I sit on the boulder for what feels like an hour, watching the waves crash against the rocks while Irene and Tiamat catch up near the water's edge. Their conversation is animated—sometimes serious, sometimes punctuated by laughter that carries over the sound of the ocean.
At one point, I catch Tiamat gesturing in my direction, and Irene's cheeks flush pink even from this distance. I can only imagine what they're talking about, but judging by Irene's embarrassed smile, it's probably about us.
"You seem relaxed for someone seeking settlement rights," comes a familiar voice.
I turn to see Vex approaching, his stone-like features as stoic as before. The Central Territories Warden moves with that same deliberate precision I remember from our first meeting.
"Should I be worried?" I ask, making room on the boulder.
Vex settles beside me, his eyes focused on the two women by the water. "I did not realize your companion knew Tiamat-sama personally."
"Tiamat-sama?" I repeat, noting the honorific. "They go way back."
"Interesting," Vex says, his tone thoughtful. "That explains the warmth of her reception. Tiamat-sama rarely grants audiences, let alone blessings."
I glance at him curiously. "You keep calling her Tiamat-sama. Why?"
Vex's expression shifts slightly, as if the question surprises him. "I am a Warden. Tiamat-sama is a Sentinel. The difference is... significant."
"Each of the three territories has a Sentinel," Vex explains, watching as Tiamat gestures animatedly at something Irene said. "Tiamat-sama commands the Central Territories, The same with the other sentinels. We Wardens exist to fulfill the Sentinels' wishes and maintain the balance they decree."
"Suffice to say the Sentinels set policy and make great decisions. We Wardens handle implementation and day-to-day governance.""
He turns to look at me directly. "Which makes your companion's friendship with Tiamat-sama quite remarkable. Sentinels do not typically form personal bonds with outsiders."
"Irene's pretty remarkable herself," I say, watching as the two women embrace near the water.
"Indeed," Vex agrees. "As are you, it seems."
We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching the reunion continue. Eventually, Irene and Tiamat's conversation seems to wind down.
"A word of advice," Vex says quietly as she stands. "The other sentinels value tradition and protocol above all else. Thane-san and Kira-san share those values."
With that warning, he nods respectfully and disappears back into the jungle, leaving me alone on the boulder as Irene finally walks back toward me.
Her eyes are slightly red but her expression is peaceful. Behind her, Tiamat stands at the water's edge, watching us with the fond look of someone seeing off dear friends.
"Everything alright?" I ask, standing up from the boulder.
"Perfect," Irene says, taking my hand.
We turn back toward Tiamat, who raises her hand in farewell. "Take care of each other," she calls out. "And Oberon—keep my dear friend safe."
"Always," I call back.
Tiamat nods once, then begins to shimmer. Water swirls around her as she transforms back into her dragon form, the massive serpentine shape sliding gracefully back into the ocean. Within moments, she's gone, leaving only gentle ripples on the surface.
"One down, two to go," I say, looking at Irene. "Let's go?"
She nods.
I reach into my inventory then a golden light materializes as I summon Fenrir, its sleek black and silver frame gleams in the sunlight, and the low hum of its engine fills the air.
"Still showing off with that thing?" Irene asks, but she's smiling.
"Always," I say, swinging my leg over the seat. "Hop on."
Irene climbs on behind me, and I feel her arms wrap around my waist, holding tight as she presses against my back. The warmth of her body against mine is distracting in the best possible way.
"Ready?" I ask over my shoulder.
"Ready," she says, her voice soft near my ear.
Fenrir's engine roars to life, and we take off through the jungle.
Irene's grip tightens around me as we hit a particularly rough patch, and I can't help but smile. Having her this close, feeling her trust me completely as we race through dangerous terrain, is better than any adrenaline rush.
We don't get far before the first attack comes. A massive creature bursts from the underbrush—something like a cross between a bear and a rhinoceros, easily twice the size of a normal bear with stone-like hide and glowing eyes.
"Hold tight," I warn Irene, raising one hand while keeping the other on the handlebars.
I release a controlled burst of pressure. The creature staggers mid-charge, stumbling as the overwhelming force washes over it. It shakes its massive head, clearly dazed but unharmed, then retreats back into the jungle with a confused growl.
