The cave offered a brief respite from the storm outside. Tulin, Callum, Rayla, Bowen, and Stella huddled together, shaken but unscathed after narrowly escaping the avalanche triggered by Kohan and his Yiga Clan minions. The sound of the snow crashing down outside still echoed in their ears, but inside, the worst of the storm was muffled. Rayla checked over her companions, her concern especially focused on Stella, who had been tucked safely inside her pack.
"Is everyone okay?" Rayla asked, scanning the group. "No injuries?" Tulin fluffed his feathers, puffing his chest out proudly.
"I'm good. Didn't even break a feather," he said with a half-grin, adjusting his wings. Bowen gave himself a quick once-over.
"I'm fine. Just a little shaken. How about you, Callum?" Bowen asked. Sneezles poked their head out of the bag and croaked once before ducking back inside. Callum brushed the snow from his coat and nodded, but his gaze immediately went to Rayla's pack.
"Sneezles and I are okay. But Stella…" Rayla knelt, allowing Callum the ability to open it. Rayla's heart skipped a beat as she anxiously waited. A moment later, Stella chirped from within, popping her little face out from the folds of fabric, clearly unharmed but visibly shaken. Rayla's shoulders relaxed, and she let out a relieved breath.
"She's fine," Callum said, giving the cuddlemonkey a soft pat, "She was just a little scared, I think."
"Thank the stars. I was worried." Rayla smiled, reaching back to gently rub Stella's fur. Stella responded with a soft trill and curled up more comfortably in Rayla's pack, feeling the warmth of her presence. The moment of relief passed quickly, and Rayla's mind returned to the strange encounter with Kohan and his Yiga Clan minions. She crossed her arms, a frown on her face as she looked around at the others.
"So, who were those guys?" Rayla wondered.
"Kohan of the Yiga Clan," Bowen explained, his voice tinged with frustration, "Or at least I think so. Last I recall, our intelligence reports indicate he's been trying to run the clan for years until Rasha upended him as leader."
"Great... One more thing to look out for," she said, her expression hardening, "Any idea where we go from here or do we wait for the earth to swallow us next?" Bowen pulled out his Purah Pad, scanning the map.
"Despite the avalanche, our course remains the same. If we keep moving through this cave, we should reach the summit as planned. Hopefully, the wind will let up by then," Bowen said, tracing the route on his map. Rayla glanced toward the cave entrance, a mischievous glint in her eye as she wiped some snow from her face.
"I'm starting to wonder if any of our plans are going to go smoothly at this rate," she said, with a dry smile. Callum let out a laugh, shaking his head.
CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE STORMWIND ARK'S SECRET
The wind howled as Tulin, Callum, Bowen, and Rayla emerged from the other endof the cave, stepping onto the summit of Hebra South Mountain. The snow whipped around them in furious, relentless gusts, and the air felt as cold as the blade of a knife. They huddled together, trying to shield themselves from the biting wind, but the storm showed no sign of easing. Callum squinted against the wind, his cloak pulled tightly around him.
"Well, this is… less than ideal," Callum remarked. Rayla, already bracing herself against the gusts, shot him a look.
"You don't say. We can barely see through this, let alone find our way to the Ark," Rayla noticed. Bowen was frowning, his brow furrowed with concern.
"We can't go any further like this. We'll be blown off the mountain before we even get close," Bowen realized. Tulin, who had been trailing behind them, was the first to move.
"Hold on," he said, his voice strained, "I've got something that might help." Tulin reached into his cloak with a determined look. He pulled out a gleaming green teardrop-shaped stone that was attached around his neck by a silver chain.
"I've got one more trick up my sleeve," he said with a wry grin, "Aeros Arcanus Ascendari." He raised the stone high, and the wind suddenly shifted. A powerful updraft blew all around them, pushing back the storm's ferocity. Snow and ice began to settle as the updraft took hold, but Tulin's face tightened with concentration.
"This isn't easy," he muttered, "There's something else pushing against me. Another force."
"What is that?" Callum asked, pointing to the stone. Tulin didn't look at him as he continued to focus on the storm.
"Nothing you need to worry about right now," he replied curtly, his voice slightly strained. Rayla raised an eyebrow, but Tulin's tone left little room for further questions. Instead, she focused on the immediate problem at hand.
"What do we do now?" Rayla frowned, glancing up at the sky, her hand on her bow. Bowen didn't waste any time. He reached into his pouch and pulled out three green marbles, each glowing with a faint green light.
"What are those?" she asked.
"Zonai capsules. They store Zonai devices inside them, tools and contraptions you can use whenever you need them. They're a portable way of carrying Zonai technology," Bowen explained. The others watched curiously as he smashed them against the rocks at their feet. As they cracked open, a large wing, a flame emitter, and a balloon materialized from within. The devices lay before them, waiting to be assembled.
