RISE: B1 — 6. Through Soul's Tempest

RISE Rewrite Index

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Ayla settled into position, adjusting her harness with a series of swift, practiced movements. Satisfied, she turned to Mera, far below, now stationed beside the wall, her small figure barely visible under the dim light of the storm chamber.

With an exaggerated grin and a dramatic flair, the teen threw up two thumbs, her expression full of excitement despite the girl’s obvious nerves bubbling beneath her surface.

“May your fire never go out!” Mera shouted, her voice echoing through the dark chamber.

May your fire never go out, huh? As if you’ve even lit a flame before, Mera, let alone seen one. Ayla adjusted her sunglasses, a wry smile tugging at her lips. Only special blacksmiths see the stuff in the furnaces, and not as often as people think, yet everything we say revolves around fire… A product of all the phoenix stories, I suppose.

The thought made her want to laugh. Their culture clung to the imagery of flame, a symbol as rare as sunlight in the stormlands… Amiras clung to those stories. It was more of a faith to them than science. Still, it fits somehow.

As she turned her attention back to Nulina, Ayla adjusted her position in her seat, double checking it as the massive black eagle stretched out to flex it. Just above a whisper that she knew the middle-aged roc queen would hear, Ayla whispered, “You really should stop teasing Mera so much. She’ll be good company for you when I’m gone.”

The great bird gave an amused ruffle of her sparking feathers, her mischievous storm-dark eyes gleaming with an intelligence that belied her immense size.

When Ayla glanced back, her sharp eyes caught Caden strapped in, his head bowed, lips moving silently. What is he 

He was clearly mumbling a prayer, likely to the Roc King. The sight almost made her laugh out loud, though she managed to stifle it into a soft snicker. For someone who aims to be a Skybound, he sure is scared of flight. I’m more than ready for the academy.

“You ready, Nulina?” Ayla called, her tone light but firm. The giant eagle’s response was immediate—a low, resonant trill that vibrated through the chamber and sent lightning dancing to the black rods embedded in the walls. She then glanced over her shoulder at Caden with a grin. “Shield your eyes; the wind’s a killer at the start. Nulina will smooth it out once she’s comfortable in her glide.”

Caden raised his head at her words, but whatever response he might have had was lost as Nulina began to move. Her massive claws scraped against the thick, black metal floor with each deliberate step. Ayla felt the vibrations travel up through her boots as the colossal bird advanced toward the chamber’s sealed gates.

Ayla’s heart raced, the rhythmic pounding in her chest matching the powerful strides of the black eagle. When Nulina reached the heavy metal doors, her regal form straightened to her full height, the thick streaks of lightning around the bird illuminating her sleek, energized form.

 Even her hands trembled against the straps as she kept a sharp eye on the brace; the black metal and yellow silk were redirecting the energy away from the most vulnerable places—the electric-resistant leather—and back into Nulina’s body. She unclasped her hands to run a finger down the upper-left side of her Skybound sunglasses, causing the crystals to reform, zooming in to show her a closer look at the brace.

It’s holding this time! The grounds are working, the thread isn’t bursting into flames, and nothing is smoking…yet, at least. Is this it?!

The giant bird lowered her beak to the colossal gates, and with a single push, the intricate mechanisms roared to life. Gears clicked and groaned under the strain, the sound drowned out by the rush of wind that tore through the opening. The gale slammed into them, but their stormclad beast leather and straps held firm against the force. Ayla adjusted her sunglasses, returning to the normal visual angle, and squinted as she tried to stuff her flapping hood into the back of her collar before it was yanked off in the relentless gusts.

How did I forget that?! Shooting a glance at Caden, she saw he already had his hood in place, causing her cheeks to darken. I hope he didn’t see that… His eyes are closed, so, here’s to hoping.

As the doors opened wider, Ayla caught sight of Nulina bending low to snatch a large storm fruit from the cart nearby. The raven lord, who had been standing guard over the prized offering, quickly hopped back in submission, bowing his head to the larger Celestial beast. The black eagle devoured the fruit in one swift motion, the sparks coursing down her feathers growing brighter with each passing second.

