The five young travelers, marching toward their destiny without hesitation or doubt, firmly believed in the mission entrusted to them.

  The path ahead was long, and the hidden valley would not be easy to find. Yet, their excitement was so strong that they hardly worried about it. For them, this journey was an incredible adventure.

  Thanks to Aminara’s wise advice, they managed to organize themselves well each day.

  Sariel became the group’s guide, since he held the map and knew how to read it. Alongside Rafael—who possessed the ability to sense danger—they always led the group to ensure everything was safe. Uriel, on the other hand, taught them to fly through the skies, a skill that was becoming increasingly necessary.

  Ninety days had passed since their departure, and according to the map, they hadn’t yet reached the mountain that marked the halfway point. Although distant, it was finally visible on the horizon.

  Time went by, and the bond of friendship between them grew stronger. They learned more about each other: their lives, their stories, their likes, and their dreams. And without realizing it, their strength and powers also grew.

  But the challenges soon began to appear...

  “Listen,” Rafael warned. “There’s a powerful energy ahead. I can’t quite identify what it is, but we’d better be prepared.”

  “What, are you scared?” Uriel teased, laughing. “If you want, I’ll go first and protect you, spoiled children.”

  “We’ll probably die from your cooking before anything else...” one of the boys muttered.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing! Nothing!” Rafael quickly replied.

  Everyone laughed, forgetting for a moment how far they still had to go. Gabriel spoke up:

  “Alright then, let’s go see what it is. Where exactly?”

  “A bit further ahead,” Rafael replied.

  “Yes, right where the map marks a river. Whatever it is, it must be coming from there,” Sariel added.

  “Then let’s go,” said Miguel.

  When they reached the river, they realized it wasn’t just any stream—it was wide and deep, and they had no choice but to cross it.

  “It’s too deep. I suggest we fly over it. A good chance to practice what I’ve taught you,” Uriel proposed.

  Everyone agreed and began crossing the river in the air. However, since they had only recently learned to fly, they weren’t yet as skilled or fast as Uriel.

  Suddenly, a crushing force began pushing them downward. Only Rafael, with his gift to see what others couldn’t, spotted the cause.

  “What the—what is that?!” Rafael shouted.

  “What is it? What do you see?” asked Miguel.

  “I can feel a great power,” Sariel added.

  “There’s a strange being in the river! I can see it!” Rafael said, astonished.

  “What kind of strange being?” Uriel asked.

  “We need to get across now or we’ll fall into the water,” Gabriel said urgently.

  A rumble erupted from the depths like a mighty voice. As they struggled to stay afloat, their bodies became heavier and heavier. Unable to hold themselves up, they plummeted like heavy stones.

  Surprisingly, Miguel created a giant bubble-like shield around them to keep them from drowning.

  “Miguel, how did you do that? Why didn’t you tell us you could do something like this?” Rafael asked.

  “Well... you never asked,” he replied with a grin.

  The tension eased with a round of laughter.

  “What an imagination! So, you can control magic! That’s amazing,” Sariel said.

  “Okay, now let’s think about how to get out of here. Can you make the bubble rise?” Rafael asked.

  “The current is too strong. I’m barely keeping us from being dragged away,” Miguel replied.

  “That’s not a problem for me,” said Uriel. “Miguel, keep the bubble steady and I’ll lift it with my wind powers.”

  “Think you can do it? Well, okay—give it a try.”

  Uriel began channeling her power to control the air and successfully lifted the bubble toward the surface. But suddenly, a light began to swirl around them inside the water—and from that light, a voice emerged:

  “I am the spirit of the river. Who are you, and what do you seek in my domain?”

  “So it was you! We don’t want anything from you. We were just trying to cross, and you trapped us. So let us go, or you’ll regret it,” Uriel snapped defiantly.

  “Uriel! We need to be more polite,” Gabriel urged.

  “You’re quite bold, child. Even in your situation, you dare to threaten me?” the spirit replied, his voice deep and ominous.

  “Please, we meant no harm. This was the only path we could take,” Rafael said sincerely.

  “I sense no lies in your words. Where are you headed?”

  “We’re trying to reach the Hidden Valley. It’s far from here. Please, let us go,” Miguel pleaded.

  The river spirit looked closely at Miguel. Seeing the determination in his eyes, he realized they weren’t enemies.

  “Very well. I will let you go so you may continue. But allow me to warn you: to reach the Hidden Valley, you must cross the Mountain of Fire, where powerful forces will test your minds and hearts.”

  “Thank you so much. Uriel, let’s get out of here!” Gabriel said, relieved.

  “On it!”

  After surviving that ordeal, they emerged safely from the river’s depths. Heeding the spirit’s warning, they resumed their journey, flying together through the air.

  “I feel light again,” Rafael said with a grin.

  “But we’ve lost valuable time,” Sariel noted with concern.

  “You’re right. We need to make it up! Let’s fly as fast as we can!” Uriel encouraged.

  As they soared above the forests, their minds turned to the spirit’s warning.

  They knew the Mountain of Fire was waiting for them—and it would not show mercy.

