RISE: B1 — 5. Shared Connection

RISE Rewrite Index

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Trailing behind Caden and Mera, Ayla kept her focus on the man as the rumbles of Nulina’s talons reverberated through the stone. The teen was poking him for information regarding the current fashion in the highlands, which, apparently, was all about wooden accessories since the substance was so rare to the Tempalis region.

As they entered the expansive chamber, she glanced at Nulina, watching her easily overtake them with her wide strides; she’d carved out this space herself, a feat of strength as grand as her stature. Even after all these cycles caring for her, it amazed her how a single creature could have such raw power to hollow out an area of natural pure black metal with nothing but sheer will and the relentless force of her beak and claws.

Caden, for all his smooth confidence, seemed taken aback, his amber eyes sweeping the room’s vastness. “This is…something else,” he muttered. “And here I thought the rooms back at the institute were big.”

Ayla smirked, folding her arms and catching up to the pair. “That’s Nulina for you. She prefers having a lot of room to move—especially with the harness.”

Ahead of them, the massive black eagle strode toward the suspended device, the stormy energy crackling off her glossy feathers illuminating the chamber with intermittent flashes of light. Nulina glanced back at them briefly, her tempest-dark eyes narrowing before she turned to begin the fitting process.

The harness itself was a marvel of engineering, most of which was not of her own design. Sure, she’d substituted parts and made small adjustments, but she hadn’t been alone in this project: everyone in Windscar saw her as more than just a Tempest Queen after her battle with the dragon who had assaulted them.

Ayla’s gaze slid over the woven sections of stormclad beast leather, black metal, and the last of the yellow silk Ayla had been able to scavenge from donations. The silk shimmered even in the low light, its properties perfect for conducting and resisting electricity, depending on how it was treated, while the black metal’s durability was unmatched.

The entire structure was designed to wrap around Nulina’s massive form, compensating for her damaged right wing—where feathers would never grow again, scorched away by dragon fire. Six cycles of hard work and putting everything she’d learned from the Institute of Science books her brother had checked out for her: luckily, she’d copied them before she’d lost access.

Caden let out a low whistle as they neared the contraption. “And this thing works? I mean, you’ve tested it? I mean, since the last time it failed?”

Ayla’s lips quirked upward. “Having doubts already? It’s been tested. On smaller gliders, anyway. Nulina hasn’t gotten off the ground yet, but she’s been able to slow her fall with the harness on, so that’s something.”

Mera practically bounced beside them, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “She’s being modest! It’s an incredible piece of work. Ayla’s been tweaking it for six whole cycles after all! Sure, there were a lot of, eh, failures along the way, but it’s totally fine!”

Caden arched an eyebrow with a strained chuckle. “Really selling me. Six cycles?” He turned his head toward her to watch her inspect the straps to ensure everything was still in order; Nulina was now using her beak to insert the locks into place and twisting them closed. “That’s a long time for a project. And you also did that tube?”

Ayla didn’t look up as she worked, her fingers deftly tugging at areas that shouldn’t be set and pulling at the silk adjustment mechanisms that wove into the device. “I got everything off the ground, yeah. But I had help from the blacksmiths when it became overwhelming.”

The black eagle began to lower herself into the contraption, her movements surprisingly graceful for a creature of her size; her damaged wing carefully spread out. Ayla stepped back, observing with a critical eye as the harness settled around Nulina’s body, the straps pulling taut as they locked into place. The metal clasps clicked with finality, and Ayla couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride at the sight.

The man’s gaze drifted to the harness again, and he walked around it, inspecting every detail with her as Nulina patiently waited. “I’ve been taught that most people in the lowlands and stormlands don’t have much literacy. How’d you manage to learn to read all the texts to put something like this together? Your mother teach you?”

A wave of heat flushed through Ayla at his words. She stood up straight, fixing him with a cold stare as Nulina shivered at the question. “No,” she said sharply. “My brother taught me. He learned from her, but I don’t remember her. I’m not sure if she’s dead or alive. And I don’t care. I don’t want to talk about her.”

Caden blinked at the sudden shift in her tone and raised his hands defensively. “Right, right. Didn’t mean to pry… Well, I guess I did,” he mumbled, crossing his arms and giving her a strained smile. “I’ve never quite met anyone like you, though. I’m just blown away the more I learn.”

Ayla’s mouth became a line and she turned away from him to walk around Nulina. The aggravating bird silently observed their conversation with amused ruffles to her sparking feathers that Ayla didn’t miss.

He’s so…frustratingly smooth! How can he turn that around and make me think…better about myself?

She grunted in response and stared up at the giant black eagle, Caden following her. Ayla caught Mera practically drooling behind them as the man continued to try to explain himself, genuine admiration in his voice that made her chest tighten. 