"Well, this is all well and good, but what do a bunch of Zonai devices do for us here if they're not assembled?" Callum wondered, when it dawned on him, "Wait! Don't tell me. You have another spell you can use."
"Not another spell. Just a familiar one," Bowen said, straightening up, "Ultrahand." His gloved hand glowed with the familiar magic as he began manipulating the parts.
"It's not just for moving things around. I can use it to build things. I just need to line these up right..." Bowen explained. Rayla and Callum watched in awe as Bowen expertly linked the pieces, fusing them together into a makeshift hot air balloon.
"That's... impressive," Callum said, his eyes wide as Bowen continued to adjust the contraption, "What is it?"
"It's a hot air balloon," Bowen said with a grin, "We can use it to fly to the top of the mountain."
"So, you just built a flying machine out of Zonai capsules from your pocket?" Rayla asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Basically," Bowen replied, wiping his brow, "Everyone hop on." The two Xadians and the prince climbed aboard and gripped the ropes of the balloon. With one final check, Bowen gave the flame emitter a firm tap, and a stream of flame shot out from it. The balloon quickly captured the flames, and the balloon began to lift slowly into the air. The updraft from Tulin's stone kept them steady, allowing the balloon to rise against the wind's resistance.
"Let's hope the wind doesn't change on us before we get to the Ark," Bowen muttered, securing himself to the ropes of the balloon. Rayla glanced at Callum and then at Bowen.
"Well, at least we won't be walking any longer," Rayla remarked as they disappeared into the sky. The hot air balloon drifted steadily upward, carrying Callum, Rayla, Bowen, and Tulin toward the ominous silhouette of the Stormwind Ark. Below, the storm churned with relentless fury, but the updraft from Tulin's magic held their fragile craft aloft.
"Are we sure this is going to work?" Rayla asked, gripping the edge of the balloon. Her sharp eyes darted between the Ark and the swirling tempest below, "This thing doesn't exactly scream 'safe.'"
"We just braved an avalanche set by the most dangerous clan of assassins in Hyrule, built a hot air balloon from cobbled together Zonai parts, we are in the middle of the worst windstorm these mountains have seen since the Upheaval, and all for information on something that may or may not be here," Bowen quipped, leaning over to adjust the flame emitter, "we left 'safe' behind a long time ago."
"That's not reassuring," Rayla groaned. Callum glanced over his shoulder at her.
"It's holding for now. We just have to trust Tulin's magic and Bowen's construction skills," Callum insisted.
"Easier said than done," Rayla muttered, her gaze flicking to the sage. The Rito sage was flying beside them, wings beating steadily as he focused on maintaining the updraft. A faint glow radiated from the stone hanging around his neck. His expression was strained and sweat glistened on his feathers.
"Hey, Tulin," Callum called out, his voice laced with curiosity, "Is that a secret stone?" Tulin's eyes narrowed slightly, and he adjusted his flight path.
"It's nothing you need to worry about," he replied curtly again, avoiding Callum's gaze. Rayla raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her suspicion evident. Before the conversation could continue, the glow from Tulin's stone dimmed. His flight wavered, and the updraft began to falter.
"Are you alright?" Callum asked.
"I… I can't hold back the storm winds much longer!" Tulin shouted, panic creeping into his voice. The balloon trembled violently as the storm's winds roared back with a vengeance. The craft lurched sideways, the sudden movement knocking the trio of riders off balance.
"Not good!" Bowen yelled, grabbing onto a support line to steady himself, "Time to jump!"
"What do you mean, 'jump'?!" Rayla demanded, her eyes widening in fright.
"Exactly what it sounds like!" Bowen snapped, leaping off the balloon and deploying his paraglider. Callum didn't hesitate. His mage wings erupted in a burst of light, and he turned to Rayla.
"Come on!" Callum urged. Rayla nodded, her silkspider wings unfurling as she followed Callum into the stormy skies. The wind slammed into them with relentless force, making every movement a battle. Bowen's paraglider dipped and swayed, but he managed to keep a steady course toward a nearby sky island. Rayla wasn't as fortunate. The freezing air seeped into her silkspider wings, and she felt them stiffen. A sudden crack echoed through the storm, and her wings shattered into glimmering fragments.
"No!" she cried, her heart sinking as she began to plummet, "Callum, help!"
"Rayla!" Callum shouted, diving after her without a second thought. His mage wings folded tight against his body as he cut through the air, reaching her just in time. Rayla flung her arms and legs around him, her grip desperate. The added weight strained Callum's wings, but he gritted his teeth and angled them toward a sky island below.
