The sun had not yet risen when Alden returned to the corridor entrance Tarin stood beside him staff glowing faintly Mira and Dax waited near the projection table monitoring the currents through the crystal network Elen reviewed the official data logs ensuring transparency and documentation Everything needed to be perfect Any mistake could cost Skygrain its alliances

Ridgeborn’s test vessel approached The ship was large built from carved stone reinforced with iron lines Its hull was heavy enough to withstand lightning pockets but slow enough that any instability in the corridor would affect it immediately The Ridgeborn crew stood stiff and alert carved stone helmets covering their foreheads Their vessel descended with a rumbling echo that vibrated through the platforms

Tarin muttered softly They brought the heaviest vessel they have It will strain the corridor more than any trade ship

Alden nodded That is the point They want certainty

Elder Gorvak arrived standing tall on the observation platform Ridgeborn does not test lightly Administrator If your corridor holds we will honor your alliance If it fails our path turns to Cloudport

Alden bowed He respected the elder’s honesty even if the consequences were heavy

Mira stepped forward holding a crystal shaped like a thin curved plate This plate displays the live pressure readings of the corridor If the sky shifts we will see it instantly If the currents remain steady the readings will stay green

Gorvak examined the plate briefly Ridgeborn approves

The test vessel aligned with the corridor entrance Its engines roared a deep heavy tone The mana runes along its hull glowed with earthy red light Tarin whispered protective spells around Skygrain’s observation deck while Dax positioned guards to ensure nothing interfered with the reading

Then the vessel moved forward entering the corridor

The first anchor glowed The corridor lines pulsed steadily Mira’s plate remained green The wind around the corridor hummed but remained stable

The vessel reached the second anchor The air shifted slightly The currents bent around the ship’s heavy hull The projection flickered yellow for a moment All eyes turned to Mira She watched the readings then exhaled It is adjusting The corridor is adapting to the load This is normal

Gorvak’s expression did not change but the tension in his arms softened slightly

The ship continued toward the third anchor where the hallway of winds narrowed Tarin leaned forward studying the projection carefully The third anchor is the most sensitive The shaping team said it had the most mana turbulence

Alden’s chest tightened as the vessel approached The corridor lines flickered lightly Yellow flashes danced around the hull Pressure readings rose Mira’s face tightened

Dax whispered quietly Stay steady Come on hold

The projection shifted then suddenly pulsed green The corridor stabilized around the ship The currents loosened then settled into a balanced flow The hull stopped shaking

The Ridgeborn crew continued without hesitation Their vessel moved smoothly now entering the fourth anchor zone Mira watched every reading like a hawk The corridor hugged the vessel’s sides like guiding hands The pressure readings remained steady

Alden felt slow relief creeping into his chest but he did not relax The last anchor the fifth was the one planted during turbulence It was the weakest part of the corridor the part Cloudport would likely target if they wanted to sabotage the test

The Ridgeborn vessel approached the fifth anchor The projection danced with green and yellow pulses Pressure spikes appeared on Mira’s plate Tarin tightened his grip on his staff Even Gorvak leaned forward slightly

Alden whispered Hold steady Just hold

The corridor lines around the fifth anchor trembled The vessel pushed into the turbulence Its hull creaked under pressure The readings flashed yellow again then orange Mira sucked in a breath Not yet Come on adjust

For a moment the corridor seemed ready to break The mana lines twisted one direction then snapped back like a stretched rope The projection shook rapidly

Dax muttered They are testing the deepest stress point They want to know the truth

The air pressure surged around the corridor flowing upward Then—

The readings turned solid green

The corridor stabilized The turbulence smoothed out The currents aligned perfectly around the heavy Ridgeborn vessel guiding it with balanced force

The ship passed the fifth anchor without incident

Alden let out a slow measured breath The Ridgeborn council members behind him exchanged looks Tarin stood straighter Mira sank to one knee in exhausted relief Elen pressed her palm to her chest whispering a quiet Thank the sky

Gorvak Stonecreed stared at the projection long and hard He watched the vessel exit the corridor reentering open sky smoothly The council’s heavy ship drifted with quiet dignity toward the observation deck

When it finally landed Gorvak walked forward slowly His stone carved boots struck the platform with steady deep thuds The Ridgeborn crew disembarked their expressions unmistakable They had felt the stability They had felt the safety They had felt the corridor’s strength

Gorvak looked directly at Alden His voice calm strong and deep Skygrain’s corridor stands Your shaping holds your currents remain true And your leadership proves steady

Then he lifted his spear high declaring Ridgeborn stands with Skygrain

The words echoed through the sky like rolling thunder Alden felt the weight of them settle into his bones It was not only a declaration It was a pledge A promise That Skygrain was not alone

Mira exhaled deeply Tarin smiled faintly Dax gave a rare nod of satisfaction Even Elen allowed herself a moment of pride

But before Alden could speak a Skygrain messenger sprinted onto the platform breathless His eyes wide with urgency Administrator urgent message from south Cloudport vessels have left their holding line They are not heading for Mistvine They are heading for our border

Alden froze The victory had lasted mere seconds Cloudport had begun their next move

He turned toward the sky His voice low We held the corridor Now we face the storm