Aru opened his eyes slowly.
His head throbbed. His vision spun. The world smelled like moss, flowers, and… roasted acorns?
Tiko sat beside him holding a half-burnt acorn. "You okay? I saved snacks from the fall. Only three died."
Aru groaned, pushing himself up. "Where… where are we?"
Zara appeared, brushing dust off herself. "We fell into a Skyland."
"A what?"
"A floating island," she explained. "Look."
Aru looked.
His jaw dropped.
They were standing on a massive chunk of land suspended in the sky, covered with glowing plants, waterfalls that poured into the clouds, and creatures shaped like living wind.
Eldros landed beside them with a loud THUD. "I DO NOT LIKE FLOATING CONTINENTS."
Astryon limped toward them, one wing slightly bent.
"Forgive the rough landing. The storm was a Skyreach Tempest."
Rella frowned. "What's that?"
"A storm born from ancient magic," Astryon explained. "Someone or something awakened it."
Aru's legs shimmered faintly.
He felt it again—the pull. The call.
Something on this Skyland was connected to him.
The Trial of the Flow
Astryon turned to Aru. "The Primordial Flow reacts to ancient sources. This island likely hides one."
Aru blinked. "You mean some ancient magical object is calling me? Why does everything want my legs!?"
Tiko whispered, "You have very attractive legs."
"THANK YOU—NO WAIT THAT'S WEIRD."
Zara snorted.
Astryon continued, "You must find the source. Your power will not awaken further unless you do."
Bolo cracked his knuckles. "Then let's find it and punch it."
"No punching," Astryon said. "This is sacred ground."
Bolo pouted.
Exploring the Skyland
They walked deeper into the floating island, marveling at glowing trees and strange floating fish swimming through the air.
Tiko tried to catch one.It bit him.He screamed.
Rella sighed, "Why do you always touch things?"
Tiko held his bleeding finger. "Because curiosity is the spice of life!"
Eldros examined ancient carvings on a stone wall. "These symbols… they resemble those on the commander's chains."
Astryon nodded. "Because the Skylands existed long before his empire. He steals ancient power but does not understand it."
Zara muttered, "Typical villain behavior."
Aru paused.
His legs glowed brighter.
A path of shining flowers lit up beneath him.
Tiko gasped. "MAGICAL AUTO-CARPET!"
Astryon spread his wings slightly. "The Flow is guiding you."
Aru swallowed. "Okay… here goes."
They followed the glowing path until they reached—
A floating temple.
Old. Cracked. Covered in glowing vines.
And pulsing with golden light.
Inside the Temple
The interior was filled with statues of ancient antelope warriors—sleek, elegant, each posed mid-run, hooves leaving trails of golden energy.
Aru whispered, "They look like me…"
Astryon bowed his head. "These are your ancestors. The Golden Runners."
Zara stared in awe. "They're beautiful."
Tiko added, "They also look like they could outrun gravity."
At the center of the temple was a pedestal with a swirling orb of golden wind.
Aru felt his legs burn with recognition.
"This is what called me…"
Astryon nodded."Go. It is your trial."
Aru hesitated. He wasn't brave. He wasn't special. He wasn't ready.
But he stepped forward anyway.
As his hoof touched the pedestal—
GOLDEN LIGHT EXPLODED.