"Open your eyes!" He Xiangu called over her shoulder, while Hunter, with his arms wrapped around her, clung to her for dear life. Her tone was soft, almost reassuring, yet Hunter's past experiences with flying on winged beasts had been anything but comforting.

Beneath him, the dragon's blue scales moved like broken ice water, its majestic wings spread wide as they soared through the air.

"What makes you think my eyes are closed?" Hunter asked, fighting the urge to grip her even tighter.

She responded with a casual shoulder shrug, and he imagined her wearing a wide grin. Surrounding them, treacherous plumes of ash and smoke billowed, which the water dragon elegantly avoided, though the smell of brimstone sharply stung his nose.

To distract himself from the fear of plummeting into the fiery abyss below, Hunter pondered on the water dragon's inability to defeat the Killer Ginseng. "The plant knew my weakness, yet you see my strength," he quietly repeated the dragon's words spoken before they departed the underground chamber.

He was curious about how exactly the ginseng plant had overpowered the dragon but hesitated to ask directly, especially considering the ginseng had killed all her offspring. Sensing his thoughts, the dragon glanced back, locking one eye on him. "Are you ill?"

"I'm fine," Hunter managed through gritted teeth.

"You don't sound like it." He Xiangu observed, ducking her head and lowering her body as the dragon veered left to evade an ascending geyser of flames.

Hunter's stomach churned with the abrupt change in altitude. As they leveled out and then ascended to skirt around a fiery volcano, He Xiangu added, "It's okay to admit you get travel sickness; it doesn't imply weakness."

Hunter sighed and shook his head. "It's not travel—"

As they ascended, gliding over the mountain's peak, the dragon's voice resonated around them. "I sense you have an affinity for aether, akin to mine. My essence is water aether, beneficial when I'm near water but a disadvantage in underground fiery caverns where I shielded my brood from other dragons."

The wind's roar filled Hunter's ears as the formidable dragon descended, the mountain's rocky face blurring past at an alarming speed, revealing a vast plain ahead and a shimmering lake in the distance. Gnarled, twisted bushes and trees scattered the landscape, hinting at lurking movements.

"This is where that awful demon guardian was supposed to portal us." She nodded towards the land below. "It serves as the breeding ground for the Komodo dragons."

The dragon scoffed. "They are mere lizards, not true dragons."

He Xiangu expressed her disagreement with a grunt.

Approaching the lake, the dragon accelerated, compelling Hunter and He Xiangu to tighten their grip. The movement made it seem Hunter could be thrown off at any moment. "How about we detour around the lake?"

Saiphan tilted his head to the side. "The most straightforward path is directly over this body of water."

Hunter tightened his footing as the dragon swept sideways. "No, it won't significantly delay us. Let's avoid the water." To him, the only scenario worse than flying was plummeting from a great height into a vast body of water, an all-too-familiar ordeal.

"I am not a fire, earth, or wind dragon; I am a water dragon. I excel and recharge best when near water. The last thing you'd want is for me to be depleted before we arrive at our destination. You'll be grateful later."

He Xiangu, as if sensing Hunter's discomfort, lifted her chin to display the scroll given to her by her demon father. "The map outlines a different path. Are you certain we're on the correct course?"

"Maybe we should ask for directions on dry land." Hunter proposed in a light-hearted manner, aiming to ease the tension.

The dragon was not amused. "I may be female, but I don't seek directions. I carry a map in my mind; this is the swiftest route. So, cease your complaining and allow me to focus."

He Xiangu's chuckle made Hunter feel like a rebuked child. "I thought you could tame any creature," she said, laughter in her voice.

Under his breath, Hunter grumbled. "This will be the last time I fly anywhere, especially with you."

Tilting his head down, his eye caught strange, shimmering lights in the water below, some luminous creatures that called the lake their home. The dragon flew so low over it, Hunter could almost see his blurred reflection and reach out to skim the water with his hand. He decided against that thought, in case something considered him as a snack. Knowing his luck, he'd fall into its depths.

His stomach lurched again, and he closed his eyes, the hammering of his heart the only sound loud enough to drown out the wind roaring by his ears.

After what seemed like an eternity, they finally landed.

Hunter slid off the dragon, his legs wobbly. Cycling chi returned his strength and reminded him of what the dragon had said about aether. The Killer Ginseng was in its element in the fiery caverns, where the dragon had sacrificed her own safety to protect her brood. That Killer Ginseng had Dark plasma; it was non-native, summoned from another realm. That had to be why it overpowered the dragon for so long.

The dragon’s booming voice chased those thoughts away. “We are here as promised. Now, I will be on my way. Have a pleasant journey.”

Hunter’s hand shot up as they dismounted. “No, wait…”

The dragon’s eyes blazed a flaming blue, a stark contrast to the dark entrance to what looked like a temple carved into the rock face of Shadow Mountain.