"Hold tight!" he said, his voice strained. With a final burst of effort, Callum landed hard on the island's rocky surface. He stumbled, nearly collapsing as his wings dissolved into sparks. Rayla tumbled off him, breathing heavily.
"Are you okay?" Callum asked, helping her sit up.
"I'm fine," Rayla said shakily, "But my wings..." She glanced at the shattered remnants scattered across the island. Bowen landed a moment later, his paraglider folding neatly into his bracelet.
"Hey! Is everything OK?" Bowen asked.
"Barely," Rayla remarked as she retracted what was left of them into her bracelets. Not wanting to risk losing them, Rayla removed them and stuffed them in her bag. Stella chirped nervously as the cold wind filled her bag before pulling the flap shut.
"Sorry Stella," Rayla apologized, "Hold on to those for me, will you?" Another batch of chittering through the cloth convinced the elf her pet had agreed before the bag settled down. She turned to Callum as the wind picked up more.
"This isn't good. The wind's getting stronger," Rayla noticed, "and I've got no wings. What do we do?"
"That's not our only problem. We've lost our guide," Bowen added, looking around, "Where's Tulin?" The group looked around and saw nothing but the blowing snow and the fragments of sky islands around them.
"We have to find him," Rayla realized.
"No. Tulin can take care of himself," Bowen insisted, "we have to keep moving or we'll freeze."
"How do we do that? Do we backtrack and try one of your 'alternate routes', Bowen?" Callum frowned, looking at the storm surrounding them. Bowen pulled out the Purah Pad and studied its map for a moment before stashing it back in his bag.
"There's only one other route we can take. We follow the sky islands to the Stormwind Ark," Bowen smirked.
"And how exactly do we do that?" Rayla asked, "You're not seriously suggesting we jump between them, are you?" Bowen looked around and saw a sky island just above them, a great stone pillar within arm's reach.
"Yes and no. We do that and use this. Astra Fluere," Bowen chanted, holding his hand up towards the overhang. His hand briefly glowed as a swirling green portal appeared in the rock above.
"Another spell?" Callum asked, surprised.
"Yeah, it summons a portal that lets you swim upward through solid objects above you," Bowen explained, "Like this island, for example."
"And you didn't mention this before because...?" Rayla asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I didn't think we'd need it," Bowen said with a shrug.
"Fine. Let's get this over with," Rayla sighed. He stepped under the island's overhang and disappeared into the portal, leaving Rayla and Callum staring in disbelief.
"Ready?" Callum asked.
"Not really, but let's do this," Rayla hesitated. One by one, they leapt up and swam upward through the rock. The sensation was strange but oddly exhilarating. The trio repeated the process, moving steadily upward through the chain of sky islands. They occasionally relied on Callum's mage wings or Bowen's paraglider to bridge the gaps. Finally, they broke through the top of the storm. The sun greeted them warmly, its golden rays dispelling the storm's oppressive gloom. The air was calm, almost unnaturally so, as if they'd stepped into another world entirely.
Ahead of them, the Stormwind Ark floated in serene majesty, a colossal structure carved from ancient stone and gilded metal. Its design was breathtakingly intricate, blending geometric precision with organic elegance. Golden arches spiraled upward like outstretched wings, their surfaces etched with swirling Zonai patterns that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Orbiting it were dozens of smaller flying boats with big sails.
"It's... incredible," Callum said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I've never seen anything like it," Rayla nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the massive structure.
"Yeah, now let's hope it holds some answers…" Callum nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. As the group climbed aboard, a familiar voice called out.
"You're here!" Tulin rushed to meet them, his feathers fluffed with relief, "I was starting to think you'd been blown off course or worse."
"We ran into a few obstacles, but we made it," Callum smiled.
"Everyone okay?" Tulin asked, his sharp eyes scanning them. Rayla nodded, her gaze dropping to Stella, who peeked out from her bag. The cuddlemonkey let out a small squeak, shivering as Rayla wrapped her in a spare scarf.
"Cold, but fine," she assured, "We've been through worse, haven't we, Stella?" Stella nuzzled against the scarf before diving back into Rayla's bag, her tail curling around her paws. As the group gathered their bearings, Rayla glanced at Bowen.
"So… You can use Ultrahand to manipulate objects and Ascend magic to pass through objects. Are you a mage like Callum?" Rayla asked Bowen.