“I’ve grown up around a lot of highland architects and engineers, many of which come from families dedicated to the art. Yet, instead of making some pretty buildings, you do things like this…creating something to help rocs communicate with us easier or supporting them when they’re injured…

“It makes me reevaluate my impression on what impressive means. Even if you’ve been working on it for six cycles, the level of craftsmanship here is way beyond what I’d expect from someone without formal training…”

Ayla snorted, trying to hide her burning ears while pulling up her hood. “You’re distracting me. Do you want to die because I missed something?”

His shoulders dropped a little and he shrank back. “Sorry. I’m just a little nervous…which is kind of new for me. I’m just trying to say you’ve got a real talent.”

Gah! He’s impossible to deal with. Everything he says is just…good! Why is he getting so interested in me? He knows about Kael… Did he actually come here targeting me and not Nulina?

Ayla shrugged, trying to downplay the warmth his words stirred in her chest. “I do what I can. We’ll see how things play out.”

Nulina, now fully secured, ruffled her feathers again and glanced back at them, giving her that smug look that confused her. And what are you trying to say, feather butt? Yeah, I know I’m good… I just don’t hear it that often.

Ayla stepped forward, giving one last critical glance over the harness before nodding. “Yeah, you’re ready. Okay, shake yourself out and make yourself comfortable while I get ready. And don’t try anything funny this time! Last time you almost made me hit the ceiling when you sneezed.”

The giant black eagle rolled her eyes, as if saying, ‘how is that my fault? You filled the room with smoke by having me test the lightning resilience of the leather and causing the fire.’

Ayla ran her hand over Nulina’s smooth harness one last time. Nulina was giving her a wary side-eye, clearly ready to prove her worth against any slip-up Ayla might have overlooked and trying to prove a response. She exhaled, feeling a slight tug of pride despite herself.

You always know how to make me upset… How to push me to do better. Thanks, Nulina.

Mera darted over to the hanging area, grabbing Amaris’ harnesses for Caden and her. The girl flashed Ayla a quick grin, clearly tuned into every piece of conversation happening between her and Caden, the teen’s eyes glittering with the hint of impending drama.

Ayla met her gaze with a half-smirk, accustomed to Mera’s nosy streak, though it amused her how the teen seemed to pick up on every shift in Caden’s tone. One reason why she’d picked the girl out of the line-up of teens that had wanted the ‘easy’ and ‘privileged’ job of catering to the temperamental Storm Queen was Mera’s sharp mind and ability to adapt quickly.

Caden’s presence behind her felt unusually calming, despite how little she knew about him. His once confident stride softened as he approached her by the tool bench, his gaze shifting downward, clearly puzzling through her heated response about her mother.

Ayla glanced over, sensing something heavier about him than his easygoing charm he’d first presented. Maybe most highlander men are like him… I’ve mostly met women, after all. Then again, he does feel…genuine.

He let out a low breath, his voice quiet. “You ever feel like…you don’t quite fit the mold everyone sets for you?” He chuckled softly, almost as if to himself, his voice unsteady in a way that caught her off-guard.

Ayla looked up, eyebrows raised. “That’s an understatement,” she hesitantly replied, tugging off her gloves and removing her brother’s sunglasses, she set them down, catching the faint scars lining her hands and arms. The diamond lighting traced each old wound, reminders of her training, both with her short swords, blacksmithing, and her brother’s legacy. “Guess it comes with the territory around here since we aren’t Tempalis.”

Caden’s eyes drifted from her scars to the polished leather holding his long sword, his fingers tracing a groove along its hilt.

“Actually, my family… They’re from the lowlands, but my father pushed through and earned a noble title and earned the right to live in the highlands through the academy. That sounds like an accomplishment, right?”

Ayla’s throat tightened at the admission, placing her short swords on the bench in preparation to properly secure them for a flight. “He’s Skybound? He completed the three year program and bonded to a roc?”

He paused, his lips curving slightly downward. “He did… But the truth is, being ‘second generation’ lowland nobles means you’re still…somewhere between worlds. And my mother is a lowlands immigrant from the west; she’s only spent a month at the academy before my father married her, elevating her into the highlands. It…complicates some things.”

Ayla studied his expression, catching the flicker of something vulnerable that softened the edges of his bravado. She felt a stir of understanding, considering her brother’s meteoric rise into legendary status due to bonding with Nulina.

Kael basically bypassed most of the Academy due to the instructors themselves being unable to match the raw potency of a Tempest Queen.

Her focus momentarily drifted to the haughty old bird, able to listen through the storm itself, much less the small gap between them, and she was paying close attention.

A stormlander bonding with a Tempest Queen, when no one but highlanders have ever managed it, must have been a lot harder on him than he let on. A noble can only elevate their spouse to the highlands, as well, not their extended or immediate family…so I don’t know what people thought about him. I thought everyone admired him like me…but maybe that isn’t true.

Attention returning to the somewhat melancholy nobleman before shifting to his sword, she realized that perhaps his self-assured exterior masked similar battles as her own, with expectation and belonging.

Just like the wind, I can’t see the challenges he’s faced, but I can feel them…and they feel real.

