Aaron saw a city on top of mount Iroswell; it looked deserted with cracks on every building. Some houses and shops were broken without roofs or missing some walls. Omari was perched on top of the gate about ten feet away. They walked down into the city. William looked grim,

“What is this place?” Aaron asked

“it must be the avian’s city of the sky” William said

“So that's why they turned to nomads” William continued, the revelation shocked him. walking the cracked paved streets. passing empty homes which were three and four stories tall squire and all were made of stone nothing was made of wood by the looks of it where would the power be? Seeing in the middle of the city was a grand building

“we should start there” Aaron said

“I agree” William said so they made their way to the middle of the city. The only sound was the sound of their footsteps. It had an eerie feeling. Omari flu ahead of them than came back

“good choice the temple of Aeris is a likely place” the temple of course it's a huge building larger than any he'd seen it had to be seven stories tall! With three dorms and platforms on top as well. no human built that it has to be there it’s going to take two hours to walk there because the city was so huge.

Falkner crawled through a window to get into the city since the tower crumbled pushing his shield along. At least I know why the avians are so angry by us being here. I would be to if my city in the sky fell. crawling out of the tower then waited for Nyssa to do the same, catching Nyssa’s shield as she pushed it though. Falkner started dusting off his armor once she was through with a smile on her face then pulled their moa through the window as they walked into the empty city.

“can you believe it’s almost finished our journey” Nyssa said “I know our hunting trip feels like a lifetime ago” Falkner replied

“I can’t believe it was only a winter ago” Nyssa exclaimed

“I can’t believe there's a building still standing” passing shops and large homes. It would be a nice place to live even better than a castle looking down at the humans below who can’t fly but now it has fallen

“Look at this place, where should we look first?” Falkner said

“we could start at her temple over there” of course it would be there, it's the only place it could be her temple. The city is a huge testament to the goddess’s power which kept the city afloat. They made their way into the main street which was fifteen feet wide. How many avians were living here it had to be hundreds of thousands which was over twice that of the capital of Saxohdale. Nyssa was looking at the richer homes of domed houses of two to five stories tall with a look of wonder. They were making good progress. It would take an hour to reach the temple due to how large the city was. Then a shadow passed overhead.

Safiya was crying at the fallen city.

“my mothers people I’ve heard stories of the splendor of the cities of the sky and now they have fallen” it did look like the city was dropped onto the mountain in better condition but still

“We should go” Hector said Safiya nodded and they walked down into the city seeing all the empty homes made Jezebel a little sad to see once a grand place fall into ruin. they made their way to a side street

“Where should we look?” Hector asked looking at a huge building at the center of the city Safiya pointed to the domed building

“there's the goddess’s temple if it’s anywhere it will be there” with that they hurried towards the temple at a run. Then the roc came back flying overhead.

Aaron watched as the roc came towards them with a forest elephant in its talons. flapping its huge wings

“inside now!” William called Aaron and complied. pulled the donkey into a large domed house. Once inside Omari came inside William closed the door behind him

“she must have chicks to feed” Omari said calmly how he is so calm! There's a roc outside and she could feed us to them! Aaron thought panicking breathing heavily

“I hope our donkey doesn't get taken” William said as the roc flew past them and by the sound landed near the house they stayed put for the time being.

The roc flew overhead when it flapped its wings. It created enough wind to throw Falkner and Nyssa to the ground; their moa gave a screech as it ran off into an alleyway.

Once he got his bearings from getting thrown to the ground Nyssa wasn’t in sight. cursing as he picked up his kite shield where it was on the street and his helmet placing it back on and tried to draw his sword which wasn’t there keeping to the side of the main street. Where is she? What a time to go sightseeing. Once an hour of walking Nyssa came storming past with the moa

“where were you?” Nyssa said

“I got up and I was alone. You were the one who left me. besides we have much bigger problems” she still looked mad at him which was frustrating, eyes ablaze in passion. The roc seems to have built its nest near the temple. they made our way there hoping to sneak past it.

Jezebel ran towards a home that was still standing and jumped through the window and mostly succeeded with only her legs still outside as the roc flew past. as well as Hector pulling their moa and Safiya through the door wind blew the door shut and tossed her legs over into the house hard and landed on a broken table on her back hurting her wings jumping up to see the damage was minimal but it hurt a ton. Safiya was trying to calm the moa which was screeching up a storm

“we need to hurry before the roc notices our presence” Hector said the room were she have fallen in had broken furniture silverware was scattered everywhere everywhere and broken vases

“the avians must have lost almost everything” Safiya said softly

“We need to leave,” Hector said firmly. They headed outside walking briskly to the temple hoping the roc not fifteen feet away from it would not blow them into the walls. The temple was just thirty feet away. Safiya pointed to a side door out which is good since they would have to go around past the roc's nest. They ran past the roc nest which was near them but didn't get close enough to see it. They ran with their moa into the courtyard of the temple. filled with nothing but a little dirt feeling exposed as they made their way to the back wall Safiya took the lead trying to find it

“how do you know?” Hector asked looking in the roc’s nest direction

“My mother told me she was a priestess and in case of emergencies there was a side door to every temple,” Safiya said, moving several feet to the right and with that she fell silent focused on her task to find a side door the walls of polished marble. it must have taken them a while to build. Jezebel thought in wonder the wealth in this temple must be huge “ah ha” Safiya exclaimed hidden was a door that looked like a wall and they made their way inside.

