The fog clung to Kael like a living thing, curling around his ankles as he followed Lyria along the winding cliffside path. The village of Lintara shrank behind them, its stone huts and crooked docks disappearing into the gray haze. Somewhere below, the void stretched endlessly, a yawning abyss that made the air feel hollow. The wind carried a faint metallic tang — the same magic-laced breeze Kael had felt the moment the mark appeared on his hand.
Lyria walked silently, her silver hair catching what little light filtered through the clouds. Every step she took seemed to leave no imprint, yet Kael felt her presence like gravity beside him: steady, unyielding, protective.
"Where are we going?" he asked finally, his voice small against the wind.
"To Eryndor," Lyria said. "The largest floating market in the Skylands. If you are to understand this world… if you are to survive it, you must see it with your own eyes."
Kael swallowed, glancing down at the abyss again. The thought of traveling through the void unnerved him. "And we just… step across? Or fly?"
Lyria smiled faintly, almost amused. "Patience. You will learn to travel between islands soon enough. For now, we have the bridges of starlight."
Ahead, a faint shimmer appeared in the fog. Threads of silver light stretched from one cliff to another, thin as spider silk but solid enough to support weight. Kael's mark pulsed violently, as if sensing the energy in the strands. He stepped cautiously onto one. The threads vibrated underfoot, almost alive, and he felt a thrill as molten light leapt involuntarily from his hand, strengthening the bridge beneath them.
The closer they approached Eryndor, the more the world changed. The fog thinned, revealing floating islands stacked like shattered tiles across the sky. Bridges of starlight arched between them, some wide and paved with smooth stone, others delicate and swaying. Airships drifted lazily among the islands, sails catching nothing but the shimmering magic of the void.
Kael's eyes widened. Every island seemed to hum with energy, alive in its own rhythm. Forests clung to cliffs, rivers arched across chasms as inverted waterfalls, and creatures of all shapes darted between branches and rooftops. Fox-like Sylvarins leaped gracefully along the bridges, their silver fur glinting in the dim light. Birds with wings like molten glass glided through the air. Even the stones themselves seemed to vibrate with life.
Lyria guided him through the winding streets of Eryndor's central island. The market was a labyrinth of stalls, platforms, and floating barges tethered to the main island with shimmering ropes of magic. Merchants shouted in dozens of languages, selling enchanted weapons, floating lanterns, rare herbs that pulsed with bioluminescence, and fruits that glowed faintly with elemental energy.
Kael could feel the magic in the air — raw, wild, and uncontrolled. Every transaction, every barter, sent ripples of energy through the surrounding islands. His hand tingled, and molten-light sparks danced along his fingertips. He tried to focus, willing them to remain calm, but a few sparks leapt out on their own, striking a nearby stall. The merchant yelped as a basket of glowing fruits erupted in tiny flames, only to extinguish harmlessly moments later.
"Control," Lyria said, her voice calm but firm. "Do not let the magic control you. You are the master, Kael. You must command it, not react to it."
Kael nodded, swallowing hard. He closed his eyes, feeling the pulse of the market — the life of merchants, animals, airships, and magic itself. Slowly, the sparks dimmed, settling back into his hand.
As they moved deeper into the market, Kael noticed something unsettling. Shadows moved where there should have been none. Cloaked figures lingered at the edges of the bridges, watching, whispering to each other in harsh, sibilant tones. One in particular, taller than the rest, stood perfectly still on a high platform. Even from a distance, Kael felt the pull of corrupted magic emanating from him.
"Who are they?" Kael asked, voice low.
"Agents of the shadows," Lyria said without looking. "They test new Luminarchs, observe our movements, and report to those who wish the sun to remain stolen. Do not engage — not yet. We are only observers for now."
Kael felt a cold weight settle in his chest. The shadows were not distant threats; they were here, in Eryndor, watching him. He clenched his fists, feeling molten-light heat rise along his arms.
"Then I will not let them intimidate me," he muttered.
Lyria's eyes glimmered faintly. "Good. Courage is necessary… but control is vital. Fear can be mastered, but reckless pride will kill you."
They reached the center of the market: a platform suspended over a dizzying chasm, tethered to multiple floating islands by starlight threads. A fountain of liquid silver hovered in the air, circulating endlessly, glowing with moonlight magic. Merchants sold potions and charms here that harnessed fragments of celestial energy. Kael watched in awe, feeling the threads of power hum beneath him.
"This is only the beginning," Lyria said. "Every island, every market, every bridge carries its own trials. You must learn to sense the flow of magic… or it will overwhelm you."
Kael closed his eyes, letting the molten-light mark pulse in his hand. He reached out mentally, touching the threads of magic that connected the islands, feeling the currents of energy that wove through Eryndor. Slowly, hesitantly, he guided a strand to steady a floating cart that had begun to tip. Sparks leapt in arcs, but they were calm now — obedient to his will.
A faint smile touched Lyria's lips. "Good. Small control, but progress. Soon, you will learn to extend this across the islands, across the Skylands themselves."
Kael opened his eyes, looking out at the vast floating city, the bridges, the creatures, the energy swirling everywhere. Somewhere above, a single star glimmered faintly, defiant against the pallid sky. He clenched his fist again.
I will master this. I will find the sun. I will bring dawn back to the realms.
And in the shadows, unseen but watching, the tall cloaked figure nodded once. The game had begun.