The Fortress of the Tark'Kor

After Nymira joined us, the cart was practically full. Maybe one more person could fit in, something we'd have to consider. Before continuing our journey, Eldrek decided to organize our things.

He searched through his belongings to pull out the map, but being as tall as he was, none of us could see it alongside him. Without warning, Nymira nimbly climbed up the cart and then jumped onto Eldrek's back, scaling up to one of his shoulders so she could see the map with him.

We all stared, stunned, especially Eldrek, who reacted as if some animal had suddenly clambered up on him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zhavros, already in his position to guide the salamanders, rubbing his face as if trying to keep his composure.

Eldrek, despite the surprise, gave a slight smile and continued looking at the map. "The next point is about the same distance as what we've already covered," he explained to us.

"Maybe this is the last person to join us, at least for now. The cart is already full, and although the salamanders are strong, they could slow down with more people."

Zhavros, from his position, chimed in: "I know that area. We might be able to gather useful minerals in the nearby mountains so Eldrek can forge the magic weapons."

Eldrek, now encouraged, replied, "That would help us greatly. With those minerals, I can create custom weapons for each of you." Nymira, excited, exclaimed:

"I've never had a weapon! I'm thrilled to know I'll have one made just for me... although I don't have a way to pay you for it."

Her innocent comment drew a small, friendly laugh from us. Even Aelira, usually serious, smiled. I noticed that detail and couldn't help but think of how different she looked when she smiled. Something about her changed completely, and I found myself smiling to myself.

We climbed into the cart and set off on what seemed to be our last trip in search of another ally. We hoped that, once again, the journey would pass without issues. Along the way, the conversation flowed lightly.

We laughed and got to know each other better. Nymira, always sticking close to Aelira, wouldn't stop complimenting her and asking for advice on how to improve her skills. The celestial, patient, gave her some pointers and promised that they'd train together as soon as they could. Nymira, of course, was more than thrilled.

At that moment, Nymira, curious, asked Aelira a question that I hadn't dared to ask myself due to the lack of trust: "Where do celestials come from?" Her big, attentive eyes reflected her eagerness to hear Aelira's answer.

Aelira looked at Nymira, and with a calm solemnity, replied, "Celestials don't have a home like humans or mortal beings. We were created by the Sages, who shaped everything we know, although no one can say for certain who they are. To us, they are a presence as ancient as the world itself, difficult to comprehend or see, even in legends. They created us with a purpose: to keep the balance. And though we've never seen their faces, we know deep in our essence that it was their will that brought us into existence."

Zhavros, who was listening from the front of the cart, interjected while looking off into the distance: "That's why they say celestials are like the Sages themselves. They're idolized in many places."

Aelira didn't take long to respond: "Well, they shouldn't… we make the same mistakes as any mortal." I noticed a trace of longing in her tone, as if a fleeting memory had crossed her mind as she said it.

Wanting to change the subject, I took the opportunity to ask Nymira why we had found her alone at the top of the mountain. Her tone shifted as she answered, becoming less lively.

She looked at me, her usual smile trembling slightly, but still holding that sparkle in her eyes, as if trying to keep her enthusiasm. She took a breath and began:

"Well… I guess it's not that interesting, but… my people were always artisans. We loved making beautiful things, you know? Without getting into trouble or anything. We weren't good with magic or weapons. We were just… ourselves, at our own pace." Her voice started to crack just a bit, and though she tried to keep a light tone, her smile seemed more fixed and forced.

Aelira, sitting close by, touched her shoulder gently without interrupting, just reminding her that she wasn't alone.

"So," Nymira continued, "when there were rumors about that dark being… about what he was doing to the nearby communities, we decided it was safer to keep moving. My people thought that, if no one knew where we were, we'd be safe. So, we became nomads." She paused, her eyes reflecting something between sadness and a hard-edged nostalgia that she was trying to hide.

"We were fine for a while, although always hiding. I… I was little, and well, I was just playing with the other kids as always." She stopped, a sad smile barely holding, and continued in a lower voice, "Until one day… a man arrived. He was riding a huge three-headed chimera, and he came with… with a horde of creatures. He laughed, like it was some kind of game." Her voice broke entirely as she said it.

There was a tense silence, but before anyone could say anything, she continued, looking at us as if trying to reassure us.

