Chapter 31: Mysteries of the Forbidden Mountains

The heroes of Arocia, with the mountain wyrm trailing behind them at a respectful distance, pressed deeper into the Forbidden Mountains. The air grew colder, and the path became even more treacherous. The strange, pulsating light in the distance seemed to grow brighter, guiding their way, yet also filling them with a sense of unease.​Elise, though still regaining her strength, led the way with determination. Her connection to nature magic allowed her to sense the energy of the mountains. "There's a powerful magic here," she said, her voice a soft murmur in the cold mountain air. "It's ancient, and it's not like anything I've felt before."​Aiden, his eyes scanning the surrounding terrain, nodded. "The tomes didn't mention much about what lies within these mountains. We need to be on our guard."​Fina, her wings spread slightly for balance on the uneven ground, added, "I can fly ahead and scout. Maybe I can get a better look at what's causing that light."​Before she could take off, a loud rumbling echoed through the mountains. The ground beneath their feet began to shake, and large boulders rolled down the slopes towards them. "Watch out!" Bumble shouted, diving behind a large rock for cover.​Elise quickly summoned her nature magic. She created a wall of thick roots and vines that rose from the ground, blocking the path of the boulders. The boulders crashed into the wall, sending shockwaves through the area, but the heroes were safe.​As the dust settled, they heard a strange, high - pitched whistling sound. A group of small, winged creatures emerged from the nearby caves. These creatures, about the size of a human hand, had glowing blue eyes and transparent wings. They circled around the heroes, their wings making a soft fluttering noise.​Aiden, fascinated, reached out his hand. One of the creatures landed on his palm, looking at him curiously. "They don't seem hostile," he said.​Elise, studying the creatures, said, "I think they might be some sort of guardians of the mountains. They could be trying to communicate with us."​Suddenly, the creature on Aiden's hand let out a series of chirps. Aiden concentrated, trying to understand if there was any magical connection he could make. To his surprise, he felt a faint image form in his mind. It was an image of a large, ancient - looking door, hidden deep within the mountains.​"I think they're showing us the way to the hidden library," Aiden exclaimed.​The heroes followed the small winged creatures as they led the way up the mountain. The path was steep, and the cold wind bit at their faces. But their determination kept them going. Along the way, they passed strange rock formations that seemed to have been carved by some ancient, unknown force. The markings on the rocks were similar to the ones they had seen earlier, and Aiden couldn't help but wonder what secrets they held.​After a long and arduous climb, they finally reached a large, flat area. In the center of the area, there was a massive, stone door. The door was covered in the same strange runes and symbols they had been seeing. The small winged creatures flew around the door, then disappeared into a small crevice.​Elise placed her hand on the door, using her nature magic to sense its energy. "There's a powerful seal on this door," she said. "But I think I can find a way to open it."​As she concentrated, Aiden and Fina stood guard, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. Bumble, meanwhile, was looking around in awe. "This is amazing! I wonder what's inside," he said.​Suddenly, a loud growl echoed through the mountains. The mountain wyrm, which had been following them, let out a warning call. Aiden looked up and saw a group of large, winged beasts flying towards them. These beasts were similar to the mountain wyrm but smaller and more aggressive.​"Looks like we've got company," Fina said, spreading her wings and preparing for battle.​The heroes braced themselves as the winged beasts descended upon them. The battle in the cold mountain air had just begun, and they knew that they needed to be quick if they wanted to open the door and uncover the secrets of the hidden library.​