Haven Above the Storm

The sky was bleeding light as The Emberwing glided into calm air. After days of dodging Watchers, pirates, and wild storms, Kael and Lira needed rest.

Lira pointed ahead. "There it is—Skyreach."

Kael looked where she gestured. A floating island of patched metal, giant balloons, and old skyship parts hovered peacefully above the clouds. Wind turbines spun quietly. Lanterns swung on ropes. It looked like a city forgotten by time.

They docked on a platform and were greeted by an old woman with grey streaks in her hair and welding goggles on her forehead.

"New faces," she said with a nod. "Been a while."

Lira smiled. "Hi, Mira."

Kael raised a brow. "You know her?"

"She taught me how to fly."

Mira led them inside a small workshop filled with maps, engine parts, and sky charts. The place smelled like oil, leather, and cinnamon tea.

They sat by the fire, cores resting between them.

Mira stared at the glowing orbs. "Haven't seen those in a long time."

"you know about them?" Kael asked.

She nodded. "Skycores were made by the Sky Council to keep balance in the skies. But when greed took over, war followed. The cities fell. The cores scattered."

"So why are they calling to me?" Kael asked.

"Because your name is Stroud," Mira said. "Your bloodline helped build the sky cities. The cores respond to your voice."

Kael sat back, stunned.

"But," Mira added, "unite all four, and you don't just wake the Sky City… you wake its guardian."

Lira leaned forward. "A guardian?"

Mira's eyes darkened. "A force powerful enough to protect the world… or destroy it."

Silence fell.

Kael looked at the two cores in his hands.

"I'm not looking for power," he said. "I'm just trying to find the truth."

Mira smiled faintly. "Then maybe you're the right one to carry them."

That night, Kael and Lira rested. But far above, dark eyes watched Skyreach from a hidden ship—waiting, listening, planning their next move.