“Please,” Hunter's voice softened. “Stay here with us. You risk your life going back to that cavern.” He didn’t want to mention there was nothing for her to return to. As a mother, she would forever be connected to her brood that died there.

He Xiangu crossed her arms. “Stay here with us. Let us repay your kindness. I always pay my debts.”

“We are even. You destroyed the Killer Ginseng; I brought you over treacherous lands and saved you time.”

Hunter didn’t want to use his beast tamer skill, hoping the dragon would choose to stay with them of her own accord. She was strong-minded, like the Night Mare. An apple wouldn’t work. He needed something more, her unfulfilled motherly instincts?

“Reconsider returning to the cavern. Is there anywhere else you can go to find more of your kind?”

“You think a mighty dragon as I am is lonely?”

He Xiangu scowled. “You dragons are all the same, so haughty and stubborn. My Komodo Dragon used to be like that.”

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“I am a dragon, not a common lizard. The title 'Komodo dragon' is a lofty description, ill-fitting those little creatures. But then, that’s mortals for you.”

“My Komodo dragon, Sleidai, would disagree with you. You’re more alike than you think. You'd like him if you met him.”

Seeing an opportunity, Hunter jumped in, hoping the water dragon would take the bait. “You know, he lost his mother; she was killed by poachers. He Xiangu rescued him. He's still quite young. Imagine what he could learn from a real dragon, even if he is just a Komodo dragon. He could learn a lot from you.”

The dragon’s eyes brightened at that suggestion. Then she raised her chin. “I suppose the cavern I’ve guarded for centuries is not going anywhere. I can stay with you a little longer, make sure you don’t get yourself killed.”

She stepped forward into the cavernous entrance, her head and tail low.

Hunter and He Xiangu followed the colossal form of Saihan into the entrance cavern. Their eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing a vast chamber carved from the heart of the mountain itself.

The walls, a tapestry of stone, stretched upwards, disappearing into shadows that clung to the ceiling like silent watchers. The air was cool and damp, carrying the echo of their footsteps and the distant drip of water. The dragon's glowing scales bathed the chamber in soft light, revealing symbols of the elements—fire, water, earth, and wind—intertwined in a cycle of creation and destruction.

Saiphan paused, her massive head tilting towards the carvings with reverence. "These tell the story of the elemental cycle." Her voice echoed softly throughout the cavern. "An eternal cycle of rebirth and destruction, each element both creator and destroyer. Fire heats the earth, from which metals and minerals are forged—"

Shifting from toe to toe, He Xiangu cut in, "I know this; it was an important part of my mother's bedtime tales. Fire warms earth, earth blocks wind, wind moves water, water douses fire…"

Saiphan gave a brief smile. "Balance in all things is crucial; there is much more to the elemental cycle."

"Of which I am aware." He Xiangu gestured to a narrow tunnel leading off from the entrance chamber. "The mask awaits, and my father is an impatient man."

A flicker of amusement passed through Saiphan's ancient eyes. "Sometimes the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. While haste has its place, I urge caution." The dragon snorted, provoking He Xiangu's dark glare.

Before she could erupt, Hunter stepped in, "Saiphan, your wisdom is as vast as the sea, but He Xiangu is right; we must not forget our purpose."

The dragon shifted her massive form, making her way towards the tunnel. She lowered her head, sucking in a breath, she drew in her sides and folded her wings down, pressing them against her body. "This way," she called to them with snipping tones. They traveled along the dimly lit tunnel until it opened out into another cavern, much smaller than the first.

"Behold the first challenge." Saiphan threw them a salty look. She let it linger for a moment before shifting her gaze from them to a narrow, bridge-like walkway that spanned a gaping chasm. Her scales shimmered like the deepest ocean against the curtain of darkness on either side of the path.

"I can go no further." Her voice resonated, deep and melodious, echoing off the ancient stone. "It is unlikely such a narrow rocky path will bear my weight, and I'm not slowing down for anyone." She pushed out her rump as if to emphasize her point.

"Can't you fly over the chasm?" asked He Xiangu.

The dragon's tail whipped over He Xiangu's head, forcing her to duck. With the tip of her tail she pointed at a weathered rune. "You have eyes but you do not see Mt. Tai Shan. These elemental wind runes are all around the chamber. If I try to fly, I will be overwhelmed by wind more powerful than a tornado. At the bottom of the chasm lie the bones of many winged beasts that tried; you cannot smell them with your mortal senses." Her tongue flicked out as if tasting the air, then bit back as if tasting bile and bitter regret.

Hunter took a cautious step towards the narrow bridge. His gaze swept across it, his mind racing as he noted the slightly raised stones lining the path. Each bore ancient symbols, their etchings faintly glowing with uncanny light.

The dragon bowed her head. "I wish you good fortune and success. I will await your return back at the entrance cavern."

