Chapter 5
Fear coiled its scaly hide around my throat like a sandviper and squeezed.
I had never been afraid of heights—always flying into the clouds where I didn’t belong and flying to heights most angels didn’t dare.
I’d always felt the safest, the calmest, on high ground. Falling didn’t easily scare me, either.
But falling while forbidden to fly? That was something even Manmi hadn’t prepared me for.
My stomach rolled, twisting in knots, as I tumbled weightlessly through layered billows and clouds. Had I passed the bridge? Could I fly now? What if I chanced it and forfeited Ascension?
I tumbled, gaining speed the further I descended. I blinked away tears as my body remained in an awkward tangle while I struggled with what to do. My mind was frazzled. I had to think.
Tuck and roll.
I strained against the wind, twisting the full length of my body so I could bring in my knees.
I spread out two pairs of wings, curling them over my form.
I spread out another pair so they could be used to push off the ground.
The remaining four pairs I kept loose, in case I needed to grip or climb.
Clapping sounds—like shifting rock and thunder—sounded above.
I kept my hands out before me, trying to brace for whatever would come.
Blinking through the haze of clouds, I saw something shining.
It was ivory. Smooth in a few places, but jagged rock in most. There were glittering stars littered all over it.
As I squinted, trying to make sense of what I was seeing, the image cleared.
I gasped.
It was the Efysien rock base that upheld the entire islet.
I shifted my weight, preparing for a hard collision. The clouds began to clear. The mountain came into view. And the fast-approaching rocky ground was rushing to meet me.
“Rot,” I hissed.
This was going to hurt. Like everything else in this cursed ascent.
I calculated the drop. To the left, the rocky base sloped out into nothing but cloud. I assumed that end led straight to the Ouanaviel Sea far below. Certain death.
To the right was a high slab of white. Very few ridges were on the sides of the mountain. The bridge collapsed before I could make it on the platform which meant I still couldn’t fly. I’d have to climb the side of this mountain.
I was growing enraged. I was dirty. Hungry. Tired. Wounded. And for stars sake, I now had to scale this mountain rock to get into the temple?
Hot tears prickled the back of my eyes. How in the stars would I make it into the temple on time? How was I going to carry on what Manmi died to uphold? Fatigue flooded my body, making my wings droop, and my head hang.
I neared the rocky platform. A sudden gust of wind sent me hurtling into the rock.
I jut out my wings, keeping my arms locked around my knees.
I hit the rock, hard, my wings taking the brunt.
The two pairs kept me rolling over the landing.
I found myself skidding to a halt, right at the very edge of the rock.
With the other pair of wings, I pushed off, rolling into a run.
The ground beneath me was deceiving. It looked jagged in many places. But it was actually soft.
Too soft.
I slipped, and fell, slamming my shoulder into the ground.
“Burning stars!” I cried. “What kind of torment is this?”
“Ready to give up yet, little prey?”
I wanted to scream.
I’d forgotten all about Tharic.
I shot to my feet, using my wings to walk. I bent low enough so my talons could punch holes into the ground and help propel me forward. I slipped three more times, but kept my footing. Once I reached the rocky side of the mountain base, I looked up. And up. And up.
I sighed, my shoulders sagging like weights. Reeling myself, I took a long gulp of air and began to climb. Smooth as glass, there was almost no hold to cling to. I noticed in random places where small punctures in the rock had been made.
So. That’s how the angels before me made it up.
Gathering my nerves, I placed hands in the holes and began pulling myself up.
It took several minutes of trial and error to figure it out, but I managed.
It was painstakingly slow, but I climbed.
I heard Tharic through the clouds, slipping and falling, cursing each time he lost the progress he made.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
I wasn’t willing to test fate just yet, lest I slip and end up right by him.
The breeze of the clouds carried a soothing chill.
Sweat crawled across my brow and slipped down my spine inside my flight robes.
Twice my feet slipped. But I kept my hold.