"Tulin's the Sage of Wind. If you're looking for magic, he's your guy," Bowen grinned slyly. Rayla raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"Evasive much?" Rayla asked, suspicious. Bowen simply smirked and gestured for them to follow Tulin below deck. The ship's interior was a labyrinth of narrow corridors and creaking wooden beams. Torches were mounted on every wall, filling the corridors with a fleeting warmth. They reached a workspace, a cluttered haven of maps, notes, and diagrams scattered across makeshift tables. Tulin waved them over, excitement bright in his eyes.
"I've been piecing together the ark's history," he explained, tapping a set of notes, "It's older than anything I've ever seen… While I waited for you, I remembered something important. There's one part of the ship I can't get into." He led them deeper into the ship until they reached a massive gate adorned with intricate carvings of winds and stars. Faded runes lined the frame, their meaning obscured by wear.
"I found this not long after Link and I uncovered the secret stone," Tulin said, running a feathered hand over the carvings.
"Secret stone? Is that the stone we saw you use earlier?" Callum paused, his brow furrowing. Tulin hesitated, his expression briefly unreadable.
"Yes, but moving on…" he said curtly, before pivoting back to the gate, "Anyway, these runes… Like I said, I can't make sense of them. They're not Zonai dialect as far as I know." Rayla exchanged a glance with Callum, clearly noting the sage's hesitation, but neither pressed the issue further. Callum's gaze lingered on the faded writing. He stepped closer, tracing the symbols with his finger.
"That's because this is elvish. I recognize these from my studies of the Sky Arcanum. Some of the words are worn away, but I might be able to piece it together," Callum noticed.
"You sure about this?" Rayla asked, crossing her arms.
"Trust me," Callum smiled, pulling out his journal and ink. With steady hands, he filled in the missing words, careful not to smudge the ancient symbols. The moment he finished, the runes began to glow softly, and the gate groaned as it slid open. The group stepped into a pristine library, its shelves packed with rows of books untouched by time. Light filtered in from a light-emitting crystal above, illuminating the room in a soft glow.
"Whoa," Bowen muttered, staring at the towering shelves, "This is… a lot of reading."
"This place is incredible," Callum said, running his fingers along the spine of an ancient tome, "Imagine the history stored here." At the far end of the room, a massive console with levers and dials dominated the space. Tulin's eyes widened as he approached it.
"This isn't just a library," he said, his voice hushed with wonder, "This looks like a control room. Could it be the ark was built to be piloted from here?"
"Think it still works?" Callum asked, studying the levers.
"It must considering it's still floating here," Rayla remarked. Before anyone could reply, a violent shudder rippled through the ark, sending books tumbling from the shelves. The air filled with a low, rumbling groan, followed by a piercing shriek that rattled the very walls. Rayla instinctively reached for her blades.
"What was that?" Rayla wondered. Callum's eyes darted to the library's exit.
"It sounded like it came from outside!" Callum said. The group hurried back to the deck. As they stepped onto it, they were greeted by a surreal and chaotic sight. Kohan stood at the center of the ark, flanked by his band of followers with weapons in hand. Liora lingered nearby, her expression one of amused disdain.
"You again! How…?" Rayla narrowed her eyes, gripping her blades tightly, "How did you even get onto the ship with all that wind?" Kohan chuckled, throwing his arms wide in an exaggerated gesture of triumph.
"Oh, that's a secret you'll never find out. Why?" He pointed dramatically at them, "Because you'll be DEAD by my hand before I can say anything!"
"You're really leaning into this whole 'villain speech' thing, huh?" Callum wondered wryly.
"Silence, fool! You'll regret mocking me when I…" Kohan scowled, puffing his chest.
"Uh, boss? Maybe we should just, you know, attack them instead of talking?" One of his followers cleared his throat. Kohan whipped around to glare at him.
"Do you mind? I was monologuing!" Kohan screeched, stomping his foot in frustration.
"I'm surrounded by incompetence," Liora muttered. Liora raised her arms, chanting words laced with dark magic. The air grew colder, frost spreading across the deck as the energy coalesced above her. A massive, winged creature materialized with a deafening screech. Its body was covered in jagged frost, its glowing eyes filled with malice. As it landed with a thunderous crash, the sheer force of its wings flapping sent Kohan and his followers flying off the ship. They were swept off the edge by the gust of wind, their shouts fading as they were hurled into the sky.
"You didn't have to blow us away!" Kohan's voice echoed from a distance, growing faint as he tumbled through the air. Liora paid no attention to his complaints. Her focus was entirely on the creature, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Ice Helmaroc King… Destroy the ark and these fools," she commanded coldly before she disappeared in a burst of dark magic. The Ice Helmaroc King flapped its massive wings as the ark was engulfed in a renewed ice storm. It squawked in rage as it unleashed a torrent of wind and icy shards that battered the ship. The Ice Helmaroc King screeched in fury, its wings slicing through the air with tremendous force. As it flapped, razor-sharp ice shards shot outward like deadly projectiles. The group scattered as the shards embedded themselves into the deck, creating a dangerous hail of ice.