Two more attacks follow as we climb higher—a pack of crystalline wolves that I neutralize with a low-level gravity spell, pinning them harmlessly to the ground until we pass, and a massive bird-like creature that dive-bombs us until I create a brief show that convinces it we're not worth prey.
Each time, I'm careful to use just enough force so without causing real harm. By the time we reach the rocky terrain, most of the creatures watch us from a distance but don't approach.
The jungle gradually gives way to rocky terrain as we climb higher.
Ancient stone formations rise around us covered in moss and carved with symbols
"We're getting close," Irene says. "These are boundary markers. We're entering Thane's domain."
I slow Fenrir to a more respectful pace as we navigate the increasingly rugged landscape.
Massive stone pillars rise from the earth and I can see carved steps leading up cliff faces toward what look like temple structures built into the mountainside.
"This place feels old," I observe, bringing Fenrir to a stop at the base of what appears to be a formal pathway marked by two towering stone guardians. Each guardian statue is at least thirty feet tall, carved with intricate detail.
"This place feels old," I observe, bringing Fenrir to a stop at the base of what appears to be a pathway marked by two large stone guardians.
"It is," Irene confirms, sliding off the bike behind me. "These Eastern Reaches were sacred long before Thane's people claimed them."
I dismiss Fenrir back to my inventory and look around.
As we start walking toward the pathway, I notice movement among the crystal formations. Small figures emerge—children, I realize, though they have the same stone-like skin as the Wardens. They peek out from behind the formations with curious eyes.
"Hello there," I say, crouching down to their level.
One of the kids steps forward. She can't be more than seven or eight, with skin like polished marble and tiny glowing veins running along her arms.
"Who are you?" she asks, tilting her head curiously.
"I'm Aiden," I say with a smile. "What's your name?"
"Petra," she says, getting braver. "Are you here to see sentinel-sama?"
"We are," I confirm. "We're hoping to make friends with your people."
"Will you stay?" asks another child, a boy who looks slightly older.
"We hope so," Irene says, kneeling beside me. "We're looking for a place where our people can live peacefully."
The children gather around us, their shyness fading. One small boy reaches out to touch my jacket, curious about the fabric. Another girl asks Irene about her hair.
"Kira, Tomec, Petra," comes a gentle but firm voice. "Don't crowd our guests."
An adult approaches—a woman with the same stone-like features but a warmer expression. She has patterns carved into her skin that glow faintly.
"Sorry about them," she says to us. "They don't see many outsiders. I'm Lyralei."
"It's no problem at all," I say, standing up. "They're great kids."
"They are curious about everything," Lyralei says with obvious pride. "These little ones will someday tend the gardens and maintain the boundary stones."
She looks at us thoughtfully. "Your arrival has stirred discussion among our people. Travelers seeking an audience with Sentinel-sama are rare."
Little Petra tugs on my jacket. "Will you tell us stories if you stay?"
"Maybe," I promise. "Right now we need to meet with Thane."
The children look disappointed but nod understanding. Lyralei gathers them up.
"Come on, little ones," she says. "Let our guests go to the Hall of Trials. Maybe there will be time for stories later."
As the children scatter back to their crystal gardens, chattering among themselves, we continue up the pathway. Other adults emerge from doorways carved into the cliff face—craftsmen working on stone sculptures, scholars tending to libraries built into natural caves, farmers working terraced gardens that grow from the rock.
Each one stops their work to look at us curiously as we pass. Some offer polite nods, others whisper among themselves, clearly wondering who we are and what we want.
We reach a natural amphitheater carved into the mountainside. At the center, Thane stands on a raised platform of polished stone.
"You have arrived." Thane says,
"Thane," I say respectfully. "We've come to take the trial."
He nodded. "Word has reached us of your success in the Central Territories. Vex-san spoke well of your performance."
A murmur ripples through the gathered crowd.
"However," Thane continues, his tone growing more formal, "each territory's trial is unique. What satisfied Vex-san and Tiamat-sama may not satisfy our Sentinel."
Then the air around us begins to shift. A powerful wind picks up, carrying the scent of mountain peaks and forests. I can feel an enormous presence approaching from deeper within the mountain.
The stone platform at the center of the amphitheater begins to glow, and from the tunnel behind it emerges a massive wolf almost the size of a small mountain, with blue fur and bright eyes.
"I introduce to you the Sentinel of the Eastern Reaches. The King Wolf of the Eastern Wind. Andrius"
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