Page 56 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

AERIS

T he days blur together like leaves caught in a lazy wind.

I settle into a rhythm: waking early, training with the Earth Ymiral, and spending evenings with Declan and Kaida in the makeshift camp we’ve come to call home.

Kaida hasn’t so much as grazed my skin since that night in the pond, but he lingers.

His glances burn—quick, heated flicks of his blue eyes—and every so often, his shoulder brushes mine, his restraint humming like a taut string.

Does it excite me? Terrify me? Maybe a little of both.

Today is no different. The morning sun filters through the forest canopy, painting the ground in dappled light as the Earth Ymiral leads me through yet another grueling training session.

My fingers tingle as I summon a bow from vines, thorny arrows forming with a thought.

She watches me with her usual critical gaze, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

“Why now?” I ask during a lull, my breathing labored. “Why train me if I’m just going to leave Eluvonia to find Julien?”

Her gaze softens, if only slightly. “You should still be able to access your magic, even off this realm. The elements power you, Aeris, not just Eluvonia’s soil beneath your feet.”

Her words stick with me, lingering like roots burrowing deep into the earth, even as the day drifts on.

By the time evening rolls around, I’m seated on a makeshift log bench with Declan, the journal spread out between us. His brow furrows as he flips to a section he’s been pouring over all week.

“This part here,” he says, tapping the page. “Sylvtharn. According to the journal, that’s where the dwarves went after relocating from Eluvonia. He also writes about how fascinating the place is and how much he’d love to see it someday.”

“Sylvtharn,” I echo, leaning back and crossing my arms. “That’s definitely a lead.”

Declan tilts his head, worry etched into the faint crease between his brows. “What if he’s not there?”

“Then we see if anyone there knows where he is,” I say, shrugging as if it’s the simplest thing in the world. “We need to start somewhere.”

His gaze meets mine, steady and warm. His hand comes up, brushing against my cheek with a tenderness that momentarily leaves me at a loss for words. “You’re correct, of course,” he murmurs, pride flickering in his voice like the glow of fireflies.

A sharp rustling draws both our attention. Kaida steps into the clearing, his eyes narrowing slightly as he catches Declan’s hand lingering too long.

“So,” Kaida says, voice clipped. “Have you found a location yet?”

Declan drops his hand, a grin sliding across his face. “I think we have.”

Kaida nods, his expression unreadable. “Alright, so we—”

BOOM.

The ground shakes beneath us, a deafening crash silencing whatever Kaida was about to say. I’m on my feet in an instant, Declan right beside me, both of us scanning the trees as another explosion rocks around us.

“What is that?” I ask, my voice sharp.

Before anyone can answer, the Earth Ymiral appears with a pop of displaced air. Her eyes are wide, frantic. “Dragons are attacking the Lunoryn Forest!”

I blink. “Wait—this is the Lunoryn Forest?”

Her head snaps toward me, one brow arching in exasperation. “You’ve been here for weeks, and you decide to ask that now?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks. “It’s not like there was a sign!”

She sighs, her gaze flicking to the trees ablaze in the distance. “Come. We must get you out of here.”

Kaida grabs my hand, his grip firm as he pulls me forward. We follow the Earth Ymiral through the forest, dodging low-hanging branches and leaping over roots that claw at our feet.

“Why are the Dragons attacking?” Declan asks breathlessly, running alongside me.

A tree crashes to our left, its branches engulfed in flames. Sparks shoot out, scattering like angry fireflies.

“Apparently,” the Ymiral says, her voice tight with frustration, “Kaida’s father ordered all the forests in Eluvonia burned to root out any Fae hiding within them.”

Declan mutters a curse under his breath, and Kaida growls low in his throat, the sound guttural and furious.

“He’s going to destroy the entire realm just to conquer the Fae!” I shout, leaping over a fallen tree in our path.

The Ymiral skids to a stop and waves her hand, revealing a hidden path to our right.

“Follow this,” she says, her voice urgent.

“It will take you to the Lunoryn Cliffs. From there, fly straight over the ocean. You’ll eventually reach another set of cliffs.

Just beyond that, past a meadow of wildflowers, is a portal to Vryngard. ”

I hesitate, glancing back at her. “But Julien’s journal mentioned Sylvtharn.”

