The Fortress in the Clouds

AT THE BASE of the mountain, the fortress looked even more impressive. It loomed over her far more than how a giant would, casting a foreboding shadow upon anyone that dared to venture near.

Naomi’s blood was laced with excitement, delight rushing through her and numbing her mind as she fidgeted where she stood. The duo, along with Rayner, was just quietly observing the height of it all without a single word between them.

Then, Argus spoke.

“Come on! I want to get the best spot when the sun rises. We must not be late.”

Interlacing his fingers with Naomi’s long slender ones, he was quick to drag her right to the base of the mountain, a collection of rocks and boulders that would crush any normal human being. There was no opening at the bottom, simply moss-covered fragments of silver gray that was now painted emerald.

“Wait!” Naomi cried, starting to halt in her steps when she noticed that there was no opening. “Wait, stop, we will crash!”

Argus merely grinned under his breath, his grip on Naomi’s hand turning tighter. His laughter bellowed after the unnatural wind in their hair, the draft of air coming from seemingly nowhere. Although his voice was a lovely tune, Naomi could not even hear it through the sound of her blood gushing in her ears in fright.

Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, Naomi held her breath as she waited for an impact that never came. Instead, she felt a soft comforting graze on the bare skin of her face, followed by the cool of dew before everything turned enigmatically dark.

Gone was the moonlight and starlight that lit her path. Now, she was left in a void. The only thing that she found comfort in was that her hands were still attached to Argus’s, now clasping tightly onto his arm in fear of losing her way.

“What?...” She trailed off uncertainly, turning back to look at where they had come from to find a curtain of vines and unruly moss shielding the passage they had taken.

“A rather misleading entrance is only the beginning of what hides our haven.” Even though Naomi could not see Argus’s expression, she knew from his jolly tone that he was undoubtedly smiling jovially. “As all things in life. We need only be brave enough to conquer the obstacles in our way.”

“Why the secrecy?”

“No one even believes in our fortress’s existence, anyway.” Naomi felt her hands lift a little, most likely due to the possibility of Argus shrugging. “This is just a test for those who do.”

“A... test?” Naomi echoed uncertainly.

“Yes, and there will be many more to get to the fortress, each in their own little unique way. They do not have to be significant. If you do not even realize it, it just means that you’ve already passed it without even thinking. I wonder which of these tests you will notice, though.”

The cave they were in might be dark but even with little to no light, Naomi could catch the sparkle in Argus’s eye. It was dancing like a flame — a life — and swirling with secrets that Naomi could not even begin to understand.

“Life itself is a test.” Naomi took a great breath before releasing it, determination painting her words. “This should not be too hard to do.”

“And you will not be doing it by yourself.” Argus gave Naomi’s fingers a light squeeze of reassurance.

It was then had she realized that their hands had not left each other’s throughout, making her blush a brilliant scarlet. She had to chant to herself, convincing her own mind that their hands were only attached so that she would not get lost in the dark. In truth, it was because she felt comfort in his warmth, one that she had not felt for years.

Not since the destruction of her family, anyway.

Naomi’s heart fluttered at Argus’s next words as her lips subconsciously stretched themselves into a large smile without her even realizing it. She was finally ready to proceed, a bravery that she did not have before coloring her eyes.

“You are not alone, lowlander. Do not ever believe that you are.”