The horn echoed across the distant mountains.
Low.
Ancient.
Hungry.
Kael felt the sound vibrate through the ground beneath his feet.
"What… was that?" he asked quietly.
The great griffin Aeralion lifted his head toward the sky. His golden eyes narrowed as if he were listening to something far beyond the forest.
"That," Aeralion said inside Kael's mind,
"is the sound of the Shadow Legions awakening."
Kael's stomach tightened.
"You mean… they know I'm here already?"
Aeralion's wings slowly spread, their silver feathers shining like blades of moonlight.
"Yes."
The forest lights dimmed slightly.
"The moment you stepped through the Gate, the balance of Aetherion changed."
Kael rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Great. I arrive for five minutes and I start a war."
Aeralion lowered his massive body.
"Climb onto my back."
Kael blinked.
"Wait… seriously?"
The griffin turned his great eagle head toward him.
"The forest will not protect you for long."
Another distant horn echoed—closer this time.
Kael didn't argue again.
He carefully climbed onto Aeralion's back, gripping the thick golden feathers between the creature's wings.
Up close, the griffin felt like sitting on a living mountain.
"Hold tightly," Aeralion said.
"Sky travel is not gentle."
Before Kael could ask what that meant—
BOOM.
The griffin launched into the air.
Wind exploded around them as Aeralion's wings beat once, twice, sending them soaring above the glowing forest.
Kael shouted as the ground dropped away beneath him.
"THIS IS INSANE!"
The Silver Forest shrank below them, turning into a glowing ocean of light between the trees.
They climbed higher.
And higher.
Clouds swallowed them.
Cold wind rushed across Kael's face, but above the clouds something incredible appeared.
A city.
Floating in the sky.
Kael's eyes widened.
Massive stone towers rose from islands of rock drifting among the clouds. Long bridges made of crystal connected the floating lands. Waterfalls spilled from the edges of the islands into nothingness.
Above the tallest tower, a giant symbol glowed in the air:
Seven stars forming a crown.
"What… is this place?" Kael whispered.
"This," Aeralion said proudly,
"is Skyhold."
"The Kingdom Above the Clouds."
They descended toward one of the floating islands.
As Aeralion landed, Kael noticed something strange.
The people of Skyhold were not ordinary humans.
Some had silver eyes.
Some had faint glowing marks on their skin.
Others wore armor made of crystal and feathered cloaks.
When they saw Aeralion land—
They immediately knelt.
Every single one.
Kael nearly fell off the griffin.
"Why are they bowing?"
"They are not bowing to you," Aeralion said calmly.
"They bow to the Guardian of the Seven Skies."
A tall woman stepped forward from the crowd.
She wore deep blue armor and carried a long spear made of shining glass.
Her hair was white like moonlight.
But her eyes were sharp.
Powerful.
"Guardian Aeralion," she said respectfully.
"Why have you returned so suddenly?"
Then she noticed Kael.
Her expression changed instantly.
"Who is this?"
Aeralion lowered his head slightly.
"This is Kael Ardin."
The woman frowned.
"A human?"
Kael waved awkwardly.
"Hi."
Then Aeralion spoke the words that changed everything.
"He is the Gatewalker."
The entire plaza froze.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The woman's eyes widened slowly.
"That is impossible."
She walked closer, studying Kael carefully.
Then suddenly her eyes dropped to his chest.
The faint glowing symbol beneath his shirt shined through the fabric.
Seven stars.
Her spear slipped slightly from her grip.
"The mark…"
She whispered.
"The prophecy mark…"
She looked up at Aeralion.
Her voice trembled.
"After a thousand years… the Gatewalker has returned."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Fear.
Hope.
Confusion.
Kael scratched his head.
"Okay… I think I missed a very important meeting."
The woman straightened herself.
"I am Commander Lyara, protector of Skyhold."
She pointed her spear toward the glowing star symbol above the city.
"The Seven Kingdoms of Aetherion have waited centuries for the Gatewalker."
Her voice lowered.
"But the prophecy also warns us of something else."
Kael tilted his head.
"Let me guess… something bad?"
Before Lyara could answer—
The sky suddenly darkened.
Clouds twisted violently.
Aeralion's wings snapped open.
"Too late…"
Far away in the sky…
A massive black creature burst through the clouds.
It was a dragon.
But twisted.
Its wings were torn shadows.
Its eyes burned like red fire.
And chained to its back was a dark armored rider.
The rider raised a black spear toward Skyhold.
His voice thundered across the clouds.
"By order of the Dark Emperor of the Void Mountains…"
"Deliver the Gatewalker."
"Or Skyhold falls tonight."
Kael slowly turned toward Aeralion.
"…I've been here less than an hour."
Aeralion's golden eyes burned with ancient power.
"Yes."
The griffin spread his massive wings.
"And the war has already begun."