The Elements of Zion: The Vine, The Branch, and The Thorn

Chapter 17

Dove's cry pierced the chaos as he descended, talons flashing like drawn blades. Guardians followed, striking the fiery creatures in bursts of flame. A surge of hope gripped me, the battle tipping our way. On one side of the squadron flew Lift, while on the other soared Gatekeeper— the mighty griffins under his command. They swooped and soared, their cries piercing the chaos like trumpets calling us to war.

I had never seen such a display of power and grace. The various guardians, with their magnificent wings and gleaming armor, moved with precision and ferocity as they fought against the fiery creatures. Each strike of their talons was met with a burst of flames, but the guardians showed no fear.

The temple roof was ablaze, casting an eerie glow on the fierce battle raging before me. Trose's voice broke through the cacophony, his eagle-like eyes reflecting the fiery sky, "He brought reinforcements...."

I nodded, transfixed by the deadly aerial dance above. Oak's immense form trembled, his bark creaking as he lifted a hand to his chest. "She is here," he murmured, his eyes locked on the burning temple, sorrow and determination etched deep. A primal connection surged within me—I felt her presence too.

The intensity of the battle seemed to fade into the background as Oak spoke: "She speaks to me," he continued, his gaze unwavering.

The flames danced like malevolent spirits in the distance, casting flickering shadows across his noble features. I struggled to comprehend the depth of his connection to her, to this mysterious entity who held such sway over our fates.

Just then a secondary roar came from the distance. It grew closer and closer, drowning out the sounds of battle causing my ears to ring.

Oak looked back at me. " The next one comes this way. They both seek not just to conquer but to crush our very essence. Our souls, our spirits..."

My grip tightened on the hilt of my sword, "Then what exactly is our plan now?" My mind raced with doubts and fears, wondering if we were truly prepared for what was to come.

Oak's voice rumbled, low and steady. "This path divides us, Isaac. Like leaves before a storm, we scatter." He placed a hand on my shoulder, his gaze unyielding. "You and Trose must find the heart of Ascension, for that's where the Rose waits. As for me," he paused, glancing back toward the temple's fiery glow, "I will hold this ground. The dragon's wrath shall meet me first."

I nodded, sensing the gravity in his words. "You're sure?"

"Have faith in the power that binds us," Oak replied, his voice softening, yet resolute.

Giving Trose a quick nod, I scrambled up onto his shoulders, feeling the strength and stability of his wings beneath me. We ascended toward the gaping wound in the Temple of Ascension's side, the air thick with smoke and the stench of scorched feathers.

Below us, Oak began his climb up The Temple of Illumination, his massive form moving with an agility that belied his size. He was bait for the dragon, a distraction to give us a fighting chance to save Rose.

"Hold tight, lad," Trose called out.

We reached the crumbled edges of the temple, the battle a storm below. Shadows loomed around us, silent and foreboding, waiting for our next step.

"Let's end this," I said sliding off his back.

The remnants of the spirit temple loomed before us, a gaping maw in its once-sacred facade. Trose and I slipped through the breach, our entry an unwelcome invasion into a sanctuary long fallen to desecration. Inside, the air was still, heavy with the scent of decay and the thorny ambition of the Thorn King. Shadows clung to the walls like mourners at gravestones, shrouded in silence.