As Kite finished packing his belongings, he couldn't shake the unease that had settled in his chest. The image of the big, blue creature in the sky lingered in his mind. What if it really was a dragon? Would it be safe for them to take to the skies on their mounts?
Elian, noticing Kite's hesitation, approached him with a reassuring presence. "Hey, Kite, you alright? You seem a bit off. What's on your mind?"
Kite nodded, though his brow was furrowed with concern. "I'm just worried about what I saw. If it was a dragon, do you think it's safe for us to fly?"
Elian placed a firm hand on Kite's shoulder, his voice steady and confident. "Listen, Kite, we'll be cautious. If we see anything unusual, we'll land immediately and find cover. But we also can't let the fear of the unknown paralyze us. We have to keep moving forward."
Kite took a deep breath, Elian's words offering some comfort. "You're right. Let's just stay alert."
Elian nodded decisively and turned to the others. "Alright, everyone. Let's mount up and keep a sharp lookout. If anyone sees anything unusual, shout it out."
With that, Sylvana summoned the phoenix and the griffin once more. The two majestic creatures materialized before them, their presence both awe-inspiring and comforting. The group quickly mounted, and with a powerful flap of wings, they took to the sky.
The crisp mountain air rushed past them as they ascended, and Kite kept his eyes trained on the horizon, scanning for any sign of the mysterious blue figure he had seen earlier. The landscape below them was beautiful, but he couldn't fully appreciate it with the nagging worry in the back of his mind.
Liliana, seated behind Elian on the griffin, leaned forward to speak over the wind. "Kite, do you see anything yet?"
Kite shook his head, his eyes still focused on the sky. "Not yet. But let's not let our guard down."
Minutes turned into an hour as they flew, the group maintaining a vigilant watch. The tension in the air was palpable, but the companionship of his friends provided Kite with some solace. He stole a glance at Sylvana, who was guiding the phoenix with a steady hand. Her calm and composed demeanor gave him strength.
Suddenly, a shadow passed over them, and Kite's heart leapt into his throat. "Look out!" he shouted, pointing upwards.
The group veered to the side just in time as a massive, serpentine creature swooped down from above. Its scales shimmered a deep blue, and its wings spread wide, casting an imposing shadow over the landscape below.
"It's a dragon!" Ludo yelled, his voice filled with a mix of awe and terror.
Sylvana's eyes widened in alarm, and she quickly followed Elian's lead. "Everyone, dive! Get to the ground, now!"
The phoenix and griffin responded instantly, diving towards the earth with incredible speed. The dragon roared, its thunderous cry reverberating through the air as it gave chase. A wave of frigid air raced after them.
Kite's heart pounded in his chest. He and the phoenix sent flames against the dragon.
Sylvana took a deep breath as she held her phoenix tightly. "Zep, get the others to safety. Kite and I will buy you time."
"Wait," Elian said, eyeing the griffin. "Sylvana. We can fight too!"
The dragon roared, giving her and Kite no time to protest.
Kite drew his sword and shot himself into the air with his flames. While he wasn't as good at it as a speedster mage would be, he had managed to polish his flame jets over the past five years.
"Kite!" Sylvana shouted, eyes wide as Kite blocked the dragon's claws.
Kite gritted his teeth as he met the force of the dragon's claws with his sword, the clash sending sparks flying. The dragon's icy breath swirled around him, causing frost to form on his armor. He felt the chill seep into his bones, but he fought to keep his focus.
"Sylvana, now!" Elian shouted, urging the griffin to circle around the dragon. "We need to distract it!"
Sylvana nodded, her eyes filled with determination. She urged the phoenix forward, its fiery wings leaving a trail of embers in the air. "Let's show this dragon what we're made of!" she called out, her voice steady and unwavering.
The phoenix unleashed a torrent of flames, aiming for the dragon's wings. The dragon roared in fury, momentarily distracted by the searing heat. Kite seized the opportunity, channeling his own flames to propel himself higher, aiming for the dragon's vulnerable underbelly.
Elian, riding the griffin, drew his sword. His eyes narrowed as he focused, and with a powerful swing, he sent a barrage of stone spikes hurtling towards the dragon. The spikes struck the dragon's scales but merely bounced off, barely creating any visible damage. The dragon's thick, tough scales proved to be almost impenetrable.
Kite, undeterred, continued his assault, focusing his flames into his sword to create a blazing edge. He aimed for the cracks in the dragon's scales, striking with all his strength. However, the dragon's defenses were formidable, and Kite's attacks seemed to have little effect.
"This isn't working!" Kite shouted, frustration evident in his voice. "We need another plan!"
Elian, sensing the urgency, called out to Liliana. "Liliana, we need your help! Use your magic to bind it!"
Liliana, standing behind Elian on the griffin, raised her wooden staff high. Vines and thorny tendrils burst forth from the staff, shooting through the air with incredible speed. The plants wrapped around the dragon's legs and wings, binding it tightly. The dragon struggled against the binding vines, its movements hindered.
"That's it, Liliana! Keep it tied down!" Elian shouted, his voice strong and commanding.
Sylvana guided the phoenix closer, adding her own flames to the assault. The combined fire from Kite and the phoenix intensified, but the dragon's scales still resisted the heat. The dragon thrashed in pain, its icy breath turning to steam as it met the relentless heat, but it wasn't enough to bring the creature down.
"We need to aim for its eyes!" Elian directed, his mind racing for a solution. "That's our best chance!"
Kite nodded, his determination renewed. "Got it!"
Kite and Sylvana coordinated their attacks, aiming the phoenix's flames and Kite's fire jets at the dragon's eyes. The dragon roared, its vision momentarily obscured by the blinding heat and light. This gave Kite the opening he needed.
With a surge of determination, Kite propelled himself higher, aiming directly for the dragon's eye. He focused all his magic into his golden sword, creating a concentrated burst of intense heat and radiance. With a powerful swing, he struck the dragon's eye, the light and heat piercing through the vulnerable spot.
The dragon let out a deafening roar, its thrashing becoming more violent. Kite's attack had finally found its mark, and the dragon's resistance began to falter. Sylvana and the phoenix continued their assault, adding to the dragon's disorientation.
"Hold on, everyone!" Ludo shouted, urging the griffin to pull back as the dragon's thrashing became more violent, unleashing bursts of cold air.
With a final, desperate roar, the dragon broke free from the vines and took to the sky, its scales smoldering. It circled above them, its eyes filled with a mix of fury and fear. Then, with a powerful flap of its wings, it retreated into the distance, its roars echoing through the mountains.
The group landed, their hearts pounding from the intense battle. Kite, breathing heavily, sheathed his sword and looked around at his friends. "Is everyone okay?"
Sylvana dismounted the phoenix, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "We're alright. That was incredible, Kite. You were amazing out there."
Kite smiled, though his exhaustion was evident. "I couldn't have done it without all of you. We fought that dragon together."
Elian approached, clapping Kite on the shoulder. "You were brave, Kite. We all were. But we need to stay vigilant. That dragon might come back."
Liliana nodded, her usual cheerfulness tempered by the gravity of the situation. "Let's keep going. Cassia's town is just up ahead."
Kite smiled as he saw a town in the distance. Seemed the dragon didn't mind the people living here. Maybe they were too close to what it considered its territory.