Aaron sat on a table with all four legs broken Omari was standing next to him wings

Folded

“the roc sounds like she’s calmed” Omari stated

“Then we must hurry,” William said calmly.

“What if the roc feeds us to her chicks” William looked bewildered.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“We are too small for them. I just didn’t want to get blown off into walls but we should be careful when we head for the temple” Omari said

“where will you be going?” William said

“I’m staying here with the donkey and watch over the supplies go” with that Aaron and William left close to the walls of houses as they made their way to the temple. trying not to be noticed running past the roc's nest running towards the front bronze doors pushing them open and rushed into the temple.

Falkner and Nyssa tied up their moa at a house and left the supplies near their destination and made their way to the temple. passing homes and the roc’s nest the courtyard was barren just stone and a little dirt. jumping up the stairs two at a time pushing open the bronze doors then closing them with a large boom.

The temple was large. The biggest room he’d ever seen the ceiling itself was a hundred feet and not including the dome which was also bronze. It was green from age. dust was everywhere in a thick coat. broken benches lay everywhere doors to hallways were in two on the left and on the right four in total there was a grand balcony a floor up they stared near the nearest left hall and were not ten feet into the hall when a large boom turning around in surprise towards the sound

“Someone's here,” Falkner said Nyssa nodded. They hurried further into the hallway, the polished marble all dusty when something caught his eye in front of them. three human skeletons laying in front of them and two of witch had celestial iron swords clenched in there bony hands they looked like theirs one handed with a straight double edged blade to a pointed tip and a straight cross guard picking up the sword from the dead humans and sheathing it

“a perfect fit” Falkner said

“mine two” Nyssa laughed then her face fell when she saw the human skeletons again

“Let's hurry,” Falkner said, stepping over the skeletons which at the end lead to a spiral staircase. walking up the stairs slowly rubbing the hilt of his new sword well I have one I'd thought it would feel different but there's no time. at the top of the spiral staircases up onto the balcony overlooking the main room were where just in searching for anyone and finding no one they turned to an altar of gold with bird wings then someone he thought he would never see again should up.

Jezebel took the lead with Safiya behind and Hector in the back passing hallways and such when in a small room Hector went into it and they had to stop, go back and see what the holdup was. Hector held a celestial iron battle ax with a spike on one end and the ax head on the other it was small maybe two feet long but it was a nice ax Hector pointed to a mace and dagger on the floor

“Jezebel take the mace and Safiya take the long knife

“it could come in handy” Safiya took the long knife replacing the dagger in her sheath. Jezebel took up the mace. It was smaller than she expected a mace head should be. she could fit the jagged lump of metal in her palm. She put the mace on her belt through a loop on the other side of her long knife. They left the room with their treasure and climbed a staircase. A round staircase always going to the left at the top rested an altar of gold and on it rested a clear diamond in the center but someone else was there as well.

Aaron sated in awe at the huge temple and imagined it in all of its glory taking the right hallway to look for something passing a room or two for some purpose William walked behind him in silence. he almost ran into Aaron when he stopped next to a tiny room a closet is more like it and three celestial iron spears were lined up William gasped at the sight picking one up it was six feet long not including the tip of pure celestial iron with two little wings. William looked sad for some reason

“what? Should I put it back” Aaron asked

“No we both should have one, it's nothing, let's hurry” with that they walked for several minutes before climbing a spiral staircase at the top of the balcony to his right in front of him the altar of gold carved to extreme detail which held a diamond so clear with only swirls of wind inside. Aaron was so entranced by it that it took a moment to see the five other people looking at him with surprise.

Lord Falkner stood in front of Aaron, six feet two and well built, dressed in leather armor head to toe, red hair and holding a red kite shield. next to him lady Nyssa white hair flowed out of her helm she had on mail and a brown kite shield she had a smug smile on her face she was tall for a woman just half a head shorter than Falkner and beautiful even in armor. to his right, even stranger, were one man and two women but he’d never seen before. the man had a long graying bread trimmed into a point the way he carried himself spoke a noble tall and broad shoulders even more than Falkner but shorter he had a rich blue coat but his breeches and shirt were simple wool he unslung his rounded wooden shield from his back with a green deer on the front and to his left a woman of medium high her head would be about to his chest or so with two bird wings sprouting from her back but looked too small for flying and an eagle head but the rest of her looked human she wore simple wool tonic, coat, and a sling at her waist. But even stranger was the woman to the man's right she was tall a good head taller than Aaron who was the tallest in the room besides her she had human skin but her raven black hair and dark red eyes darker red than Falkner’s made Aaron think she had to be a demon where her nails should be were claws, she had hooves instead of feet and goat legs to the thigh bat wings were folded on her back two ram horns which curled behind her ears. She had well defined muscles on her arms and legs and she was dressed in leather breeches and shirt with a fur coat on. Nobody made a move, everyone all just looked at each other for a stunned moment

