**Chapter 7: A New Bond**
The wind howled through the rocky crags, the air thick with the scent of ozone as a storm brewed in the distance. Riven stood at the front of the group, his eyes narrowed, scanning the horizon. The journey had led them deep into the wildlands, a place where few dared to tread, and fewer still returned from. But they had no choice—there was something here, something that called to Riven's instincts, something that could change the course of their mission.
The rest of the group, including Lia, Kieran, and Kaelen, followed closely behind, their movements cautious but steady. It was quiet, too quiet. Riven could feel the weight of the silence pressing down on him. He had been expecting some form of resistance, but nothing like this. This wasn't just the calm before the storm—it was as if something were watching them, waiting.
"Stay alert," Riven murmured to the group, his voice low. Lia nodded wordlessly, her hands already glowing faintly as she prepared to cast a spell, while Kieran's eyes darted around, his hand resting near the hilt of his sword. Kaelen, ever calm, stayed in the middle, focused on maintaining his distance from the others, offering reassurance where it was needed.
Then, without warning, the ground beneath them rumbled.
Lia gasped, stepping back as the earth cracked open, sending jagged stones flying into the air. From the gaping wound in the earth emerged something enormous—something unlike anything they had seen before. Its form was an ethereal mix of animal and celestial being, glowing with an aura of pure power. Its eyes were deep pools of swirling starlight, its body made of shimmering light and shadow. And it moved with the weight of the heavens themselves.
"Astra…" Riven whispered, his voice barely audible as he took a step forward.
The creature hovered in the air, its immense wings beating with a force that sent gusts of wind cascading across the group. Astra's eyes locked onto Riven, and for a moment, there was a strange connection—an unspoken understanding between them. But that bond was fleeting, quickly replaced by wariness.
"I've heard of you, human," Astra spoke, its voice a deep, resonant echo, like the rumbling of distant thunder. "You do not belong here."
Riven stood firm, his heart pounding, but his voice remained calm. "I didn't come here to fight, Astra. We need your help."
The celestial beast's wings flared out, casting a shadow over the group. "Help?" Astra scoffed. "What makes you think I would help a mere mortal like you?"
Riven felt the weight of the challenge in Astra's words, but he didn't flinch. He had faced worse, had made tougher decisions. But this was different. Astra wasn't just any creature; it was a force of nature, one that could reshape the battlefield in the blink of an eye. And yet, Riven knew there was something more, something beneath the surface.
"We're not asking for your aid lightly," Riven said, taking a step forward, his voice steady but filled with conviction. "The world is changing. We're fighting against a threat that could consume everything—your kind, my kind, everyone. I need your strength, Astra. I can't do this alone."
There was a moment of silence as Astra seemed to study him, the swirling light in its eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion. The creature hovered, unmoving, as the tension thickened in the air.
"I see," Astra finally said. "You seek strength in unity. But you have not yet earned the right to command it."
Riven's heart sank. He had expected resistance, but this was something more—Astra wasn't simply refusing; it was judging him. He didn't have the right. Astra's gaze turned from him to the others, and then back to him.
"You cannot wield the power of the celestial beasts without proving your worth, Riven," Astra continued. "But perhaps you are more than I first assumed."
Riven didn't understand, but he didn't have time to question it. His mind raced with the implications of Astra's words. Proving his worth—what did that mean? Before he could ask, Astra raised its wings and a sudden, crushing weight filled the air.
Lia gasped, stumbling back. Kieran cursed under his breath as he staggered, his feet unable to keep their ground. Kaelen stood firm, his hands glowing with healing energy, but even he struggled against the weight.
Riven's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, gasping for breath. The pressure on his chest was unbearable, as if the very air itself had become a thousand times heavier. Astra's form shimmered in the distance, its wings flapping slowly as it watched him with a distant expression.
"Do you see?" Astra's voice was a whisper in the back of Riven's mind. "This is the weight you would carry as my ally, mortal. This is what it means to wield the power of the heavens. Can you endure it?"
Riven gritted his teeth, fighting against the crushing pressure. His vision blurred, his muscles screaming in protest, but he didn't give up. He could feel his companions struggling, but they weren't the ones Astra was testing—they were testing him.
"I won't run from it," Riven spat, pushing himself to his feet despite the pain. "I never have. If this is what it takes to save the world, then I'll carry it."
The moment the words left his mouth, the weight suddenly lifted. Riven collapsed to his knees, breathless, but victorious. He looked up, his vision still spinning, and met Astra's gaze.
The celestial beast's expression was unreadable for a long moment, and then, slowly, it nodded.
"Very well," Astra said, its voice both thunderous and gentle at the same time. "You have earned my respect. And with it, you earn my aid."
Astra's form shimmered and began to descend, its wings folding in around it until it was standing before Riven. The air hummed with power, and the ground beneath their feet trembled. Riven could feel a connection forming, a bond deeper than anything he had experienced before. This wasn't just an alliance—it was something more, something ancient.
Astra lowered its head to Riven's level, its eyes glowing brighter now, the starlight within them burning with an intensity that seemed to reach into Riven's very soul. "I will grant you my strength, mortal. But remember this—power is not without its price. You will feel its weight every moment of your life, and you will be tested in ways you cannot yet imagine. Do not forget the burden you now carry."
Riven nodded, his breath shaky but resolute. He had made it through this trial, but Astra's warning lingered in his mind.
As the bond was completed, Astra's form seemed to merge with Riven, a celestial aura enveloping him. He felt stronger, more attuned to the gravity of his own existence, but the weight of the celestial power was something he would have to learn to wield. It was not just a gift—it was a responsibility.
The rest of the group stood nearby, their expressions a mixture of awe and uncertainty. Kieran gave Riven a silent nod, acknowledging the strength it took to endure the trial. Lia's gaze softened as she stepped closer, her concern for him evident in the way she watched him.
"You did it," Lia said, her voice quiet but filled with pride.
Kaelen smiled faintly, his eyes reflecting the weight of the moment. "I knew you had it in you."
Riven smiled, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he knew that with Astra's power by his side, he had a fighting chance. The weight of leadership was still there, but now, he no longer carried it alone.
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**End of Chapter 7**