Page 250 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

“Then nothing happened.” My friend pointed his head at me. “She is making the climb to Valda.”

Eren stood and nodded. “I’ll come with.”

“I’m going up there with no purpose to pay respect to any god, Eren. You will remain in Taren. If anything happens to me, you are heir second to me.”

The climb was steep, it usually took my people a whole day to reach the top. But conveniently, I’d bolted halfway up where the veil of heavenly magic stopped me from bolting any higher up.

Valda Acme. The gates of Caelum. The entrance to the heavens of Nubil which eons ago were open to his blessed. Now a prayer altar of his greatness.

It was a tradition for an Olympian to make this climb at least once in their human life. It was a tradition to honour the greatness Nubil had left behind. To conclude all, a whole bunch of sh—

Lightning hit overhead, crashing on rock that sent flying stones overhead. Well, that wasn’t me.

I knew I was out of form by the third break I’d taken not even halfway through the climb. Valda was a rough mountain of dry rock, dusty air and parched shrubs turned the colour of sand. There was not much life close to the zgahna, and those that attempted to create life here were shortly forced to move because of what the long exposure to the strange magic of the mist did to one's mind.

After tossing the empty water bottle to free some weight from my shoulders, I continued toward the stark climb. How did children do this? How did the elderly do this?

It always amazed me how my people took this climb to the gates. It was one of the traditions everyone without exception held—to touch the land closest to the gods. More than an act of affirmation, it was one of adoration. My people were thankful to their god, they were blessed with one who had often listened. But like all gods, he too had forgotten about this land. And without blame. Who would want to watch over phoney faith coerced from fear of hells?

A thicket of cloud immersed me all of a sudden and then I saw the glint of metal far ahead. The plaque of Valda Acme stood only feet from me now.

Ahn ghuh go blasaidh. Here stood The God.

A familiar yet strange warmth kissed my insides, like a caress. The air was sweet and electric, it danced around with my magic as one. If the skies had a limit, this would be it. The cliff was deserted besides two metallic pillars rising several feet tall till they disappeared in the cottony clouds.

The sky shook with a deep rumble like no thunder could cause. “Have I come on a bad day?” I muttered to myself, unravelling the letter containing the cypher to the gates.

Wind picked up till it turned to a vortex that carried dust and gravel swirling furiously in the air, and clouds parted, letting the brightest streak of light peak through and drop right at the two erect silver metallic pillars that stood in the middle of the rocky terrace of Valda. The sole heartbeat of mine suddenly doubled, not because my liver started pumping from anticipation, but because something came from between the two pillars. Not…something. Because what stood before me looked neither human, nor animal, nor a demon. The woman was tall, her dark brown skin adorned with silvery bands, chains and diamonds all over, her curly white hair was cut to her chin and streaked with bands and beads of silver. Her irises matched, a grey so white it could almost startle you if you turned round too suddenly. It wasn't the hair, the unearthly beauty, the eyes or the strange muslin dress floating in the air and doing absolutely nothing to hide her breasts and lady bits that surprised me. It was the glowing white band around her neck and a massive pair of wings that did. Her wings were thrice the size of the Volantians and streaked with silver flakes, the feathers on the ends glowed, too.

The guardian of the Caelum gates, I would suppose. But I had not called upon her. Not when I didn’t even utter a single letter of the cyphers.

She bowed her head.

I turned and looked around. Oh, she bowed to me.

“Welcome, Snowlin Edlynne Skygard Castemont, granddaughter of Jonah, last guardian of lightning, to the gates of Caelum. I’m Calandra of Caelum, guardian of the gates.”

Maybe all the gild and the glow had hurt my hearing besides my eyes. “What did you just call me?”

Her mouth tipped up. “I was told you wouldn't be impressed.”

I blinked to myself for a moment. “Pray tell, by whom?”

“Nubil himself,” she said proudly. “He said nothing heavenly or godly would ever strike you as curious.”

A deep frown gathered on my brows. “And he knows that from that one time we braided each other’s hair or when,” I paused for dramatic effect. “Oh yes, when he didn’t give a damn about my realm and left it to burn to hells.”

Her eyes flashed with warning. I could bet my good cheek she wasn’t used to hearing such things about her beloved god. “He sees.”

“Through his arse cheeks?” I asked. “Because that is one dimmed and shit covered sight he got there. Now, what did you call me?”

“Last guardian of lightning.”

“Aura. I’m the last Elding Aura.”

“Guardian. Guardian of lightning,” she tried to say politely, but the tick on her temple was clear even from where I stood.

“Aura that guards the power of lightning.”