The summit of Mount Meru shimmered in the pale moonlight, the air suffocating with an impending sense of dread.
Kent stood at the edge of Meru Mountain. His silhouette framed against the undulating flames of ritual that licked higher than the tallest trees, sending a clear signal: the enemy was near.
He gripped his bow tightly, his sharp eyes scanning the dark horizon. Around him, the mountain echoed with the serene yet fervent chanting of the sages, the cadence of their mantras growing louder as the ritual neared its climax.
Kavi, the Fire Kirin and Ruby lay nearby, nibbling on a roasted chunk of meat with a delighted hum. Jabil, the serpentine beast, coiled next to Kavi, his scales gleaming like liquid silver. His forked tongue flickered in approval as he spoke. "Your moves back there were impressive, Kavi. A pity the demons were too weak to put up a fight."
