Lysandra and Zephyr reached the base of the mountains at dawn, the towering peaks looming above them like jagged teeth. The air was thin and cold, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of snow and ice.
As they began to climb, the terrain grew more treacherous, and the dangers more deadly. They battled fierce blizzards, climbed sheer cliffs, and avoided deadly traps set by Valtor's minions.
Lysandra's powers grew stronger with each passing day, and she was able to call upon the elements to aid them in their journey. She summoned powerful winds to clear the snow and ice from their path, created shields of fire to protect them from the cold, and even called upon the earth itself to create bridges over chasms.
Despite these new powers, the journey was grueling and exhausting, and Lysandra and Zephyr both began to feel the toll it was taking on their bodies. They were running low on supplies, and the mountain air was making it difficult to breathe.
As they climbed higher, they began to encounter Valtor's minions more frequently. Orcs and goblins lurked in the shadows, waiting to ambush them, and dragons circled overhead, their eyes fixed on Lysandra.
One night, as they were huddled in a small cave, they heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Lysandra drew her sword, ready to defend herself, but Zephyr held up a hand.
"It's okay," he said. "I know who it is."
A moment later, a figure appeared in the entrance to the cave. It was an elf, tall and graceful, with long, flowing hair and piercing green eyes. Lysandra recognized him as one of the rebels they had encountered earlier in their journey.
"Greetings," the elf said, his voice echoing in the cave. "I have been sent to aid you in your journey to Helios."
Lysandra and Zephyr exchanged a look of surprise and relief. They had not expected to find any allies this high in the mountains.
"Thank you," Lysandra said. "We could use all the help we can get."
The elf smiled, and together they set out deeper into the mountains, their eyes fixed on the prize that lay ahead: the lost kingdom of Helios, and the power that lay within.