The road led down into a forest so old it had no name.Kael had been flying for four days since leaving the village where the wall had fallen, and the land below had changed once more. The high hills had given way to a dense, quiet forest that stretched in every direction, so vast that from above it looked like a green ocean. The trees were enormous, their trunks wider than houses, their branches so thick they blocked out most of the sky. The light that reached the forest floor was soft and green, dappled and shifting, as if the world itself was breathing.He landed in a clearing near the edge of the forest and let the Primeval Beasts rest. Zephyr settled beside him, wings folded, eyes half-closed. Lira curled beneath a massive root. Aether perched on a low branch. Terra lay still as a boulder. Lux dimmed itself to a soft glow. Umbra slipped into the shadows between the trees, and the void beast stirred gently within Kael, calm and quiet.For a long while, Kael simply sat and listened

The road climbed steadily between two hills.Kael had been flying for five days since leaving the singing forest, and the land below had opened up again. The endless trees had given way to wide, grassy slopes, dotted with wildflowers and the occasional shepherd's hut. The air was fresh and clean, and the sun was warm on his face. It was a peaceful land, a gentle land, the kind of place where people lived simple lives and died simple deaths.But something was wrong with the bridge.He saw it from the air. Between the two hills, where a wide valley dipped down and rose again, a bridge stretched across the gap. It was old, made of stone, its arches high and elegant. It must have been beautiful once. Now it was broken. A section in the middle had collapsed, leaving a gap that no cart could cross, no horse could jump, and no person could pass without climbing down into the valley and up the other side.On the west side of the bridge, a village sat in the shadow of the hill. On the east sid

The road led to a well in the middle of nowhere.Kael had been flying for four days since leaving the city of clocks, and the land below had grown emptier with each passing hour. The crowded roads had given way to open plains, and the open plains had given way to a dry, dusty land where nothing grew but thorn bushes and stubborn grass. The sun was harsh, the wind was hot, and the horizon shimmered with heat.He almost missed the well. It sat alone in the center of the plain, surrounded by a low wall of stones. There was no village nearby. No house. No tree for shade. Just a well, old and weathered, its stones worn smooth by time.Kael landed beside it and climbed off Zephyr's back. The Primeval Beasts gathered around, grateful for the rest. Lira found a patch of shade beside the wall. Aether stretched its wings. Terra lay down and closed its eyes. Lux dimmed itself against the harsh sun. Umbra slipped into the shadows of the stones. The void beast stirred quietly within Kael, curious.

The road led into a valley that smelled of memories.Kael had been flying for three days since leaving the cliff where the old man painted the wind, and the land below had softened once again. The rocky coastline had given way to gentle hills, and the gentle hills had given way to a valley so green and so fertile that it seemed almost unreal. The air was thick with the scent of blossoms and ripe fruit, and the sound of bees filled the valley like a low, constant song.He landed at the edge of the valley and let the Primeval Beasts rest. Zephyr settled beside him, golden eyes scanning the trees. Lira found a patch of shade and curled up. Aether chased a butterfly. Terra lay down in the soft grass. Lux glowed warmly. Umbra vanished into the shadows of the orchard. The void beast stirred quietly within Kael, calm and content.The valley was filled with fruit trees. Not just a few. Hundreds. Thousands. They stretched in every direction, their branches heavy with fruit of every color and s

The road led to a city that was silent.Kael had been flying for three days since leaving the mountain that wept, and the land below had changed in ways that made him uneasy. The green valleys and clear skies had given way to a flat, gray plain where nothing grew but pale grass and thin, leafless trees. The air was still. Too still. The wind did not blow. The birds did not sing. Even the clouds seemed frozen in place, unwilling to move.He landed on the outskirts of a city and climbed off Zephyr's back. The Primeval Beasts gathered around him, their forms tense. Lira's silver scales were dull. Aether's wings were folded tight. Terra's massive body was still. Lux's glow was dim. Umbra was barely visible. And the void beast stirred restlessly inside Kael, sensing something wrong.The city was beautiful. Its buildings were tall and elegant, made of white stone and blue tile. Its streets were wide and clean. Its fountains were full of clear water. But there was no one in them. No children