The forest gave way to jagged cliffs as Kael and Liora emerged into the foothills leading to **Auralis**, the kingdom of air. The wind whipped violently, tugging at their cloaks and howling through the narrow passes like a living thing.
Kael's hair and cloak flapped wildly as he tried to keep his footing. He looked at Liora, who moved with uncanny ease, her red cloak streaming like a flame in the gale.
"Why is it always windy here?" Kael shouted over the roar.
Liora grinned. "Because Auralis hates you. Every mountain pass, every cliff, the wind tests who's worthy. And I think it likes you very little."
Kael groaned. "Great. I can barely stand up, and you're enjoying this?"
"Of course!" Liora twirled, letting the wind push her like a kite. "It's invigorating. Makes you feel alive. You should try it sometime, Kael."
Kael clenched his staff, trying to channel the wind around him. Small gusts swirled at his feet, but they were weak, nothing compared to Liora's control. He frowned. "I… I can feel it, but I can't—"
"Don't think, feel!" Liora snapped, suddenly serious. "You've got to let it flow through you. You're not here to fight it—you're here to *be part of it*."
Kael took a deep breath, shutting his eyes. The wind howled, cold and fierce, tugging at his very bones. He imagined himself as a thread in the storm, not a barrier against it. Slowly, the gusts began to swirl around him like ribbons, dancing to his heartbeat.
"Better," Liora said, raising an impressed eyebrow. "Now let's move before the cliffs throw us off entirely."
They navigated narrow ridges, the drop on either side dizzying. Clouds churned below them, and the occasional eagle circled, wings slicing through the gusts.
Suddenly, a shriek split the air. Kael and Liora froze as a **giant bird of lightning and silver feathers** descended from the storm above. Its eyes glowed white-hot, wings crackling with electric energy.
"A Guardian-class wind beast," Liora muttered. "Kael… stay calm. Let it feel you before it attacks."
Kael's heart raced. The creature spiraled closer, its talons like sharpened lightning bolts. He raised his staff, unsure what to do.
"Feel it!" Liora shouted again. "Not with your hands, Kael—with your instincts!"
Kael inhaled, closing his eyes. He reached into the storm, letting the wind flow through him, curling around him, binding him to the currents instead of fighting them. The lightning bird screeched, circling him, but something strange happened—the storm seemed to recognize him. Its movements slowed, curiosity replacing aggression.
"You… feel it too, don't you?" Kael whispered. His hands moved instinctively, shaping air into gentle currents that danced along the bird's wings.
The creature hovered, then with a sudden twist of its massive wings, it landed on the cliff beside them. Its glowing eyes regarded Kael intently, tilting its head as if questioning him.
Liora clapped softly. "Well… I didn't think you'd *tame it* on the first try. You're learning fast, Kael."
Kael's hands shook. "I… I didn't tame it. I just… understood it. Like the wolf in Sylvane."
Liora laughed softly. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't get used to all this admiration. You'll need it when the Ember Court finally notices the two of us."
Kael nodded, still trying to process the experience. He glanced up at the sky. The Auralis shard floated high atop the **Skyspire**, a massive spire of rock twisting into the clouds. A glowing vortex surrounded it, lightning crackling in endless loops.
"Great," Kael muttered. "How exactly are we supposed to *get up there*?"
Liora smirked. "You'll see. First, we need to deal with… those."
From the clouds, several smaller lightning beasts dove, encircling the spire. Kael could feel the raw electricity vibrating through his body. His skin tingled, and his hair stood on end.
"Kael," Liora said, voice low. "Focus on the currents. The wind is your ally here. Let it carry you, shield you, and strike with it. Don't fight it directly."
Kael nodded, gripping his staff tightly. He stepped forward, feet hovering slightly above the ground as he willed the wind to lift him. Gusts swirled violently, forming a protective barrier around him. As the first beast lunged, he thrust his staff, sending a spiraling tornado of air and lightning energy toward it. The creature screeched and was thrown back into the clouds.
"Again!" Liora shouted, diving into battle herself, blades flashing.
Kael focused, breathing steadily, letting the storm move through him like water. He could feel the wind pushing and pulling, guiding his strikes, amplifying his power. Each movement was natural, like dancing in rhythm with the storm.
Hours passed—or maybe minutes—Kael had no way to tell. Lightning and wind clashed around him, the spire looming above like an unyielding mountain. His arms ached, his lungs burned, but every moment brought him closer to the shard.
Finally, after a dizzying sequence of leaps, wind maneuvers, and lightning deflections, Kael stood before the Auralis shard. It pulsed with sky-blue light, spinning slowly in a protective whirlwind.
Kael reached out, hand trembling, and felt a pulse of energy unlike anything before. His body tingled, the wind singing through him. It was exhilarating—and terrifying.
"Go on," Liora said softly. "Take it. You've earned it."
Kael grasped the shard. A shockwave of air erupted, lifting both of them into the clouds. Around him, the world blurred—mountains, forests, rivers, and storm all meshing into a whirl of sensation. When he finally opened his eyes, the shard floated steadily in his hands, its energy flowing into him.
He looked at Liora, a mix of awe and exhaustion on his face.
"Kael Veylin," she said, smirking, "I think the Ember Court just officially hates you."
Kael let out a shaky laugh. "Then I guess we better keep moving… before they do something about it."
Above them, the storm calmed slightly, but Kael could feel it—the winds were whispering, impatient, hinting at challenges yet to come.