9. Kairos

9

KAIROS

I can feel it, the magnetic tug of ancient magic pulling at my very essence. It grows stronger with each step we take towards the coast, an invisible force guiding us to our destination. The air crackles with energy, sending tingles across my skin and making my runes pulse with an excited blue glow.

"Little one," I call to Naia, who's a few paces behind me. "Come here. I want you to experience this."

She approaches, eyeing me warily. Her wild curls have escaped her braid, framing her face in a halo of dark silk. Even with the dirt and grime of our journey, she's breathtaking.

"What is it?" she asks, her voice a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

I reach out and take her hand, ignoring her initial flinch. "Close your eyes," I instruct. "Focus on your breathing. In and out. Slow and steady."

She complies, her eyelids fluttering shut. I watch her chest rise and fall as she follows my directions.

"Now, reach out with your mind. Feel the energy around you. It's like... a river of power, flowing through the air, the earth, everything."

Naia's brow furrows in concentration. "I... I'm not sure I?—"

"Shh," I cut her off gently. "Don't think. Just feel."

I place my other hand on the small of her back, guiding her forward a few steps. The magical current intensifies, and I see her eyes snap open in surprise.

"Holy shit," she breathes. "What is that?"

A smirk tugs at my lips. "That, little one, is what I've been following. The pull of ancient magic, leading us to something... extraordinary."

Naia's green eyes are wide with wonder. "It's... it's like a heartbeat. But not just one. Thousands, all pulsing together."

I nod, impressed by her intuition. "Exactly. Now, try to pinpoint where it's coming from. Let it guide you."

She closes her eyes again, her face a mask of concentration. Slowly, she turns, her arm extending to point towards the horizon. "There," she says with certainty. "It's coming from there."

I follow her gaze, seeing a dark shape looming in the distance. An island, shrouded in mist and smoke.

"Kalyndria," she says, and I know she's naming the island I stare at.

"Well done," I murmur, unable to keep the pride from my voice. "You're a natural."

Naia beams at the praise, then quickly schools her features into a more neutral expression. But I've seen it – that flash of joy, of connection. She's starting to trust me, to embrace her newfound abilities.

"So, what now?" she asks, crossing her arms over her chest in a defensive posture.

I grin, my eyes fixed on the mysterious island ahead. "Now, little one, we cross these waters. Our destiny awaits on those shores."

I stand at the water's edge, feeling the raw power of the sea crash against the shore. The volcanic island of Kalyndria looms in the distance, shrouded in mist and smoke. I close my eyes, drawing upon the well of magic within me.

"Stand back, little one," I warn Naia. She takes a few steps away, her eyes wide with anticipation.

I raise my arms, my runes glowing bright blue as I channel my power. The water before us begins to churn and bubble. Slowly, a path emerges – a bridge of shimmering, translucent energy spanning the distance to the island.

"Holy shit," Naia breathes, echoing her earlier sentiment.

I can't help but smirk. "Impressed?"

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile on her lips. "It's alright, I guess."

"Come," I say, holding out my hand. "It's perfectly safe, but the magic can be... disorienting for those not used to it."

Naia hesitates for a moment before slipping her small hand into mine. Her touch sends a jolt through me, and I have to focus to maintain the spell.

We step onto the bridge together. It's solid beneath our feet, but I feel Naia tense as she looks down at the churning waves below.

"Don't look down," I advise, squeezing her hand. "Keep your eyes on me or the island ahead."

She nods, her grip tightening as we make our way across. The bridge hums with energy, responding to each step we take. I keep a portion of my concentration on maintaining the spell, while the rest of my focus is on Naia.

Halfway across, a strong gust of wind buffets us. Naia stumbles, a small cry escaping her lips. I react instantly, pulling her against me and wrapping an arm around her waist.

"I've got you," I murmur into her hair. She's trembling slightly, but I feel her nod against my chest.

We continue on, moving as one. The island grows larger, its ominous presence looming before us. The air grows thicker with ash and smoke, and I create a small barrier around us to filter out the worst of it.

Finally, our feet touch solid ground. The moment we're safe on the shore, I release the spell, and the bridge behind us dissolves into mist.

Naia takes a deep breath, still pressed against me. "That was... intense," she says, her voice slightly shaky.

I look down at her, a mix of pride and something else – something warmer – blooming in my chest. "You did well. Not many could have made that crossing with such grace."

She pulls away, but not before I catch the flush on her cheeks. "Yeah, well, I didn't have much choice, did I?"

I chuckle, turning to face the island's interior. "No, I suppose you didn't. But our journey's not over yet. The real challenge awaits us there."

I lead Naia towards the base of the towering volcano, its peak shrouded in ominous smoke. The air is thick with ash and sulfur, making each breath a challenge. I maintain a protective barrier around us, filtering out the worst of the noxious fumes.

"This place," I mutter, more to myself than to Naia, "it's saturated with ancient magic. Can you feel it?"

Naia nods, her eyes wide as she takes in our surroundings. The ground beneath our feet is black and porous, evidence of long-ago lava flows. Steam hisses from cracks in the earth, and in the distance, I hear the low rumble of the volcano's core.

"There's something here," I say, running my hand along a jagged rock formation. "Something old. Powerful. It's what's been calling to me."

We pick our way carefully across the treacherous terrain. The volcanic landscape is alien and foreboding, devoid of life save for a few hardy, twisted plants clinging to existence in this harsh environment.

"I've heard stories," Naia says, her voice barely above a whisper, "about Kalyndria. They say no one comes here. That it's cursed."

I snort. "Cursed? No. But protected, perhaps. This magic... It's unlike anything I've encountered before. It's as if someone wanted to hide something here."

As we round a massive boulder, I spot an oddly shaped outcropping. It's too regular, too perfect to be natural. I approach it, my runes glowing brighter as I near.

"There," I say, pointing to a series of intricate markings carved into the stone. They're almost invisible, worn by time and the elements. "These aren't just decorations. They're wards. Powerful ones."

I trace the markings with my fingers, feeling the residual magic pulsing beneath my touch. "Whoever created these... They were trying to conceal something. Something big."

A theory begins to form in my mind. "What if... what if there are stones, artifacts of immense power, hidden here? Stones that could... could connect realms?"

Naia looks at me skeptically. "Stones? That's what we came all this way for?"

I shake my head, my excitement growing. "Not just any stones. Think about it. The pull I felt, the way your powers manifested... What if there are objects here that could open doorways between worlds? Between Protheka and... other places?"

The implications are staggering. If I'm right, this could change everything we know about the nature of our reality.

"We need to find a way past these wards," I say, my mind racing with possibilities. "The answers we seek, they're here. I can feel it."

"How do we do that?"

I roll shoulders, readying my muscles. "I'll get start unraveling the complex spellwork. But it will take time."