★200
The atmosphere here felt unmistakably draconic, peaceful, ordered, almost ordinary, a stark contrast to the last three realms we had crossed. For the first time in my life, I was witnessing true dragons: Kalidorian Star Dragons.
Dragon-kin of countless lineages, shapes, and sizes soared through the skies, each going about their daily lives.
Most remained in their natural draconic forms, vast wings beating through the air as they travelled between floating spires and drifting landmasses, while only a rare few chose to walk the realm in humanoid guise.
"Naturally, wild dragons spawn here. They're not 'wild' wild but wild."
(Not jail, jail. But jail. Breaking Bad, Walter White reference:)
"They spawn naturally without the involvement of any third party. This place is both a birthing ground and a home for these wild dragons."
Tikvah explained.
Just as she spoke, a massive Dragon, comparable in size to the Cannibal, swept past us without the slightest concern for our presence. Several smaller ones followed in its wake, darting and gliding through the air.
It was difficult to tell what any of them were actually doing; each dragon-kin moved with its own rhythm, as if the sky itself were their homeland rather than merely a space to travel through.
"What's the difference between these ones and the others?"
Vera asked.
"Nobility and status."
Tikvah replied.
"The Dragons here are sentient like any other. They can create humanoid forms, use magic, learn it, invent it, copy it, whatever they wish. They have freedom in every sense of the word. Honestly, the differences are too many to count, but nobility and status are what separate us."
"Status like what?"
"The Dragons here don't care about military ranks, political systems, or social hierarchy, and our influence doesn't extend into this Realm either. They know I'm a Princess, but what does that mean to them? Nothing."
She answered.
"They bow to no one, not even to the King or Queen. They aren't knights, soldiers, or civilians. They're simply Dragons, living as they please."
"That's the freedom you want?"
I asked. To me, this must be it, the freedom in Kalidor.
"If you paid attention, I never said the queen was my mother. I belong to nature, I belong in the wild. I simply hatched in the Kingdom ruled by Queen Leyvera. I'll explain everything bit by bit for you all to understand."
Her quick smile vanished the moment her eyes fell upon the storm ahead.
"Skyborn Tempest, Varnok. A storm that yields to no one, not even the Monarchs themselves."
She said, and for the first time I heard fear slip into her voice.
I gazed deep into the tempest. Even my perception struggled there. I couldn't see the Fragments clearly because they were woven into the storm itself, part of its very existence. The deeper I tried to peer, the worse the visibility became, as if the storm rejected observation.
"There are isles scattered within the storm."
She continued.
"I don't know how they managed to make use of them, but they're there."
"I can see them. But they'll only slow us down. Stay here. Let me go check it out... "
"No. We're in this together."
Tikvah's voice cut through the rising wind before either of us could argue.
"We move as one. As a team."
She extended her arm between us without hesitation. Vera glanced at her for a moment, then nodded and placed her hand over Tikvah's. There was no ceremony or grand speech, just a simple gesture that carried a strange weight.
"What are you waiting for?"
Tikvah asked, tilting her head when she realised I was still standing there watching them.
I frowned slightly.
"What am I supposed to do?"
I replied honestly, my mind unable to analyse this weird act.
"It's a team gesture."
Before I could respond, she reached out, grabbed my hand, and firmly placed it on top of Vera's.
Their hands were warm. Mine hovered there awkwardly, uncertain what this was meant to accomplish.
I looked from one to the other.
"Am I supposed to feel something?"
Vera snorted, unable to hold back a quiet laugh. Tikvah rolled her eyes jokingly.
"It's not magic. It's just… a promise."
"A promise?" I repeated.
'How weird.'
"That we don't run off on our own. That we don't leave anyone behind. If we're going into the Skyborn Tempest, we do it together."
The wind from the distant storm brushed against us, carrying the low rumble of thunder from Varnok. Even from here, the tempest felt alive, as though the sky itself were breathing.
"We're supposed to cheer or chant, but that would probably waste valuable time."
Tikvah said, glancing between us.
"It's only a few seconds. We can at least say something."
Vera replied with a small shrug.
Tikvah fell silent, her brow furrowing as she thought. The wind from the distant storm brushed through her hair while she murmured to herself, quietly turning the names over in her mind.
"Hmm… Tikvah means hope… Vera means faith… and Wú Jí means limitless…"
Her lips moved as she tried to piece something together.
Then her eyes suddenly lit up.
"TIKVEEWOO CREW, limitless truth and hope bound together forever!"
She raised a fist triumphantly as she said it, her voice full of enthusiasm.
A second later the excitement drained from her face.
"…It's a bit long. Sorry."
She shrank slightly, rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment.
Vera smiled gently.
"No. It's fine. We'll say it together, alright?"
"Yeah."
Vera answered again more confidently, nudging me.
I gave a small nod. Tikvah straightened, raising her hand again like a commander preparing a signal.
"One… two… three…"
"TIKVEEWOO CREW, limitless truth and hope bound together forever!"
Our voices rang out across the open sky, carried briefly by the wind.
For a moment none of us spoke. The storm ahead rumbled like a living beast, lightning flickering deep within the vast spiral of clouds that formed the Skyborn Tempest.
Tikvah spread her wings, Vera followed and together, as a team, we turned to face the storm.
To be continued...