“Who are you?” the demon said pointing to him and William

“I want to know the same thing” Aaron replied

“how did you know?” Falkner said to the demon

“I learned by eavesdropping on you” the demon said

“Did you eavesdrop on me?” Aaron asked

“yes you should have been more careful with information like that” Falkner said the demon was looking at the diamond as well as Nyssa everyone was looking at it now

“it's my birthright” Aaron claimed

“I know what's best” Falkner claimed

“I need it for halfbreed kind” the avian said

“I will not let you claim it I need Safiya to have it” the man said next to the demon

“we haven’t came all this way just to let a halfbreed have it or a half wit!” Falkner said “it’s Nyssa” everyone drew their weapons Aaron faced Falkner levitating and the tip of his spear alight with skylight Falkner faced him sword drawn flame all along the blade pointing upwards where his eyes should be, were instead two flames giving him a menacing look. pointing the tip of his sword at Aaron. Falkner shot a jet of flame at him Aaron shot skylight in response they clashed in front of them skylight blow though the flame and hit Falkner’s shield pushing him back William was trying to keep the man with the deer shield and ax at bay with his spear Nyssa was fighting the demon then Falkner threw fire at him making Aaron levitate out of reach Falkner was getting closer to the goddess’s power what a mess Aaron thought before touching the ground and charging spear first.

Falkner saw Farmboy charging and waited, then dodged at the last second and slashed but only glazed his thigh, not a deep cut, just a scratch. Using his sword to use his fire this is so much easier than to keep switching between the two but not enough against skylight which was much more powerful so he parried with his blade when Aaron tried to stab him. hopefully Nyssa can reach before something happens to me Aaron kept him at bay with quick jabs of his spear sword letting loss fire to hide the blade within the

Flames but he just could not reach him. He blew a beam of skylight out of his spear but he knocked his spear tip to the side so his skylight hit the floor. Neither of them could get the upper hand.

Jezebel dodge ice howling towards her and came swinging her new mace Nyssa blocked and used her shield Jezebel countered attack downward with a quick blow while blocking with her shield in her other hand which hit her mail and didn’t do much damage despite her grunt. Jezebel was stronger and faster but Nyssa was better trained. fighting erupted all around them. Nyssa slashed at her, missing her by inches. She fought tooth and nail but could not subdue her so she was about to tackle Nyssa when a loud screech was heard. It was so loud everyone stopped fighting and looked at Safiya who held up the diamond.

“stand down Jezebel, Hector I can’t claim it” Hector backed away from the older man with the spear and stood by Jezebel then tossed it to Nyssa caught it and closed her eyes for a minute before opening them

“I can’t claim it, something’s blocking me. I can feel the power but can’t claim it” Nyssa said sadly before handing it to Falkner he clasped it in his hand, closed his eyes for half a minute then dropped it near his feet

“I can’t claim it either” how could we fail? Why? Now what? Jezebel sank to her knees and cried then the blonde man came over and picked it up.

Falkner couldn't believe it feeling the power when holding it but failing to grasp it and there's nothing he could do about it Farmboy had a smug grin

“now it’s time for Caelum’s son to set things right” Farmboy said, picking it up easily, holding it in the palm of his hand, closing his eyes but as the minutes dragged on Farmboy’s smile faded as the halfbreeds were silently crying hugging each other. The two older men were sitting next to one another and talking softly despite trying to kill each other two minutes ago. Nyssa stood by Falkner, arms crossed over her chest.

“Now what?” Nyssa asked

“I don’t know” Falkner said defeated

“I can’t claim it” Farmboy said, slipping the diamond into his pouch

“Now what?” Farmboy said

“Now we must put our trust in Lord Falkner.” William said “what!? William?” Farmboy said Falkner looked at William confused

“If none of us can claim it then Falkner must head south into the lizardmen’s homeland where the god of fire power lies” William said my father’s power? south? it will take all spring and summer to get their Falkner thought with hope.

“I Hector will go with you as well as Jezebel and Safiya” he turned around in surprise. They looked sick but the two halfbreeds nodded

“I will help you on your journey Aaron?” Farmboy came up

To Falkner half a head taller than him looking angry

“I will help as well but only of you promise to restore the pantheon with the people who help you”

“I will I vow it” two halfbreed goddesses It’s not a comfort but nether taking the journey with only Nyssa is either

“Then it’s decided we head south” Jezebel said and with that they got their supplies and excited the temple with his new members of his group to claim Ignis’s throne and restore their gods.