Sabir plummeted down into a dark abyss, the stone steps collapsing alongside him. The world above seemed to shift. His head throbbed violently, and his vision swam from the speed at which he fell. The cave itself tremored, pieces of rock and debris raining down, creating a storm of dust and rubble. But in the haze of falling stone and darkness, Sabir could see something that made his breath catch—silhouettes in the air, moving against the backdrop of the crumbling ceiling.


    The Pegasi.


    Their wings beat against the air with a grace that defied the surrounding destruction. Even as Sabir fell, head spinning, he caught glimpses of them flying, their powerful forms cutting through the dust and debris. The majestic creatures that had watched him before were now soaring away, their silver forms illuminated by the few remaining shafts of light breaking through the collapsing cave. Sabir smiled, accepting that this beautiful image would be the last thing he saw.


    Sabir’s body, leaden with exhaustion, surrendered entirely to the pull of gravity. Every muscle, every nerve screamed in protest, not from the impact of falling, but from the energy war that had ravaged his insides. He could feel the raw ache in his bones, a dull, relentless reminder of the chaos that had erupted inside him. His limbs hung limp, as though his body had accepted the descent, resigned that there was no fighting it anymore.


    His thoughts scattered, disjointed, flickering between fragments of pain and confusion. But somewhere, in the whirlwind of sensations, he could still see the pegasi hovering high above him They had stood like silent sentinels when he first saw them, wings folded against their sleek bodies, eyes like deep pools of wisdom, as if they had been watching over him for an eternity. They continued to do the same, this time in the air. Their gaze had held no malice, only judgment. Ancient, knowing, and unfathomable.


    And now, as the world around him spun in chaos, those same winged figures were plummeting toward him. Not with the calm stillness they had once held, but with speed and purpose. Their wings cut through the air like blades, the gleaming silver of their feathers catching flashes of the dim light from the collapsing cave. They moved as one, synchronized and swift, their powerful bodies maneuvering through the crumbling ceiling as though it was nothing more than a minor obstacle in their path.


    Sabir’s eyes fluttered open and shut, his vision blurred and tinged with a deep fatigue. He couldn’t grasp the full picture of what was happening, but he sensed it—felt it in the very air around him. The Pegasi were coming for him. Whether to save him or carry him away to whatever fate they deemed fit, he couldn’t tell. But in that moment, as the earth and sky seemed to fold in on him, their dive was his only tether to life.


    As Sabir plummeted, one of the Pegasi swooped beneath him, its wings catching him just before he hit the ground. The sudden jolt sent a shock through his already battered body, and for a moment, Sabir couldn’t tell if he was dreaming or if the winged creature beneath him was real. His fingers gripped tightly into the Pegasus’s soft mane as they shot upward again, narrowly dodging falling debris.


    “Am I imagining this?” he muttered, his voice barely a rasp. The edges of his vision were still blurred from the pain and exhaustion. He couldn’t tell if this was the same Pegasus he had saved before or another, but it didn’t matter. The creature’s massive wings beat rhythmically, carrying them both upward and out of the swirling chaos below.


    The Pegasus darted through the collapsing cave with effortless precision. Large chunks of rock plummeted from the ceiling, but the creature dodged them with swift, graceful movements. Sabir felt the cold rush of air against his face, the wind whistling past as they sped toward the distant light at the end of the tunnel. The way he had come in was still there—but barely.


    In the distance, Sabir could see water flooding the pathway ahead. A torrent was rushing into the cave, spilling from the oasis that had once been still and tranquil. Now, it was a roaring flood, cascading through the tunnel like an unstoppable force.


    His heart dropped. “How are we going to get out of this?” Even through his pained screams, the Pegasus, seemingly unbothered by the rushing water, didn’t hesitate. Its wings flared as it soared straight into the wave.


    Sabir instinctively held his breath as the cold water engulfed them, the sudden shock hitting him like a wall of ice. His muscles seized, and for a brief, terrifying moment, he was completely submerged, his vision filled with an endless, suffocating blue. The force of the flood crashed around them, relentless, as though the very cave had come alive, determined to sweep them away. His chest burned with the need for air, and panic surged, but then—through the blur—he felt the steady rhythm of the Pegasus beneath him.


    The creature’s wings, vast and powerful, sliced through the water like blades, unfazed by the crushing weight of the current. Each stroke was purposeful, each movement unwavering as the Pegasus pushed them forward. It was as though the water offered no resistance, the beast’s muscles rippling with strength and precision, navigating the flood as easily as it did the skies.


    Sabir clung to the Pegasus with all the strength he had left, his fingers numb from the biting cold. His body stiffened against the chill, every nerve screaming in discomfort, but the Pegasus continued undeterred. Its strong, muscular frame was a solid force beneath him, carrying him through the chaos. Sabir could feel the currents tugging at his limbs, trying to drag him away into the depths, but the creature’s resolve never faltered. It pressed on, cutting through the swirling waters as though the flood were nothing more than a passing breeze.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    In that moment, Sabir could do nothing but hold on, his life literally in the Pegasus’s hands—or rather, in the strength of its wings. Despite the freezing cold, despite the deafening roar of water all around them, there was an unshakable sense of purpose in the creature’s flight.


