Page 50 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

I clutch one of Kaida’s obsidian scales tighter as he banks sharply to the left, his massive Dragon form narrowly missing the jagged peak of a mountain.

My stomach lurches, and I shoot Declan a glare.

“Oh, just lovely . Nothing like the exhilarating thrill of almost being flung to my death every five seconds.”

Kaida snorts below me, a puff of smoke rising from his nostrils. His voice rumbles through the air like thunder. If you fall, I’ll catch you. Probably.

“Probably?” I snap, leaning forward to glare at the back of his Dragon head. “That’s not as reassuring as you think it is!”

Declan laughs, his wings tilting as he maneuvers closer. “Relax, Aeris. If he doesn’t catch you, I will. Think of it as a team-building exercise.”

“You’re both insufferable,” I mutter, though a reluctant smirk tugs at my lips.

The ocean stretches below us now, a vast expanse of shimmering blue that sparkles despite the gray skies.

Waves crash against jagged rocks, their white froth bleeding into the deep indigo waters.

From this height, it looks serene, almost deceptively so.

The vastness of it makes me feel small, like a speck of dust in an infinite world .

As we continue toward Veylwick, the first signs of the seaside town come into view. Worn roofs peek out from the horizon, their faded colors blending into the rocky coastline. Relief floods through me, and I exhale a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“There,” I call out, pointing toward the town. “I can see it. The water Ymiral is letting us in.”

Hope blossoms in my chest, a fragile thing that grows with each passing second. But as we draw closer, something feels… wrong. My stomach knots as tendrils of smoke curl upward, stark against the gray sky. The closer we get, the more the scene unfolds in horrifying detail.

“No,” I whisper, my breath catching in my throat.

The town is a graveyard. Homes lie in ruins, their wooden frames splintered and blackened from fire. Bodies are strewn across the sandy roads, their lifeless forms frozen in grotesque poses. Blood stains the ground in dark, jagged smears, mixing with the ash and debris.

Kaida lands in the town center, his claws digging into the sand as his massive form shifts beneath me. I slide off his back with shaky legs, my boots crunching against the debris-strewn ground. Declan lands beside us, his wings folding behind him as he surveys the destruction.

The market stalls that once lined the streets are tipped over, their colorful fabrics torn and stained. Fish and fruit are scattered across the ground, their vibrant colors dulled by ash and blood. I cover my mouth with my hand, the smell of charred wood and death overwhelming my senses.

“What happened?” I ask, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to steady it. My fingers dig into Kaida’s scales for support as I glance around, my eyes burning with unshed tears.

“The Dragons came.”

The familiar voice pulls my attention, and I turn sharply to see Tura standing a few feet away.

Her wide-brimmed straw hat dangles from her hand, crushed and crumpled as if she’s been gripping it too tightly.

A long claw mark mars her face, stretching from her left eye to her chin, the edges of the wound raw and red.

“Tura!” I rush to her, my feet slipping slightly on the blood-slick ground. My hands hover uselessly in the air, unsure whether to embrace her or examine her injuries. “What happened? Are you okay?”

She gives me a sad smile, though it doesn’t reach her eyes. “They came at night,” she begins, her voice low and hoarse. “I don’t know how they got past the water Ymiral’s defenses, but they did. They snuck in, burning and destroying everything in their path.”

Her hand trembles as she gestures to the town around us.

“They gathered all the merfolk here, in the center, and demanded to know how we were hiding. They asked if we’d join their cause.

When no one would answer, they…” Her voice breaks, and she takes a shaky breath. “They started killing us. One by one.”

I reach for her arm, squeezing gently as tears well in my eyes. “Tura… I’m so sorry.”

She shakes her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I was spared thanks to a dear friend. She covered me with her body as they… as they took her down. She hid me until they left. She took her last breath on top of me.”

Tura’s hand clenches around her straw hat, crushing it further as her shoulders shake. Kaida steps beside me, his shadows curling protectively around my ankles. His brow furrows, his sharp eyes scanning the wreckage.

“I don’t understand how they found your town,” he says, his voice edged with frustration. “We never said a word. When I gave my report, I just said we washed up on Veylwick’s shores and flew to Brimvarr.”

Tura looks up at him, her good eye glistening with unshed tears. “I don’t know. I fear something has happened to the water Ymiral. It’s the only explanation. Without her, our defenses are nothing.”

Declan steps forward, his wings twitching behind him. “What could harm a Ymiral?” he asks, his tone skeptical but tinged with curiosity.

Tura glances at the three of us, her expression grim. She shakes her head, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Not here. Let’s go inside.” She casts a wary glance at the bodies surrounding us. “Even the dead can listen.”

Kaida’s shadows tighten around him like a second skin as he exchanges a look with me. I nod silently, my stomach churning as I glance one last time at the devastation around us.

Without another word, we follow Tura toward her home, our footsteps heavy against the blood-soaked sand.