And that meant I wasn’t either.
The call to Kaelith echoed silently through the thread between us. I barely breathed, barely moved, as I reached for her.
She answered.
With the distant beat of wings and a thunderous gust of wind, she descended from the upper cliffs like a storm breaking. Her scales shimmered in muted violet under the sun, powerful limbs flexing as she landed hard on the Ascension Grounds beside me.
Around her, the others came. Narvea’s emerald form coiling beside Ferrula, Riven swinging up onto Lola, Naia greeting Temil with a whispered touch, Cordelle already halfway onto Kass’ back with that quiet, practiced precision.
But then?—
More shadows.
More wings.
I turned, stomach twisting, as the Iron Fang dragons descended one by one, sleek, vicious beasts, all teeth and polished scale, their riders in matching crimson-black uniforms.
A red Swift, a hulking black Clubtail, and worst of all—Coldrath, Perin’s dragon, gliding in like a silent threat.
Major Ledor’s voice rose, cold and clear. “Iron Fang will be your opponent today. They will attempt tohinderyour progress through the trial.”
Of course they would.
I mounted Kaelith, fingers tightening on the rope, legs locking around her sides as my squad followed suit. The winds kicked up, mist rolling across the stone as the clouds thickened above.
Then we launched.
The ground vanished beneath us as we pierced the veil of clouds, weightless and rising. Inside the mist, everything turned silver and white, blinding and quiet except for the rush of air and the distant rustle of wings.
Floating lanterns drifted in staggered lines through the fog, each pulsing with soft golden light, just enough to guide us. One by one, we navigated them—twisting, banking, diving to loop around each glowing mark. The clouds gave us cover, but they also cloaked danger.
Kaelith moved like silk through a storm, each wingbeat smooth, precise. She hadn’t spoken, but I felt her pulse under me, focused.
We were almost through.
The last lantern blinked ahead.
And then?—
A shadow burst from the fog.
A red Swordtail, fast, furious, talons outstretched.
Coldrath.
“Kaelith!” I gasped, and she banked hard left just as he swooped.
But it was too close.
Coldrath clipped us, his flank striking my shoulder. The world tilted. My grip slipped.
I tumbled.
The rope tore through my hands as I fell backward off Kaelith’s saddle, the clouds swallowing everything.
I was falling.
Air ripping past my ears. The sky a blur. The wind shrieked louder than I could.
