PART TWO <b>– </b>CHAPTER 75


    <b>Lyra’s </b><b>POV </b>


    As I began toe to, I slowly pushed myself upright, my eyes scanning my surroundings to realize I was in a ce I had never seen before.


    Beneath me, the ground felt solid and unyielding. It wasn’t soil–it was stone. Sharp, uneven stone. The sky overhead was a t, endless gray. There was no sunlight, no sign of anything


    living.


    I gradually got to my feet and started surveying the area around me, only to spot a massive volcano looming not too far in the distance.


    When I looked down at where I stood, I realized it wasn’t just rock–it was hardenedva. The


    surface was cold, but the volcano looked like it might erupt again at any moment.


    Instinct kicked in, and I began sprinting in the opposite direction, away from the looming volcano. I reached a slope and climbed it, only to find more destion–a barren desert stretched out endlessly before me.


    There were no signs of trees, no flowing water–nothing but an empty wastnd.


    Standing at the peak of the hill I had just climbed, I turned and looked in every direction. Even peering around the volcano, there was still nothing to see.


    I knew I didn’t have any real options. I had to move. I just needed to decide where to go. That decision alone was the hardest.


    Eventually, I chose the direction furthest from the volcano and began the journey, already aware that it was going to be long and grueling. I had no food, no water, no supplies- absolutely nothing.


    After walking for what felt like hours, the harshness of the desert began to wear on me.


    My mouth was parched, my body exhausted, and every step sent pain through my legs. Still, there was no visible end <i>to </i>the barrenndscape.


    No movement, no vegetation, nothing living in sight.


    This ce felt like a true hell dimension–one I didn’t understand or recognize.


    The only thing I was certain of was that I waspletely alone and had to figure out how to get back home. But first…I had to survive. And staying alive in this ce would be the greatest obstacle.


    :


    < PART TWO – CHAPTER 75


    More Rewards <b>> </b>


    Before long, I noticed shadows flitting across the ground. When I looked up, I saw birds circling high above me.


    The sight sparked a bit of hope–birds don’t linger in deserts without water or food.


    I tried to speed up my pace, though exhaustion made it nearly impossible. Still, I moved in the direction the birds seemed to be flying, hoping they were heading toward something- anything–different.


    I’d neverid eyes on this ce before, but right now, following them was my only chance to live, so I took the risk.


    It wasn’t long before I realized something about them was off. Their movements were unpredictable and wild–not like any normal birds I’d seen before.


    They began to dip lower, and it was then I noticed just how massive they were. These weren’t ordinary birds like the ones back home.


    As one came nearer, I saw clearly that it had four talons instead of two, and it was flying closer and closer toward me. It resembled a horse more than any kind of bird.


    I watched in horror as it zeroed in on me, and that was when I turned and took off running in the opposite direction.


    I was already well aware that bizarre creatures inhabited this ce. I’d encountered a few, and if they were any indication of what else lived here, I had absolutely no desire to meet


    more.


    I tried to escape, to outrun the beast, but there was no chance of seeding. Its massive front talons mped onto my shoulders and effortlessly lifted me off the ground.


    It soared upward, climbing higher and higher into the sky. I thrashed and resisted, but the sharp ws only sank deeper into my skin, and I felt warm blood trickle down my back.


    I couldn’t say how long I had been airborne, but eventually I realized we were flying overnd filled with trees. I spotted a shimmeringke beneath us, and just the sight of it made my mouth water, but the creature continued to fly much farther than I had hoped.


    I noticed <i>now </i>that it wasn’t alone–it was flying in formation with others of its kind. When they began <i>to </i>descend toward the earth, the one holding me suddenly released its grip, and I dropped from the sky, falling about twenty feet to the ground.


    I hit the earth hard, rolled instinctively, and sprang back to my feet. The creature, along with the others,nded right in front of me.


    From this close, I could see their bodies did resemble horses, but with massive feathered


    wings sprouting


    was off about them.


    We stared at each other for a brief moment, neither side moving.


    Then I heard footsteps echoing behind me,ing from the forest. I turned and saw more of those creatures approaching, but these were on foot.


    The one at the front looked like he held authority, and he came directly up to me, towering


    above me.


    “What are you doing here, Your Majesty?” he asked.


    “You know who I am?” I responded, surprised.


    “Of course. We all know. Just because we live in a different realm doesn’t mean we’re unaware of who you are,” he replied.


    “I seriously can’t believe I’m having a conversation with a flying horse,” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. <fna0d7> For original chapters go to find?novel</fna0d7>


    “There are far more dangerous things in this world than us. You don’t belong here,” he said.


    “Well, it wasn’t exactly my n to end up here. I had no choice,” I told him.


    “There is always a choice.”


    “This was the only way to stop the ck witch from returning to my world. She tried to murder my mother, my mate, and me. I wasn’t going to let her back through,” I exined firmly.


    “She made it here too?” he asked, concern creeping into his voice.


    “I believe so. I was alone when I came to,” I said.


    “We know the ck witch. She’s been summoning beings from this realm for a long time. We don’t want her here either,” he said grimly.


    “Then kill her yourselves. But as for me, I’m going to find my way back. I need to go home,” I said, trying to step past him, but his men blocked my path, preventing me from heading into the forest.


    “You won’tst out there on your own,” the leader said.


    “Don’t underestimate me,” I shot back.


    “Lyra, you’re vital–not just to your world, but to this one too,” he said.


    < PART TWO – CHAPTER 75


    “Who are you, anyway?” I asked suspiciously.


    “We’re called the Aetherion n. I am Malric, their leader,” he introduced himself.


    “Yeah, I kind of gathered that already,” I muttered.


    “Lyra, we can’t allow you to leave just yet,” he said seriously.


    More Rewards


    “You can’t keep me here. I don’t care what it takes–I’m going to find my way home. Back to my mate,” I dered.


    “I understand. And we’ll do what we can to assist you. But you can’t seed alone. Will you


    allow us to help?” he asked.


    “Trust isn’t exactly something thates easily to me,” I admitted.


    “Then let us earn it. Let us show you that we mean you no harm,” he said.


    “Fine. I’ll stay. But only temporarily. I will return home,” I agreed.


    “Thank you. Please,e with me to our camp,” he said.


    I nced around at all the Aetherion creatures surrounding me, realizing that I didn’t have much of a choice. So, I began walking with them toward their camp.