The wind swept in cold, laden with the scent of damp earth and the faint musk of ancient incense. A heavy silence hung between us, thick and palpable, as if the air itself were holding its breath, waiting. Elowen stepped forward, her green eyes catching the golden glow of the fading sun. When she spoke, her voice was hushed, carrying the weight of a shared secret.
— "You might not believe it, but I know you as well as you know yourself."
Her words hit me like a quiet, piercing arrow. There was no trace of sarcasm this time, no teasing lilt. It was bare, unguarded—a truth she seldom let slip. I met her gaze, the black blindfold across my eyes doing little to mask the tension coiling within me. Does she truly see me that way? I wondered, my heart jolting in a way I refused to admit. I searched her expression for a flicker of deceit, a hint of manipulation. Nothing. Only a steady, almost fragile flame flickered in her eyes.
— "Interesting," I murmured, turning my face toward the horizon. Before us, the sacred lands unfurled, their white peaks jagged against the sky like the teeth of some ancient beast. The sun dipped lower, drenching the world in hues of crimson and gold. "Let's see if your plan is worth the effort."
A smile tugged at her lips, one corner lifting in a subtle challenge.
— "Since when did you become a poet?" I shot back, my tone icy yet laced with a surprise I couldn't quite bury. "I liked what you said. But enough. Let's go down. All these stares are irritating me."
Elowen shook her head, her loose hair swaying with the wind's restless dance.
— "No. We stay up here." Her voice cut through, firm and unyielding. "It's our advantage. Flying with Aurineth, showing strength. They'll respect us. And respect brings fear. With fear, doors open on their own."
She was right, and I hated it. Being the center of attention twisted like a blade in my chest, but her reasoning was too sharp to dismiss. I glanced at her sidelong, eyes narrowing as I weighed her words.
— "I don't like being seen." I paused, the wind snapping at my black cloak. "But you're right. Let's play this game."
And so we took to the sky, Aurineth soaring beneath us, her icy wings glinting like polished steel in the dying light. I knew they watched us—I could feel the eyes below, their whispers rising like tendrils of smoke.
— "There are 36 peaks in the Sacred Land, aren't there?" My voice was soft, nearly swallowed by the rush of wind.
Elowen nodded, her gaze locked on the specks of people far below.
— "And now they all know we've arrived."
The murmurs swelled, rippling outward in waves. Aurineth's presence pressed down on the air, an undeniable force that silenced doubts. I kept my face blank, but my ears caught every word.
— "Who are they?" a shaky voice ventured.
— "Envoys from another Sacred Land, maybe?" another guessed.
— "I've never heard of them. Look at the one with the blindfold. Strange."
— "And that beast? Demonic? Spiritual?"
— "No. It could be… divine."
A hush fell, then shattered into chaos.
— "Impossible! No one tames a divine beast. The Spirit Beast Clan would declare war!"
— "Divine beasts are gods to them. Only an Emperor could make one submit."
— "Look closely. It's a phoenix. But made of ice. That doesn't exist!"
Elowen let out a quiet laugh, her hand brushing Aurineth's neck. The phoenix responded with a gentle, almost purring sound.
— "I think you've stolen the show, Aurineth," she said, her tone light but her eyes alight with pride.
I said nothing, letting the voices drift away on the wind. She turned to me, that smile still playing on her lips.
— "Well, Nael? Have we impressed them yet?"
— "Impressing is easy." My gaze stayed fixed on the horizon, cold and steady. "Making them remember us… that's another story."
She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. We both knew this was only the opening move.
We descended before the Sacred Heart Peak. The ground thrummed beneath my boots, alive with a pulse I couldn't place. Aurineth shrank into a small bird, her icy eyes still sharp and gleaming. Elowen tucked her into a pocket dimension, but the stares followed us still.