  They had been traveling for over three months now, and the young adventurers had already experienced many new challenges.

  Finally, they reached the place marked as the halfway point on the map.

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  As they entered this new region, they encountered extreme cold and heavy snow for the first time. Luckily, thanks to Miguel’s protective bubble, they were able to endure the harsh climate.

  “I thought the river spirit said this was the Mountain of Fire,” Gabriel remarked.

  “He did… but this cold is killing us,” Rafael replied.

  “We should go back and teach him a lesson for lying to us…” Uriel grumbled.

  “There’s no time for that. We have to move forward,” Miguel said, more serious than usual.

  The cold was intense, freezing everything around them. A powerful presence awaited them.

  “Oh no… not again,” Rafael muttered.

  “What now? Don’t tell me…”

  Suddenly, a powerful voice echoed through the storm:

  “Who are you, and what are you doing here? Leave this place at once!”

  “We’re sorry, but we can’t do that. We need to cross,” Miguel said calmly.

  “I am the guardian of this mountain’s side, and no one passes without the King’s or the Patriarch’s permission. If you insist… you will die.”

  “Sorry, but we’re not dying here either,” Uriel said boldly. “I’m warning you—my patience is running out. Step aside, or you’ll regret it.”

  “And who do you think you are to threaten me?”

  “I’m Uriel, and you’ll never defeat us. So either let us pass, or you’ll face the consequences.”

  The spirit thought: “This girl… she’s reckless. Dangerous. She reminds me of someone. But fine… I want to see what she’s capable of.”

  “Very well, child. You asked for it. Now you’ll witness my fury.”

  The storm grew worse, freezing everything in its path.

  “Miguel! We need your shield—now!” Rafael shouted.

  “Shield of Light!” Miguel invoked, raising their magical protection.

  “I need to counter this storm…” Uriel whispered.

  “But how?” Sariel asked.

  “I just have to imagine something stronger than this storm… Maybe… a hurricane!”

  “Incredible!” Gabriel exclaimed. “It’s like you’re generating a massive wind field around us.”

  “Keep going, Uriel!” Miguel encouraged.

  “I’ve got it! What I want is…”

  With a voice full of power, she shouted:

  “Lightning Hurricane!”

  Uriel unleashed a whirlwind of power, a storm laced with lightning, roaring across the mountain.

  “What?! This girl summoned a hurricane… with lightning? It can’t be!” the guardian cried out.

  Struck hard by the attack, the storm dissipated, and the temperature began to stabilize.

  “This… was my mistake,” said the guardian, defeated. “I have no will to continue this battle. I will now rest…”

  “What are you talking about?” Uriel asked, still battle-ready.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Gabriel stepped in. “This is our chance—let’s move.”

  “Thank you, guardian! Sorry for the trouble!” Gabriel added.

  “Wait,” the spirit said, his voice now riding the wind. “Your name is Uriel… Before you leave, I must give you something that belongs to you—something only you can wield. It has been hidden here since it was forged.”

  “What… what is that?” Uriel asked, eyes glowing.

  A sword descended from a whirlwind like a bolt of lightning.

  “It looks like a sword!” Miguel said.

  “It is the Lightning Blade,” the spirit explained. “It’s waited here for its true wielder. I believe that is you. Use it for justice. Bind your heart to it, and it will respond with all its power.”

  “I… I can’t believe it…”

  As the blade descended with a resonant hum, Uriel caught it in her hands. Magically, a silver strap appeared on her back, allowing her to carry the weapon securely.

  “Trust me. I’ll use it well,” she said solemnly.

  “Amazing…” Gabriel whispered.

  “I’m stunned… I didn’t think something like this even existed,” Miguel added.

  “And I definitely didn’t think I’d be the one holding it,” Uriel murmured.

  Grateful to the guardian, they pressed forward. Every experience only confirmed their divine purpose. Their strength was growing, and destiny was drawing closer.

  They were now nearing the top of the great mountain, and according to the map, only a short distance remained. Excitement and anticipation filled their hearts.

  But as they reached the summit, they encountered something terrifying: a massive volcano, on the verge of eruption, spewing fire and rocks in all directions. Crossing it seemed nearly impossible.

  “There’s no turning back now,” Sariel said. “This must be the Mountain of Fire the river spirit warned us about.”

  “It won’t be easy to get across,” Rafael added.

  “What’s wrong, kids? Don’t tell me you’re scared,” Uriel teased.

  “We could try flying over it, but…” Miguel began.

  “But we’d get ripped apart,” Gabriel interrupted. “And if it’s like the river, something might be waiting to drag us down. The best chance is to use your shield again, Miguel, and fly over it together.”

  “You’re right. It’s risky… but we have to try.”

  Miguel summoned his protective bubble once more, and the group lifted themselves into the air, flying carefully over the lava.

  Everything seemed to be going well—until a strange force began pulling them downward.

  “What the—?!”

  “If we don’t act fast, we’ll fall!” Sariel cried out.

  “What is that?!” Miguel shouted.

  “It’s… a vortex!” Gabriel warned.

