The shattered towers of Aelthrys glimmered faintly beneath the twilight sky, casting fractured light across the city's broken streets. Kael moved with quiet authority, his blade of fire and shadow sheathed but still humming with ancient energy. Around him, Selara, Nyxara, and Aurielle followed, each stepping lightly over the ruins, their eyes wide with wonder and cautious curiosity.
Selara's gaze swept across the remnants of silver towers and broken bridges. "I never imagined a city could float like this," she murmured, flames flickering faintly along her wings. "It's… breathtaking."
Nyxara smirked, brushing ash from her dark scales. "Breathtaking, yes, but don't forget it's also dangerous. One wrong step and we could fall through the cracks of centuries." Her sharp eyes scanned the ruined streets, and yet there was a mischievous glint in her gaze. Without warning, she nudged Kael's shoulder with a playful shove. "Careful, you're moving too slowly. Are you showing off that cold, stoic side again, or are you just ignoring us?"
Kael's golden eyes flicked toward her, unblinking. "I'm observing," he said quietly, though the corner of his mouth betrayed the faintest twitch of amusement.
Aurielle's serene voice rose behind him. "Observing or not, you still walk like you own the ruins. Which, perhaps, you do. Just don't forget to breathe, Kael." She smiled softly, her usual calm laced with teasing warmth. Then, lowering her tone, she added, "Though I admit… it's a little unfair. You make everything look effortless."
Selara rolled her eyes dramatically but laughed softly. "I told you, he's impossible to read. It's infuriating… and yet, somehow, it makes him irresistible." She pouted briefly, glancing at Kael. "Don't ignore me."
Kael said nothing, as always, but there was a subtle shift in his stance when the three of them crowded closer. A tiny, almost imperceptible warmth flickered across his chest—not fire, not shadow, but something softer, humanlike, that belonged only to these three.
They reached a wide plaza where broken statues of long-dead dragons lined the edges, wings outstretched in frozen flight. In the center, a large mural spanned a curved wall of celestial stone. Stars and constellations shimmered faintly inlaid with precious metals, depicting dragons soaring above humans, elves, and other creatures—some in harmony, some in battle.
Aurielle stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on the mural. "These were… records. Of battles, alliances, pacts. All of it. And look here…" She pointed to a smaller figure hidden near the edge, wings folded in an almost protective stance. "Someone unknown to history, yet clearly revered."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. His mind recognized patterns the others could not see—the subtle flow of magic interwoven in the stone, the faint pulse of an ancient power hidden beneath the artistry. This was no ordinary mural; it was a map, a guide for someone with his bloodline.
Nyxara leaned against his shoulder lightly, her voice teasing. "I bet even the ancients were impressed by you, Kael. Imagine them hiding messages just for you." She reached up, tugging gently at his arm like a child asking for attention. "Tell me I'm right."
Selara rolled her eyes again but grinned, crossing her arms. "Stop distracting him, Nyxara. He'll ignore us all if we're not careful." But then, lowering her voice, she leaned in close to Kael, her warm breath brushing his ear. "I like seeing you like this… calm, yet powerful. You can't hide it from me forever."
Kael's hand twitched slightly, brushing against hers—not fully conscious, yet deliberate enough that the gesture left them all feeling a spark. He said nothing, only scanning the mural, yet his golden eyes softened in a way they never did for anyone else.
Aurielle laughed softly, covering her mouth. "You're ridiculous, both of you." Then she paused, eyes distant, tracing her fingers over a section of the mural depicting dragons sharing knowledge with elves and humans alike. "These alliances… these pacts… the Veil Sovereign's shadow must have started long ago. Even here, I feel it… waiting."
Kael's jaw tightened imperceptibly. He had felt it too, faint whispers threading through the ruins, echoes of a darkness older than the kingdoms themselves. But for now, it remained a murmur, distant and patient, waiting for its moment.
The three women clustered closer, and for the first time, Kael allowed himself a moment of relaxation. Selara sat on a broken ledge, tapping her foot impatiently. Nyxara sprawled across the steps, arms crossed, letting out a dramatic sigh like a spoiled child. Aurielle perched gracefully nearby, fanning herself with one hand while the other lightly rested against Kael's arm.
Kael's lips curved ever so slightly, a gesture so faint it could have been missed. Yet the three noticed. Selara's eyes sparkled with delight, Nyxara's smirk widened, and Aurielle's smile softened further.
They spent hours exploring the ruins, uncovering small chambers filled with relics and inscriptions. One chamber contained a pedestal with a crystal faintly glowing under Kael's gaze. As he approached, it responded only to him, pulsing warmly in resonance with his presence.
Selara whispered, leaning close to Kael. "That's yours, isn't it?"
Kael did not answer, only laid a hand on the crystal. A soft hum filled the room, echoing through the ancient stones. The crystal's glow intensified, casting golden light across their faces. For a brief moment, Kael allowed his guard to drop entirely, letting them see the faintest trace of awe and wonder in his eyes—emotions reserved only for these three.
Nyxara nudged his shoulder playfully. "See? You can't stay serious forever. We'll always find a way to make you smile."
Aurielle leaned her head lightly against his arm. "And we'll always be here… whether it's danger, discovery, or just silence between the stars."
The warmth of their presence wrapped around him like a cloak, softening the eternal weight he carried. For now, the ruin's secrets waited patiently, the echoes of ancient power whispering just out of reach. Kael allowed himself to bask in the fleeting peace, the laughter, the teasing, the warmth of companions who had become more than allies—they were his heart, fragile yet fierce, playful yet wise.
As the sun dipped beneath the fractured horizon, Kael looked out over the city suspended above the clouds, golden fire glinting faintly along the edge of his blade. Somewhere beyond the veil of history, a shadow stirred, waiting for its time. But Kael, Selara, Nyxara, and Aurielle would face whatever came next together.
And for the first time in centuries, Kael allowed a small, nearly imperceptible thought to cross his mind: maybe, just maybe, the world was worth protecting—for them.