The Map to the Sky
Orion Windmere had spent his life chasing legends, but nothing compared to the tale of the Skyhold, the mythical island said to float among the clouds, holding treasures from civilizations long forgotten. Some called it a sailor’s hallucination, others a divine miracle. But Orion had something others didn’t—a map.
The parchment was old, edges torn and ink faded, but the markings were clear. It spoke of a passage beyond the Storm Gates, where the sky cracked open, revealing a world above the world.
Orion tightened his grip on the ship’s wheel. “This time, I’ll find it.”
His crew, a band of daring explorers, murmured in uncertainty, yet none dared question him.
The Journey Begins
The Storm Gates were no ordinary storm. Lightning twisted like golden vines through the sky, and the wind howled like a thousand voices warning them to turn back. But Orion pressed forward.
“Keep steady!” he shouted over the roaring winds.
A sudden updraft lifted the ship, throwing them into chaos. Orion grabbed onto the ropes, heart pounding as the vessel climbed higher and higher—until the storm suddenly cleared. Silence fell.
Before them, bathed in golden sunlight, was Skyhold.
A City in the Sky
The floating island was a marvel of impossibility. Towering structures of shimmering stone stood against a sky so blue it looked painted. Waterfalls cascaded into nothingness, dissolving into mist before touching the world below.
Orion’s crew stepped onto the island cautiously, eyes wide with wonder.
“This is incredible…” breathed Lysara, his trusted navigator.
“Let’s find what we came for,” Orion said, though even he was awestruck.
But something was wrong.
The silence was too deep. No birds, no wind. Just the distant hum of something… alive.
The Guardians of Skyhold
As they ventured deeper, ancient carvings depicted what looked like winged beings. Orion reached out to trace the symbols—when the ground trembled beneath him.
From the sky, figures descended.
They were humanoid, yet ethereal, their bodies wreathed in shimmering silver. Their leader, a being with piercing sapphire eyes, regarded them with an unreadable expression.
“You have come seeking treasure,” it said, voice like an echo. “But treasure is not what you need.”
Orion stepped forward. “Then what is?”
The being extended a hand, revealing a crystal pulsating with energy. “Wisdom.”
A Choice to Make
The treasure Orion sought was not gold or jewels, but knowledge—the secret of Skyhold’s existence, the key to understanding the balance of the world. He could take it and share it with humanity… but at what cost?
Lysara whispered, “Orion, this could change everything.”
He hesitated, then nodded. “Then we take it.”
As his fingers closed around the crystal, the sky itself seemed to sigh. The floating island began to fade, as if it had only been a dream.
And then, they were falling—
Orion awoke on the deck of his ship, the crystal still in his grasp. The island was gone.
His crew stared in stunned silence. Skyhold was real. And they were the only ones who would ever know its secret.
The legend lived on.
