The storm cleared as The Emberwing soared away from the Skygrave. Inside the ship, everything was quiet—except Kael's thoughts.
He sat by the window, the green Skycore glowing gently beside him. Lira flew in silence, giving him space.
Ryen. Alive. Fighting him.
Kael's fingers curled. So many memories hit at once—sky lessons with their father, races through cloud rings, laughter, brotherhood.
Then the day everything changed.
Their family's ship was attacked during a trade mission. Kael was pulled from the wreckage. Ryen never came back. Everyone said he was gone.
But now Kael knew—Ryen had survived. And he had chosen a different path.
Lira finally spoke. "You okay?"
Kael didn't answer right away. "I thought I'd feel relief seeing him again… but it just hurts."
She nodded. "He looked like someone who's seen too much."
"He was always the brave one," Kael said. "The one who kept us going. I followed him everywhere."
"And now?" Lira asked.
Kael looked at the three Skycores glowing together. "Now he wants to stop me. He thinks the cores will destroy everything."
Lira slowed the ship. "Do you think he's wrong?"
Kael paused. "No… I think he's scared. And fear makes people do things they never thought they would."
They landed on a quiet ledge above the clouds. For the first time in days, there was peace. They set up camp and rested. The cores floated together, humming softly.
But as the stars lit up the sky, a small drone hovered nearby—watching them, recording everything.
Far away, aboard a dark skyship, Ryen watched the footage.
He clenched his fist. "I have to stop him… before the fourth core awakens."