Chapter 5
The cold wind flowed through the valley covered in a thick white sheet of snow. Silence surrounded them, with only the faint sound of ice breaking in the distance. The three of them, who had fallen into the deep gorge, had now regained their composure.
Angel looked at Jon and Victor with her deep blue eyes and said with a slight smile, "My name is Alina. I am from Sky City. Are you both humans? Can you tell me how you got here?"
Victor whispered softly, "Alina..." and smiled for no reason, his eyes fixed on Alina's beautiful face.
Jon quickly took control of the conversation and asked seriously, "Why were you fighting that giant beast?"
Alina turned her gaze to Jon, who spoke in a composed and serious tone, as if there was a hidden meaning behind his words. After a moment of silence, she replied, "No one should be able to reach Sky City, which is why many dangerous and gigantic creatures live beneath it. Sometimes, we have to fight them."
Jon, surprised, said, "So, angels live in Sky City?"
Alina gave a small nod, "Yes, but it's more than just that. Sky City was built to keep other species away from it. It is a sanctuary for angels, but to ensure that no one else reaches it, many powerful and dangerous creatures were left to roam beneath it. These creatures are so strong that even we angels struggle to handle them."
Jon and Victor listened quietly.
Alina continued, "Reaching this place is nearly impossible. Thousands of miles of frozen mountains surround it, making entry extremely difficult. Even if someone were to cross these mountains, they would still have to survive against those beasts. If you both have made it here, it means you have successfully crossed the frozen mountains."
Jon and Victor nodded in agreement.
Victor, now intrigued, asked, "Can you show us Sky City?"
Alina smiled slightly and asked, "First, tell me why and how you both came here?"
There was something unusual about her smile. Victor, momentarily lost in thought, responded quickly, "We were searching for the Gandharva Region and crossed the frozen mountains to reach here."
Alina chuckled lightly and said, "Then you both are quite brave to have taken such a huge risk."
Victor smirked and said, "It's not just bravery, we are also driven by curiosity to uncover the truth."
Jon remained serious and asked in a low voice, "If Sky City is such a mysterious and well-guarded place, how can we reach it?"
A cold breeze swept through the valley as Alina looked at Jon and Victor with a soft expression. Her gaze was filled with a sense of gratitude.
She said, "Until today, no human has ever seen Sky City. But you saved my life from that enormous beast, so I will take you there."
The moment she spoke, a pair of majestic white wings emerged from her back. They gleamed under the pale sunlight, their feathers moving with the wind. Without hesitation, she held Jon and Victor's hands, and with a powerful flap of her wings, they soared into the sky.
Jon's heart pounded with excitement. He had never experienced such a thrilling moment before. He looked down at the world below, watching the snow-covered landscape shrink beneath them. Meanwhile, Victor, unlike Jon, seemed completely unbothered by the flight. His eyes were fixed on Alina, who, noticing his gaze, smiled back at him.
Higher and higher they went, until they finally reached the other side of the gorge. Unlike the icy valley they had fallen into, this side had much less snow, revealing lush green forests stretching across the land. However, the air was still cold, and a faint mist floated over the treetops.
Alina gracefully landed on the soft ground, releasing Jon and Victor's hands. She turned toward them, her wings folding neatly against her back. With a warm but serious expression, she said, "Sky City is home to some of the most powerful angels. Until I tell you otherwise, you must not speak to anyone."
Jon and Victor exchanged glances, understanding the importance of her warning.
Jon adjusted his sword, ready for whatever lay ahead, while Victor, still lost in Alina's presence, simply smiled.
Alina gestured for both of them to follow her and started walking towards the jungle. Jon and Victor followed closely behind.
A thin layer of snow covered the ground, the cool fragrance of green trees and plants mixed with the air, and the rustling of leaves created a sense of calm. Within a short time, all three of them entered the dense forest.
Alina advised them to walk carefully and stay alert. Jon noticed that the air here was warmer compared to the mountains, and the atmosphere felt less cold. He turned to Victor to mention this, but Victor was lost in his own world. He was smiling and simply staring at Alina.
Alina, too, seemed a bit restless. Every now and then, she would playfully flick her long, soft hair and glance back with a slight smile, as if she could sense Victor's gaze on her.
Jon couldn't stay quiet after seeing this. He leaned toward Victor and muttered softly, "Taka bhid gaya, guru."
Alina overheard this and smiled silently, pretending she hadn't heard anything.
After walking a little further, Alina suddenly stopped. Pointing ahead, she said, "Look over there!"
Jon and Victor followed her finger. In the distance, something strange seemed to be floating in the air through the mist. At first, it appeared as a faint shadow, but as they focused, a massive, island-like structure became visible, suspended in the sky.
Alina grabbed both of their hands and, flapping her wings, lifted them into the air.
Jon and Victor ascended into the dense mist of the sky along with Alina. They could see nothing, only the sound of Alina's wings echoed around them. The wind was rushing past them, and they could feel the thrill of flying.
After a short while, the mist cleared. Jon's eyes widened in astonishment. Three massive landmasses were floating in the sky. His mouth dropped open in disbelief.
As they flew closer to these floating islands, the buildings and magnificent structures on them became clearer. This was no ordinary place.
Alina gently landed on one of the largest floating islands with both of them. As they touched the ground, she smiled and said,
"This is Sky City, where the Angels live."