"I watched them… destroy everything. I just wanted to find my parents. I saw them for a moment, they were far away, in the crowd… and I thought of calling them, but…" She fell silent for a moment, her gaze lost in a painful memory. "I saw… how the specters surrounded them and… and everything happened so fast…"

Aelira put an arm around her shoulders silently, letting her continue, while Zhavros listened intently without a word.

"I hid. I slipped into some bushes and just… just waited, without moving. Everything was silent, like the world had ended." Her smile returned, but it was broken, and in her tone, filled with effort, you could hear her struggle to contain her emotions. "From then on… I decided I would never stop smiling. Because if I didn't… if I didn't, I don't know how I would have gone on."

Lyris leaned towards Nymira, and with a warm smile, whispered to her, "Wow, Nymira… you're really strong. I'm so glad we found you." Nymira gave her a faint but grateful smile. Eldrek, for his part, said nothing; his expression said everything, reflecting a deep and silent empathy.

I, on the other hand, felt a fury ignite within me. I couldn't help but wonder if Grimmor had anything to do with that massacre. I cursed him silently, vowing that if he was responsible, someday he'd pay for all the suffering he had left behind.

— — —

After several hours of travel, the sun was beginning to set on the horizon. Zhavros, always alert, spotted the area we were headed for, but he decided we should stop in the nearby mountains first to take the opportunity to mine the necessary minerals. With any luck, we could go unnoticed.

Lyris commented aloud, "Doesn't it seem strange that we haven't encountered any creatures in the last few stretches?"

I couldn't help but nod.

"You're right; something must be going on." Aelira, who also knew these lands well, added,

"It's definitely not normal. These areas are usually teeming with creatures. Something strange is happening, no doubt."

Before we could theorize further, we reached the rocky areas. The salamanders didn't let up, carrying us as far as possible through the mountains. They were truly formidable creatures.

Zhavros guided the cart toward some nearby mountains and pointed out a series of caves. "There, that's where we can extract the mineral—assuming no one's done so already," he said.

With the help of our magic and some tools Eldrek carried, it wouldn't be difficult. We all got off the cart while Zhavros stayed outside with the salamanders to protect them.

Lyris, Nymira, and Aelira, the three wielders of light mana, combined their efforts to illuminate the cave.

The scene was surreal. As the three cast a joint spell that softly lit the place, I couldn't help but think how incredible it was to be surrounded by these people. I never would have imagined being here, in these circumstances.

Eldrek, for his part, had to hunch over to enter the cave. He moved with precision, examining every corner and running his enormous hands along the walls. I couldn't help but ask,

"How are we going to find the mineral? It could be buried deep in the walls, and we wouldn't even notice." Eldrek, without stopping his search, glanced at me from the corner of his eye and pointed to a specific spot. "Here, further in, is the mineral we need."

Surprised, I asked him,

"How do you know?" Eldrek gave a slight smile and replied, "I thought you already knew, Darius. I have my own abilities, too."

Then he touched the spot he had pointed to, and, as if by magic, the earth on the wall began to fall away to the cave floor. It was as if we were excavating the wall effortlessly.

I was speechless. It turned out Eldrek had an elemental ability connected to earth and metal. He could sense the precise location of minerals, even from a distance.

Still amazed, I responded, "I didn't know you could do that." Suddenly, everything made sense. Of course, it explained why he was an expert at forging weapons and how his ability helped him create such powerful, unique magical weapons.

After a good while of digging, and thanks to Eldrek's ability, the process went by quickly. While Eldrek handled extracting the mineral from the cave walls, I took care of bagging it and carrying it to the cart.

The others took turns helping, and the teamwork flowed effortlessly. We were nearly finished when a sound stopped us. It was a flapping sound, but it wasn't coming from inside the cave—it was coming from outside, echoing loudly.

Silence fell over everyone. For an instant, the only sound was the calm yet sarcastic voice of Zhavros saying, "This is about to get interesting." There was no doubt he said it with experience.

We ran towards the cave exit, and as we drew closer, the sounds of flapping grew louder. When we finally got outside, the scene awaiting us was, to put it mildly, surreal.

There were a dozen huge creatures flying, similar to dragons. They were winged drakes, majestic creatures different from traditional dragons—slimmer and more agile, with iridescent scales that shimmered in the moonlight.

