The next morning, they set out to consult with Ludo and his father, Mako. The market was bustling with activity as they navigated through the crowd, their minds focused on the task at hand.
"Ludo! Uncle Mako!" Liliana called out as she entered her aunt Cat's apocathery.
Ludo looked up from his work, a grin spreading across his face. "Hey, you three. What brings you here so early?"
"We're planning a journey to Auroria," Kite explained. "And we could use your help."
Mako, who had been organizing some goods, turned to face them. "Auroria, you say? That's no small undertaking. What do you need?"
"We need information," Sylvana said. "About the safest routes, and any allies or contacts you might know in Solterra."
Mako's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Solterra, huh? With Gessoro in power, it's a dangerous place. But I do have some contacts who might be able to help. I'll write you a letter of introduction."
Ludo chimed in, "And I'll come with you. While not as extensive as my dad's, my knowledge of the trade routes and the people there could be useful."
Kite felt a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, both of you. This means a lot."
Mako nodded. "It's the least we can do. Just promise me you'll stay safe."
"We will," Kite assured him.
As they left the market, their group now including Ludo, the reality of their journey became even more tangible. They were one step closer to Auroria, and to the answers they sought.
"Let's get some weapons," Elian suggested, grinning.
The group nodded in agreement. It was clear they needed to be well-armed for the journey ahead. They made their way through the bustling market, weaving between stalls and vendors until they reached Cassius's smithy. The sound of hammering and the smell of molten metal filled the air as they approached.
Cassius looked up from his anvil as they entered. "Well, well, if it isn't my favorite adventurers. What brings you to my humble forge?"
"We're planning a journey to Auroria," Kite explained. "And we need to equip ourselves properly."
Cassius let out a hearty laugh. "Auroria, eh? That's quite the undertaking. You're going to need some serious gear for a trip like that." He set down his hammer and wiped his hands on his apron. "I've got just the thing for you."
As Cassius began to show them various weapons and pieces of armor, Liliana couldn't help but notice the twinkle in his eye. "What's so funny, Cassius?"
He grinned, a knowing look on his face. "You know, Auroria has been quite the topic of conversation around here lately. Someone I know has been itching for an adventure there."
Ludo raised an eyebrow.
Cassius's smile widened. "Cassia. She's been talking about Auroria for months. I reckon she'd love to join you on your journey."
Kite's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Cassia. They hadn't seen her in quite some time, but the prospect of having her join them filled him with a mixture of excitement and relief. "Do you think she'd really want to come with us?"
Cassius nodded. "I'm sure of it. She's been restless, think she's worried for that girl she once met, Aurora."
Elian grinned. "Well then, looks like our group just got a little bigger."
As they finished selecting their weapons and armor, Cassius promised to have everything ready by the next morning. They thanked him and set off.
"How do we get in contact with Cassia?" Sylvana asked. "Her town is pretty far away."
Elian grinned. "Her town is to the northeast, right? We can pick her up on the way."
Liliana giggled. "She will be so surprised!"
Kite smiled at the chance to see his old 'tutor', he wondered if she was still the same fiery girl he met five years ago.
The group spent the rest of the day packing up their belongings and making sure they had everything they needed for the journey. They gathered supplies, double-checked their provisions, and made sure their packs were secure. The anticipation was palpable, and even though there was a hint of nervousness in the air, the excitement of the upcoming adventure overshadowed it.
The next morning, they returned to Cassius's smithy to pick up their commissioned weapons and armor. Cassius greeted them with a wide grin, clearly proud of his work.
"Here you go, folks. These should see you through whatever dangers Auroria throws at you," he said, handing over a beautifully crafted sword to Kite, a pair of enchanted daggers to Sylvana, a sturdy spear to Elian, and a finely balanced bow to Liliana. Ludo received a set of throwing knives, each one meticulously sharpened.
"Thank you, Cassius," Kite said, giving the blacksmith a grateful nod. "These are perfect."
"Stay safe out there," Cassius replied, his eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and concern. "And give Cassia my best."
With their new gear in hand, the group made their way to the edge of Ald Town, where Ludo was already waiting for them with a map spread out on a large rock.
"Alright, here's the plan," Ludo said, pointing to the map. "We'll head northeast towards Cassia's town. It's a bit out of the way, but it's the best route to Auroria considering the information we have. Once we pick her up, we'll continue towards Solterra."
Sylvana nodded, studying the map. "Sounds good. Let's get moving."
Sylvana summoned her phoenix and her griffin. The group divided themselves between the two mounts. Sylvana and Kite rode on the phoenix, while Liliana, Elian, and Ludo rode on the griffin.
As they took to the sky, the wind rushed past them. The landscape below them blurred as they soared towards their destination, the sun rising higher in the sky with each passing minute.
Kite glanced over at Sylvana, who was expertly guiding the phoenix through the air. "How long do you think it'll take to reach Cassia's town?"
"Not too long," Sylvana replied, her eyes focused on the horizon. "We'll get there by late afternoon if we keep this pace and there aren't any issues."
Kite nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and nostalgia. It had been a while since he last saw Cassia, and he couldn't help but wonder how much she had changed. The thought of reuniting with her brought a smile to his face.
As they flew, they took in the changing scenery below. Thr forest gave way to cold mountains ranges. Sylvana had her mythical friends fly higher to avoid crashing into their peaks.
Liliana shivered and hugged Elian from behind.
"H-hey!" Elian said, blushing.
"Sorry, I'm freezing. Your body heat will keep me warm."
He sighed.