"I've no doubt of our success.” He Xiangu raised her chin. “We carry the luck of a dragon on our side, Saiphan."

A puff of mist escaped the dragon's nostrils. "Consider it luck that I find your company more appealing than a meal, He Xiangu."

Hunter's laughter briefly chased away the looming shadow of the task ahead, a moment of shared warmth between them in the cold, ancient cavern.

As soon as the dragon's blue scales disappeared back down the tunnel towards the entrance, Hunter turned to face the walkway once more, feeling the weight of the challenge before them.

…

Stepping onto the first tile, a gust of wind slammed into Hunter with the force of a tempest. A quick grab from He Xiangu, yanking him back by the tunic, stopped him from falling into the abyss. His heart raced, adrenaline surging as he steadied himself, noticing the tile beneath his foot slightly sank once he’d placed pressure on the square.

He Xiangu's eyes scanned the symbols adorning each tile. She stepped forward to press a stone tile edged with the symbol of earth. As she pressed down, the tile slightly sank with a click, and the tumultuous wind that howled across the walkway calmed for a moment, creating a brief window of stillness.

"The wind fuels fire, but the earth calms it." He Xiangu echoed the mantra, moving to press another earth plate a few steps ahead. With each correct press, the sequence became clearer: to safely navigate the path, they needed to activate the plates in an order that mirrored the elemental balance of calming wind through earth.

However, their path was not without its challenges.

A significant gap appeared in the sequence, a span where no earth plate lay within reach, the next one lying a daunting distance away, far beyond a simple step. The wind, seizing the opportunity, howled with renewed vigor, as if to sweep them away for their hesitation.

Hunter's gaze settled on the chasm below, then back to the unreachable plate. His connection to the earth wasn't just about understanding its symbols; it was about feeling its presence, its strength. Closing his eyes, he focused on that connection, extending his Earth chi to the stone beneath and beyond him. When he opened his eyes again, there was clarity, a certainty.

"We can't reach it by stepping." Hunter stepped back. "But the earth can bring us there." Concentrating, he summoned his Earth affinity, directing it toward the chasm. The stone trembled, responding to his call, as a narrow column of rock rose from the depths, bridging the gap to the next earth plate.

With an encouraging nod from He Xiangu, Hunter leapt onto the newly formed bridge, his boots landing with a solid thud against the stone. He quickly crossed and pressed the distant earth title, stabilizing the wind long enough for them to sprint across the remaining path.

Reaching the other side, Hunter and He Xiangu shared a moment, their breaths heavy but spirits lifted at passing the chasm.

Hunter and He Xiangu advanced with caution into the next chamber, their senses alert. The air thickened with heat, the crackling of fire punctuating each breath they took. In front of them, towering infernos leapt, each flame a barrier keeping them from passing.

“Fire, the purifier.” Hunter’s eyes narrowed, observing the flames for a sense of pattern like He Xiangu had noticed with the Earth tiles.

He Xiangu rested her hand on the shaft of her glaive. “Fire yields to grounded earth.” She nodded toward a wall with a series of levers, each adorned with the elemental symbols. “The answer lies not within the flames, but in our connection to the elements.”

Hunter smirked. “The levers continue past the flames. We pull one here, and move quick to pull the next. Earth you say?”

He Xiangu’s mouth opened, but Hunter sprinted toward the first lever and yanked on the one marked with the Earth symbol. The inferno dimmed, revealing a path of blackened stone slab. Stepping with urgency, He Xiangu grunted as she pulled the second lever. The ground rumbled and another portion of the slab cleared, the flames bowing to the earth.

The fiery inferno licked at their feet as they proceeded along the opening path. Each lever pulled brought them closer to the end. The final barrier surged, higher and more fierce than the rest.

Wiping a stray bead of sweat from his temple, Hunter pivoted and glanced behind him. “There’s no levers for this section.”

He Xiangu raised a brow. “It’s past the flame. I can strike my sword at it, but I don’t know if it will reach.”

Hunter waved his hand. “No need to risk scorching yourself.” He closed his eyes, inhaled a deep breath forming his Dust Storm Whip. The Earth and Wind chi channeled the slab beneath him, and he thrust his whip across the inferno. He held his breath as the tip of the whip barely clung around the lever. With a quick tug, the lever groaned as the flames dampened in front of them granting a safe passage.

“You’ve shown your worth for this journey, now let’s claim what we’ve come here for.” He Xiangu leapt across the stone slab as Hunter withdrew his whip and the flames reemerged as the lever groaned back in place.

Hunter joined He Xiangu’s side as she stood underneath the archway. “Are there supposed to be six masks?”

She shook her head. “Only one of them holds the power my father seeks. The others will lead us to our death.” Her boot kicked the ground, a few human bones rattled across the cavern floor.

“No need to worry.” Hunter swallowed the rising pit in his stomach as his gaze shifted to the first mask. “Identify.”