, even though she had snatched a valuable feather from me the first time we met. I also saw Fulgor and Calida, who looked confused and curious. They had not been informed of the incident, but they sensed something was wrong when they saw the queen in tears and Mira in distress. I decided to take charge and lead them back to our city, promising to explain everything on the way. We took off, escorted by some guards, until we were out of sight of the walls. Then they turned back and left us alone.

That was when I started asking questions of my own. I wanted to know where Fulgor and Calida had been, and why they had disobeyed the guardians’ orders. They claimed that they had acted in good faith, but they seemed nervous. “You don’t want to know why they were so worried about me, do you?” I asked them. Fulgor’s voice was tense as he said, “I hope you didn’t offend anyone here.” I snapped back, “Of course not, but I was attacked.” Calida gasped and asked, “What do you mean by attacked? Did they force you to do something you didn’t want to do, or say something you didn’t like?” I shook my head and said, “No, they tried to kidnap me.” Fulgor exclaimed, “WHAT?! No way, nobody kidnaps anyone in this city.” I said, “I wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t experienced it.” Calida asked, “Wait, so what happened? Were you involved in that commotion with the guards last night?” I nodded and said, “Yes, I was with Mira when three griffins ambushed me and crashed me into a building. They called themselves the Faded Feathers and mentioned a guy named similarly. Do you know anything about him?” Calida blurted out, “Isn’t that what your sons call you, Fulgor?” He slapped her to silence her and said, “NO.”

I stopped in mid-air, feeling a surge of suspicion. I stared at Fulgor and said, “What?!” He stammered, “No, I don’t have any sons and I’ve never heard that name before, I swear.” I said, “Well, they wanted to kidnap me and bring me to him for a reward. Too bad for them, they got arrested. Also, you were nowhere to be seen all day. How convenient.” Fulgor’s face turned red with anger, and he said, “No, this is just your speculation. We need to get back to the kingdom now.” I shook my head and made up my mind: “Nope, I’m not going with you. I’m going back to the Kingdom of Aura alone. You’re hiding something from me, and I don’t want to be any part of it. Goodbye.” I flew higher, heading towards the direction of the kingdom. Calida called out, “Wait, don’t go alone. I’ll come with you.” Fulgor shouted at her, “No, stay here. Let him go.” She ignored him and followed me.

She caught up with me and gestured for me to follow her. It seemed like we had a plan to escape from him, but it involved flying into the clouds, which I doubted was a smart idea. As soon as we entered the misty realm, a flash of light pierced through the fog. It was Fulgor, trying to stop us, but we didn’t slow down. I had lost my faith in Fulgor, but I still trusted Calida. We managed to evade him and soared above the clouds, heading for the mountains as fast as we could. There, we landed on a patch of snow, cold but serene. I asked her, “What the hell is going on? What do you know about him that I need to know?” She answered, still panting and relieved to have reached a safe spot. “I knew his second name. I just wasn’t sure if it was true.” I said, “So… do we have to warn the others? I’m glad you confirmed it, and thanks for helping me get away. What now?” She said, “It’s not over yet. We must take another route. He’ll surely send someone to intercept us. I know where to go.” I asked her innocently, like a child, the kind of question that no one would refuse: “Okay then, but can I trust you?” She said, “That’s up to you. I think you can. I want to help you get back to the kingdom of Aura. Then we’ll figure this out and you’ll help me with it.” I agreed, “Fine, I believe you.” She said, “Follow me. There’s a portal here. It’s hidden. We can use it to get a shortcut to the kingdom.” I exclaimed, incredulous, “What, a portal? I thought they were just legends in the books.” She said, “They’re real. Follow me, we have to hurry.” Calida seemed like a different person than the one I knew. She was suddenly confident and focused on her mission. Fulgor must have held her back from showing her true potential. We flew from one point to another on the mountain until we reached a secluded cave. She waved her hand over a seemingly ordinary rock and, to my surprise, it shimmered and revealed a portal. I was taken aback, hesitating at the brink of the swirling vortex at its corners. She reassured me, "It's safe, I promise. It will take us directly to the outskirts of the kingdom." I took a deep breath and stepped into the portal, feeling a sudden jolt as the world around me blurred into a whirl of colors.

When my feet touched solid ground again, I found myself in a dense forest, the city's towers visible in the distance. We had bypassed Fulgor and his potential interceptors and were now just a short flight away from the city. Calida and I made our way back.