“I get that,” she murmured, surprising herself with the softness in her voice. “Here in the stormlands, we’re raised to be tough, even if it feels like we’re just surviving instead of actually…fitting anywhere in Tempalis.”

Caden’s shoulders relaxed a little as he took in her words. At that moment, Mera appeared at his side, her hands full as she clumsily adjusted Amaris’ harness, her gaze flicking between the two of them, clearly captivated by every word.

Ayla chuckled inwardly, glancing sidelong at Mera and called her out. “Focus on your work, Mera,” she teased, rolling her eyes but hiding her amusement at her antics. “Don’t get distracted and mess up the straps.”

Mera’s mouth turned into a light pout but she complied. “W-What would I get distracted by? I just need you to step into this…and then I’ll adjust it around your body,” she mumbled, darting behind him to adjust them while also hiding her bright red cheeks, pretending to fuss with the harness in areas she didn’t need to.

Ayla let the teen have her story for the other girls, knowing she’d do a good ‘thorough’ job while turning back to Caden. However, his focus appeared entirely directed on her, now close enough for her to notice the hints of gold in his amber irises.

His voice softened, bringing her attention to the room by casting his gaze upward. “You know…for someone so incredibly talented, as all of this shows… You’re shockingly humble.”

Ayla felt the warmth of his compliment settle in her chest, awkward but sincere. She tightened her grip around her adjustment tools, half-laughing at his words while accepting her harness from Mera to do her own adjustments.

“Let’s move back to what Nulina wanted from you… You say my ingenuity, physical stamina, and, ahem, grace,” she added, the corners of her mouth tugging upward at him, “are up to grade, but…what about my weapon skills? Care to test those?”

Caden’s gaze dropped, his jaw tightening as Mera finished, looking satisfied by her blush. Leaning back against the tool bench, he crossed his arms, contemplating her question before answering with a measured honesty.

“To be frank, I’d consider weapons training one of the least important things for a woman to put her time into,” he said, his steady tone, making her fingers ball into a fist. “As skilled as a woman can be, when it comes to weapons, unless they bond to a roc or raven lord, they’re more likely than not to die against a man. Highland women are trained to avoid physical confrontations as much as possible for the first six weeks, until the bonding trial.”

Redlight, the instability it brings, the pain, weaker bodies, more brittle bones… The world is unfair for women, but there is an equalizer. I just need to bond… I can bond! Kael did it. Kael bonded with a Tempest Queen! So why can’t I? I’m not defective… I’m not!

Tugging on her harness and slipping her gloves back on, Ayla tried to forget Elder Eldric’s statement and fight past Nulina’s revelation about her brother.

“Even with all the training highlander girls get, twenty years of preparation,” she mumbled, “and still skill can only get you so far as a woman… I get that. I’m not delusional. I’m going to bond, though. I can do anything I set my mind to.”

Caden’s smile returned, plucking at the straps around his far more muscular frame than Amaris’ much smaller body, who the harness was made for. “I agree completely… My father told me, unlike my elder sister, I couldn’t bond to a roc. Even if that’s true. I’m not going to let that stop me from trying… Is this supposed to be this tight?”

Ayla paused mid-action before she moved closer to provide a bit more slack in certain areas. Mera was trying not to look at which areas she’d purposefully tightened.

“Why did he say you can’t bond?” she asked, truly curious at his own circumstance. “If you want to talk about it, of course…”

He swallowed, breathing out a thankful sigh as she relieved some of the pressure around his waist, showing a light blush, yet holding a smile. “Thanks… My mother. Apparently it has something to do with blood, or so says everything I’ve read. It’s why every highborn can bond with a roc, raven lord, or scouting raven.”

Blood… Of course it has to do with blood, she internally seethed, jaw tight. Of course it was your curse, Mom. I won’t let you hold me back! Blood or not… I’ll find a way, like Kael did.

Stepping back and showing a small smile, she picked up her shades and pushed it up on the bridge of her nose. “Ready to fly, Skybound or not?”

Caden’s cool charm faded like smoke on the wind, a lump forming in his throat as he glanced over at the giant, 75-foot tall black eagle, lightning dancing across her feathers; she was practically bouncing on her talons to take to the sky again.

“I…don’t think I have a choice in the matter.”

“That’s the spirit,” Ayla snickered, playfully jabbing his shoulder before securely binding her short swords together to place in the cargo area of the saddle she’d created for Nulina. “I’ll show you how to strap in. Follow my lead and everything will be alright. I’ve been planning for this day for nearly eight cycles!”

Streaming out a long breath, he chuckled and released a shiver before walking after her, Mera in-tow. “Despite the jitters you’re seeing, I’m actually excited. You’re making me feel something I’ve never thought I’d feel… My life is in your hands.”

She glanced back at the tall man, heat spreading through her chest; it was similar to how Amaris made her feel…but so different at the same time. It was like nothing she’d experienced before. “Then you’ve made the right choice!”

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