The Realm Protectors

Chapter 42 - Faris

The tunnel opens in the middle of a rice field, golden tops and emerald stalks surrounding us for as far as we can see. Senator Ciel is waiting for us, surrounded by eight more guards dressed in traditional decorative Aria armor.

"Welcome!" Senator Ciel says, spreading her arms and motioning to the field around us. "We are so excited for you to see our fair city."

"Senator Ciel, where exactly is this city?" Avani asks. A smile twists the senator's lips as she points up. Ciana gasps as she sees the floating platform miles above our heads.

"How do we get up there?" Ciana asks, voice wobbling slightly. Senator Ciel smiles wider.

"That's what my lovely guards are for." She says, nodding to the eight men and women around us. They nod back, raising their arms in unison. Ciana squeaks and grabs my arm as our feet and bags leave the ground, standing on a platform made of pure air.

"You're okay, you're okay, you're okay," Ciana chants to herself under her breath. I hold her hand and wrap my other arm around her shoulder. She squeezes her eyes shut and turns into my chest, hiding from the scene around us. My neck goes warm as Nile and Carter exchange a look with a smirk. Enya struggles to hide her own grin.

"It's okay, I won't let you fall." I whisper to her as we approach the floating platform. The guards and senator seem oblivious to Ciana's fear.

"I really, really do not like heights," She says into my chest.

"There's eight powerful air elementals keeping us up here right now," I assure her, leaning down so no one else can hear. "Besides, I'm more powerful than all of them. If we do fall, I would catch us in a heartbeat."

"Catch me first," Ciana whimpers. I find myself smiling.

"Always," I hear myself say.

The rising platform slows, wind rustling our hair and clothes as we approach the platform. Trapdoors open above us, allowing our platform of air to rise up into the sprawling city. The doors shut underneath us before the guards release their abilities, allowing us to rest on solid ground.

"We're in Cielo," I tell her. She releases her tight grip on my shirt, her cheeks slightly red as she turns away from my chest. Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight of the city around us.

Cielo looks like a sunlit heaven – the entire city is made of glass: clear, crystal, and frosted all combined in beautiful patterns. Some buildings have details made of other materials: pure white stone bricks laid against the glass to give some semblance of privacy. Rainbow beams of light bounce across white-brick roadways, reflections of the people around us mirrored on every building. The sun bounces of every reflective surface, making it seem as if we were standing in a city of sunlight. Tucker and Nikolina both have to shield their eyes. Ciana looks like she's glowing brighter than the city – the light reflects off of the tattoos wrapped around her eyes, rays of sunlight swirling around pools of honey. Shimmering streaks of gold line are woven into her hair too, making her seem like a goddess crowned in light. She catches me staring and smiles, offering me a little wave. My neck heats up.

"Your tattoos are really prominent in this light." I blurt. She tilts her head, smiling.

"Yours are too," She says before turning back to the other girls. I release the breath I didn't realize was building in my chest, earning myself a smack on the back by Carter and Nile.

"Someone's star-struck," Carter laughs.

"Got a case of the butterflies for little miss sunshine?" Nile asks me.

"Stop," I laugh slightly, blushing harder. Nile claps me on the back again.

"Give her time, Ris." He tells me. "She'll realize how great you are."