Strengthening his determination, Elder Ianthe pointed to the open map spread out on the table. The map was covered with ancient symbols and showed the outlines of the four realms. "Before we act, we need to understand the political situation in the human realm. We can’t afford any mistakes," he said firmly.

  Cassian leaned in closer, running his finger along the borders. "Elder Mara talked about powerful factions fighting for control. If we could figure out who their leaders are, we might find some allies—those who still remember the old alliances."

  Elder Thoren crossed his arms, a hint of doubt in his expression. "But how can we trust them? If they're already caught up in their own battles, they might see our involvement as a threat," he said, his voice skeptical. He had witnessed too many wars and failed efforts over the years to let himself be fooled again.

  Cassian shrugged slightly, his face shadowed with worry. "Who knows? We wouldn't have figured it out unless we tried. As you know, humans are unpredictable. Who's to say they aren't secretly planning something dangerous? If we waited for the chaos to settle, they'd just have time to regroup and come up with another plan."

  A small frown appeared on Thoren’s face as he considered Cassian’s words. He wasn’t used to being spoken to like this, especially by someone so much younger. "But what if the rumors weren't true? It could have worked against us—"

  "I trusted our allies. I trusted Elder Mara," Cassian said, his voice steady and full of belief. "Even if they were true, it didn’t change the fact that we needed to be ready for anything. And if they were planning something sinister, they’d use whatever they could to further their own agenda, no matter what that might be. We couldn’t just stand by and let humans spread chaos across the realms! We had to act to stop it."

  Elder Thoren studied him carefully, looking for any hint of dishonesty. "Do you think you could convince your allies?" he asked, his tone measuring.

  "No doubt," Cassian replied, his voice filled with unwavering confidence. "And if they were involved, we'd draw their attention and hopefully force them to reveal themselves."

  Elder Thoren raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Are you sure?"

  "As sure as I can be," Cassian said calmly, meeting the elder’s gaze without flinching.

  Elder Thoren studied him for a moment before nodding. "Very well." He then turned to Elder Ianthe, who had been watching quietly, waiting for the next move.

  The cabin grew quieter as the flickering shadows cast an almost secretive atmosphere over the room. Despite the heavy burden of their responsibilities, there was a deep bond between them, forged through years of friendship and leadership. With only the dragons by their side and the rest of their forces scattered across the realms, this meeting held the weight of their future. It would decide whether they could continue to hold the line, or if the coming storm would break them.

  Elder Ianthe spoke with conviction, "We called the council at first light. We gathered the elders from every realm and laid out the situation. We had to prepare them for the possibility of conflict."

  Cassian nodded, his expression hardening with determination. "No, this is how people panic. Let me go to the human realm alone and handle it."

  Elder Ianthe’s lips tightened as she observed Cassian’s troubled expression. "It must have been truly urgent for you to return so quickly," she said after a pause, studying him carefully. "Were you sure you could manage this on your own?"

  Elder Thoren chuckled softly. "You mean without his usual meddling. He's surprisingly skilled with potions. You wouldn't believe the kind of trouble he caused with his little concoctions. I’m afraid you’ll have to deal with this one yourself." A mischievous gleam sparkled in his eyes as he spoke.

  Elder Ianthe let out a quiet laugh, about to speak when suddenly the ground trembled beneath her feet. It felt more like an earthquake, and a sense of unease settled over her. Instinctively, she reached for her staff, but then froze, surprised to find she wasn’t wearing her magic ring. Her mind raced with possibilities—what could this mean? What danger lay ahead? Would they face a threat, or were they unknowingly walking into their own destruction?

  Elder Thoren’s eyes sharpened as he noticed her hesitation. "Did you sense something?" His voice was cautious, his gaze scanning the surroundings warily. "It sounded like it came from the western border."

  Cassian lifted his head, his senses alert. The faint rumbling grew louder, echoing through the mountain valley outside the window. It felt as though something large and powerful was heading toward the village. "Something's coming!" he warned, his gaze quickly shifting back to the elders, his expression tense.

  Elder Thoren took a step forward, his dark skin tense with fear. A deep, low rumble vibrated through the walls of the cabin, and dust began to fall from the ceiling, coating their faces in a thin layer of gray. The ground trembled violently once more, and Cassian’s stomach tightened in response. It was becoming harder to stay calm. He knew there was nothing he could do here but watch and wait while others fought and struggled to survive. At this moment, he didn’t even understand what was happening. All he could offer was his support through telepathy, hoping that a solution would come soon enough.

  Elder Ianthe looked at the others, her voice thick with anxiety. "What is it? What’s causing that sound?" Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any signs of danger.

  Elder Thoren remained silent for a moment, his face tight with concentration. After a pause, he spoke, his voice steady but filled with worry. "I believe a portal is being activated in the Western Plains. There’s no mistaking that rumble." His gaze shifted upward, as though something beyond the cabin’s roof had caught his attention. "There’s movement above us. Something big."

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  Elder Ianthe raised her staff, her expression growing darker with concern. "We have to stop it."

  "How?" Elder Thoren asked quickly, his voice sharp. He turned toward Cassian, whose jaw tightened at the unspoken challenge in the question. "Could you sense any weaknesses?"

  Cassian closed his eyes, focusing all his energy on the disturbance. He strained to catch even the slightest hint of what might be causing the chaos. But it was difficult. Everything felt muffled and distorted, as if his senses were submerged in a heavy static, blocking out clarity. Slowly, he opened his eyes again, trying to steady his breathing and refocus his hearing. The tremors had stopped, leaving only an eerie silence and a heavy darkness that filled the cabin.

