March 21, Year of the Dragon's Wake
Temple of the Stars, Mount Aether
We climbed the winding path to the Temple of the Stars as the sun rose over the mountains, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The temple sat at the peak of Mount Aether, built into the rock face with windows that seemed to align perfectly with the stars above.
"This place is older than the city itself," Lyra said, breathing heavily as we reached the top. "They say it was built by the first mages who worked with the dragons."
An elderly man with a long white beard and robes covered in star patterns was waiting for us at the entrance. His eyes twinkled like the night sky as he looked at me.
"I am Master Orion," he said, bowing slightly. "I will be your teacher. Come—we begin with the basics."
Inside the temple's main hall, the floor was covered in a giant map of the stars. Master Orion pointed to a glowing symbol in the center.
"Magic in Aetheria is not about forcing things to happen," he explained. "It is about working with the flow of energy that connects all living things—what we call the Aether. Your world has this energy too, though most people there have forgotten how to feel it."
He handed me a small wooden staff with a hollow at the top. "Place your Memory Stone here. Let it help you sense the flow."
I did as he said, and the moment the stone touched the staff, warmth spread through my hands. I could suddenly feel everything around us—the trees on the mountain, the water in the streams below, even the stars above us, though they were hidden by daylight.
"Good," Master Orion nodded. "Now, try to move that stone from the table to your hand—without touching it."
I focused on the small gray stone on the far table, reaching out with the feeling I'd just discovered. At first, nothing happened. Then I felt a gentle pull, and the stone lifted into the air, wobbling as it floated toward me.
"Steady now," Lyra called out quietly.
Just as the stone was about to reach my hand, it wobbled more violently and crashed to the floor. I sighed in frustration.
"Don't be discouraged," Master Orion said kindly. "Even the greatest mages took time to learn. The fact that you can sense the Aether so quickly is remarkable—your connection to both worlds makes you unique."
We spent the morning practicing small movements—lifting objects, bending water from a bowl into different shapes, even making a small plant grow a few inches taller. With each success, my confidence grew.
After lunch, Master Orion led us to an open courtyard at the back of the temple. "Now for something more challenging. We will practice shielding—this will be vital when you face the Shadow Lord's creatures."
He held up his hand, and a small ball of dark energy formed above his palm. "This is a shadow sphere—harmless in small amounts, but dangerous if you're not protected. Focus your energy around yourself like a bubble."
I closed my eyes, reached for the Aether, and felt a warm glow spread over my skin. When I opened my eyes, a shimmering silver shield surrounded me. Master Orion tossed the shadow sphere toward me—it hit the shield with a soft fizz and dissolved into smoke.
"Excellent!" Lyra cheered.
As the sun began to set, we sat on the edge of the courtyard looking out over the valley below. The city of Aeridor glowed like a jewel in the distance, and above us, the first stars were starting to appear.
"I miss home," I said quietly. "I miss my family, my friends—even my old office, as much as I complained about it."
"I know," Lyra said, putting her arm around me. "But you belong here too now. We need you."
I looked up at the stars, and for the first time, I could see how they connected to the patterns on the temple floor, to the symbols on Master Orion's robes, even to the Memory Stone in my staff.
Two worlds, one sky.
Master Orion walked over to join us. "You have made great progress today," he said. "But tomorrow we begin training with the dragons. They will teach you things no human mage can."
I felt a mix of excitement and fear. Dragons—real, living dragons—would be teaching me? Back on Earth, I'd only read about them in books. Here, they were my allies, my teachers, and maybe even my friends.
The path ahead was still uncertain, but as I looked at the stars above and thought about both worlds I now belonged to, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.