Page 15 of Beneath Scales and Shadows
The world beneath them transformed as they soared over Celestoria’s borders. Rolling farmlands gave way to dense forests, then to foothills dotted with ancient pines that stood like sentinels against the night. All the while, Sora clung to Ignis’s ruby scales, the wind stealing her breath as they climbed higher into the star-strewn sky.
His mammoth wings cut through clouds that parted like silver mist, revealing glimpses of the realm below—a tapestry of landscapes she had only seen in historical paintings and museum exhibits. Prismatic lakes reflected moonlight like scattered mirrors. Ancient forests pulsed with magic she could somehow sense, a vibration that called to her changing blood.
The mountains loomed before them, their peaks scraping the heavens. Snow glittered on the highest summits, untouched by human foot, while the lower slopes bristled with forests as old as time itself. Something about these mountains felt familiar, as though she had seen them in dreams she couldn’t quite remember.
Ignis banked toward a sheer cliff face that appeared solid and impenetrable. Only as they drew closer did Sora discern the narrow fissure cutting through the stone—a hidden entrance visible only to those who knew where to look.
“Hold tight.” His voice resonated in her mind, both warning and reassurance.
They plunged into darkness as his wings folded partially, allowing them to navigate the narrow passage. Rock walls rushed past, so close she could have touched them had she dared release her grip on his scales. The corridor twisted, descending into the mountain’s heart through a labyrinth no human could navigate.
When they emerged, Sora’s breath caught in her throat.
Before them stretched a vast cavern, so enormous that Ignis could fly unimpeded through its center. Crystal formations erupted from walls and ceiling, their luminescence shifting between sapphire, emerald, and amethyst, bathing everything in ethereal light. Waterfalls cascaded from unseen sources high in the cavern walls, their mist creating rainbow prisms where they caught the ethereal glow.
And everywhere, dragons.
Some perched on the ledges, their scales reflecting the light in metallic rainbows. Others soared through the open space, wings creating currents that stirred the air. Still others walked in a scaled winged human form along terraced pathways carved directly into the stone—a hidden city within the mountain itself.
They descended toward an immense central platform jutting from the cavern’s far wall. As they approached, figures gathered below—a small contingent watching their arrival with unmistakable intensity.
Ignis landed with surprising grace, his colossal wings creating downdrafts that stirred the heated air. He lowered his foreleg, allowing Sora to slide onto the smooth stone platform on unsteady legs. The flight had left her dizzy, her senses overwhelmed by the majesty of the hidden dragon kingdom.
Five figures stood before them, forming a loose semicircle at a respectful distance. Sora surveyed them with the historian’s eye she had cultivated through years of academic training. Three women, two men—all regarding her with expressions ranging from curiosity to calculation to barely concealed hostility.
The woman at the center stepped forward, her scarred face lending her beauty a fierce quality. Unlike the others, who maintained a warrior’s stillness, she moved with predatory grace, circling Sora with open assessment.
“This is what you risked our mission for?” she addressed Ignis in a voice like stone against steel. “A human kitchen maid?”
Ignis growled, the sound rumbling through the platform beneath Sora’s feet. The woman halted her circling but held her ground, amber eyes narrowing.
“Forgive Ember’s directness,” said one of the men, his voice carrying the lilting accent Sora associated with scholars. “She takes her duty as the King’s Guard seriously.”
Unlike Ember’s battle-hardened appearance, this man had the gentle demeanor of someone who was like her: studying academics. His hair fell in silver waves to his shoulders, contrasting with eyes as green as spring leaves.
“I am Asher,” he continued, offering Sora a slight bow. “Healer to the Dralux Clan.” He gestured to the others. “You’ve met Ember. These are Blaze and Enixa, our Wing Leaders, and Coal, who serves where others cannot see.”
The last man—Coal—lingered in the shadows at the group’s edge. Unlike the others, who regarded her openly, his eyes remained downcast, his posture suggesting he would prefer to disappear entirely.
Sora straightened her spine, summoning dignity despite her rumpled serving dress. She combed her fingers through wind-tangled hair, sighing inwardly at the mess before tossing it over her shoulders, abandoning any hope of looking refined. “I’m Sora Valerith.”
“Two names,” Ember noted, suspicion evident in her tone. “Like a noble. Yet you wear a servant’s garb.”
Before Sora could explain, Ignis moved between them, his huge form a barrier between his guard and her—his discovery. A dark growl emerged from his throat—a series of guttural sounds that needed no translation. Ember inclined her head in reluctant deference.
“Our king says you are to be treated with respect,” Asher explained, his gaze shifting speculatively between Sora and Ignis. “You bear signs of the twice-born.”
Sora frowned. “I don’t understand what that means.”
“It means,” Enixa interjected calmly, “that your soul crossed between worlds at the moment of death, finding a vessel waiting to receive it. A convergence prophesied since the first dragons took flight in Artania’s skies.”
“How can you possibly know that?” Sora asked, unnerved by the Wing Leader’s certainty.
Coal spoke for the first time, his voice barely above a whisper. “Your scent carries traces of another world. And your blood...” He lifted his face, eyes finally meeting hers. “Your blood carries your truth, something your mind will soon understand once your soul finally settles.”
“There’s no need to overwhelm my queen.”Ignis swept his tail across the platform, wrapping it loosely around her—a gesture that clearly signaled dismissal.“She’s been through enough.”
“Our king wishes to show you to your shared chambers,” Asher translated. “Tomorrow, when you’ve rested, the council will convene to discuss what your arrival means for our clan.”