Liliana stepped forward next, nodding to her harrier. The creature's mandibles clicked softly, almost inquisitively, before it bit into its foreleg and offered her the wound.

She leaned down, tasting the harrier's blood. She grimaced at the metallic tang but cut her own arm and offered it in return. The harrier bit into her wrist, and the same faint glow flared between them, a rune forming on her forearm before fading into her skin. The harrier's glowing slits shifted to a piercing red, matching her eyes.

She tilted her head, the name forming as naturally as breathing. "Vaelix," she said softly.

The harrier lowered its head in acknowledgment, its ridged neck fins flaring briefly. The Lord gave an approving nod. "Vaelix. A fitting name."

Sadek stepped forward next. His harrier was broader and more muscular than the others, and it moved slowly, its mandibles clicking steadily.

The Lord offered Sadek a dagger and he sliced his forearm cleanly, holding it out to the harrier before it could offer its own blood. The creature tilted its head slightly before biting into his arm, its grip firm but measured. Then it mirrored the action, biting into its foreleg and offering it to him.

Sadek bit down without hesitation. The rune appeared on his arm, glowing fiercely for a moment before fading. The harrier's slits shifted to a deep brown.

"Nyrax," Sadek said. The harrier clicked its mandibles once, its head dipping as it accepted the name.

Namara was the last, her harrier sleek and sharp. It moved silently, as if floating on the ground rather than walking. Its mandibles clicked in a rhythmic pattern, almost playful, as it approached her.

"Well, darling," Namara said to the harrier, "shall we?"

The creature tilted its head, almost in amusement, before biting into its foreleg. Namara smiled, tasting the blood with a dramatic flourish before offering her own wrist. The harrier's mandibles gripped her skin gently, drawing blood as the rune ignited between them. The creature's glowing slits turned an iridescent violet.

Namara paused for a moment, her smile softening. "Vyriss."

The harrier tilted its head in approval before lowering it, a deep sound emanating from its chest.

The Lord observed silently before speaking. "The bonds are forged. You are now bound to your harriers, and they to you."

Namara stroked Vyriss's smooth neck. "Oh, you and I? We're going to be magnificent together."

The Lord looked beyond the group, and he made a sharp motion with his hand. From the shadows emerged another harrier, this one slightly smaller than the rest. Its obsidian-like scales shimmered with faint undertones of crimson and gold, and it moved with a confident, predatory grace, its mandibles clicking softly.

"This one," the Lord said, "is for Rika. She is not here to form the bond herself, but I believe their personalities are… aligned."

Kale frowned. Aligned? That could mean a lot of things when it came to Rika. Did he mean Confident? Reckless? Maybe it picked fights for fun and laughed about them afterward?

His eyes settled on the beast as it prowled forward. There was something fierce in the way it moved, something that reminded him of the way Rika carried herself—bold, unshaken, always ready to swing first and ask questions later.

Yeah. Aligned might be the right word after all.

"This one is tough, strong-willed—much like your friend. It is no guarantee they will bond, but if they do, I believe this harrier will serve her well."

Liliana studied the harrier closely, noting its deliberate movements and the faint sheen of its scales. "What makes you think they'll get along?"

The Lord's focus remained on the creature. "Call it instinct. Both are resilient. Both are survivors. That kind of stubbornness often finds common ground."

"And what happens if they don't bond?" Kale asked.

"Then it will remain unbound," the Lord replied calmly. "No harrier can be forced into loyalty. If Rika cannot win its trust, it will return here."

Kale stepped closer to the harrier, keeping his movements deliberate. The creature turned its gaze toward him, mandibles clicking faintly as if testing his presence.

"Do you really think it'll work out?" Kale asked.

"If she lives, she will have the chance to prove herself. If not, the harrier will find its own path."

"We'll make sure Rika gets that chance," Liliana said.

The harrier tilted its head slightly, its ridged fins pulsing faintly in the evening light. It made no sound, its presence composed, as if it were already judging the group.

"Take her," the Lord said, stepping back. "But remember, the bond is not yours to control. It will be up to Rika to complete the ritual—if she's alive."

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The harrier moved toward them, its wings unfurling slightly. It stood at the ready, waiting to take flight with the others.

Namara let out a soft laugh. "Well, I hope Rika knows what she's getting into. This one looks like it has opinions."

Kale glanced at Vyriss, then back at Namara. "Uh, yours is the one that looks like it has opinions."

Vyriss flicked her tail, tilting her head as if considering the remark.

The unbound harrier's mandibles clicked once in response. Kale couldn't help but smile. "Definitely has Rika's vibe."

"If she's alive, she'll bond with it," Liliana said.

The Lord gave a small nod of approval. "Then take her. And may she guide Rika as faithfully as the others guide you."

The animal tilted her head, but remained otherwise still. The group exchanged brief glances before mounting their harriers, the creatures shifting their weight as they adjusted to their riders.

The Lord stepped back, watching as they unfurled their leathery wings. "You have your path. Do not falter."

Kale took a deep breath, steadying himself as Saryn spread its wings wide. "We won't."

With a powerful beat of their wings, the harriers launched into the air, their sleek forms cutting through the sky. The nameless harrier followed close behind. Below them, the Bastion of the Scarlet Veil grew smaller, its shadow stretching long against the horizon as they soared toward their uncertain future.

***

Kale held the Betrayer's Light in one hand as the wind buffeted against him. The lantern didn't weigh much, but it felt heavy in his palm, burdened with the responsibility it carried.

