The mont Krono’s words fell, the cavern stirred with motion. Crystals dimd as if the light within them recognized the resolve that had just been set. The still air starts to charge with more energy and they even blinking because they knew that they would depart, as though this cave and stones itself is prepared to hurl them toward their fates.
Krono sretched his arm and took a deep breath. His body now was still outlined by a faint shimr of temporal light still lingering from his earlier vision.
"I’ll open the way for us," he said.
Eccar straightened as well and rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles as if to shake off the heaviness.
"Finally, after enough talking. Let’s put our power where they belong." His sharp grin didn’t hide the grim determination in his eyes. He finally would be able to let the steam from his body after waiting in a tensed mind for a long ti.
Erend gave him a sidelong glance but didn’t comnt. His own body felt coiled, ready to be thrown into motion.
The images from Krono’s vision still haunted the edges of his mind, yet that only made his resolve burn hotter. Whatever awaited them, he would et it head-on and protect his family and the worlds. That was what his power was for.
Aesa lingered a mont longer before stepping forward. Her movents were calm but her arms remained folded, her cold gaze sliding over the others as if weighing the cost of their presence beside her.
She said nothing further, but her silence was enough to be seen as acceptance.
Krono lifted his hand and space itself began to tremble. A low vibration filled the cavern and thin fractures of light tore open in the air, bending reality into a shimring small swirl of the gate to another world.
The swirl then widened into a vortex. It looks like its edges were burning with the threads of ti power because it was not like the normal portal they all used. It has shifting images that move quickly.
"Once we cross to our destination," Krono said, his eyes sweeping over them, "there can’t be any pause. We must move as quickly as possible."
Eccar grinned fiercely, Erend gave a firm nod, and Aesa only exhaled through her nose, eyes narrowing at the swirling rift.
Without another word, Krono stepped through first with Eccar. The vortex rippled and swallowed their fra. Eccar followed right after, his stride confident and heavy with anticipation.
Erend paused for the briefest mont, glancing at Aesa. Her icy stare t his eyes, unreadable and sharp as a blade.
He didn’t speak, but he gave a small gesture for her to go ahead.
She clicked her tongue softly, almost annoyed, and strode past him into the portal without hesitation.
Finally, Erend stepped forward and the vortex engulfed him.
The cavern, with its jagged stone and glittering crystals, fell away in an instant.
—
Erend and Aesa erged from the vortex with a rush of wind and light, their feet striking the smooth stone path of a familiar garden.
The scent of flowers, fresh earth, and Magic-laced air greeted them at once. Tall white trees swayed gently, their silver leaves shimring in the sun, and fountains whispered in the distance.
They had arrived at the Elf Palace.
Krono had placed them precisely where Erend expected which is within the royal garden where he often t Aurdis.
The majestic towers of the palace lood nearby, their crystalline spires glittering beneath the open sky.
"This is the Elf Palace," Erend said, glancing at Aesa. His voice was steady, carrying a weight of familiarity. "One of the two Elven kingdoms in this world. We ca here first because I need to deliver the warning directly to King Gulben himself."
Aesa’s sharp eyes swept across the garden, her arms still folded.
"It feels different," she admitted. "In my world, the Elves build their kingdoms deep in the forests. They blend with the trees and roots. But this—" her gaze rose toward the towering spires "—this stones and spires just carved out from stones and silver."
Erend gave a faint nod. "The other Elven kingdom here is within a forest. But even then, it won’t be the sa as what you’ve seen."
"Mm," Aesa murmured simply, her voice quiet but thoughtful.
Truthfully, she had little to do with the Elves of her own world. She only knew them by reputation that they held the largest territory and that most people treated them as untouchable.
Before Erend could say more, hurried footsteps echoed from the palace doors. A mont later, the garden’s silence broke as the tall doors swung open.
Aurdis stepped out. Her silver-platinum hair caught the sunlight and shimred like woven moonlight.
She moved quickly, her smile blooming with warmth at the sight of Erend. But then her steps slowed and her smile stopped.
Her eyes shifted to the figure standing beside him. She was a won smaller in fra, her own silver hair a few shades paler than her, her complexion was pale, her gaze cold and distant.
The warmth on her lips faded, replaced by sothing uncertain.
"Hey. We need to et with the king," Erend said with a smile as he stepped closer to Aurdis.
Aesa followed a few paces behind him.
Aurdis’s eyes lingered on her, tracing the unfamiliar woman’s pale complexion and almost ethereal silver hair. The closer Aesa ca, the more Aurdis felt a cold seeped through her skin.
"Who is this?" Aurdis asked, her voice calm but edged with suspicion.
"This is... uhh... another Dragonborn like ," Erend answered truthfully.
Aurdis froze, her breath catching as her wide eyes darted back to him. "Another Dragonborn?"
"Yes." Erend gave a steady nod. "Eccar and Krono managed to find her and persuade her to join our cause."
Aurdis’s shock lingered, her lips parting as if she ant to say more, but no words ca.
She turned her gaze to Aesa again. She had never imagined she would encounter another Dragonborn so soon.
"Nice to et you," Aurdis said finally, her voice smooth as she mustered a smile.
Aesa’s expression didn’t shift. She only gave a curt nod.
"Let’s et my father, then," Aurdis said, she turned toward the palace doors.
The three of them walked together through the grand corridors. Courtiers and guards turned their heads, bowing to Aurdis as she passed, but their eyes lingered curiously on the pale stranger walking beside Erend.
At last, the great doors of the throne room opened, revealing the expansive chamber within.
—
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