The main road flowed like a river of bodies, and we were the rocks splitting its current. My black cloak billowed behind me, the blindfold shielding what I chose to keep hidden. Beside me, Elowen radiated light, her silver dress edged in gold catching the twilight's glow. The thin veil she wore did nothing to dull the power in her stride—each step rang with unshakable confidence.
People parted before me, an instinctive retreat I'd grown used to. My coldness was a barrier, one I welcomed. Elowen, though, drew eyes like a flame pulls in moths. I caught the slight upturn of her mouth—a smile that said she thrived on this stage.
Does she really know me? The question crept back, heavy with doubt. Or does she just want me to think she does?
The Sacred Heart Peak loomed ahead, its white towers stark against the deepening sky. The air carried the scent of incense, threaded with faint, distant chants. It was striking, yes, but to me, just another stop. Another step forward.
Elowen halted, turning to me. Something unreadable flickered in her eyes—strength, maybe, or a shadow of hesitation.
— "Ready?" she asked, her voice soft yet resolute.
— "Always." My reply was clipped, but I gave a slight nod.
She smiled, and we pressed on. Our footsteps echoed against the stone, chased by stares—curious, fearful, enthralled. I didn't care. They didn't know me. Sometimes, I barely knew myself.
But she believes she does, I thought, stealing a glance at Elowen. And maybe that's enough.
For now.
The air grew taut, restless, as if it sensed something brewing. Whispers started low, a murmur slithering through the stone streets of the Sacred Heart Peak like dry leaves skittering in the breeze. Soon, they rose, laced with curiosity and a thin vein of fear.
— "Who are these two?"
— "Look at her… that dress. She must be from a powerful clan."
— "And him? Why the blindfold? He looks dangerous."
— "Maybe he's an assassin. Who else would wear something like that?"
— "Don't be silly. It could be a sealed power in his eyes."
— "Are they from another territory?"
— "Maybe. But… they don't look like anyone from around here."
Elowen tilted her face toward me, the veil fluttering like a wisp of shadow. Her voice dropped, conspiratorial.
— "They can't stop staring at us, Nael."
I kept my stride even, the sound of my boots striking stone slicing through the air.
— "They talk too much. It's nothing."
She grinned beneath the veil, her eyes sparking with mischief.
— "Funny how you make them nervous without even trying."
— "It just shows how fragile they are." I sidestepped a cluster of people who scrambled out of my path, their wide eyes tripping over one another.
The weight of their gazes clung to us as we climbed. Ahead, the Sacred Heart Peak pierced the sky, its white towers glowing like shards of light. To me, it was mere stone and stillness. To Elowen, a playground.
The whispers sharpened, growing bolder.
— "Do you think he'll speak with the peak's mistress?"
— "They say she's reached the King realm."
— "So young! Not even a thousand years old and already so powerful."
— "She must have a special gift. No one gets there by accident."
— "Or she's a true genius. One day she'll have to tell us how she did it."
Elowen flicked a quick glance my way, her head tipping with amusement at the chatter. I didn't twitch. It wasn't worth the energy.
Then the voices swung back to us, cutting like arrows.
— "But… who is he? Look at him… so cold. It's like the world doesn't touch him." A girl sighed, her tone overly sweet.
— "Ah, he's beautiful!" another chimed, followed by a ripple of giggles.
The boys muttered, their words sour.
— "Beautiful? He's just… black. Didn't you see that?"
A beat of silence. Then the girls struck back.
— "So what? Look how he walks, so confident. You'll never come close to that."
— "Exactly! And her… what a woman! They look like they're from another world."
Elowen nudged me with a look, her smile slipping through the veil.
— "You're becoming their favorite, Nael."
— "Opinions don't change anything." My voice was flat, my eyes trained ahead.
She laughed softly, shaking her head.
— "Maybe. But I like watching it."
I pressed on, the murmurs fading into a distant hum, like waves crashing far from shore. The Peak drew closer, but the world's weight never touched me. It never did.
Suddenly, Elowen stopped, her eyes flashing with a sudden spark.
