“Hey, Umbriel, wait! I think you’re forgetting something, or should I say… someone?” Said Melvek before they left.

A steed created from the very essence of Melvek’s magic appeared. “He had a strong bond with you, Umbriel. These are my mountains and all that perishes here, comes back to me. Take this as my deep gratitude for what you did for me today. He’s a very special horse now that I brought it back from my mountain’s soul. He will feel what you feel, but you and only you are to find out what mysteries are enshrouded within him.

Umbriel, moved by the gesture, caressed Jet's neck. The contact was gentle, but there was an undeniable strength in the beast. She felt an immediate connection, as if Jet were an extension of her own soul. Grateful, she looked at Melvek with bright eyes, without needing words.

Umbriel mounted the horse with ease. The connection she felt with him grew stronger every minute, as if they both shared an understanding beyond the physical.

The three set off, with Jet leading the way. The first day of the trip was calm. The roads were mostly clear, and although the tension in the air was palpable, they encountered no immediate danger. During breaks, Carter entertained the group with stories and jokes, lightening the mood as they moved forward into the unknown.

“It is a dangerous path, Umbriel,” Martel warned as he adjusted his sword. “The rumors about Balari are not encouraging.”

“I know,” she replied determinedly.

“But we must find out what is waiting for us there, I feel a dark presence that draws near since we left Melvek’s cabin.”

As the sun began to sink below the horizon, the group decided to camp near a river, where the trees leaned over the water, their reflections dancing on the surface. They built a small fire, and as the crackling heat filled the air, Umbriel stepped back slightly, wanting a moment alone.

Sitting on a rock, she watched Jet, who was grazing peacefully nearby. She knew that something dark awaited Balari, and the uncertainty filled her with anxiety. Jet raised his head, his eyes shining with a warm light, as if he sensed her concern.

“Everything will be okay,” Umbriel whispered, more to herself than to the horse.

But in the stillness of the night, something changed. Some distant noises, barely audible at first, began to echo through the forest. Martel and Carter quickly stood up, hands on their weapons, as Umbriel felt a surge of anger and fear rise within her. Jet, reflecting his emotions, began to change. His fur, once so dark, now glowed with a faint flame, and his eyes burned like living embers.

Suddenly, several shadowy figures emerged from the trees, their faces covered by a green mask that resembled the figure of an owl.

“Vastagos around here? This doesn’t make any sense!” Said Martel.

“Well, get ready for a fight, they don't seem friendly…” Added Umbriel.

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“Oh don’t worry guys, this is my time” Said Carter confidently.

Without hesitation, Jet lunged over the three heroes, engulfed in fire, and the flames around him seemed to take on a life of their own, menacing the vastagos with terrifying power.

Umbriel, overcome with anger and the need to protect her friends, joined the battle with a ferocity that surprised her enemies. Martel and Carter fought at her side, defending the camp as the shadows writhed under Jet's fire.

Carter took out a curious black flask from one of his hundreds of pockets.

“No Carter!” Said Martel while fighting the vastagos.

“Not that one, not now”

“Damn it Martel, you always take the fun out of everything.”

Saying this, Carter pulled another flask.

“This will do… Guys, retreat now! Things are gonna get spicy”

When Carter hurled the flask to the vastagos, a strange sound started to come out from it, it was a high pitched screech that drew the attention of the masked menace. Umbriel, still agitated, called Jet.

“To the ground, now!” Said Carter.

The vastagos went for the flask, like they were lured from the annoying screech that came out of it, and after a couple seconds, it exploded with a tremendous force, but the explosion didn’t make any sound at all.

“That was impressive!” Said Umbriel, her tone failing to hide her astonishment. “But… also dangerous. What was that?"

“I call it a hush bomb, and that was the small one.”

“But hey, don’t forget about Jet, what was that?

Umbriel explained, still surprised. “It seems that when I feel anger or fear, he feels it too, and reacts that way.”

“It is a gift, but also a burden,” Martel added, cleaning his sword. “We must be careful. If we face something like this again, it might be difficult to control.”

Umbriel nodded, aware of the responsibility that came with her connection to Jet. She knew that she must learn to control her emotions, not only for her sake, but for that of her companions and Jet himself.

The second day of the trip was more tense. The scars of the previous battle were still fresh in their minds, and everyone was alert. The landscape began to change, becoming more arid and desolate as they approached Balari. The stories they had heard about the city were grim: despite being a prosperous place, it was always ruled by dark forces that no one fully understood.

On the third day, as the shattered tower of Balari appeared on the horizon, a feeling of unease fell upon the group. The air was heavy and it was not easy to breathe, Balari’s altitude was taking a toll on them, but you could see every corner of Veedur.

“We're close,” Martel said, his voice deep. “But something's not right here.”

Carter nodded silently, his purple eyes scanning the landscape suspiciously. Umbriel, sensing the growing tension in Jet, knew she had to stand her ground. Although her heart was pounding, she took a deep breath, remembering Martel's warning. She couldn't afford to lose control now.

Upon reaching the city gates, they were greeted by a desolate vision. The streets were empty, and the once majestic buildings were now little more than ruins. In the center of the city, a dark structure stood imposingly, surrounded by a strange mist that writhed as if it had a life of its own.

“This is the original city of Balari, but the war of fire took everything from these people,” Umbriel whispered, her gaze fixed on the tower.

As they crossed the heart of Balari, shadows moved around them, watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike. The fog surrounding the tower thickened with each step, until they could barely see beyond a few meters.

The air was filled with a musty, metallic smell, it was the blood of all Balarians, “It is said that you could still hear the screams of fire in the night.” Said Umbriel.

Jet, ever connected to her, moved steadily forward, leading the group through the fog and out the old city. The new city of Balari, situated within the eastern peak, welcomed them with its bustle and constant activity. The miners here were the obvious reason for the events that had occurred in the mountains; it seemed that they were extracting some metals and precious stones from the bowels of the earth.

For Umbriel, Martel and Carter, the world had changed. The demon cabin had shown them that evil lurks in unexpected places, and that the path to the chaos devices would be full of unimaginable dangers.