"Get down!" Callum shouted, taking a deep breath, "Aspiro!" A gust of wind erupted from his mouth, deflecting the worst of the incoming ice. The sharp wind left him winded, but it bought them precious seconds. Rayla's eyes narrowed as she notched an arrow on Runaan's bowblade. She released the arrow aiming for its head only for the wind to redirect the arrow into striking the creature's wing. The icy armor held firm, only chipping at the surface. Undeterred, she fired again, her aim steady but the creature's defenses were unyielding.
"It's no use! The wind's throwing my shot off," Rayla called out in frustration, quickly nocking another arrow, "We need to find a weak spot!" Tulin, standing ready at the front, summoned the wind at his feet. He fired a series of wind-empowered arrows toward the exposed joints of the beast's legs, causing a brief distraction. The Helmaroc King staggered back, momentarily off balance.
"I'm not letting it get away!" Tulin shouted, his eyes blazing with determination. While the others kept the beast distracted, Bowen seized the opportunity. With a mighty battle cry, he charged across the slippery deck, his broadsword raised. He reached the Helmaroc King's legs and swung with all his might. The sword clanged against the bird's icy talons, cracking the frost but failing to penetrate deeply. The beast let out a low growl, its massive form stomping on the deck in retaliation. Bowen was thrown off his feet, crashing hard against the icy surface.
"Bowen!" Callum shouted, seeing his ally in trouble, "Aspiro!" Callum sent a burst of wind toward Bowen, pushing him out of the bird's reach just as the Helmaroc King slammed its beak into the deck.
"Thanks!" Bowen grunted, pushing himself back onto his feet.
"Stay on your toes," Callum panted. The Helmaroc King shrieked in fury, its massive wings flapping once more. With a powerful beat, it lifted into the air, its form disappearing into the storm clouds above. The wind howled, and a sudden whiteout blizzard engulfed the ship. Ice Keese swarmed the ship in the blinding storm, attacking from every direction.
"Watch out!" Rayla shouted as the Keese swooped down, their sharp claws scraping at the deck. Tulin acted swiftly, gathering his wind magic to create a vortex that scattered the Keese. Rayla took advantage of the distraction, her swift reflexes allowing her to slice through the Keese with the bowblade, cutting down the creatures with precision. Bowen swung his broadsword in wide arcs, clearing a path for Callum. He stood firm, protecting the mage as Callum concentrated on casting his magic.
"Can you hold them off, Bowen?" Callum called out, sweat beading on his brow.
"I've got it covered!" Bowen grunted, cleaving through another the chaos, Callum knew they needed a new plan. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the storm clouds above. His hands trembled slightly from exertion, but he drew a deep breath and lifted his staff, pointing it to the sky.
"I can do this," Callum muttered to himself, then shouted, "Fulminis Ruina!" A bolt of lightning struck the clouds above, illuminating the Helmaroc King's massive silhouette.
"Callum, again!" Rayla called, her eyes locked on the bird as it began to falter from the strike. With the lightning still crackling in the sky, Callum's heart raced. He directed the magic downward, aiming for the bird's exposed wing joints. The bolt of lightning surged through the storm, hitting the creature with a powerful shock. The Helmaroc King faltered mid-flight, its wings failing to keep it steady as it began its descent.
"That's it!" Tulin shouted, pointing, "Hit it now, Rayla!" With the Helmaroc King momentarily grounded, it let out a ferocious roar, lashing out with its claws and beak. The icy beast was enraged, slashing blindly at the group. Rayla dove in close, dodging the bird's attacks with expert precision. She darted in and out of its reach, striking at its legs with the bowblade in blade form, causing the creature to stumble.
"Stay close, Tulin!" Rayla shouted, narrowly avoiding a claw swipe. Tulin fired arrows into the beast's back, keeping it distracted while shouting orders to the group, coordinating their efforts.
"Aim for the joints! We've got to break through that ice armor!" Tulin urged. Seeing the opening, Callum concentrated this time focusing the magic on a pinpoint strike.
"Fulminis!" Callum shouted. The lightning coursed through the exposed joint Bowen had created earlier, sending a shockwave through the Ice Helmaroc King's body. The creature let out a pained screech, its body convulsing before collapsing onto the icy platform beneath it.
"Nice work, Callum!" Rayla shouted as she backed away from the fallen beast. Bowen, determined to end the battle, retrieved his broadsword from the icy ground. With a roar, he rushed forward and drove the blade deep into the creature's frozen heart. The sword shattered the ice upon impact, sending cracks spreading through the bird's body.
