This was a new and different way of travelling from what they were used to. Blanche may have favoured walking, as she hadn't had the same opportunities as Finnian had to get used to moving by flying, but the Cloud Road was different from what they had imagined. Leaving Kiyeira's space, they soon weren't even able to see the same paths by which they had gotten there. After all, the altitude was so high that all they could take in was clouds and more clouds.

"I think your plan to get us off the trail is going to be difficult," Blanche said, biting her lip to try to hide a smile.

"Why do you think I took out the map?" Finnian said.

He had asked the technicians to map out the routes available to them in blue and the location of their cloud in red. It was similar to viewing everything on a computer, and although they were moving quite a bit faster than if they were on foot, becoming the co-pilot of such a place was strange. After handing it to Rune, he focused on what he had to do before they reached Everground.

"We should be able to analyze it without activating it," Ead said, looking at the timeless orb beside him. "It's susceptible to external influences, though. We have to be careful. Got it?"

"I'd like to make sure we don't end up trapped inside this marble," Finnian nodded. "Wouldn't you rather do it yourself?"

"We'll do it together. It would be best if you learned to do it yourself," Ead said.

Some spells could be used to scan objects or the environment and gather information. Relying on the intensity with which it was initiated could extend their reach, although that would not reveal everything around them. For that very reason, they would be combining it with another spell to detect the unseen.

"Let me serve as your anchor," Nero offered. "Anything to keep my mind occupied."

Using someone as an anchor meant combining their magical ability, but also that someone would focus on making sure the spell didn't get out of control as quickly as usual. The act of detecting the occult was not like asking but rather interpreting whatever slight nuances and tones there were in the magic composition. Thus, Ead explained that the orb was designed of a metal that could become unstable in dire circumstances but possessed excellent containment capabilities, called Dimerion.

"It's strange," Finnian muttered after a few minutes of analysis.

"What do you see?" Blanche said.

"A mixture of colours, shapes and even sounds," Finnian answered.

Magic had many aspects, so classifying it was not easy, mainly because it was influenced by who had created it. Their task was similar to playing a very delicate instrument, as they had to be aware of many details. That orb, showing the same grey tones as the marble, could contain Everground's nagas as soon as they got their hands on some of it. That would be key if they didn't want it to absorb everything nearby, even if only living material.

"Only those living things can be imprisoned, but that's not all it does," Ead said.

They found out the function that Avira did not reveal to them in darker tones. He told them that the orb would lose its effect as soon as its energy was depleted, but that was not true. Those trapped would not be able to get out of there until the same people who locked them in would release them.

"Never trust a princess, or not at all," Nero said, shaking his head.

"Nagas are evil? What's known about them?" Finnian said.

"It happens like any other elthean. Not all are good or evil," Ead said.

"Although in this case, they have been so protective of their caves that many consider them hostile," Nero said.

To want them out of the way. The orb would not only trap them but would have the ability to kill whoever was inside without shedding a drop of sweat. Such an artefact was terrifying, no matter how innocent it seemed at first glance.

"You forget their collaboration with Cinder," Blanche said. "Maybe they're getting ready to join Ariel."

"I have serious doubts," Finnian muttered, and seeing the other human eyebrows furrow, he added. "Cinder gave himself credit for keeping Calamity and the Everground beasts away."

"He could be deceiving us. Who's one hundred per cent truthful these days?" Blanche said.

"But words matter," Leith interjected. "Nagas may or may not be evil, just like dragons."

Or anyone, for that matter. They were snakes, yes, but as they saw other elthean whose looks were frightening, they were much more agreeable than appearances showed.

"Avira didn't want to deal with them, but that's what we'll do," Finnian said.

"There's something about this that doesn't smell right," Nero nodded.

"One we're going straight to," Aer added.

While he had stopped talking, concentrating on maintaining the shield, he and the others were also on the lookout for any other interference. The airspace was clear for the moment, but that could change in seconds.

"What if the princess is not lying? Are we sure we want to contradict her?" Rune said.