Ludo laughed as his cousin's antics. "Maybr switch over to the phoenix, Liliana. You can hug Kite for extra heat."
Kite blushed. "Hey, don't volunteer me like that. Plus, Sylvana is already holding on to me."
Liliana gave Sylvana a jealous look, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Fine, fine," she muttered, pulling her cloak tighter around herself.
As they continued their flight, the frigid winds began to hit the group harder. The temperature dropped rapidly, and the once smooth ride became turbulent. Sylvana clung to Kite, her grip tightening as her phoenix and griffin struggled against the powerful gusts.
"Hold on tight!" Sylvana shouted over the howling wind. "This is going to get rough!"
Ludo gritted his teeth, his face set in determination. "This path is tricky, even by air. The people of Ald Town call it the 'ice wall.' It's a band of strange, strong cold air that makes travel through these mountains particularly dangerous."
Kite's eyes widened as he tried to steady himself on the phoenix.
Liliana's eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement. "Think a mage might be behind it? That would explain a lot. Maybe we'll get to meet them and find out more."
Elian, struggling to keep his balance on the griffin, glanced at Liliana. "Let's just hope they're friendly if we do encounter them."
Kite nodded as he warmed up his body. He had floating flames form around his friends to keep them warm.
The group pushed onward, the mythical creatures battling the icy winds with every flap of their wings. Kite could feel the cold biting through his layers of clothing, and he could see the strain in Sylvana's face as she guided the phoenix through the turbulent air.
"We'll make it, just hold on!" Sylvana called out, her voice filled with determination.
The phoenix let out a fierce cry, its fiery plumage glowing brighter against the cold, while the griffin roared in defiance of the icy winds. Together, they forged ahead, breaking through the worst of the turbulence.
After what felt like an eternity, the winds began to die down, and the air grew a little warmer. They had passed through the ice wall, and the landscape below them started to change once more.
Sylvana breathed a sigh of relief, loosening her grip on Kite slightly. "We made it," she said, her voice filled with exhaustion and triumph.
Kite nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "That was intense. I can see why they call it the ice wall."
Ludo smiled, his expression lightening. "It's not an easy path, but we made it through. Let's keep going. Cassia's town isn't far now."
Cassia was lucky to have fire magic to help her traverse the range. He could see why she told him it was best if she visited them instead of them.visiting her.
Elian gasped and formed a barrier of earth prank as frigid air struck us from behind.
"What?" I said, eyes wide.
Sylvana gritted her teeth. "We didn't make it out of the ice wall yet?"
Ludo gulped as he looked forward. Twin blizzards were about to collide, sandwiching them.
"We have trouble," Kite said.
The group braced themselves as they faced the looming twin blizzards. Sylvana took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing in focus. "Everyone, hold on tight. I'm going to create air pockets to help us ascend above the clouds. Phoenix, griffin, prepare for a rapid climb!"
The phoenix let out a shrill cry, its fiery plumage blazing brighter, while the griffin roared in readiness, its muscles tensing for the effort ahead. Sylvana raised her hands, summoning gusts of wind to form air pockets around them, creating a buffer against the icy gales.
"Now, go!" Sylvana commanded.
With a powerful flap of its wings, the phoenix shot upwards, its fiery body cutting through the freezing air. The griffin followed closely behind, its mighty wings propelling it upwards with determined strength. The group clung to their mounts, the wind whipping around them fiercely.
Kite focused on maintaining the floating flames around his friends, providing warmth as they ascended. The icy winds howled around them, but the air pockets created by Sylvana helped to shield them from the worst of it. The climb was steep and arduous, the blizzards closing in from both sides.
Liliana's eyes were wide with a mix of fear and excitement. "This is insane!" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the roaring wind.
Elian, struggling to maintain his balance on the griffin, nodded in agreement. "Just keep holding on!"
Ludo gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on the blizzards converging below them. "We have to make it above the clouds before they collide!"
Sylvana's face was set with determination as she guided the phoenix higher and higher. "Almost there! Keep pushing!"
The mythical creatures strained against the fierce winds, their muscles burning with the effort. The cold bit into their skin, and the turbulence made it difficult to hold on, but they pressed on, driven by sheer willpower.
As they climbed, the clouds grew thicker, the world around them becoming a swirling mass of white. The blizzards raged below, the icy winds threatening to pull them back down. Sylvana's air pockets wavered under the strain, but she refused to let them fail.
"Just a little more!" Sylvana shouted, her voice filled with determination. "We can make it!"
With one final, powerful push, the phoenix and griffin broke through the thick layer of clouds, emerging into the clear, open sky above. The sudden change was breathtaking. The sun shone brightly, its warm rays cutting through the cold, and the sky stretched out in a brilliant expanse of blue.
The group gasped in relief as they emerged above the clouds, the blizzards raging far below them. They had made it through the ice wall, and the sight of the clear sky filled them with a sense of triumph.
Sylvana let out a heavy sigh, her grip on Kite loosening slightly. "We did it," she said, her voice filled with exhaustion and pride.
Kite nodded, his heart pounding with adrenaline. "That was close. But we made it."
Ludo smiled, his expression one of relief and satisfaction. "We couldn't have done it without you, Sylvana."
Liliana, still shivering slightly, managed a weak smile. "That was... incredible. And terrifying."
Elian, catching his breath, glanced at Sylvana. "Great job, Sylvana. You really pulled through."
Sylvana blushed. "We all did. But, unfortunately, that took a strain on my friends here. We will have to take a break."
Kite eyed the mountain range. They weren't beyond it just yet. He gulped. But they would have to camp in it, or risk pushing their mounts past their limits.