"Alright," Liliana called out, her voice cutting through the rushing wind. "Ask the lantern where Rika is. Now that we're in the air, we should be harder to pin down, though not impossible. Let's see where she's being held."

Kale hesitated for a brief moment, turning the artifact over in his hands. "Okay," he said, exhaling sharply. "Show me where Rika is."

The lantern came alive instantly. Its faintly cracked glass radiated with golden light, brighter and warmer than before. The glow pulsed, growing stronger as it filled the air around them. Then, with a sudden intensity, a beam of light shot forth, stretching into the distance like an unbroken thread.

"There," Kale said, tilting his head toward the direction the beam pointed. "That's where she is."

"We should be certain about this," Sadek said. "How do we know it's not leading us into a trap?"

Liliana stared at the beam. "It's all we have. If there's even a chance it's leading us to her, we have to follow it."

Namara leaned forward on Vyriss, her hair fluttering in the wind. "You do realize the cost of using that thing, don't you?"

"Yeah, we know," Kale said.

"No," Namara said. "I mean really know. That lantern doesn't just show us what we want—it shows everyone else where we are. Everyone who wishes us harm can see us now. Like a big glowing invitation to come and kill us."

Kale glanced down at the lantern, the glow now spilling over the edges. He could feel it, like an invisible ripple radiating outward, far beyond what they could see. "It doesn't matter. Let them come."

Liliana shook her head. "It's already too late. The beam's lit, the damage is done. We follow it. Fast."

"Exactly," Sadek said.

Namara wrapped her arms around Vyriss's neck. "Oh, this is so exciting! You guys sure know how to keep things interesting."

Kale tightened his grip on Saryn's reins. "Let's not waste time. We fly faster. If they're coming for us, we make sure we get to Rika first."

Liliana nodded. "Follow the light. No hesitation."

The harriers surged forward, faster now. Below, the world blurred into an endless expanse, the beam of light unwavering as it led them forward. Yet Kale couldn't shake Namara's words, or the feeling that somewhere, someone was already closing in on them.

Everyone who meant them harm. That was probably a lot of people by now.

He wondered what it looked like from the other side. For them, it was simple—one straight beam guiding them to their target. But what about their enemies? Did they see a path leading straight to them as well? Did they look like a giant glowing beacon in the sky, a flare announcing their every move? Would their enemies even understand what they were seeing?

Not that it really mattered. Innonuk had been clear. Their enemies would know where they were.

Kale just hoped they wouldn't realize they were coming for Rika, though, obviously, they might. He hoped they wouldn't hurt her, that the beam meant she was still alive, still okay. He wasn't sure what he would do if they arrived too late.

They had to reach her. Fast.

***

In the distance, the beam's endpoint came into view—a sprawling makeshift camp nestled within a natural basin of rocks and uneven ground. The camp was a patchwork of dark tents and crude barricades, lit partly by flickering fires.

Kale guided Saryn lower, the golden beam narrowing to a single tent near the center of the camp. Unlike the others, this one was larger and reinforced with thick, dark canvas. A faint glow seemed to emanate from within, barely perceptible but impossible to ignore.

"The beam's pointing straight at that tent," Kale said. "That has to be where they're keeping her."

Liliana surveyed the camp below. "Just remember the plan. He'll know we're coming, but he certainly won't expect what we have in store for him."

Kale exhaled slowly, steadying himself. "Alright, we're almost there. Is everyone ready?"

Namara let out a soft laugh, her posture relaxed as Vyriss carried her smoothly through the air. "Oh, darling, I'm always ready."

Sadek didn't speak, but the determination in his face was unmistakable. He probably couldn't wait to avenge Velanna.

The camp grew closer with every passing second. Kale could make out tattered banners swaying in the breeze, the glint of crude weapons stacked near the barricades.

Kale's grip tightened on the reins. "Let's get Rika back."

He guided Saryn toward the ground, the harrier descending with smooth, controlled movements. The golden beam flickered briefly before solidifying again as it illuminated the central tent.

The rest of the group followed suit, their harriers landing in near silence, their talons sinking slightly into the dusty, uneven ground. The faint hum of wings faded, leaving only the crackling of distant fires and the creak of canvas in the wind.

Kale dismounted, his boots crunching against the dirt as he looked around the eerily quiet camp. "Where is everyone?"

Liliana slid off Vaelix, her eyes darting across the rows of empty tents. "It's too quiet. Something's wrong."

Namara leaned casually against Vyriss. "They probably saw we were coming and ran. I wouldn't blame them."

Sadek dropped to the ground, Nyrax shifting slightly beside him. "Or it's a trap."

"Doesn't matter," Kale said. "The beam's pointing to that tent. Rika's in there."

Liliana nodded. "Let's not waste time. Keep your guard up."

The group moved cautiously through the camp, their harriers following close behind, silent and watchful. The empty tents swayed faintly in the breeze, their flaps occasionally snapping open to reveal nothing but darkness inside.

As they got closer, the golden beam pulsed brighter, illuminating the thick, reinforced canvas walls. "Alright," Kale said. "I'm turning it off."

"Betrayer's Light, fade."

At his command, the golden glow dimmed, fading into darkness. The oppressive sensation of being exposed, of invisible eyes watching their every move, lifted—but not completely. The sense of potential danger still lingered in the air.

The group exchanged glances. "This is it," he said, reaching for the tent flap.

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