Rayla, seeing the creature's vulnerable position, quickly nocked one last arrow. She fired with deadly precision, sending the arrow into the bird's heart. The Ice Helmaroc King let out a final, thunderous screech as its body splintered into countless icy fragments. Frozen feathers fluttered across the ship's deck, swirling like snowflakes before the pieces dissolved into dust, leaving only the remnants of its destructive presence behind. The wind and snow calmed, revealing the clear night sky once again.
Stella crawled out of Rayla's bag with a small, inquisitive grunt. She looked around curiously, her wide eyes bright, but it wasn't long before she noticed the frozen feathers scattered on the ground. Unseen by the others, she used a subtle flick of her paw, pulling several of the remaining feathers into her fur with a quiet hum of magic.
"Is everyone okay?" Rayla, wiping ice and sweat from her brow, asked. Bowen, brushing snow from his chest with a groan, flashed a wry grin.
"Well, I'll need a new sword, but other than that, I'm fine," Bowen said. His eyes lingered on his broken broadsword, the weapon now irreparably damaged from the battle. The group couldn't help but laugh, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
"No one told you to charge in like that," Rayla teased, shaking her head with a smirk, "But I guess it worked out in the end."
"Sometimes, you gotta take risks," Bowen said, giving a mock salute.
"Just... maybe fewer risks that involve getting frozen solid next time, okay?" Rayla proposed, raising an eyebrow.
"Deal," Bowen agreed with a chuckle, looking at the remnants of the Helmaroc King. Callum, standing slightly apart from the group, ran a hand through his hair, his expression more contemplative.
"That was too close," he murmured to himself, though loud enough for the others to hear. His eyes darkened as he looked over the shattered remains of the creature. With a deep breath, Callum gave Rayla a small nod. With the danger gone, the group made their way back to the library control room, their bodies aching but determined. Inside, Tulin approached the ship's steering wheel, his brow furrowing as he examined the intricate runes etched into its surface.
"I've seen these runes before," he muttered under his breath, tracing them with his fingers. His eyes widened as the runes began to glow faintly, revealing a hidden inscription beneath. Tulin stepped back, taking in what he was seeing.
"Wait... this isn't just a steering wheel... These runes…" He paused, his breath catching as the runes continued to shift, "There's a spell here... Caelum Revelare…" The words resonated with a strange energy, and the Stormwind Ark responded immediately. Its ancient engines groaned, then roared to life, shaking loose centuries of dust, ice and snow. The entire ship shuddered, and the floor beneath them tilted as the great vessel began to move.
"Tulin!" Rayla exclaimed, gripping the edge of a control panel for support, "What did you just do?"
"I... I think I activated it!" Tulin stammered, his feathers ruffling as he steadied himself. His hands instinctively moved to the steering wheel. Callum stumbled but managed to grab hold of the railing.
"Where is it taking us?" Callum wondered.
"I don't know yet!" Tulin admitted, his tone half excitement, half panic. The ship's movements were surprisingly smooth as it sailed through the sky, guided by an unseen force. They watched the landscape pass beneath them, rolling hills giving way to dense forests, then jagged cliffs. Minutes stretched into tense silence as they ascended higher into the clouds. Bowen squinted at the horizon as he pulled out the Purah Pad.
"That mountain... According to the Purah Pad, we're hovering over Mount Drena," Bowen said. Before anyone could respond, a sudden ripple in the air ahead of them drew their attention. A shimmering curtain of light, like a veil of refracted starlight, unfolded in the sky. As the ship approached, the veil parted, revealing a hidden sky island. Rayla let out a low whistle.
"That's… not something you see every day," Rayla commented. The ship came to a stop, hovering just above the floating island.
"I think we're here… Wherever here is," Tulin remarked. The group disembarked onto the island, stepping cautiously onto its crystalline surface. The ground sparkled faintly beneath their feet, and the air hummed with ethereal energy. A short hike brought them to the mouth of a cave, its entrance lined with jagged green crystals that pulsed softly with light. Inside, the cave opened into a vast chamber filled with shimmering green stones embedded in the walls and ceiling.
"This is so beautiful," Rayla remarked, "Why would anyone hide all this?" Stella poked her head out and chittered in excitement as she climbed onto her owner's shoulder. Sneezles poked their head out of Callum's bag as the mage knelt near one of the formations, placing his hand just above the mineral.
"These crystals... they're charged with Sky Arcanum energy," he murmured, his voice filled with awe, "You can practically feel it." Stella jumped onto one of the formations and sniffed the crystal cautiously. Scratching it with her claws, she chittered in annoyance as she failed to scratch it. Bowen tapped the hilt of his broken sword against a crystal cluster, causing a faint ripple of light to spread through the stone.
