“TheSky Gods,” I croaked, realization hitting me sharply.
“Find us…”an unknown being whispered into my mind and using the last ounces of strength in my core, I pushed myself off the ground, managing to stand among the deadly chaos.
“This is not over!” Raithian raged, his words slipping through blood-stained teeth from Luna’s attack. He limped towards me, hurling a massive ball of fire my way.
Unable to do anything else, I jumped out of the way, disappearing into a cloud of golden fog until I collapsed inside a Dragon lair.
Crystal’s cave.
The fog had transported me all the way back to the Hidden Kingdom. I guessed even though my magic was dangerously depleted, it was still there, protecting me.
“My king!”Crystal rushed over the moment she found me crumbled near the wall, coughing blood.
“Help me…”
Her forehead lowered to me, carefully touching my form, and our Dragon essences connected. Instantly, energy burst into me, the wound finally beginning to close under my quivering hand. She was healing me.
Standing, I jumped onto her neck. “Take me to theCelestials, now!”
Something inside told me Crystal knew the white mountain’s secret, since she was the only one who could travel there.
Her horns glowed blue with the urgency of my command, and a flurry of snowflakes formed out of thin air. When the portal opened, an arctic breeze blew through the cavern from the Icelands, making me shiver. Cleaning my blood-stained hands on my pants, I gripped her white scales tightly.
Suddenly, I was no longer looking at the inside of her lair. I was staring at the magnificent white mountain—theSky Gods’secret resting place.
We crossed into the Icelands, directly exiting in front of the mountain’s large base, and a sliver of golden magic left my chest, apparently responding to a silent call. The golden wisp lifted swiftly, dancing in the cold wind like a flying leaf until it touched the frozen rock base. As it did, it disintegrated—no—it merged with the throbbing power that began oozing out in waves, washing over me.
The energy engulfed my being, scanning me, and beginning to restore my magical essence until a golden wave spread out of me in response, swathing the mountain. It was an exchange of energy similar to what I experienced with the Dragons, except this was made of pure magic.
The magic of theSky Gods.
When the energy dissipated, it revealed a large entrance that hadn’t been there a moment ago.
Respectfully, Crystal bowed her head before entering the cavern, and a gasp escaped my throat at the enormity of the space. My emotions mixed with Crystal’s, thanking her for saving me from death. She bowed at me too once I dismounted, her emotions conveying how honored she was to have helped me. As she left, the entrance closed behind her.
With each step into the cavern, the golden energy that permeated the air seeped into me, rebuilding my strength, and replenishing my Devenish magic by simply being there. The fluttering specs also illuminated the path ahead, uncovering the most incredible sight.
Four magnificent mountains extended within the cavern, but I knew they weren’t really mountains.
They were sleeping Dragon Gods.
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My skin prickled from the power travelling into me in this place, but I walked farther inside it, only stopping when I was closer to the four mountains that conveyed each Gods’ essence.
“Ignis, God of Fire. Aqua, God of Water. Terra, God of the Earth. And Glacies, God of Ice,” I called to them, my voice echoing in the space. “I need your help to end this war. Please help me save Caelisium.”
My plea bounced against every corner and nook in the cavern, finally returning to me, unanswered.
“My name is Braxton, son of Keira Devenish and Khayden Skystorm—the Harbinger of Justice. I am the rightful King of Caelisium, and I need your help to save my realm from Raithian’s hateful rampage.”
Nothing.
What was I missing?
Anxiously searching all around me, I noticed what seemed like writing on one of the white stone walls and rushed towards it. Something was carved there, but the closer I got, the more I realized it was all written in the old tongue, Latin. My hand lifted to the carvings, noticing there was something underneath. The shape embedded into the wall reminded me of those nooks you sometimes saw in churches, where the holy water was poured.
Confusion gripped me, but I decided to focus on the ancient writing. Lucky for me, I had learned enough since my arrival to try and decipher it.
