Chapter 14: The Fortress That Screamed

The last wisps of the Ocean of Fear curled behind them like smoke, vanishing into the air. But its message lingered. “Be careful… who you trust.” The group walked in silence. Zayn's hand gripped the hilt of his weapon, eyes narrowed. Riven’s gaze never left the horizon. Nyra, quiet as always, kept her hand close to her blade. Even Kael, usually reckless, said nothing, only glancing at the others. Only Lilu hummed softly, fingers trailing along strange stones as they walked, her innocence both calming and eerie. Then—movement. From a small hill ahead, seated on a jagged stone like he had been waiting for them all along, was Ravaa. Kael stopped. “There he is.” Zayn narrowed his eyes. “Finally.” Ravaa looked up at them with a serene expression. “You made it through.” Nyra called, “Where the hell were you?” He stood, descending the rocky hill with grace. “I had to find the way forward. The mist distorts paths. I went ahead to see if we were being followed.” But Zayn stepped forward, voice tense. “You weren’t gone for a few minutes. You vanished. When that thing showed up—where were you then?” The others watched, quiet. Eyes sharp. Minds turning. “I told you,” Ravaa said evenly. “I was finding the path.” Kael folded his arms. “Or maybe you were hiding.” Lilu stepped forward quickly, defending. “Maybe he was really scouting? I mean, we don’t know what else is out here—” Riven cut her off. “No. Zayn’s right. You disappeared right before that fog-man appeared. And then came back after it was gone. That’s too convenient.” Nyra’s eyes, like steel, locked on Ravaa. “You were afraid.” “I was not,” Ravaa answered, though his voice was lower now. “I do not fear things made of smoke and sorrow.” “Then why vanish?” Riven pressed. Ravaa’s golden form gleamed under the dim sky. For the first time, his mask of serenity faltered—just for a moment. “If they saw me walking among you,” he said slowly, “they would destroy you. Not because you carry the sword. But because you walk with me.” “They?” Zayn asked. “Who’s they?” “The ones who guard the realms. Rashka’s Watchers. Not demons—worse. They don’t follow orders. They don’t need to.” “And why would they care about you?” Kael asked, stepping closer. Ravaa turned, beginning to walk again. “Because once, I ruled them.” That silenced everyone. No one said a word. The wind howled through the cracked trees behind them as they walked. Soon, the landscape changed. The air grew heavy, heat pressing down like iron. Black sand shifted beneath their feet. A smell of rusted metal and ash filled their lungs. Then—they saw it. A colossal fortress, shaped like a dragon, rising from the earth like it had been carved from the bones of the world. The tail curled behind it into a sharp canyon. The wings were crumbled, broken spires arched upward like claws, and the eyes of the dragon burned with faint red light. The mouth was open. A ladder led from the ground up into it—straight to the head of the dragon, where a palace of blackened stone rose like a crown. From inside… screams echoed. Faint. Echoing. Endless. Lilu clutched Kael’s arm. “This is… where we’re going?” Nyra didn’t flinch. “What is this place?” Ravaa looked up at the structure. “This is the gate to the Second Realm. The palace above was once a temple. Now it is a fortress. Home to one of the Nine Demon Kings.” Riven muttered, “And we’re just going to climb into its mouth?” “Do we have a choice?” Zayn added. Kael cracked his knuckles. “I’ve always wanted to punch a fortress.” Ravaa stopped walking. “What happens next will test you. The Watchers here know pain. They feed on it. Stay close.” They approached the ladder. More screams echoed from above—some guttural, some whispered. Not all of them sounded… human. Kael looked up. “Anyone else suddenly miss the creepy fog guy?” “No,” Nyra said, cold. “This is worse.” And so they began to climb. One by one. Toward the screaming fortress shaped like a dragon’s skull. Toward their next nightmare.