  He looked down at the ground, scanning for any clues, any faint sign that could guide him. The tremors had seemed to come from above them, but the source was still elusive, too distant to pinpoint. Frustration gnawed at him, his inability to locate the disturbance growing with each passing second.

  "Zara," he muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on the ground as he sought something familiar—anything that might lead him to understand what was happening. "Wherever she is, she could help us with this."

  His words echoed faintly in his mind, a strange buzzing sensation traveling up his spine like a swarm of bees. At the same time, images flashed through his mind, one after the other. A flash of blood-red wings, a pale hand clutching a crimson dagger. A man clad entirely in black stood tall and proud, holding a massive sword in his hands. A group of figures, dressed in black robes, walked through the forest. A massive beast, red flames shooting up from its maw, leaped toward the sky in rage. An image of the dragon's body, stretched wide open, engulfed by white light. Then an image of a woman, wearing a silver robe, her eyes full of anger. A single word spoken in a harsh whisper cut through all noise: "Nethervale."

  Cassian snapped abruptly back into reality, his heart pounding. He stared wildly around the cabin for a second before looking down at his hands, his vision blurring slightly. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself, hoping the sudden episode would pass as quickly as it had arrived. He blinked several times as the feeling faded. He couldn’t explain how or why, but he had always felt more alert, able to think clearly, whenever he experienced a vision or vision link. Perhaps because he had never really tried hard to understand them, or perhaps because it was his nature. Either way, he hoped this meant that it was finally time to start paying closer attention to his visions.

  "Cassian, are you all right?" Elder Thoren asked softly, his voice filled with concern as he remained still, watching him closely. "Are you feeling okay?"

  Cassian exhaled shakily, trying to regain control over his racing thoughts. "There it was again," he murmured, almost to himself. "That buzzing sound. I thought Zara might be able to identify it."

  "Where was she?" Elder Thoren's voice grew more urgent. "Where did she go after the incident on the river?"

  "She went with the others to investigate," Cassian replied, his voice tight. "And right now, she's on Mount Eldara."

  Elder Thoren nodded thoughtfully, his tone firm. "So we wait until she returns, and then we’ll see what happens."

  Cassian shook his head, his frustration mounting. "No, we can’t wait. I need to find her. We don’t have time to waste."

  Meanwhile, Zara sat atop the craggy peak of Mount Eldara, her legs crossed and hands resting gently on her knees. The vast sky stretched above her, painted in shades of deep blue and soft white clouds, and the wind whispered through the mountain, its familiar song offering comfort. She closed her eyes, sinking deeper into her meditation, seeking peace among the elemental spirits she had learned to commune with since childhood. She focused carefully on the quiet voices around her, drawing strength from the elemental energy that pulsed through the air, honing her connection with the forces of nature.

  A chill ran down Zara’s spine, pulling her out of her trance. She opened her eyes slowly, scanning her surroundings. The air was crisp and fresh, not a trace of sulfur or ash in the atmosphere. For a few seconds, she simply sat there, breathing in the cool breeze. This should be fine, she thought, taking a deep breath to steady herself. The events of the day had shaken her, but she was determined to stay strong and figure out the best way forward.

  But when she glanced up at the sky again, something caught her eye—a flicker of orange. There’s a problem. The usually peaceful winds picked up, now gusting wildly as the sun dipped lower, casting the horizon in vivid pink and orange hues. Her senses heightened as the wind whipped around her, tugging at her hair. Zara could feel a deep, unsettling disturbance in the air, her brow furrowing. What was that?

  Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. She looked up, and her heart skipped a beat. Several swirling, greenish orbs hovered in the sky, spinning slowly and forming intricate shapes and patterns. Zara felt an overwhelming pull deep inside her chest, like an invisible force drawing her toward them. Her breath hitched as she swallowed nervously, trying to steady herself. She extended a hand towards the sky, her fingers trembling.

  The moment her hand closed around one of the orbs, it shot toward her, pulling her in with magnetic force. The tug against her consciousness became more intense, like a powerful current dragging her under. Before she could even react, she was surrounded by the orbs, helplessly caught in their grip, carried along by their relentless pull toward an unknown destination.

  The winds howled louder, whipping around Zara with increasing force. She closed her eyes, calling upon the elemental spirits within her, seeking their guidance. "What is happening?" she whispered, her voice barely audible against the rising storm.

  In response, the winds seemed to twist around her, a chaotic snake of energy that surged through her. A link began to form, and then—visions crashed into her mind, one after another. Over the Realm of Scales, dark clouds swirled menacingly, as storms began to form. In the depths of her mind, she saw enormous scales tipping dangerously, while shadows crept from the edges of the land, threatening to swallow it whole. The visions pulled her forward, urging her toward the portal, which now seemed impossibly close. She gripped a crystal orb tightly, feeling its cold surface against her palms. Then, without warning, she was swept toward the center of the vortex, the world spinning around her.

  As the vortex began to dissipate, the spirit that had guided her vanished, leaving behind only a slight distortion in the air. Zara stumbled backward, struggling to regain her balance, narrowly avoiding crashing to the ground. Once the wind had calmed, she took a sharp breath, her heart racing as she stared at the spot where the portal had been. The sky was now filled with wisps of green smoke, lingering like a fading memory.

  "What was that?" she gasped, her voice trembling. "It wasn’t natural!" Her eyes darted around, but there were no traces of the portal left in the area. "Was that really a portal—or something else? Did someone try to open it? Did they succeed?"

  Before she could process further, the ground shook violently beneath her feet. Cracks raced across the landscape, and Zara could hear distant roars echoing from somewhere high above, the sound so fierce and primal it sent a chill through her bones.