The shift from Haldrath to Zephyros was stark. Where Haldrath’s rigid lines and grounded structures embodied control, Zephyros was a realm that refused to be tamed. Its sky was a patchwork of sunlit clouds and stormy gales, the ground replaced by floating islands of varying sizes, spinning slowly in chaotic patterns.

“First rule of Zephyros,” Aeris Skylark said, adjusting her scarf against the biting wind. “Don’t look down. Second rule: if you fall, scream dramatically. It’s funnier that way.”

Kael Drakos chuckled, hefting his axes. “I like this place already.”

“This isn’t a game,” Vera Solari snapped, her voice tense as she steadied herself against a gust of wind. Her shield braced against her arm, she scanned the shifting terrain with practiced precision. “This is dangerous.”

“Dangerous can still be fun,” Aeris replied, leaping lightly onto a narrow ledge as it drifted past.

“Focus,” Calia Ardent said sharply, her voice cutting through the banter. She gripped her rapier tightly, her eyes darting between the floating platforms. “The ley line instability is worse than I expected. The core’s surges are affecting the entire realm. If we’re not careful, this place will tear itself apart.”

“Then we’d better get moving,” Koina Meris said softly, her chakrams spinning lazily in her hands. “Let’s not waste time arguing.”

The group began their journey across the floating islands, each step a calculated risk. The platforms wobbled and tilted unpredictably, some disintegrating entirely as ley line energy sparked violently beneath them.

Calia took the lead, her movements precise as she calculated the safest path. “Step lightly,” she instructed. “These platforms are unstable. Follow the flow of the wind—it’ll guide you to the sturdier sections.”

Aeris, ignoring the caution, bounded ahead with practiced ease, her crossbow slung across her back. “Relax! You just have to trust your instincts!”

“Aeris, wait!” Koina called, her voice tinged with worry.

Too late. A sudden gust of wind swept through, sending Aeris tumbling toward the edge of a crumbling platform.

Kael lunged, his grip strong as he caught her wrist and hauled her back to safety. “Instincts are great,” he said, grinning, “but maybe don’t die on the first day.”

Aeris laughed breathlessly. “Noted.”

The deeper they ventured into Zephyros, the more volatile the environment became. Narrow wind tunnels formed invisible pathways through the floating islands, their force enough to knock the group off balance if misjudged.

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Calia studied the patterns of the wind, her crystalline rapier glowing faintly as she traced their flow. “We’ll need to time this perfectly,” she said, pointing to a narrow opening between two tunnels. “The currents shift every thirty seconds. If we move now—”

“Or,” Aeris interrupted, firing a bolt into the tunnel to test the air pressure, “we just improvise.”

The bolt ricocheted off the walls, missing Kael’s ear by inches. He gave her a look. “You trying to kill me, or just wake me up?”

“I don’t need help,” Vera muttered, stepping forward and bracing her shield. With a grunt, she pushed into the wind tunnel, her shield absorbing the brunt of the force. “Follow me. I’ll clear the path.”

The group moved as one, Vera’s shield leading the way while Calia directed their timing. Koina deflected smaller gusts with her chakrams, creating pockets of calm for the others to pass through.

As they reached a larger platform, Koina stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing. “Do you feel that?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Feel what?” Kael asked, glancing around.

“Something’s… wrong,” Koina murmured, her grip tightening on her chakrams.

Vera frowned, scanning the horizon. “Stay alert.”

They found it on the far edge of the platform: a damaged ley line node, its energy sparking erratically. Around it were strange symbols carved into the stone—jagged lines that seemed to pulse with chaotic energy.

Calia stepped closer, studying the markings. “This isn’t natural. Someone’s been tampering with the ley line.”

Aeris knelt beside one of the symbols, tracing it with her finger. “What does it say?”

Calia’s expression darkened. “It’s not a language—it’s a warning. ‘Let the storm breathe.’”

“Cryptic,” Kael said, hefting his axes. “I like it.”

“Whoever did this caused the node to destabilize,” Calia said, rising to her feet. “And I’m guessing they’re not done.”

The node’s instability triggered a surge of energy, sending the platform into violent tremors. The group scrambled as the ground beneath them cracked, splitting into smaller sections.

“A little help here!” Aeris shouted, her crossbow firing at wind constructs forming in the air around them.

“On it,” Kael said, charging toward the nearest construct. His axes swung in a frenzied arc, shattering the entity into a burst of air.

Koina moved quickly, using Harmonic Return to deflect stray gusts and guide Vera and Calia to stable ground. “We need to move before the whole platform collapses!”

Vera gritted her teeth, bracing her shield against a surge of energy. “We can’t just leave the node like this—it’ll only get worse.”

“I can stabilize it,” Calia said, her voice calm despite the chaos. “But I need time.”

“Time’s a luxury we don’t have,” Aeris said, firing another bolt.

“Then make it!” Calia snapped.

The group formed a protective circle around Calia as she worked, fending off the constructs and stabilizing the node.

As the platform settled and the constructs dissipated, the group stood in uneasy silence. The damage to the node was repaired, but the mystery of the symbols lingered.

“This isn’t just about the ley lines,” Koina said softly. “Someone wants this chaos.”

“And they’re good at making it,” Aeris added, her tone lighter than her expression.

Vera tightened her grip on her shield. “Whoever they are, they’ll pay for it.”

Calia frowned, her eyes on the horizon. “Let’s keep moving. The core is still ahead, and we’re running out of time.”