A familiar hum of tension in my muscles began to sing.
I fell into the rhythm of the climb. Pushing through, I rose higher, until I could start making out the edge of the platform above.
The clouds began thickening the closer I got, making it hard to see the edge clearly. The air smelled light. Like it always did in my home garden at the cool of dawn.
I was getting close to the temple.
Excitement filled my blood. I picked up the pace until I finally made it. I crested the rocky side and pulled up onto a perfect, even marble surface. The golden platform spilled out in every direction. Much like the Goldstone Bridge.
The moment I gained my footing, I spread my wings and took flight.
My side throbbed but I couldn’t stop to feel it now.
I had to make it into the temple. I flew with all my might, beating all seven wing pairs against the rushing wind around me.
The harder I flew, the harder the wind pushed against me.
But I didn’t care, I wasn’t going to give up.
Curving through layers of clouds, slicing through the billows, I pulsed my wings. Then the sprawling glory of Temple Efysis came into view.
The obelisk was higher than I could see in full view, even if I craned my neck. It was wider than any building in Ouanaviel.
Twelve angels—one from each rank—hovered above the golden floors by ethèr—innate, supernatural, angelic power—carved out of crystal and glass, sculpted to absolute perfection.
Every detail that differentiated their rank could be seen.
They each had open mouths, and between each mouth, a ball of iridescent fire burned.
Dripping, curling vines of crystal twisted beautifully around Temple Efysis itself like vines in a garden. Staggering steps led up to the open doors that framed the entrance.
The temple seemed broken up into sections and layers.
The higher the levels, the more glass and golden stones could be seen.
At the very top was a golden dome with ivory fire surrounding it.
A massive sunlion perched on either side, roaring as they watched all of us Ascendants racing for the temple.
That had to be the living quarters of Profèt Samael. No one, except for High Farasee Manazzra, could visit with the Profèt. I gaped in awe, jaw hanging at the opulence, the grandeur, the absolute resplendence of it all.
I looked at the grand moat around the Temple, with pristine blue waters like the Ouanaviel Sea and swirling, ivory platforms curling through them, covered in an array of large, sculpted, golden bowls.
On either side of the long path winding up to the temple, statues of high towering angels stood.
Between the angels were the Pagali—Pegasikind, sunlions, and stareagles.
I flew toward the temple in awe. And almost flew straight into the gates…and the creatures guarding them.
I came to a screeching halt, slapping my wings into the golden floor, bringing myself to stop just in time. I had no words for what I saw before me. Stunned, I floated back a few paces.
Without thought, I bowed low, bending my knees, then folding my wings over my body, extending them forward in reverence. The beasts rumbled, pleased at the honor.
They felt familiar to me. I couldn’t dishonor them by simply flying by them.
I finally lifted my head and found the seven sunlions with their heads lowered, as they blinked at me. My jaw dropped. Each sunlion had the brightest and most beautiful lavender eyes. Just like me. It was like looking into a mirror.
“Wings high,” I whispered to them all, looking each in turn in their eyes.
Stars bless me! All of their eyes twinkled, glittering in the dimming sunlight as they looked back.
“Star of the Age. We are waiting for you.”
I blinked. “Don’t you mean ‘We have been waiting’?”
“No. We still are.”
My throat clenched, emotion filling my chest. As one, each sunlion tilted back their head, their ivory fur gleaming beneath the seven suns, and roared. It sounded like a clarion call. Like a summons. Like the ringing of bells to signal someone was home.
The gates behind them widened.
I felt a tug, an urge, to fly through.
So I did.
I was mesmerized at this invisible force that called me forward. Pulled me ahead and through the gates. The moment I crossed, they sealed shut. I kept flying, as if in a daze. I flew up the numerous steps to the temple doors. My chest squeezed as I neared the entrance. Then I crossed inside.
The moment my feet crossed the threshold, the sunlions stopped roaring. Then the temple doors slammed shut.