That’s it! Get all juiced up. You’ve got this!

The energy in the air grew palpable as Nulina spread her wings, the wind swirling in an almost protective vortex around her. Ayla glanced back at Caden, once again, catching the pale sheen of his face and the slight tremor in his frame. The sight sent a jolt of amusement through her, though she quickly turned away, hiding her grin.

Maybe highborns aren’t that different from us after all.

As Nulina began her ascent up the inclined path out of the partially covered city, the buildings below them came into view. The bustling streets and carts ground to a halt as the wind that typically swept through Windscar abruptly died, redirected by Nulina’s sheer command of the storm, pulling all eyes. The path ahead cleared in an instant as all traffic moved aside, giving way to the Tempest Queen.

Ayla felt her grin widen as she turned her focus forward and placed a hand against her thumping chest. I haven’t felt like this since Kael took me to the northern boreal forest when I was eight… I’m going to fly, Kael! This is the first step… I’m going to be a Skybound, just like you.

Nulina ruffled her feathers, careful to allow those ahead of them time to move their wagons or scurry out of the way. Sparks danced across her plumage as if announcing her presence to the storm and daring it to try its fury against her.

Ayla clung tightly to her harness, her heart thumping in rhythm with the vibrations coursing through the Nulina. The giant bird’s mischievous gleam in her storm-dark eyes met hers as she glanced to her left to catch sight of her, causing Ayla to smirk, despite the tension.

She’s loving this already.

The tempest beyond Windscar waited like an ominous predator, the howling winds and electric streaks across the blackened sky framing the opening of their ascent. Yet, with every stretch of her massive wings, Nulina’s presence commanded the elements, tempering them as if she were not merely enduring the storm but orchestrating it.

The wind that had always battered her in her few ventures this far felt different now, swirling around them with a peculiar gentleness, as though wrapping her in a protective embrace. For only the third time in her life, she didn’t feel like a trespasser into the hammering gale.

This, this is what it feels like to belong to the storm.

Below, the inhabitants of Windscar stood frozen, gazing upward. Ayla adjusted her sunglasses and zoomed in, catching glimpses of awestruck faces, many of the women with their hands over their mouths in disbelief. The legendary Tempest Queen had risen to fly again, and she wanted to make that known. For a fleeting moment, Ayla’s chest swelled with pride, but she quickly refocused.

This is about proving the brace. If it doesn’t work, then all of this is worthless.

Nulina crouched low to exit the cavernous gates, the vastness of her frame requiring her to fold her wings tightly. Even so, the edges of her feathers brushed the sides of the passage as she moved.

Once free, she straightened, her black plumage shimmering with lightning’s kiss, and let out a resonant cry that shook the air. Her talons found purchase on the rocky platform Ayla had instructed her to carve a cycle ago—a stage for a performance that had taken eight cycles to prepare.

Her claws pressed against the rain-slicked stone, and Ayla heard the rumble of other rocs deep in the mountain’s shadows. Their cries were low and uncertain, barely audible beneath the driving rain that somehow refused to touch them. The other rocs’ hesitation was almost tangible in the drawn back lightning, a mixture of awe and uncertainty in the presence of the Tempest Queen’s presence.

Without warning, Nulina unleashed a thunderous call that sent bolts of lightning streaking outward in jagged lines, ionizing the air and leaving Ayla’s skin prickling. Time seemed to slow as Nulina leapt, her powerful muscles launching them into the open storm with a surge that stole Ayla’s breath.

The storm clouds parted before them as though cleaved by an invisible blade, revealing the swirling chaos beyond. Ayla’s gaze instinctively went to the brace, her stomach knotting.

Please hold. Please hold. She trusted Nulina to get them down safely, even if it failed—but if they passed the safe ledge below, recovery would be…complicated. It held!

Nulina’s wings stretched wide, catching the wind with masterful precision as they glided through the fury. Massive spikes of black metal jutted from the mountainside, the wind and rain curling harmlessly around them. Thunder rolled in a deep, bone-shaking rhythm that matched Ayla’s racing pulse. Her chest tightened with exhilaration. This. This is what I’ve dreamed of! What she’d trained for!