"These sure are interesting. I bet Mother would love to study a piece of this," Bowen remarked, "I wonder..." Jabbing his broken blade between two of the crystals, he grunted as he tried to pry a piece off the wall. Unable to budge it, he let go of his blade and tried stomping on the hilt. This had the desired effect as a sizeable chunk of the precious mineral hit the floor, small shards splintering off around it. Spotting them, Stella immediately started picking them up.
"Getting a few souvenirs, are we?" Rayla asked teasingly. The cuddlemonkey chirped happily as it scooped up the last shards it wanted before leaping back into Rayla's arms.
"There we go," Bowen grinned as he picked up his broken blade and the crystal he dislodged. Callum lingered, his gaze fixed on the deeper recesses of the cave. The pulse of green light from the crystals seemed stronger now, as if the entire chamber was reacting to something unseen. The air felt charged, heavier than before, tingling along his fingertips.
"Something's here," Callum murmured, stepping forward as though pulled by an invisible thread.
"Callum?" Rayla called, concern in her voice, but he didn't answer. Beyond the crystalline archway, half-shrouded in mist, lay a pedestal of ancient stone. On it rested a teardrop-shaped stone, perfectly smooth, yet shimmering with the same shifting runes he had seen on the Stormwind Ark's controls. Its pale, glassy surface pulsed gently, almost in rhythm with his heartbeat. Callum knelt, hesitating, his hand hovering just above the stone.
"This... It's different," Callum noticed. Rayla and Bowen caught up, the soft crunch of boots echoing behind him. Rayla frowned, her gaze darting between the stone and the runes on the cave walls. Callum's fingers brushed the stone. As soon as they made contact, a sharp pulse shot through his body, like lightning coursing through his veins. His breath caught in his throat, and a surge of sky magic overwhelmed him, rushing into every fiber of his being. Struggling to keep his focus, Callum pushed through the overwhelming sensation. Slowly, he managed to steady his breathing, focusing on the flow of energy instead of fighting it. He closed his eyes, mentally reaching out to the magic, willing it to settle. His thoughts cleared as the pulse of sky magic began to stabilize, no longer overwhelming him but humming softly within his chest, like the calm after a storm. Rayla stepped forward cautiously, concern still etched on her face.
"Callum, are you…?" Rayla began.
"I'm fine," he panted, his voice shaky but determined. He held the stone firmly in his palm, the pulse still faint, almost rhythmic.
"That... that's a secret stone, but it's unlike anything I've felt before. It's... it's far more powerful than mine," Tulin blinked, his eyes wide with recognition. Callum looked down at the stone, the weight of Tulin's words settling in.
"A secret stone? But... this power… it's like nothing I've ever felt before," Callum noticed. Tulin took a cautious step closer, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"It's not just any secret stone. It's attuned to the Sky Arcanum itself," Tulin noticed. Callum blinked, the words registering slowly. As he turned the stone in his hand, it began to shift, almost like it was alive. Before he could react, the gemstone suddenly flickered brightly and, with a sudden surge of energy, leapt from his hand. The stone shot up into the air, then hovered for a moment as if contemplating its next move. Then, it dove straight toward Callum's chest. The stone flew under his scarf and settled against him with a soft, metallic click, and to his astonishment, it fused to his body. It wasn't painful, but it was sudden and intense. He pulled his neck coverings aside, revealing the stone had molded itself into a sleek, golden necklace, its smooth, cool surface resting against the center of his chest. The kanji for sky carved itself into the stone's surface as it turned a vibrant green. Callum gasped, feeling the magic settle into him, an almost protective aura wrapping around his body.
"What… What just happened?" Rayla asked, her voice a mix of awe and confusion.
"I..." Callum swallowed, reaching up to touch the stone at his chest, "I think it's... attached to me. I don't know if I'm wearing it... or if it's wearing me." Rayla crossed her arms, still watching Callum with a mixture of awe and wariness. Bowen's gaze shifted between the stone and Callum.
"You sure you're okay?" Bowen asked. Callum nodded slowly, still trying to wrap his mind around the power coursing through him.
"Yeah. I'm... okay now. I just... need a moment to figure out what this all means," Callum admitted. Rayla raised an eyebrow.
"You sure about that? Because it looks like you just made a huge leap in understanding something we don't even know how to use yet," Rayla noticed.
