Hours of traveling later...11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S0WOsZ3ep
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd6PXnhEGU
Aldra sighed, the constant yapping of the travelers already wearing her thin.
“Will you please stop asking if we’re there yet?” Aldra snapped, turning her piercing sapphire gaze on Splash, who had been repeating the question for the past hour.
“I didn’t ask this time!” Splash protested, though the grin on his face betrayed his amusement. Reef snickered beside him, using his fins to half-waddle, half-slide across the clouds.
“I don’t know what’s worse—his endless chatter or your sliding!” Aldra grumbled, glaring at Reef as he pretended to slip, dramatically flailing his fins. “This is a sacred path, not a water park.”
Reef grinned mischievously. “You sure? It’s kinda got that vibe.” He slid further ahead, earning a sharp swish of Aldra’s tail that nearly knocked him off balance.
Coral cleared his throat, stepping between them. “Reef, Splash—enough. Aldra’s been patient with us.” He shot a look at the two sea dragons, his voice firm but calm. “Let’s not push our luck.”
“Patient?” Aldra repeated with mock disbelief, spreading her wings and glaring down at Coral. “I’d call it endurance.”
Behind Coral, Tiny Wings buzzed her small wings, peering up at Aldra with wide, curious eyes. “You’re really grumpy, you know that?”
“Tiny Wings!” Coral scolded, though his tone carried a hint of amusement.
Aldra’s nostrils flared, but instead of snapping back, she merely let out a long, slow exhale that sent a faint ripple of heat across the group. “I am not grumpy,” she replied, her voice dangerously calm. “I am efficient. There’s a difference.”
Aurora tilted her head, a mischievous spark in her amber eyes. “You know, grumpy dragons always say they’re not grumpy.”
Aldra shot her a withering look, one that could’ve melted steel. “I wouldn’t push me, Emberflare.”
Aurora just grinned. “I think you secretly like us. You’re just too proud to admit it.”
Sable stomped past, clearly fed up with the banter. “Can we please focus on the task ahead?” he growled. “Every moment we waste here is a moment closer to more destruction!”
“Someone’s always dramatic,” Reef muttered, earning a glare from Sable.
Moss, walking steadily with Tiny Wings perched on her back, chuckled softly. “You all remind me of a nest of hatchlings,” she said. “No wonder Aldra looks ready to launch us all into the horizon.”
“I’d consider it,” Aldra replied dryly.
Shadow, who had been quietly taking in the scenery, spoke up hesitantly. “We’ve come far, though. You did get us here safely.” He looked up at Aldra with his big green eyes, his voice sincere. “Thank you.”
For a moment, Aldra faltered. The harsh edge of her expression softened just a little, and she huffed, flicking her tail dismissively. “It’s my job. Don’t thank me yet.”
Elanor smiled gently, walking beside Cole, who was, once again, tripping over his own feet on the uneven cloud path. “You may not admit it, Aldra, but you’re helping us more than you know.”
Aldra rolled her eyes. “Humans and their sentiment,” she muttered under her breath, though the corners of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
“Hey—ow!” Cole yelped, stumbling again as his foot caught on a puff of cloud. “Who knew walking on clouds would be harder than walking on dirt?”
“Probably everyone but you,” Sable muttered.
The group trudged on, the endless horizon stretching before them. Aldra spread her wings and took to the sky briefly, scouting ahead before landing gracefully once more.
“Not far now,” she announced, her tone clipped but less sharp than before. “Try not to make fools of yourselves when we arrive at the Veil of Mists.”
“Define ‘fool,’” Reef called from the back.
Aldra didn’t even dignify that with a response. She merely shook her head and led the group forward, muttering something about “the longest day of her life.”
As the group pressed on, the air began to shimmer, and a pale mist rolled in, softening the edges of the cloudy path. Tiny Wings buzzed nervously, her small wings fluttering against Moss’s broad back.
“What’s happening?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the faint hum of the mist.
“The Veil of Mists,” Aldra said firmly, her tone dropping to something almost reverent. “We’re close to the elder’s sanctum. Stay together, and don’t wander off. The Veil has a way of... confusing even the strongest minds.”
“Confusing? Great,” Reef muttered, his fins twitching. “Because we weren’t already lost enough.”
Coral shot him a warning glance. “Reef, not now.”
The group fell into an uneasy silence, each step forward feeling heavier as the mist thickened around them. The once-bright clouds dimmed to a dull gray, and the air carried a strange energy that made their scales tingle and their hearts race.
“I don’t like this,” Splash whispered, his usual humor replaced by unease.
“You’re not supposed to,” Aldra replied, her voice sharper than usual. “The Veil is a place of trials, designed to test your resolve. If you’re not careful, it can show you things that aren’t real—memories, fears, even lies.”
“Wonderful,” Sable growled, his claws digging into the path. “Another test. Because we haven’t had enough of those.”
Frostbite glanced at him calmly, his frosty breath swirling in the mist. “If the elder deems it necessary, it’s for good reason. Patience, Sable.”
Aurora stepped closer to Elanor, her purple scales glowing faintly in the dim light. “Stick close,” she murmured. “This place gives me the creeps.”
Elanor nodded, clutching the strap of her healer’s satchel. “Don’t worry. I won’t go far.”
The mist thickened further, curling around their legs and wings like ghostly tendrils. Shadow hesitated, his green-tipped spikes bristling. “Is anyone else hearing... whispers?” he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
The group paused, straining their ears. Sure enough, faint voices drifted through the air, indistinct but hauntingly familiar.
“That’s just the Veil,” Aldra said, her tone firm but uneasy. “Ignore it. Keep moving.”
But the whispers grew louder with each step, tugging at their minds. Tiny Wings whimpered softly, curling closer to Moss. “They’re saying my name,” she whispered, her voice small and frightened.
Moss glanced back at her, her earthy eyes steady. “They’re not real, Tiny. Focus on me.”
Aurora’s tail flicked nervously, her usually confident demeanor faltering. “What if the whispers aren’t lies? What if they’re trying to tell us something?”
“Or lead us astray,” Sable snapped, his wings twitching. “We can’t trust anything here.”
The group pressed on, their resolve tested with every step. Finally, the mist began to thin, revealing a towering archway made of gleaming blue crystal. Ancient runes shimmered across its surface, pulsing with a soft, rhythmic glow.
Aldra stopped before the archway, turning to face the group. “Beyond this gate lies the elder’s sanctum,” she said, her voice steady but grave. “This is your final chance to turn back.”
Reef stepped forward, his usual humor replaced by determination. “We didn’t come this far to turn back now."
Aldra studied him for a moment before nodding. “Very well.” She stepped aside, gesturing to the gate. “Then step forward, travelers, and face the elder. May your hearts be pure and your minds strong.”
ns 15.158.61.12da2
