Lyra Veynn crouched on the edge of the floating dock, wind whipping her dark hair across her face. Below her, the city of Aerthalon glimmered like shards of gold and sapphire, suspended on islands floating in the endless sky. Every night, the Sky Guild patrolled these islands, their armored airships cutting through the clouds like predators. Tonight, Lyra was the predator.
Her target: the Celestine Crystal, a relic said to hold the balance of power between humans and dragons. Rumor had it that the Guild planned to use it to enslave dragons entirely.
Lyra adjusted her grappling hook and leapt. The city's lights blurred as she soared toward the Guild tower, her heartbeat syncing with the hum of the wind around her. She had stolen before, but never something so dangerous.
A shadow moved behind her—a dragon? No, bigger. Dark scales gleamed in the moonlight. Not a hunter, then… she thought.
"Careful," a voice said, deep and calm. Lyra spun. A man stood on the tower's ledge, cape fluttering, a sword strapped to his back. His piercing gray eyes locked on hers.
"You're not supposed to be here," he said.
"Neither are you," Lyra shot back, smirking despite her nerves.
"I'm Kael Draven. Dragon Knight," he said, voice cold but not unkind. "Hand over the crystal."
Lyra's fingers brushed the crystal hidden in her satchel. "Not a chance. Whoever controls this controls the skies. I'm not letting it fall into the wrong hands."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "You don't know what you're dealing with."
"Neither do you," she shot back, and with a flip, she launched herself into the air, grappling hook securing her to the next tower. Kael followed, his movements precise, almost like a dance in the clouds.
Above them, a storm began to brew—sudden, unnatural. Lightning split the sky. The Guild had detected her presence. And now, the chase had truly begun.