"Yeah... I'm sure. I think it's something we'll have to figure out together," Callum smiled weakly, the lingering thrum of power still faintly present. It was at that moment, a pulse of energy rippled through the chamber. The air seemed to thicken, shimmering with otherworldly light that coiled around them like threads of starlight. The chamber blurred and folded away, dissolving into a void of pale mist and endless sky. When their senses returned, Callum, Rayla, and Bowen stood on a vast, glowing platform of smooth stone, suspended in an infinite expanse of swirling blues and silvers. The air was hushed, filled with a quiet hum, as though the space itself resonated with ancient power. From the mist emerged a figure, tall and majestic, a being of both physical presence and spiritual light. Regal and wolf-like with sweeping horns, glowing emerald patterns were etched across his translucent skin. His eyes, calm and ancient, regarded them with measured wisdom.
"You who have awakened the stone… stand in the presence of a memory long kept," The Zonai said. Rayla's hand instinctively hovered near her blades, her violet eyes narrowed in caution. Bowen clutched the Purah Pad tightly, staring wide-eyed as the figure continued speaking.
"I was once a sage of the Zonai, guardians of the sky primal and its secrets. Before you can wield its power, you must understand the truths long buried in the sands of time," The sage explained. The void around them shifted, the mist parting to reveal a vision, two radiant figures standing opposite each other. One bore the ethereal markings of the Zonai, swirling with the energy of the heavens, while the other was unmistakably an elven form, tall and beautiful but colder, with a dark aura surrounding his pale figure.
"Long ago, the Zonai and the Startouch elves were both born from the stars themselves, twin races drawn from the same celestial spark. We were brothers once, guardians of the primal energies that shaped all life in the realms. As the ages passed, our visions diverged," The sage began. The spectral figures in the vision began to move, the Zonai extending a hand to smaller figures below, depictions of Hylians, elves, and other mortal species. The Startouch figure, however, towered above the same beings, gazing down on them with narrowed eyes.
"We, the Zonai, believed the great power we possessed was a gift to be shared in balance and harmony, guiding the younger races with wisdom and compassion. The Startouch elves... did not…" The vision shifted again, and the Startouch figure raised his hand, light twisting into chains that bound the mortals beneath him.
"They saw themselves as the architects of destiny, above the lesser forms of life. To them, mortal beings were to be shaped, controlled tools in their pursuit of cosmic order. What began as philosophical opposition soon became something far darker…" The light twisted once more. The figures clashed, bursts of radiant energy colliding as great celestial storms raged around them.
"Thus began the Cosmic Conflict, a war not merely of power, but of belief. Brother turned against brother. Realms were shattered. Entire planes of existence collapsed under the weight of our battle. We fought not for victory, but for survival..." The vision darkened further. Both figures were now fading, reduced to fragments of light drifting away on the wind.
"In the end, neither side prevailed. Our forms were extinguished from the mortal plane. But the primal stones… they remained. Relics of our power and our legacy, scattered and hidden, lest they be used to awaken the same destruction once more…" The image dissolved, leaving only the spirit standing before them. His expression was heavy with sorrow, but his gaze sharpened as it fell upon Callum.
"The sky primal stone has chosen you. Its power will not be gentle. It will test your will, as it once tested mine. Wield it not for dominion, but for balance, as it was meant to be," The sage instructed. Callum swallowed, clutching the stone tighter.
"I don't want power for myself. I want to protect my friends. Protect Xadia… both our realms. That's why I'm here," Callum said. The Zonai sage nodded slowly.
"Then guard this stone well, for its awakening will not go unnoticed. There are those who remember the old ways… who would claim this power not for protection, but for conquest…" The void around them rippled, the mist closing in once more as the sage's form began to fade.
"You carry not just magic, but the weight of a forgotten war. Remember this and choose your path wisely," The sage cautioned. Light flared once more, and suddenly, they were back in the chamber.
"Hey, are you OK? What happened? You were just staring into space," Tulin interrupted. The three adventurers blinked in surprise, looking around in bewilderment.
"I'm not sure," Bowen admitted, "What did we just see?"
"It was a warning," Rayla realized.
"Yeah, and it said we can't let history repeat itself," Callum nodded, his grip tightening on the stone. As he did, the room briefly rumbled. The sound of breaking earth filled the room as some of the crystals broke off the wall, revealing massive stone monoliths.
"Huh? What are these?" Rayla wondered.
"I'm not sure. Some kind of ancient writing?" Callum wondered, running his hand along one of the stones. Bowen immediately pulled out his Purah Pad and began snapping pictures of the symbols.
"These glyphs… they look ancient," Bowen noticed, "Hopefully, Mother and Purah will be able to make sense of all of this."
"Assuming we can get back to them," Rayla sighed.
"Don't worry. I'll just whip up another hot air balloon," Bowen assured her as he kept snapping pictures.
"Let's just hope we don't get blown away this time," Callum agreed.