Chapter 5 – The Sky Palace
854 Words
The great bronze gates of the Sky Palace opened with a deep rumble.
Nora had never seen doors so tall. They were carved with dragons soaring through clouds, kings kneeling before queens, and strange symbols that shimmered whenever sunlight touched them.
She stood beside Emperor Kael, trying not to stare.
Inside, the palace was even more breathtaking.
The floor looked like polished crystal, reflecting the sky above. Pillars of white stone stretched toward a ceiling painted with ancient dragons flying among the stars. Golden braziers burned with blue flames that gave off warmth but no smoke.
Every servant, guard, and noble they passed stopped what they were doing.
They bowed deeply to Kael.
Then they looked at Nora.
Curious.
Confused.
Some openly hostile.
Whispers followed her with every step.
"Is that the human?"
"She doesn't even have magic."
"His Majesty brought her into the Inner Palace?"
"Impossible."
Nora lowered her eyes.
She had lived with whispers her whole life.
Still, they hurt.
Kael noticed her slower pace.
"Do not listen to them."
She looked at him.
"That's easy for you to say."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"You are the emperor."
She gave a small, tired smile.
"People bow when you walk by."
"They fear me."
"They respect you."
"There is a difference."
His answer surprised her.
For a moment, she saw not the powerful Dragon Emperor but a lonely man carrying a burden no one else could understand.
Before she could speak again, an elderly woman approached.
Her silver hair was neatly tied back, and her simple blue robes marked her as a palace servant.
She bowed.
"Your Majesty."
Kael nodded.
"Lady Mira."
"I have prepared the East Wing as you requested."
"Good."
Lady Mira's warm eyes turned toward Nora.
"You must be Miss Nora."
Nora bowed awkwardly.
"I've never greeted royalty before."
Lady Mira smiled kindly.
"Then you're doing much better than many nobles."
Nora blinked.
The older woman leaned closer and whispered,
"Do not worry. The palace can be frightening at first."
Those simple words eased some of the tightness in Nora's chest.
Kael spoke again.
"Lady Mira will take care of you."
Nora hesitated.
"You are leaving?"
"I have a council meeting."
"Because of me?"
"Because of what follows you."
She understood.
War.
Politics.
Questions.
All because he had refused to sacrifice her.
"I am sorry," she said quietly.
Kael stopped walking.
He turned to face her.
"For what?"
"For causing trouble."
His golden eyes met hers.
"You did not choose this."
"I volunteered."
"You chose to save a child."
His voice softened.
"Never apologize for kindness."
Before Nora could answer, Kael walked away, his long black cloak flowing behind him.
The guards followed.
Soon, only Lady Mira remained beside her.
"Come," the older woman said gently. "You must be exhausted."
As they walked deeper into the palace, Nora noticed something strange.
The walls were covered with paintings.
Most showed dragons soaring through the skies.
Others showed ancient battles.
Then one painting caught her attention.
It showed a dragon kneeling before a human woman dressed in white.
The woman's face had faded with time, but something about her felt familiar.
Nora stopped.
"Who is she?"
Lady Mira's smile disappeared.
She quickly looked around the hallway.
"No one knows."
"But the dragon is bowing."
"Yes."
"Has that happened before?"
Lady Mira gently took Nora's arm.
"It is better not to ask that question."
Nora frowned but said nothing more.
A few minutes later, they reached the East Wing.
Lady Mira opened a pair of carved wooden doors.
"This will be your room."
Nora stepped inside.
Her breath caught.
The room was larger than her entire cottage back in Ashwood.
A wide bed stood beside tall windows overlooking endless clouds. Shelves filled with books lined one wall. Fresh flowers rested on a polished table, filling the room with a sweet scent.
"I... I can't stay here."
Lady Mira chuckled.
"Why not?"
"It's too beautiful."
"You are the emperor's guest."
"I am only a hunter."
Lady Mira looked at her with gentle eyes.
"Perhaps."
She paused.
"Or perhaps you are something much more."
A knock interrupted them.
A young maid hurried inside, her face pale.
"Lady Mira."
"What is it?"
"The Royal Council has begun."
Lady Mira nodded.
"And?"
"The nobles are demanding that His Majesty send the human away."
Nora's heart sank.
The maid swallowed hard.
"Some have already called for a vote to remove her from the palace."
Lady Mira dismissed the maid and closed the door.
She turned to Nora.
"Do not leave this room tonight."
"Why?"
Lady Mira hesitated.
Then she answered honestly.
"Not everyone in this palace agrees with the emperor."
Outside the window, thunder rolled across the darkening sky.
Far below, dragons circled the floating islands.
Some watched the palace.
Some watched Nora's window.
And hidden in the shadows of the corridor, a cloaked figure silently placed a small black crystal against the wall outside her room.
The crystal pulsed with dark magic.
A faint crack spread across it.
Then a whisper echoed through the empty hallway.
"If the emperor will not sacrifice the human..."
"...we will."
- Writer