Above them, figures were riding with skill, as if perfectly in sync with the beasts.

Nymira was the first to react. As soon as she stepped outside and saw the drakes, she showed no sign of fear. On the contrary, she seemed fascinated. Her eyes wide open, she asked excitedly,

"Do you think they'd let me ride one?" Her reaction was so innocent that it brought a smile to my face, despite the tension of the moment.

Eldrek, maintaining his usual calm, advanced toward the drakes with his hands raised in a gesture of peace. He had to raise his deep voice to be heard over the sound of the wings, which seemed to fill the air with their movement.

Even so, the authority in his tone made his voice resonate: "Can we talk?" There was no immediate response, but after a pause, one of the riders descended while the rest stayed in the air, keeping watch.

The one who descended was different. It was clear he was a leader, with an imposing presence and firmness in every step. Vaelor, leader of the Tark'Kor tribe, a warrior with dark gray skin marked by tribal tattoos. I would later learn that they belonged to a race called Gromthar, beings capable of adapting to the harshness of the environment, slightly taller than the average human and with dense musculature.

He carried an energy spear that emitted a faint light. Despite his imposing appearance, his gaze was calculating and calm.

Vaelor approached Eldrek, and they began speaking in low tones, so quietly we couldn't hear anything from where we were standing. At one point, Vaelor crossed one hand to his opposite shoulder, making a slight bow before Eldrek.

After a few minutes, Vaelor signaled with his hand, and the other warriors in the air pulled back, leaving only two of them on the ground. Eldrek, in turn, gestured for us to come closer. We approached cautiously, and one by one, we briefly introduced ourselves. When his turn came, Vaelor spoke with a deep, clear voice:

"I am Vaelor, leader of the Tark'Kor community." Lyris murmured almost to herself:

"Community…?" I was also surprised to hear that. In these times, it was rare to find intact communities, much less in such desolate conditions.

Vaelor continued, with the same serenity:

"You are cordially invited to dine with us tonight."

Then he mounted his winged drake with the same ease with which he had descended, signaling for us to follow him. We climbed into the cart and began to follow him, still processing the situation.

Along the way, Eldrek explained what he had discussed with Vaelor. Apparently, Vaelor and his people held great respect for him. Given his longevity, Eldrek had gained fame among warrior communities for crafting valuable weapons.

It turned out that, in the past, Eldrek had forged weapons for the Tark'Kor tribe, weapons that were still being passed down through generations to this day. In fact, the magic spear Vaelor carried had been crafted by Eldrek.

That explained the respect with which Vaelor had treated him; the spear was not just a combat tool, but a symbol of trust and honor within their community.

We followed Vaelor in the cart as the landscape began to change. The mountains around us grew steeper, and the wind passing between the rocks started to grow stronger.

Zhavros kept the salamanders on pace as he guided us along the narrow paths, attentive to any obstacles.

Vaelor flew above us on his winged drake, moving with an ease that could only come from years of training. In the distance, the mountain peaks seemed closer.

Finally, upon cresting a final hill, Vaelor's community came into view. It was a rustic settlement, with stone and wooden houses, sturdy enough to withstand the winters but without any luxuries.

A river ran through the valley, providing water for scattered crops on the lower parts. It wasn't much, but they clearly survived on what they had.

At first glance, there were a few hundred people. About half of them seemed to be warriors, moving with precision as they trained or walked the stone streets.

Children ran about, and the women were busy with their tasks, reinforcing cabins and preparing food. Only about a dozen drake riders stood out among the rest. The latter were resting in a separate area, enclosed by stone walls.

Vaelor landed in front of us and motioned for us to follow him. He led us to a sort of central plaza, where several warriors and elders were already waiting for us. There was an air of respect, but also of curiosity about our presence.

"Welcome to my community," Vaelor said in his calm tone. "Here, you will prepare for what lies ahead. Tonight, we'll eat and have a chance to speak in peace."

The place, though modest, had a feeling of security we hadn't found in other places. The people here were united and accustomed to surviving under tough circumstances.

As I watched the warriors and the drake riders, I couldn't help but feel a kind of relief. Despite everything we'd faced, we were finally finding some hope amidst so much desolation.