The wheels of the carriage creaked softly as it 

rolled through the winding forest path. Birds

 called overhead, darting between thick

 canopies, and the smell of moss and

 rain-soaked earth surrounded them. Dragon

 Village had disappeared behind the curtain of

 trees, and ahead lay the unknown—Aetherion

Kingdom.

Rael sat at the front, holding the reins calmly 

but alert. Master Tenzin rode beside him, eyes

 narrowed as he scanned the trees—not in 

suspicion, but as a man deeply connected to 

the wild.

Inside the carriage, Raikuro sat quietly, staring

 out the window at the endless sea of green. 

Kaeli leaned back with arms crossed, her breath

 frosting the glass slightly. Garrin yawned, 

polishing his blade lazily. Lior softly hummed an

 old village tune, one hand gently clutching a 

charm her mother once gave her.

Hours passed, and the dense jungle deepened.

The path narrowed as roots twisted across the

 road like sleeping snakes. Tall ferns brushed the

 sides of the carriage, and the sound of buzzing 

insects and distant animal calls echoed through 

the humid air.

Suddenly—

CRACK!

A branch snapped in the distance.

Rael immediately stopped the carriage, raising

 one hand.

“Something’s moving,” he whispered.

Everyone jumped out of the carriage. Raikuro 

drew his blade in a flash. Kaeli’s palms frosted 

over. Garrin stepped in front protectively, and

 Lior readied her healing magic, heart pounding.

From the thickets emerged—

—a pair of glowing eyes.

Then another.

Then ten more.

A small pack of shadow wolves, their bodies 

black as night, slipped from the jungle, their

 breath visible in the warm air.

“These aren’t ordinary wolves,” Master Tenzin 

said calmly. “They’ve been twisted by magic. 

Defensive formation!”

Without hesitation, the team moved like a single

 unit.

> “Ice Magic: Frozen Thorns!”

Kaeli raised a wall of icy spikes in front of

 the carriage, halting the wolves’ advance.

> “Earth Magic: Shatter Pillar!”

Garrin slammed his blade into the ground,

 sending jagged rocks bursting upward 

beneath the nearest wolf, tossing it backward 

with a yelp.

> “Lightning Step.”

Raikuro blurred from one side of the clearing

 to the other, disorienting the wolves with his

 blinding speed.

The wolves regrouped, snarling, eyes locked on

 the team.

> “Let’s end this,” Raikuro said.

“Together!” Kaeli shouted.

> “Lightning Chain Slash!”

“Ice Lance!”

“Earth Crush!”

Their magic collided in perfect harmony—

thunder crackled, ice glittered, and stone split

 the earth. The final three wolves whimpered and 

fled into the underbrush.

Silence returned.

Only their panting remained.

Rael stepped down from the carriage, 

impressed. “You're no rookies anymore.”

Master Tenzin gave a rare nod. “You moved as 

one. That’s what it takes.”

The team smiled, their breath syncing as they

 regrouped.

The journey continued.

---

By dusk, the jungle had begun to thin. The sun 

dipped low, casting golden rays between trees. 

The air felt lighter, and a cool breeze began to

 rise. Birds flew higher, and ahead the path 

widened.

After a steep climb up a rocky trail, the group 

reached the top of a large hill.

And there—they stopped.

Far below, bathed in twilight and city lights, 

stood the vast and gleaming capital of the

Aetherion Kingdom.

A grand city enclosed by high stone walls, its

 towers piercing the sky. In the heart of it all rose

 the Great Battle Arena—a colossal dome of 

metal and crystal, shining under the fading sun.

Smoke from the market stalls rose in gentle

 spirals. Fireworks burst faintly in the distance—

early celebrations already starting.

Raikuro stood at the edge of the hill, his cloak 

fluttering in the wind.

Kaeli stepped beside him, silent.

Garrin let out a low whistle. “Now that’s a real

 kingdom.”

Lior clasped her hands in awe. “It’s beautiful...”

Master Tenzin took a deep breath. “Tomorrow, 

we ride into history. Tonight—we rest beneath 

the stars.”

The team set up camp on the hilltop. The sky

 above turned dark, stars blooming like silver 

fireflies.

Their hearts beat fast with anticipation.

The gates of fate lay just below.