The once gentle slopes had given way to jagged peaks and treacherous scree as Lucian and Finley ascended higher into the mountains. The air thinned, carrying the sharp scent of pine and a wild, untamed energy. They were on foot now, their horses having met a swift and brutal end – two sets of gnawed bones lying picked clean in a desolate valley, a stark testament to the aerial predator that ruled these heights.
"Its territory," Finley whispered, his voice tight with fear as he pointed to a colossal nest woven from branches and glinting with what looked like gold and jewels, perched precariously on a seemingly inaccessible crag. A majestic Griffin, its feathers the color of sunlit snow and its eyes like molten gold, surveyed the landscape from its lofty perch.
Drawing his sword, Lucian approached the base of the crag. "Creature of the sky!" he called out, his voice echoing across the desolate peaks. "We seek the amulet you guard! We have no desire for your treasures, only the means to survive the depths below!"
The Griffin descended with a powerful beat of its enormous wings, the wind buffeting Lucian and Finley. It landed gracefully, its gaze intelligent and assessing. A voice, ancient and resonant, echoed in their minds, seemingly bypassing their ears. "Mortals. Many have come seeking trinkets and power. Why should I deem you worthy of the Sky Stone?"
"Our need is not for power, but for a cure," Lucian answered, meeting the Griffin's gaze. "A curse binds me, and the depths hold the only hope of breaking it. The amulet is the key to reaching that hope."
The Griffin tilted its head, its golden eyes studying them intently. "A curse... and the depths... Intriguing. But the Sky Stone is not given freely. You must prove your worth. You must face me."
With a screech that echoed through the mountains, the Griffin lunged. The ensuing battle was a whirlwind of steel and claw, of desperate dodges and furious attacks. Lucian, despite his own inner beast, fought with a grounded determination, while Finley, surprisingly agile, used his knowledge of the terrain to his advantage, distracting the creature with well-aimed stones and bursts of alchemical smoke.
Finally, with a desperate lunge, Lucian managed to wound the Griffin's wing. The magnificent creature stumbled, its proud cry turning into a pained screech as it fell to the ground, weakened and bleeding. Lucian stood over it, his sword raised, ready to deliver the killing blow.
But then, he hesitated. He saw not a monster, but a powerful, ancient being protecting its domain. Lowering his sword, he said, "We only needed the amulet. You have proven your strength. We will not take your life."
The Griffin regarded him with a mixture of surprise and respect. With a sigh that rustled its golden feathers, it nodded. "You have shown a worth beyond mere strength, mortal. Take the Sky Stone. But heed my warning. This amulet… it draws the eyes of those who crave power, both benevolent and malevolent. Hunters will seek you. Be wary of those who offer aid too freely, and trust few."
With a final, sorrowful look at its wounded wing, the Griffin allowed Lucian to take the intricately carved amulet from its nest. As they turned to leave, the Griffin's voice echoed in their minds once more. "The depths hold their own dangers, mortal. The sea's chosen is not easily swayed. May your worthiness see you through."The Griffin's warning about the amulet echoed in Lucian's mind as they considered their next move. The centennial eclipse was a mere three days away, a fact Finley nervously reiterated, his fingers constantly checking the position of the sun. The Lumina Obscura Forest, where the Astral Rose bloomed under that rare celestial alignment, felt like the more pressing destination, especially now that their horses were gone, making the journey to the distant coast of the Obsidian Tides a far more arduous prospect.
Days blurred into a tiring rhythm of walking, Finley's knowledge of the land guiding them through increasingly dense woods and winding paths. The air grew heavy with the scent of damp earth and strange, luminous flora that pulsed with a soft, inner light. Viper, sensing the shift in the environment, offered new temptations, whispers of ancient power hidden within the forest's depths.
On the second day, as the shadows lengthened, they heard the rumble of wheels and the rhythmic thud of hooves. Rounding a bend in the path, they encountered a lavish royal carriage, flanked by a contingent of soldiers in the crimson and gold livery of Regulus Veridia Nova. At the window of the carriage, a young king, bearing a striking resemblance to the portraits Seraphina had once described of Valerius Alaric, peered out with an air of entitled impatience.
"Halt!" the captain of the guard commanded, his voice booming. "By order of King Theron of Regulus Veridia Nova! What business do you have on these roads?"
King Theron, a descendant of Valerius and Aeredith, leaned forward, his gaze sweeping over Lucian and Finley. "We are on a royal expedition," he announced imperiously, "seeking a legendary gold cave said to be hidden within these ancient woods. It is rumored that a key of great power, an amulet, is needed to unlock its entrance. Have you seen any such artifact?" He spoke with an arrogance that prickled Lucian's already raw nerves. He had no idea that the very amulet he sought was concealed beneath Lucian's tunic.
Lucian, wary of revealing their possession of the Sky Stone, kept his expression neutral. "We are merely travelers, seeking passage through the forest."
Finley, ever cautious, bowed slightly. "We have seen nothing of the sort, Your Majesty."
King Theron's eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion in them. "These are strange times. Be on your way, then. But if you do stumble upon such an amulet, know that it belongs to the crown of Regulus Veridia Nova." He gestured to his guards, and the carriage rumbled forward, leaving Lucian and Finley to exchange uneasy glances.
"They're after the amulet," Finley whispered, his voice laced with concern. "The Griffin's warning... it seems to be coming true already."
Lucian's hand instinctively went to the amulet hidden beneath his clothes. The encounter had been a stark reminder that their quest had already attracted unwanted attention. The race to reach the Cenithia before the eclipse, and before others discovered their prize, had just become even more perilous.