The great eagle began testing the brace, tilting her wings to send them swaying left and right. Ayla’s grip tightened on her harness as Nulina spun them into a sharp circle, her delighted cries echoing over the roaring winds. Ayla couldn’t help but laugh, the sound ripped from her throat by the storm.

Don’t go too crazy, you insane idiot! You’re 300 cycles old, yet you’re acting like a chick on her first flight!

She could hear it in the old bird’s voice: pure, unbridled joy.

The tempo changed as Nulina tucked her wings. Ayla’s heart leapt as they picked up speed, the wind and clouds twisting around them like a reverse tornado. Lightning crackled in frenzied bursts, dancing in tight arcs with them, and Ayla heard Caden screaming behind her.

She couldn’t suppress her own shout of elation, her voice joining Nulina’s triumphant cries as they dove into the storm. They began a downward roll, breaking through into one of the hurricane’s dense, open hearts in a rush of electricity and spiraling winds. Suddenly, the valley of the lowlands appeared below. One of the many and massive eyes of the Soul’s Tempest circled the landscape, framing the lush greenery in stark contrast to the storm.

Ayla adjusted her sunglasses to zoom in again, spotting a long caravan moving along a road as the harsh sun was blocked out from the darkness Nulina carried. Her heart skipped as she realized what she was seeing, not just protestors and academy applicants, but cages—cages holding half-women, half-birds—harpies from the southern war.

Why are they bringing harpies to the capital? I’ve only seen their feathers on trade caravans. They look…too human. Were the stories about them wrong?

Their feathers were bright along their human arms that met like a cape behind their backs, their hair adorned with more feathers. Yet, their skin was tan or darker hued. Except for their feathers and taloned feet, they seemed no different than tall human women.

Raven lords escorted them, their dark armor gleaming even in the storm’s filtered light. Protesters lined the road ahead of the caravan, pointing skyward. Shocked faces stared at Ayla as if she were a divine messenger descending from the heavens.

Her lungs seized as something else stole her attention—a flash of sapphire light close by. Zooming out to the normal, she caught the brace’s leather components burst into hot blue flames.

Storm rot! she internally cursed.

Yet, before she could shout, Nulina let out a sharp cry, immediately nosediving. Rain surged in from the spiraling vortex, hitting her like a typhoon but she had just enough time to hold her breath as the wet flooded over them, extinguishing the flames in bursts of hissing steam. They streaked toward the grasslands, Ayla’s unable to see a thing as the water flowed around them.

Everything’s fine! Nulina’s one of the best—this is nothing! Just hold your breath a bit longer…

With a final, powerful flap of her wings, Nulina spread her claws and landed heavily, her talons gouging deep into the earth. They skidded to a halt, a gust of displaced wind and water bending the grass in every direction as the surge parted.

Gasping for air and choking a little, she fought tears. Soaked to the bone and trembling from the adrenaline, Ayla unlatched her harness and slid from Nulina’s back, rolling to a stop in the drenched and flattened grass. Breathing heavily, she squinted up as the clouds she’d carried with them parted, her extended wing shielding her from the harsh rays as she looked through her partially askew shades. The brace no longer burned, but much of it was damaged beyond repair.

“Lightning’s bite,” she grumbled between coughs, spotting Caden mirroring her example and tumbling to the opposite side of Nulina. “I should have found more yellow silk.”

A jitter ran through her as she exhaled deeply, struggling up and keeping herself steady with her hands on her knees. Despite the failure, she looked up at Nulina’s ruffled, puffed-up feathers, just as soaked as she was, and couldn’t help but smile.

“You flew… We flew!”

Nulina let out a thunderous cry that caused the storm around the whole valley to ripple with lightning, no doubt terrifying the lowlanders, unaccustomed to such activity.

For the first time in years, the legendary great black eagle—her big brother’s bird-brained partner—had soared through the storm. And even if her creation had failed in the end, it had worked—for a moment. That was enough for now.

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