Remus's legs were complaining so much that he had to take a break and sit down on the ground.
He had finished making the swords that the Elves of Naxos required for battle against the Shadar-Kai but he still had no way of getting home because the Elves didn't want to give him access to study the lighter-than-air-ship that brought him to the island.
Everyone except Master Thresh of the Forge.
Normally, one ally amongst several hundred was no cause for hope but Master Thresh was an imposing figure, even among his own kind. At over six feet tall and with a broad, muscular frame, he towered over most of the other elves in his village. But his size wasn't the only thing that set him apart - Master Thresh was gifted in his own way as a bladesmith.
He was responsible for creating all manner of weapons and tools, from delicate swords to sturdy ploughs. He had an eye for detail, a steady hand that allowed him to craft intricate designs, flawless finishes and his keen eyes could spot even the tiniest flaw in a piece of metal. He was second only to Remus himself in terms of smithing ability.
"He's done everything that we've asked," Thresh argued. "All he asks of us is a way home. Not a lot, I'm my opinion."
Despite his gruff exterior, Master Thresh was a softie and tried to convince the rest of the Elves that Remus had earned their loyalty and should be allowed to study the airship but the Council of Elders were still worried about him making a similar airship to the one that brought him to Naxos using innocent beings as the power source.
The fact that he had mastered of Dark Soul Magic and shown what they called "seeds of darkness" didn't help matters.
However, Master Thresh successfully negotiated a compromise.
If Remus can learn Nature Magic which is considered to be in balance with the world to counter-balance the Dark Soul Magic which is out of balance and disruptive to the natural order, then he could gain access to the airship.
But first, he would have to get to the Temple of Balance which was still just a shadow just over the horizon. It was situated at the centre of the island, at the highest point of a gently sloping hill.
As Remus sat on the ground contemplating what it meant to be in balance with the natural order, there was a loud screech in the sky and he spotted three flying creatures, with wings that spanned nearly twenty feet and a long, powerful tail that lashed back and forth. As they soared through the air. Their scales shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting shades of red, orange, and yellow that seemed to shift and change with every movement.
"I don't want to be monster meat," Remus said under his breath.
As they descended, their wings began to beat slower and slower, until finally, they stopped altogether, and the wyverns plummeted towards the ground.
For a moment, it seemed as though they might crash, but at the last second, they spread their wings once more and swooped towards the ground, landing with a thud that shook the ground.
As they settled on the ground, Remus realized that they were carrying riders.
The wyverns folded their wings close to their bodies, revealing powerful muscles that rippled beneath their scales. They stood nearly ten feet tall, and had jaws that were lined with sharp, serrated teeth that gleamed in the light.
Remus's heart was pounding with fear and exhaustion. He had been running for what felt like hours and he wasn't sure he could get away without a scratch.
"Don't be scared of Monty," the first rider said. "She's a sweetheart."
It was the girl in his dreams, Mira.
She was young, no more than sixteen years old, with a tattoo of a green triangle on her forehead. Her hair was wild and unkempt, and she wore a tattered leather vest over a simple tunic. Despite her rough appearance, Remus couldn't help but feel drawn to her.
"He's shaking like a leaf," the second rider said. "A man should always present himself with honour and never show fear especially in the presence of females."
The second rider was a man with red skin, his eyes glowing like hot embers. He wore a simple tunic and trousers, and a long sword hung at his side.
His body was covered in tattoos which were intricate and symbolic, serving to enhance his menacing presence.
He had a tattoo of a black sun on his chest with jagged, angular lines that crisscross the skin on his entire body with dark, swirling designs that seem to writhe and twist beneath the surface.
"Don't mind him, Remus," the third rider said. "Malak is very kind when you get to know him."
The third rider was more familiar. Akira, a girl with skin blue, voluptuous hips and hair cascading down her back in a waterfall of silver. She wore a flowing dress made of gossamer fabric that fluttered in the gentle breeze, and her eyes sparkled with a mischievous light.
Remus immediately scrambled his thoughts to make sure she didn't catch him slipping with her mind reading spell.
Despite their fearsome appearance, the wyverns seemed to be at ease on the ground, and they began to move about with a kind of lazy grace, their long tails swishing back and forth behind them. They seemed almost cat-like in their movements, and for a moment, it was easy to forget that this was a creature that could fly through the air with ease.
As they surveyed their surroundings, the wyverns let out a low, rumbling growl, almost as though they were asserting their dominance over the area.
For Remus who was watching, it was clear that this was a creature that commanded respect - a magnificent, awe-inspiring beast that was both beautiful and terrifying all at once.
"Hop on and I'll give you a lift," Mira said.
"He would be more comfortable on my wyvern," Akira argued. "Tell us Remus, who would you like to ride with?"