— "Do you want me to carry you? You're still bound to the ground in the Spiritual Sea. I'm almost at the Lower Saint level. I can fly."
I paused, meeting her gaze with the same hollow calm as always.
— "Why would I need you for that?"
She crossed her arms, one brow arching.
— "Because you shouldn't be able to fly yet. It's simple."
Without a word, I rose from the ground, the air bending beneath my feet as if yielding to my will. I hovered, weightless, my stare fixed on her.
— "How… how are you doing that?" Her voice faltered, genuine shock widening her eyes.
I glided forward, floating above the stone.
— "Stop asking and come on."
But she wouldn't let it drop. She took flight beside me, wind tugging at her hair, curiosity blazing.
— "Don't run from me, Nael. How are you flying? This doesn't make sense!"
I sighed, my gaze lost in the horizon.
— "Even in the Foundation Establishment, I wouldn't fly."
She laughed, but there was a new edge to it—something like awe.
— "The more I see of you, the more I want to know."
— "Maybe it's better not to know." My voice was quiet, nearly drowned by the wind. "Answers only bring more doubts, and doubts bring more questions."
She fell silent, just for a moment. The wind sliced between us, cold and keen, bearing the stillness. The Sacred Heart Peak stood close now, its towers gleaming against the darkening sky. We flew side by side, yet I felt her reaching for me—not with her hands, but with her thoughts.
She wants to unravel me, I mused, my fingers tightening beneath my cloak. But there are pieces even I haven't found.
Our silence thrummed with unspoken things. Below, the murmurs faded, the world blurring into insignificance. Up here, it was just us—and the emptiness I carried like a shadow.
As we neared the main courtyard of the Sacred Heart Peak, the air shifted. It wasn't just a gust or a chill—it was as if the world itself paused, the breeze heavy with an unseen burden, thick with ancient whispers. The sensation prickled against my skin, a presence felt deep in the marrow, unnamed but undeniable. Even Elowen, ever sharp and bold, quieted, her green eyes widening as she sensed something beyond words.
— "The party is happening," she said, her voice softer, almost reverent, as if wary of stirring something slumbering in the stones.
Laughter and voices drifted to us, muted and far-off, trapped behind an unseen veil within the main house. It wasn't natural—the sound seemed caged, trembling in the air like an echo locked in crystal. I scanned our surroundings, every sense alert: the white stones of the courtyard gleaming under moonlight, the towers rising like bone-carved blades against the night. The place was grand, yet burdened by a stillness that pressed down like a hand on the shoulder.
— "It seems like some kind of arrangement," Elowen murmured, her fingers grazing the air as if she could feel the invisible wall between us and the celebration. Curiosity tinged her words, tempered by a rare caution.
I gave a slight nod, my eyes locked on the towering structure ahead. The main house stood like a beating heart at the courtyard's core, golden light spilling from its windows like blood through open veins. I didn't bother with a reply—silence said enough. The place spoke its own story, and I wasn't here to marvel at it or pick apart its secrets. I had a goal.
— "Let's get this over with," I said, my voice cutting through the moment with the briskness of someone done wasting time. It came out dry, sharp as the wind whistling through the stones. I stepped forward, my boots striking the cold marble of the courtyard, each stride a quiet defiance against the oppressive hush.
Elowen followed, her silver dress whispering against the ground, her eyes keen and watchful—almost feral. She knew we were walking into a den of snakes masked as a party. And me? I didn't mind. Danger was just another factor to weigh, another thread to pull taut.
The courtyard stretched wide before us, a vast circle framed by pillars that seemed to prop up the heavens. The party thrummed within the main house, but the air around us stayed frigid, charged with something I couldn't name but felt like a gaze on my neck. Elowen paused beside me, her frame taut.
— "They don't know we're here," she said, her voice low, nearly lost in the living stillness.
— "They will," I replied, the eyes beneath my blindfold smoldering with a cold fire as I took the next step toward the golden glow awaiting us.