  A massive whirlpool of lava surged from below, swallowing their bubble. The heat was unbearable. Oxygen was running low, and the magical barrier was weakening. The group was losing consciousness.

  “I… I can’t hold it much longer…” Miguel gasped.

  “Don’t worry,” Gabriel whispered. “Maybe this was our destiny…”

  As his friends passed out, Miguel trembled with despair. He was about to collapse… when a brilliant light appeared from within the magma, racing toward him.

  “What is that…? A star? No—it’s an arc… of fire?”

  The object passed through the shield harmlessly. Miguel grabbed it.

  “Is this… a bow?”

  As soon as he held it, the fire didn’t burn him. His strength returned.

  He pulled back the string, and an energy arrow formed. With instinct beyond understanding, he fired it upward, shouting:

  “Reversion!”

  The shield twisted into a funnel. With a roaring blast, they were launched skyward like a comet, escaping the lava’s grip.

  When they awoke, they were lying on soft grass, the volcano far behind them. A cool breeze blew through the valley. Miguel sat calmly on a rock nearby, the Flame Bow in his hand.

  “About time you woke up,” he said, smiling. “Hope you slept well.”

  “How… how are we alive?” Uriel mumbled.

  “Miguel, stop smiling and tell us what happened! And is that a bow?” Sariel asked in disbelief.

  “Well… it’s complicated,” Miguel replied. “But there’s only one thing that matters: the valley is right in front of us.”

  They all hugged and laughed with joy.

  “Then let’s go!” Gabriel said. “No more delays!”

  Their hearts swelled with hope. After ten months of journeying, they had reached the Hidden Valley.

  But it wasn’t as peaceful as they imagined…

  The valley stretched endlessly, like an ocean of green, and somewhere within it was the old warrior they sought.

  Suddenly, a powerful female voice echoed around them:

  “Where do you think you’re going? This place is forbidden to those without permission.”

  “Who’s there?” Gabriel asked.

  “Where’s that voice coming from? I can’t see anything,” said Sariel.

  “Show yourself!” Uriel demanded.

  “Anyone who enters without permission… will find only death,” the voice warned.

  “Are those… wings I hear?” Rafael asked, startled.

  “I don’t understand how weaklings like you made it here,” the voice laughed.

  “Oh yeah? Come say it to my face, coward!” Uriel snapped.

  “That’s exactly what I’ll do,” the voice replied.

  “Get ready!” Miguel shouted.

  From the treetops came the sound of enormous wings. A winged being descended before them.

  “A seraphim!” Gabriel exclaimed.

  “Really? I’ve never seen one,” Sariel said. “How do you know?”

  “My mom told me stories about them… that look fits perfectly.”

  “Look at her eyes,” Rafael pointed out. “What is a seraphim doing so far from her land?”

  “Be careful,” Gabriel warned. “They’re said to be powerful.”

  “What disrespect…” said the seraphim coldly. “Tell me, why are you here?”

  “Nice wings,” Uriel said sarcastically.

  “Hey! How dare you!” she growled.

  “Sorry for the intrusion,” Sariel stepped in. “We’re not here to fight. We’ve come in search of the ancient warrior. They say he lives here. Maybe you could help us…”

  “Help you?” the seraphim laughed. “You really think the master will welcome you?”

  “Hey! Who do you think you are, insulting us like that? Want to fight?” Uriel fired back.

  “What a hothead…”

  “Wait, did you say ‘master’?” Gabriel asked, catching her words. “Then you’re his apprentice? Please, we came all this way just to meet him.”

  “Yes, in the name of Elder Qubel,” Sariel added.

  “Oh, shut up already!” Uriel exploded. “Listen here—I don’t care who you are. We’ve traveled almost a year. We’re exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. So, you’re taking us to him, whether you like it or not.”

  “I’d like to see you try.”

  “Fine. Get ready, feather girl! I hope you can fight.”

  “Wait… that sword. Where did you get that sword?!”

  “This? I earned it. Bet you’re trembling now, huh?”

  “Earned it? You probably stole it,” the seraphim said with disdain.

  “What?! That’s it!” Uriel shouted as her friends held her back.

  “Let me go! I’ll make her eat those words!”

  But then another voice rang out from the trees:

  “Well, well. I’m impressed. Remeiel, aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friends?”

  “Remeiel? That’s her name?” Uriel scoffed.

  A second seraphim landed beside her.

  “Remeiel, the master’s calling you. It’s lunchtime,” he said. “Bring your ‘friends.’ If they want to see him, let’s not waste time.”

  “Fine. Follow me.”

  “Finally!” Miguel said with relief.

  “At least we didn’t have to fight,” Sariel sighed.

  “Speak for yourself—I would’ve won!” Uriel protested. “That flying guy saved her.”

  “Not sure we had a chance anyway…” Sariel admitted. “They feel way more powerful.”

  “You’re right,” Rafael added. “It’s like they’re on another level…”

  “The important thing is—we made it,” Gabriel smiled.

  “Yes. We’ve finally arrived at the Hidden Valley,” Rafael agreed.

  “You coming or are you just going to stand there babbling?” Remeiel called back.