They were not talking about a city, a pack or the Lord of Calamity. They were talking about a monarchy, a kingdom. By Titanus, they were the ones everyone in Hawell's region turned to!

"Signers have no empire," Finnian said. "This is not a matter of taking sides but of doing the right thing."

"That's possible, but you also have to think about what would happen in the long run," Ead said. "What we do in the next few hours could determine who becomes our enemy and who becomes our ally."

Too valid were the words of their frionach friend. For that very reason, without needing to talk about it, they decided to focus on the journey and give themselves time to think, even when there was little to see there. They didn't even feel the speed, nor the air pressure, only a drop in temperature that they solved to a lesser extent by their magic.

"We don't have all the answers, do we?" Finnian muttered, ironic as it sounded; he knew the answer to that very question.

"Would you be willing to take the step and lock up all those elthean? For getting closer to our mission and the Silver Orchid?" Blanche said.

"If we have no other choice, I'll do it."

Those words came from his lips with conviction. Last weeks there had given him the confidence to speak for himself that he had lacked in the past. However, that uncertainty that dwelled in his heart was picked up by his friends. Was it impossible to hide something from them? He doubted it, but that support was what made him speak up instead of focusing so much on his problems without being able to move forward.

"Princess Avira only gave her opinion, not what we should do," Aer reminded him.

"Why do you think she provided us with an antidote?" Leith added.

Because they made their own decisions, perhaps they did not share the same view as the Aureans about the nagas, and for that reason, they had possibilities. They always existed, though they would have to be firm with what they decided.

"Perhaps you should think about what to do once we get there," Nero remarked. "If we have to fight, we'll fight, but we won't know until we're at Everground."

"Besides, it's not like we're going to see it so soon. The Silver Orchid is getting closer and closer," Rune exclaimed.

Almost as close as his destiny. This was one more step, an obstacle in their path that they would soon have to face. He hoped to stay away from the fangs, but what was clear was that these games of power and influence were beyond his control. He was eleven years old. Who could get into a situation like that and know how to fix it? He knew how to be diplomatic because he hated fights, although they were not comparable aspects!

"Who is this Anwil fellow? A distant love? The Guardian of the Orchid?" Blanche said, so thoughtful as those present for what was to come.

"I'm curious to know what's in the 'message' he gave us," Finnian admitted.

"Have you tried to analyze it? Like you did with the marble," Blanche said.

"I think that would be pushing her confidence a bit, wouldn't it?"

"What if it's someone you can't trust?" Blanche said, raising both eyebrows.

"In a dorean? You know the bad guys can't go in there, right?" Finnian said.

"Of course, but no one's all good either, don't you think?" Blanche said. "Even the dorean's guardians will have their interests."

His thoughts went straight to Ailfryd and Lunaluz. The guardian was far from perfect, especially that tendency to attack first and ask questions later. It could be due to circumstance, but it was one aspect of his personality more. As for Lunaluz? The second in command was sometimes patient enough to create a religion of her own, while at other times, she seemed like a real volcano.

"Nobody's perfect, but I won't meddle in something like that," Finnian said, shrugging.

"As you wish. It was just an idea, anyway," Blanche replied.

Because he might be curious, but even Finnian had his limits, and if he had been trusted with such a task, he wouldn't think of taking advantage of the situation, even when others did.

"Not to scare you, but..." Aer started to say.

"Never start a sentence like that so high up," Nero replied so quickly that his words almost came out like a projectile.

"We're approaching a storm. Do you know what that means?" Aer said.

They would remain safe as long as they were on the road and under the shield. However, that storm would affect Everground, which would make their arrival much more complex than if the skies had been clear.

"This doesn't upset our plans much," Finnian said, holding his breath. "We knew the descent would be problematic."

"Now it will be just a little bit trickier," said Leith.

"A little? It's a thunderstorm!" Rune exclaimed.

"We'll be lucky if we don't become dinner for those nagas. A nice barbecue from Team Signer!" Finnian muttered.

How could they ride out such a storm and not get electrocuted, let alone seriously injured?