Wearing just his black cloak, Anubis left the royal palace that fateful night, his heart bent on a journey far beyond Valoria's comforts. He headed for the communal dragon port, where ordinary people rode the golden dragons to their destinations.
The night’s departure area was hopping, even at this late hour. People mingled from all walks of life, some excitedly awaiting their voyage and others bidding adieu to loved ones. With his cloak covering his identity as a prince, Anubis melted into the background.
He walked over to the golden dragon that was supposed to lead the way west that night.
Even though these dragons were not as giant as the royal ones, they were magnificent animals, with their scales gently glittering in the moonlight. Anubis was excited and nervous as he boarded the dragon and sat among the other passengers.
Seated among the other travelers, Anubis experienced an incredible rush of air and the soft yet powerful vibrations of the dragon's enormous wings as the communal golden dragon soared into the night sky.
Even though he was blind, his other senses allowed him to create a clear mental image of the landscape above and below him.
Beneath him, the enormous, living nation of Valoria, with its lofty buildings and magnificent palaces, stretches out. He could hear the quiet, unbroken hum of the city at night, a far-off music of life and activity. He pictured the golden buildings stretching upward, reaching for the endless stars above. He could feel their magnificence.
As they climbed, the air grew colder and carried with it the subtle odors of the city, a combination of the fresh, earthy scent of the night's dew, the smoky aroma of hearths from the homes below, and the night-blooming flowers from the palace gardens.
The sky above him was a woven fabric of experiences. Anubis sensed the stars' presence, a vast, silent audience observing him even if he could not see them. At this level, the soft wind murmured stories from long ago, and the minute variations in air pressure informed him of the vast expanse of space they were traveling across.
Anubis was brought back to reality by the dragon's steady wingbeats and the infrequent gentle growls or snorts, which contributed to the night's symphony. He felt the dragon was speaking to him and sharing his journey from the familiar to the unfamiliar.
Anubis's fists were clenched on the edge of his seat, not out of fear but with eagerness and anticipation for the voyage ahead. He felt a solid connection to the land around him as the city of Valoria faded from recollection and the forest drew near. He was eager to learn more about this world and go beyond the limitations of sight and royal expectations.
The dragon finally descended, arriving at a secluded station in a desolate area. This marked the boundary between civilization and the wilderness at the end of the line. Anubis disembarked, and his senses were immediately bombarded by the striking contrast of this unfamiliar landscape.
The hard ground extended to the horizon beneath the starry sky, and the terrain was rugged and unforgiving with little flora.
Anubis driven by a sense of purpose, each step bringing him closer to the adventures that awaited him and further away from his past. The voyage was more than just a physical one; it was also an exploration of his identity and a broader comprehension of the world outside his father's realm.
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