She nods, gripping my wrist. “Yes, but for reasons I cannot explain, only one portal can exist on a realm at any time. You’ll need to cross Vryngard, find the portal to Nyvakra, travel through Skyrvell, and in Midgard, you’ll find the portal to Sylvtharn.”

My stomach twists. “Eluvonia could be destroyed by the time we cross that many realms!”

Her eyes soften, her grip tightening. “We Ymiral will do what we can while we still have strength. The realm tells me this is the only way. Now go!”

She gives me a gentle push toward the path, and I stare at her for a long moment, my throat tight. “Thank you… for everything.”

Her lips curve into a sad smile. “This is not goodbye.” Then she’s gone, disappearing into the smoke-filled forest.

Declan grabs my hand, his voice urgent. “Come on, Aer!”

We run, the forest collapsing and burning around us. The acrid scent of smoke stings my nose, and my legs ache with each step. The sound of roaring flames and falling trees fills the air, but ahead, a faint light beckons us forward .

Finally, we break through the treeline, stumbling onto the Lunoryn Cliffs. The ocean stretches out before us, vast and shimmering, the horizon painted in hues of gold and crimson as the sun dips low. Behind us, the forest burns, the smoke rising like a dark omen.

The air is thick with tension as the sun dips low, its golden light casting long, jagged shadows across the cliffs.

The sky is a gradient of orange and purple, fading into the encroaching darkness.

Kaida and Declan exchange a glance before Kaida tosses me his bundle of clothing, and Declan follows suit.

I catch the crumpled fabric midair and crouch, shoving them unceremoniously into the satchels strapped to my thighs, along with the journal.

It takes effort to stuff it all in, and I grunt in frustration as I force the snaps closed.

“It’ll have to do,” I mutter under my breath, more to myself than anyone else.

Their forms shift, the familiar crackle of energy signaling their transformation.

Their bodies stretch and grow, scales replacing skin as massive wings unfurl.

They move with practiced ease, but their eyes dart between the tree line and the sky above, their jaws set tight.

I scramble onto Kaida’s back, gripping the edges of his scales for balance.

The texture is cool and smooth beneath my fingertips, a stark contrast to the heat radiating from him.

I hold out a hand and summon the familiar hum of magic, pulling it into shape until a vine bow materializes.

Its surface is rough and alive, the thorns along its curve glinting faintly in the dying sunlight.

I brace myself, one hand clutching a ridge of Kaida’s neck, the other gripping the bow tightly.

Kaida and Declan leap into the air, their wings slicing through the twilight as they ascend. The wind whips against my face, and I squint, trying to keep my focus. Once we level out, I risk a glance behind us and my stomach twists.

“Shit,” I hiss. “They’ve noticed us.”

Kaida growls low in his throat, the vibration rumbling beneath me.

I narrow my eyes at the figures chasing us.

There are Dragons, but something about them is…

off. Smaller forms dart alongside the larger Dragons, and I strain to make sense of what I’m seeing, my breath catches as realization dawns. The creatures from before.

Declan’s head whips around, his golden eyes narrowing as he takes in the sight. A growl rumbles deep in his chest, guttural and angry. “How did they get demon blood?” I ask, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

Kaida shakes his massive head, his voice gravelly as he answers, I do not know.

Declan turns back, his wings beating harder against the wind. You don’t think your father is colluding with the Arcanis Order, do you? he asks, his tone sharp.

“What’s the Arcanis Order?” I ask, peering behind us again. The figures are gaining ground—or air, rather. My stomach churns.

Kaida’s growl deepens, a note of frustration underlying it while Declan answers. A group of scientists—if you can call them that. Mad, dangerous.

A chill races down my spine. “So you think they experimented on the Dragons?” I ask, the question hanging heavy between us.

Yes , Declan says, his voice grim.

The cliffs drop away into open sky and water, but there’s no time to admire the view. I glance back. “Heads up,” I call. “They’re on your tails.”

Kaida growls, a sound that vibrates through my legs. We’ll have to fight, he says. Declan exhales a plume of steam, the air around him shimmering with heat.

I grip Kaida tighter with my thighs, summoning a set of thorn arrows in my free hand. The magic hums against my palm, and I knock an arrow onto the bowstring, readying myself. Kaida banks sharply, turning to face the incoming Dragons. Ready? he asks, his voice a low rumble.

