The dragons’ name thundered through the room like a storm, making the air hum and vibrate as it was spoken. Tiny lights danced wildly about, swept up like leaves in a gusty wind.

  Slowly, Salome regained her strength. Still trembling, she struggled back onto her feet. She could have sworn she was trapped in a particularly vivid dream, were it not for the overwhelming presence of the dragon filling all her senses and banishing any doubt of its reality. She shook her head, only now noticing Van, who had collapsed to his knees a short distance away and was staring wide-eyed at the glass-like creature. Kiran leaned moodily against the wall near the entrance, arms crossed, silently observing them.

  "I understand it's not easy facing a dragon for the first time," rumbled O'Lei Lom in amusement, "especially these days, when we've become mere fairytales." A harmonious, chiming clatter sounded as the massive body moved. He settled down, curling up like a cat and crossing his front legs. The tuft at the tip of his tail lazily swayed back and forth.

  "Are… are you truly Master Lom?" stammered Salome hesitantly. She swallowed several times before managing to find her voice again, yet it emerged as nothing more than a tiny, weak whisper.

  "Indeed," growled the dragon. "Though I must admit, the resemblance might be easily overlooked."

  "But… but… how is this possible?" Salome asked.

  "Unraveling that mystery would take a great deal of time. Besides," he added, "it matters little at this moment." His eyes, their pupils narrow slits, studied her carefully. "How peculiar… It's been a long time since I last welcomed guests here. It stirs old memories." He puffed softly. "Usually, only a select few ever witness my true form. Count yourselves fortunate!"

  His gaze shifted to Van. "Ah, I see my second guest has also recovered from his shock."

  Van rose shakily, stumbling a couple of steps forward, his face pale as death.

  "I'm fine… I… I'm good," he whispered unconvincingly, his voice quivering. "Salome, can you pinch me? Or just slap me. I think I'm losing my mind."

  The glass dragon laughed aloud, shaking the walls and sending sparks swirling.

  "Lad, you're nowhere near madness—take my word for it."

  Van stared open-mouthed, clearly lost for words.

  Salome let her eyes wander over the flawless, shimmering body towering before her, surreal and enchanted.

  A dragon.

  The word felt oddly familiar, even though she would have sworn she'd never heard it before.

  Why was its body made of glass? How was that possible?

  "Some questions' answers serve only as doors to further mysteries," O'Lei Lom said intently, as if reading her thoughts. "Let us focus instead on those whose answers will not unnecessarily diverge our path." The dragon puffed again, and a bright shimmer flowed through his body—from the tip of his tail and claws up to his glittering antlers. From somewhere, the soft ring of a bell echoed and opaque lids slowly descended as he closed his eyes.

  Suddenly, Salome seemed to see before her the endless cloud ocean, boundless, white, and pure. World pillars rose from within, reaching endlessly into the sky, carrying no islands. She flew weightlessly over the billowing masses, free as a bird, swift as the wind. But the clouds changed, darkening, became oppressive, gloomy. Menacing storm towers rose, casting lightning and rain upon her, seeking to shatter her wings and tear her apart. Then a tiny hole opened amidst the cloud ocean, widening rapidly into a pitch-black chasm, swallowing her whole.

  Salome jolted awake.

  She blinked. The glass dragon still towered unchanged before her, regarding her curiously.

  "What you've just seen was a dream that overtook me not long ago while I slept. Yet, you must know—I never dream. Ever." O'Lei Lom bared his teeth. "Nevertheless, after a lifetime devoid of dreams, this strange, confused vision crept into my mind. You understand, I cannot help but assign it significance. I've decided it must be a vision—one of something perhaps already passed or perhaps yet to come." He hissed quietly, as if voicing displeasure.

  "If there's one thing I know, it's this: nothing happens without reason, not in this world. Thus, I've spent a long time wondering: Why did this vision surface from the depths of my consciousness? What meaning does it carry? I dispatched my loyal Seekers to find clues, information, anything that might relate to it."

