The mountain rose above them like a silent guardian, its base strewn with weathered stones and wild grasses that shimmered in the soft afternoon light. Luciel stopped at the edge of a rocky clearing and turned toward the massive creature crouched behind them. The rock tortoise's shell glimmered faintly beneath a layer of dust, its deep brown scales blending perfectly with the landscape.
"Stay here," Luciel instructed, his voice calm but firm. "Fold your shell in, cover yourself with stone armor, and hide among the rocks. From a distance, you'll look like another hill."
The creature let out a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through the ground.
Luciel nodded. "Good. And if anyone comes near the back wall—anyone who tries to destroy what's behind it—you crush them."
The tortoise's golden eyes blinked slowly, understanding. "Wooo…" it murmured, the sound low and deliberate, a vow of obedience.
