The kingdom above the wind
404 Words
Three days passed in peaceful silence.
Adrian remained on bed rest, though the palace healers insisted he avoid flying until his wings had fully recovered.
Elara visited him every morning.
She read to him, changed the bandages on his wings, and made sure he never missed a meal.
Each day, Adrian found another reason to smile.
On the morning of the fourth day, a royal hawk landed on the windowsill carrying a sealed letter.
Adrian broke the seal.
It was from Kael.
"You have had three days. Bring Elara back. The Blood Oath demands that we all protect her."
Another line, written by Darius, followed beneath it.
"Do not make us come and get her."
Elara sighed.
"They're worried."
"They're jealous," Adrian corrected with a chuckle.
She smiled, but it quickly faded.
"I can't leave yet."
Adrian looked at her in surprise.
"You should."
She shook her head.
"You nearly died protecting me. I'm not leaving while you're still recovering."
For a long moment, Adrian simply stared at her.
No one had ever chosen to stay for him.
His heart swelled.
Finally, he smiled.
"Then before you go... there's somewhere I want to show you."
Later that afternoon, Adrian led Elara to the highest balcony of the palace.
Above them, hidden beyond a sea of silver clouds, another land slowly revealed itself.
Elara's breath caught.
Floating islands stretched across the heavens.
Crystal waterfalls poured into the sky instead of the earth.
Great castles gleamed like stars beneath the sun.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
"This is the High Sky Kingdom," Adrian said softly. "Even my kingdom bows to its ancient rulers."
A gentle breeze wrapped around them.
Adrian smiled.
"The winds have served our bloodline since the first Sky Alpha."
He looked toward the endless heavens.
"My old friend..."
The breeze grew stronger.
"...hold her."
At once, the wind circled Elara like invisible hands.
Her feet lifted from the stone floor.
She gasped, but she did not fall.
Instead, she floated effortlessly in the air, laughing as the warm breeze carried her higher.
"It won't let you fall," Adrian said, watching her with quiet admiration.
"The wind knows you're under my protection."
For the first time in days, Elara forgot the prophecy...
Forgot the monsters...
Forgot the war waiting below.
High above the clouds, she felt completely free.
And Adrian realized there was nowhere else in the world he would rather be than beside her.
- Writer