I snort, a sardonic smile tugging at my lips. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s hope the odds are in our favor, or we’re screwed.”

Declan roars, the sound echoing across the cliffs.

His golden eyes blaze, and suddenly the last rays of sunlight seem to concentrate, bending and sharpening into a focused beam of light.

It pierces the oncoming Dragons, cutting through their ranks like a blade.

Screams and roars rise up as several fall into the ocean below, some engulfed in flames.

I whip my head toward Declan, wide-eyed. “What the hell was that?” I demand.

Declan’s massive head turns to me, his golden scales catching the light. Pretty sure I mentioned I was blessed by the Light Ymiral, he says, a note of pride in his voice.

I blink, trying to remember. Did he? I think, shaking my head. “Well, that was badass.”

Declan lets out a low chuckle, but his gaze slides to the horizon, where the sun is almost gone. Unfortunately, I can’t do it again.

I twist toward Kaida. “What about you? Do your shadow thing!”

Kaida is silent for a moment, and I feel his hesitation. I can’t. He finally says, his voice clipped.

I frown. “Why not? ”

A string. For now, we fight , he says, punctuating his words with a roar as he surges forward.

The first wave of Dragons collides with us, their snarls and roars deafening, filling the air with a thunderous rage.

Red scales glint in the dimming sunlight as the fiery-eyed beasts dive toward us, their wings cutting through the sky like daggers.

I release an arrow, watching as it sinks deep into the shoulder of one of the hybrid creatures.

The beast screeches in agony, its twisted form spiraling away, but another, larger and fiercer, takes its place.

Kaida twists and spins in the air, his onyx wings beating powerfully, claws raking across an enemy’s side. Dark green scales are torn away as his grip sinks into the creature’s flesh. Its blood sprays out, mingling with the crimson streaks from the surrounding Dragons.

Declan is a blur of motion, a streak of gold as he unleashes torrents of fire. The golden flames devour everything in their path, turning the air thick with smoke. His roar of fury mixes with the crackling heat, sending a wave of heat and ash that churns the sky.

I keep firing, my bow an extension of my will.

The thorn arrows sink deep into Dragon scales and flesh, the sickening thunk of impact ringing in my ears.

My arms ache from the constant strain, sweat stinging my eyes.

One of the hybrid creatures lunges, Its eyes are wild, its claws elongated and jagged.

Kaida jerks upward, narrowly avoiding its deadly swipe, and I take the opening, loosing an arrow straight into its chest.

The hybrid staggers midair, its roars filled with a mixture of rage and pain, but it doesn’t fall.

Blood, thick and dark, pours from the wound, staining the air with its iron scent.

The creature crashes against Kaida’s side, claws scraping against his scales, but he’s faster, twisting to throw the beast off, his teeth flashing as he snaps at it in retaliation.

The fight rages on, an endless storm of violence.

The sky darkens with each passing moment, the once-bright blue of day giving way to the inky black of night, thick with burning flesh and the metallic tang of blood, clinging to everything.

The Dragons’ roars blend with the crashing waves below, creating a symphony of chaos.

My chest tightens with the pressure of it all, but I force myself to focus.

Hold on! Kaida’s voice cuts through the madness, low and fierce.

Before I can react, he dives, plummeting toward the ocean.

The sudden drop steals the breath from my lungs, and for a split second, everything is a blur.

The ocean rushes up to meet us, dark and unforgiving, but Kaida pulls up at the last second, skimming just above the surface.

Water erupts around us, spraying in all directions.

I glance back to see the pursuing Dragons falter. Their formations break, unsure, confused. The once-unstoppable force stumbles in the face of Kaida’s calculated move.

Declan’s voice rings out, a laugh full of dark amusement.

Smart move! But Kaida doesn’t respond, his focus unwavering as he climbs again, wings beating furiously.

The cliffs fade into the distance, swallowed by the night, and the remaining Dragons hesitate.

Their roars echo briefly before they retreat, fading into the darkness, leaving nothing but the sound of the ocean and the beating of our wings.

My body sags with relief, exhaustion pulling at every muscle, but I don’t loosen my grip on Kaida. “That… was insane,” I rasp, my voice hoarse from the shouting, the battle, the sheer ad renaline still coursing through my veins.

Kaida lets out a low rumble, a sound that might’ve been a chuckle if not for the underlying edge of warning. It’s not over yet .