The journey from Iskaran had been long, and Kaelen could feel the weight of the Crown of Iskaran growing heavier in his hands with each step. The sea had claimed its kingdom, and the last vestiges of Iskaran's people were swallowed by its depths. But there was no time for reflection, no time to mourn. There were more Crowns to find, more dangers to face. The Hollow King's influence stretched across the world like a storm, and Kaelen knew it would not wait for him to rest.
Skyreach was next. High above the clouds, where once an ascendant kingdom had thrived, its ruins now clung precariously to jagged peaks. The Crown of Skyreach — the next piece in Kaelen's quest — lay hidden among those remnants, shrouded by ancient celestial magic that had kept it safe from the Hollow King's reach. Or so Kaelen hoped.
The path to Skyreach was treacherous, but it was the only way forward. From the moment they left Iskaran's coasts behind, the land had begun to shift beneath their feet, and now, they faced the peaks. The land was harsh and unforgiving, but it paled in comparison to what awaited them among the heights.
The Journey Begins
Kaelen, Lys, and Aelric traveled on foot as they neared the base of the mountains that led to Skyreach. The ground was rough, pitted with jagged rocks and sharp, unforgiving slopes. The further they ascended, the more the air grew thin, and the world around them felt distant, as though the mountains themselves were erasing all signs of civilization. The road — a narrow path carved into the side of the mountain — was treacherous, winding its way up like a serpent's spine.
Above them, the sky darkened with clouds, swirling ominously. The weather here was fickle, changing without warning. One moment the air was still, heavy with the weight of the world; the next, it was whipped into a frenzy by sudden winds, cold enough to bite through the thickest cloak. Aelric swore under his breath as the wind howled around them, tugging at his hood.
"This place isn't natural," he muttered, scanning the cliffs around them. "Not just the weather, either. It feels... wrong."
Lys was silent, her eyes trained on the jagged peaks ahead. She could sense it, too. There was something unnatural about the mountains — something alive — a presence that lingered in the air, a quiet, whispering hum beneath the wind. It was as if the land itself was holding its breath, waiting for something.
Kaelen didn't answer. His thoughts were too clouded, too focused on what lay ahead. The Crown of Skyreach had eluded everyone for centuries, its location a mystery hidden beneath layers of forgotten history. But Kaelen knew that whatever lay at the heart of this mountain, it would be a trial. There was no doubt about it.
They had been walking for hours when the first signs of the ruins appeared. Fragments of broken stone peeked out from the cliffsides, hints of a once-grand civilization that had risen among the clouds. There were remnants of towers, half-toppled by time, and bridges that now dangled precariously over sheer drops.
But the most striking of all was the great spire that rose from the heart of the mountain range, stretching upward like a spear of stone aimed at the heavens. It was the last remnant of the kingdom of Skyreach — a place once believed to have touched the stars.
The Heights of Skyreach
As they climbed higher, the air grew colder and thinner. The path became steeper, and Kaelen found himself struggling to catch his breath. His limbs felt heavy, and the sensation of vertigo began to creep in. The peaks stretched out before him, endless and unyielding, like the very bones of the earth. Below, the valleys were distant shadows, and above, the sky seemed to pulse with an unsettling energy.
Lys was the first to spot the temple.
It was half-buried beneath a mass of ancient stone and earth, its once-proud columns now crumbling into the mountain itself. There were carvings on the walls, faded but still visible in the dim light. They depicted stars and moons, celestial beings that seemed to watch over the ruins. And at the center of it all, a massive stone door loomed, sealed shut with ancient locks and glyphs.
"This is it," Lys said softly. "The Crown lies within."
Kaelen nodded. His chest felt tight, the weight of the Crown of Iskaran a constant reminder of the burden he carried. He didn't want to think about the Hollow King's looming presence, the darkness that threatened to swallow everything in its path. But he couldn't ignore the feeling that grew with each step — the sense that this place was far more than a ruin. It was a place of power.
Aelric muttered something under his breath, eyeing the door warily. "And I suppose we're going to open it?"
Lys nodded. "We have to. It's the only way."
Together, they approached the door, and Kaelen placed his hand on the ancient stone. The moment his fingers made contact, a pulse of energy shot through him, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble. The glyphs on the door began to glow with a soft, ethereal light, pulsing in time with Kaelen's heartbeat.
Something stirred within the ruins.
A low hum filled the air — not of the earth, but of something far older. The sound was familiar, like the rhythm of distant stars moving through the void. Kaelen's heart raced as the glyphs on the door began to shift, rearranging themselves into a pattern that seemed to whisper ancient words in a language long forgotten.
"Step back," Lys warned, holding her staff high.
With a sudden crack, the stone door began to open.
The Celestial Vault
Inside the temple was a vast, hollow chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings of celestial beings — angels, stars, moons, and suns — all entwined in a dance of cosmic energy. But at the center of the chamber was the most striking feature: a massive, glowing pedestal, upon which sat a Crown unlike any Kaelen had seen before.
The Crown of Skyreach was forged of silver and crystal, its edges sharp and delicate like the shards of a fallen star. It was suspended above the pedestal, held in place by an invisible force. The air around it shimmered, thick with ancient magic, and Kaelen could feel the power emanating from it — a power older than time itself.
But the moment Kaelen stepped into the chamber, something shifted.
The temperature plummeted, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. The wind howled through the open passages, carrying with it the whispers of a forgotten age. The shadows of the chamber seemed to stir, as if something had awakened from a long slumber.
"Kaelen," Lys warned, her voice tight. "Be careful."
Before Kaelen could respond, the ground beneath them cracked, and the floor began to crumble. Large chunks of stone fell away, revealing deep chasms that stretched downward into the abyss. From the shadows, figures began to emerge — ethereal beings that drifted through the air like smoke, their forms shifting in and out of existence.
The Guardians of Skyreach.
Their eyes glowed with the light of distant stars, and their voices echoed like the winds of space itself.
"You seek the Crown," one of the figures intoned, its voice reverberating through the chamber. "But the Crown is not yours to claim. Not yet."
Aelric's hand went to his dagger, and Lys began to chant protective spells, but Kaelen stepped forward, his hand outstretched toward the Crown.
"I have come to end the Hollow King's reign," he said, his voice resolute. "I seek the Crowns to unite them, to stop the darkness from consuming the world."
The Guardians did not move, but their eyes narrowed. "The Hollow King is but one of many. His reign is but the beginning of the end. And you, Kaelen, are the key."
Kaelen's heart beat faster. "The key to what?"
"To the roots of the sky," the Guardian said cryptically. "The power of the Crown is not just in its possession. It is in its awakening. And to awaken it, you must first understand the price."
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Kaelen knew that whatever lay ahead, the true test was just beginning.
The journey to Skyreach had brought them to the edge of something greater than they had anticipated. The Crown of Skyreach was within their grasp, but the cost of claiming it was steep. The very fabric of the world seemed to be pulling at them, testing their resolve.
As Kaelen reached for the Crown, the chamber seemed to exhale, as if holding its breath. The Guardians' forms shimmered, and their voices faded into the wind. The moment had come.
And Kaelen would have to decide: was he ready to claim the Crown and face whatever trials it held, or would he fall prey to the ancient powers that guarded it?
The choice would shape the future of the Nine Kingdoms — and the world itself.