  He hissed again.

  "They returned bearing grim tidings. It seems the cloud ocean is changing."

  His immense head lowered to nearly eye-level with Salome. "And then you appeared. Particularly you, girl."

  “Me?” Salome squeaked in surprise.

  Van's gaze flickered uncertainly between her and the dragon, brows furrowed.

  “Indeed,” O’Lei Lom thundered gently. “Your arrival in this world was like a clap of thunder, your presence flooding me like a beacon. From the very moment you set foot in Firmament, I knew of it. And within your shadow, I saw this boy—the first and only one ever to have left Firmament and returned. Tell me, how did you cross the clouds? How did you manage what no one has accomplished in thousands of years?”

  Salome exchanged a glance with Van, but he only shrugged. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted softly. “We were searching for a way to reach Firmament at the base of a world pillar. Although,” she added, casting an apologetic glance toward Van, “at that time I didn’t believe in this world's existence at all. Then… I can only vaguely recall, but something happened. It felt as if my head were about to burst, and the next moment, I woke up here in Firmament.”

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  O’Lei Lom slowly rocked his glassy head back and forth in thought.

  “Curious… truly, very curious. I should examine that pillar more closely at a later time… At any rate, as soon as I became aware of your arrival, I dispatched my dear friend and trusted confidant, Kiran, to bring you swiftly and safely to me.” He chuckled—a sound somewhere between a muted growl and broken thunder.

  “Listen closely! Strange things are unfolding in this world, and the two of you are caught in their currents.”

  His words faded into echoes, slowly diminishing until the vast, circular chamber was filled only with golden light and silence. The deep hum of his voice reverberated through Salome’s entire being, leaving behind a feeling of emptiness whenever it ceased. She noticed herself beginning to yearn for his words, despite the unease they stirred within her heart.

  “That… that must be a mistake,” she finally said, her voice uncertain. “How could someone like me possibly matter to this world? I'm nothing special!”

  Her knees still shook, and her heart refused to calm, so powerfully did the dragon’s presence affect her. It felt red-hot, invisible yet tangible, surrounding her like boiling water flowing unnaturally and far too slowly. His power rippled through her chest like grains of sand gently trickling down an hourglass. She felt every single grain distinctly, yet together they formed a perfect stream, an indivisible whole, warming her from within like fire, stoked by every breath she took. Her senses weren't sufficient to grasp this power fully, yet it was there, hidden in every pulse of the dragon’s shimmering body—in his voice, his words, his very being, woven together in an intricate web that surrounded him, simultaneously something infinitely greater than the sum of its parts.

  “You are who you are,” the dragon growled with firm certainty. “Only those who have reached the end of their journey can look back and truly see what their life meant to this world, and even that privilege isn’t granted to everyone. I could be mistaken, but I dare to claim your journey is far from over. You are the first outsider ever to enter the world above the clouds, and your presence here is no accident. The same goes for you, Van.” The dragon's gaze shifted to the young man again.

  Van cleared his throat. “That all sounds well and good,” he said carefully, “but what use are these… vague visions? What are we supposed to do now? What exactly do you expect from us, Master Lom?” He was visibly relieved to have found his voice again, defiantly bracing himself against the dragon’s overwhelming aura, like someone fighting to stand firm against a powerful river current.

  O’Lei Lom puffed once more, his glassy nostrils flaring. His wide mouth parted slightly, and a slender, shimmering tongue with a forked tip darted out briefly to trace the sharp edge of his teeth.

  “I'm glad you asked. I had hoped to find some answers by becoming better acquainted with you. Yet, since we've made no progress in solving this puzzle, I have no choice but to trust in the assistance of an old friend.”

  The dragon lifted his heavy head, gazing up into the glittering mist high above their heads, as if seeing something there intended for his eyes alone.