    They burst out of the water, breaking through the surface into the open air. Sabir gasped, filling his lungs with the crisp, cool breeze as they shot into the sky. He blinked, water streaming down his face, his senses finally catching up to the fact that they had made it out of the cave. They were free.


    High above the ground now, Sabir finally saw the world outside again. The sunlight spilled over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the rocky terrain below. The cave entrance shrank behind them, the crumbling rocks fading into the distance as the Pegasus carried him higher into the sky. Awe replaced the slowly ebbing adrenaline rush.


    He could see the remnants of the oasis—the water that had once filled the shimmering pool was gone, replaced by a deep, empty pit. The liquid had drained completely, leaving only bare, cracked earth where beauty had once thrived. The transformation was unsettling, a sign of how much the world had changed in such a short time.


    The Pegasi flew in formation around him, their wings spread wide as they glided on the air currents. It was a breathtaking sight—dozens of them, their silver bodies gleaming in the sunlight. Sabir’s mind wandered back to the cave and the staff, to the voice that had spoken in his head. He still didn’t fully understand what had happened, that voice he heard; he still couldn’t rationalize it. Was it something he was imagining, or was there someone else in that cave talking in stealth, but it was clear now that these creatures had brought him to the cave for a reason. Had they truly known he’d be healed there?


    His Pegasus descended, spiraling gracefully toward the ground below. Sabir felt the warm air on his face, the winds whispering around him as they landed in a small clearing surrounded by jagged rocks. The Pegasus slowed as its hooves touched the ground with a soft thud, and Sabir, dazed and exhausted, slid off its back. His legs wobbled beneath him, but he stayed upright, leaning heavily against the rocky surface to steady himself.


    The Pegasus gave a low snort, its dark eyes watching him intently. Sabir panted, his body trembling from the cold and the aftereffects of everything that had happened. His hand instinctively went to his chest, where the black veins had once been. But there was nothing—no sign of the corruption that had threatened to consume him.


    Sabir dropped to his knees, his head spinning. A surge of emotion hit him—gratitude, confusion, exhaustion. He was alive because of these creatures. The Pegasi had brought him to the cave, and now they had saved him again. Without them, he knew he wouldn’t have survived.


    The other Pegasi landed nearby, their wings folding elegantly against their bodies. They were silent, their eyes glowing softly as they watched Sabir. They had a strange, ethereal quality, like beings from another world—guardians, perhaps, as he had once thought. And now, they had finished their task.


    As the Pegasi walked away, Sabir noticed one lagging. It was the baby Pegasus, the same one he had saved earlier. The little creature trotted over to him, its bright eyes full of curiosity. Sabir smiled weakly, extending a hand as the Pegasus nudged its nose against his palm. The touch was warm and comforting, a gentle reminder of the connection they had shared in that moment of crisis.


    “Hey there,” Sabir whispered, stroking the baby Pegasus’s soft mane. He could feel the creature’s heartbeat, steady and strong, beneath his fingers. For a moment, the world seemed to slow, the chaos and destruction fading into the background as he shared this brief, tender moment with the creature that had trusted him.


    The baby Pegasus gave a soft whinny, nudging him again before turning to join the rest of its herd. Sabir watched as the adult Pegasi paused, waiting for the young one to catch up. The baby gave a last glance toward Sabir before trotting over to its family, its small wings flapping in excitement.


    The Pegasi gathered together, their wings spreading wide as they prepared to take flight once more. Sabir watched in awe as they lifted into the sky, their silver forms cutting through the air with grace and power. But before they left him completely, the Pegasi encircled around him. Weaving together, they performed a stunning dance—their wings moving in perfect harmony. It was beautiful, a sight that would stay with Sabir forever.


    He felt a lump in his throat as he watched them disappear into the horizon, leaving him alone once again. The air was quiet now, still and calm in the storm''s aftermath.


    Sabir’s heart sank as the realization hit him. He was stranded. There was no simple way back to the party he had left behind, no immediate path to follow. He glanced around, the barren landscape offering little comfort. The sky, once so open and free, now felt vast and isolating.


    But why did he even want to return to that forsaken party? While he had these thoughts, Sabir peered at the seemingly endless horizon. Freedom lay here in this wasteland. It was better to be out here and die as a human than be some little pet to those damn hunters.


    Some of them were nobles, yet they acted nothing like the word. It was a poor excuse for a joke. Sabir couldn’t help but lament that these were the people that rule Havana. They had no love for anything other than power and abused those gifts on the less fortunate.


    But then his thoughts drifted to Zabo and Warren. The same web of danger and chaos trapped the two men, just like him. Though they had only known each other for a short time, they had fought alongside him, suffered alongside him. He couldn’t leave them behind. Elektra and Maize had tortured him, and part of him wanted to walk away from it all, to escape this madness and never look back. But Zabo and Warren—they didn’t deserve to be abandoned.


    Sabir sighed, gathering his strength as he stood. “I have to find them. I can’t just leave them.”


    With one last glance at the sky, Sabir set his mind to the task ahead. He would find his way back. He would move on with his life—with his friends in tow.