The floating island had been sailing smoothly through the skies, the vast plains below stretching out endlessly, when suddenly, without warning, it came to a complete stop. The students and teachers on board, who had been admiring the view or chatting excitedly, were thrown into confusion.
"What's happening?" one of the students called out, rushing to the edge of the island.
The Religious Studies Professor, his earlier excitement now replaced with concern, looked around anxiously. "Why have we stopped?"
The calm demeanor of the followers of the Primordial Flame quickly reassured everyone. One of the followers stepped forward, raising his hands to quiet the crowd. "There is no need to worry. We are merely taking a shortcut."
A ripple of confusion passed through the group, but before anyone could ask more questions, the High Priest stepped to the center of the island, his expression serene and focused.
The High Priest raised his hands toward the sky, his voice echoing with reverence as he began a long, melodic prayer. "Oh, Primordial Flame, guide us through the veil that separates worlds. Open the path to our sacred home, and let your light lead the way. Through the fire and through the void, may we find our sanctuary once more."
His voice was filled with divine power, and the air around the island seemed to thrum with energy as he continued the prayer. The flames at the heart of the island flared brighter, their light reflecting in the wide eyes of the students and teachers.
The Primordial Eagles, Astralis and Celestaris, circled above, their keen eyes locked on the space in front of the island. As the High Priest's prayer reached its crescendo, the eagles let out a mighty roar, their voices shaking the air and causing the island itself to vibrate.
Then, with a swift and powerful motion of their wings, the eagles tore open a crack in the very fabric of reality. The sky in front of them shimmered, and a jagged tear appeared—a passage into the unknown.
The sight was unlike anything the students or teachers had ever seen. A collective gasp rose from the crowd as they stared in awe at the crack in reality, the edges of which glowed with a strange, shifting energy. Beyond the tear was a swirling expanse of darkness and light, a void that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions.
The Religious Studies Professor, who had been eagerly awaiting this journey, now stood speechless, his eyes wide with wonder. "Incredible," he whispered. "This is… this is beyond anything I've ever studied."
The students, too, were transfixed, their earlier excitement replaced by reverence. Even the Advanced Magic students, who had thought they had seen the full extent of magical power, were humbled by the sheer scale of what was unfolding before them.
The High Priest turned to the group, his voice calm and assured. "Do not fear. The Primordial Flame guides us. This is a shortcut to our sanctuary, through the Void itself."
As the crowd watched in awe, glowing chains of primordial fire began to form around the island, their links shimmering with the same divine energy as the flames at the island's core. The chains attached themselves to the edges of the floating island, binding it securely.
The Primordial Eagles swooped down gracefully, each taking hold of the chains with their powerful talons. With a flap of their enormous wings, they began to pull the island toward the crack in reality.
The students and teachers clung to the railings, their eyes wide as the island moved forward, the chains creaking softly as the eagles pulled them through the void.
Even Aetherion was taken aback by the sight. He had not known that his eagles possessed such an ability, and as the island began its journey through the crack in reality, he felt a surge of curiosity.
"System," Aetherion whispered in his mind, "how is this possible? I had no idea they could do this."
The system's response came after a moment of stunned silence. [It seems… they've learned the ability Voidbreaker on their own. This is… unexpected. Even I did not anticipate this development.]
Aetherion's eyes widened slightly. For the eagles to have learned such a powerful skill on their own was remarkable—and a testament to their connection to the Primordial Flame.
The system, still processing the revelation, added, [This means they are evolving. Their bond with the flame must have deepened during their time with you. They are becoming more than simple creatures—they are becoming primordial beings in their own right.]
Aetherion smiled to himself, feeling a sense of pride and awe. His eagles were growing stronger, just as he was. And with each new ability they unlocked, his influence expanded further.
As the floating island was pulled through the crack, the world around them changed. The sky disappeared, replaced by the swirling energies of the Void. It was both beautiful and terrifying, a place where the laws of reality seemed to bend and twist.
The students and teachers remained silent, their earlier awe giving way to quiet reverence. They could feel the immense power of the void surrounding them, a force that was both alien and ancient.
The High Priest stood at the front of the island, his hands still raised in silent prayer. The Primordial Eagles flew steadily ahead, their wings cutting through the void with ease as they guided the island through the strange and shifting space.
Aetherion, though still in awe of what he was witnessing, remained calm. He knew that this journey would bring them to the sanctuary—and when they arrived, his plans would continue to unfold.
After what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a few moments, the swirling energies of the void began to fade, replaced by the familiar warmth of the Primordial Flame. The island passed through the crack, and with a final flap of the Primordial Eagles' wings, they emerged into the sanctuary.
The students and teachers blinked in surprise as the landscape of the sanctuary came into view—the towering mountains, the lush valley, and at its center, the sacred flame that burned brightly, a beacon of power and faith.
"We're here," the High Priest announced, his voice calm and steady. "Welcome to the sanctuary of the Primordial Flame."
The students and teachers, still in awe of what they had just experienced, stepped off the island in silence. They had crossed through the Void itself, and now they stood in the presence of something far greater than any of them had imagined.
For Aetherion, it was a moment of quiet triumph. His sanctuary had welcomed its first visitors, and the flame's light was beginning to spread.