  “Far from here, deep in the unknown lands, a band of hunters roams the earth in their wandering fortress. Among them is one who has seen more suns than even I have. He knows the clouds like no other and will surely grasp their condition. Find him and tell him of my vision.”

  Van blinked in confusion. “Forgive my asking,” he hesitated, “but why don’t you seek out this… friend yourself? It's difficult to imagine that anything could possibly prevent you from doing so…”

  The dragon hissed again, baring his teeth slightly. Was he, by any chance, smiling?

  “Certainly, it would be easier, undoubtedly. But… I cannot easily leave this place.”

  “Why not?” Van asked, startled.

  “As much as I'd like to enlighten you, for now you must trust my words. But rest assured—there is nothing but truth in them, by my light!”

  There seemed much the dragon wasn't willing to reveal, thought Salome. Who exactly was this friend he mentioned? Could there be others besides Master Lom—perhaps even other dragons? Salome wasn't sure she could bear to face this mysterious friend, knowing it might also be such a formidable being that merely standing before it could steal her breath. But going after him seemed pointless anyway. Whatever O’Lei Lom saw in her had to be a mistake. She didn't deserve such attention!

  “Finding my old friend is always challenging,” the dragon continued thoughtfully. “He rarely remains in one place for long. You’ll need a guide, someone intimately familiar with the concept of searching—Kiran, you'll accompany them!”

  The boy, who had been leaning silently against the wall by the entrance, sprang upright, startled. “What?” he exclaimed in disbelief. “Master, are you serious?”

  “Of course,” the dragon replied calmly. “They need someone to guide them, to help them track down my old friend in the shadows of this world. No one is better suited to this task than you.”

  “You’re sending me away just like that? I can’t leave this place! The people here need me—I—”

  “Kiran!” the dragon thundered, sending golden sparks scattering frantically through the air, as though startled by his roar.

  Gradually, they calmed, and O’Lei Lom spoke once more. “It would never occur to me to entrust such an important task to anyone but you. Consider this a sign of the deep trust I place in you. You are my student, but also my friend. And as a friend, I ask you: guide these two, as you have done before.”

  Kiran’s face flushed scarlet. He turned his gaze toward Van and Salome, a turbulent mix of emotions swirling in his eyes. Pressing his lips tightly together, he looked back at his master, then, without another word, abruptly spun around and stomped out through the narrow entrance.

  “Please forgive him,” the dragon growled after a moment, emitting a deep, resonant hum—almost like a sigh. “Kiran may be clever and talented, but his pride often stands in his way. He is deeply attached to this place, his home. Even a brief departure weighs heavily on him.” O’Lei Lom shook his head, his glittering mane swirling wildly, creating a sound like ice sliding over frozen snow.

  “Van, Salome, it has been delightful speaking with you. But now, the time has come for you to leave.”

  Van opened his mouth to protest, but the dragon silenced him with a glance, cutting off his words.

  “You have many questions, I understand. And nothing would please me more than to spend hours listening to your stories. But my time is limited...”

  He suddenly seemed exhausted, although nothing about him visibly changed. Salome simply felt something shift subtly, as though his incredible, penetrating presence had become part of her—a connection existing between her and the glass-like being, conveying more than her eyes or ears alone could perceive.

  “Return now to Sileil and wait there. I've already summoned someone who will guide you through the city.” The dragon slowly lowered his head, his deep breaths becoming quieter, steadier.

  “Speak to no one about your task. No one!” He rested his majestic head upon his clawed forelegs. “We shall see each other again soon,” he rumbled gently, closing his eyes as though drifting into sleep.

  “Master Lom?” Salome asked, confused.

  No answer.

  Had he really just fallen asleep?

  She watched as his chest slowly rose and fell, as the golden sparks drifted lazily, far slower than before.

  Eventually, neither Van nor Salome dared linger any longer in the dragon’s presence. They backed away quietly, not wishing to disturb him.

  Just before stepping through the narrow exit, without speaking a word to each other, they bowed deeply as if honoring a lord.