Severa had no idea if she was physically capable of accomplishing this or if fatigue would cause her to fall halfway. Nor did she know how high she had already climbed or how far she still had to go. She didn't dare look down; the answer probably wasn't worth the shock.

Minutes stretched into hours as Severa focused on the rocks and crevices she could cling to. The sound of arrows clattering against the rock face reached her ears, but gravity was on her side; she was too far away to be struck by the heavy steel-forged arrows of the soldiers.

With courage, she carefully looked back. She had covered a considerable distance, a relief mixed with a tight feeling in her stomach. Far below, ten soldiers without armor stood.

Perhaps the other five had been torn apart by the forest dwellers, but more likely, they had removed their armor to be more agile, and the other five had returned with the equipment that was too valuable to leave behind in the forest.

Her choice had ultimately led to a more favorable situation, but it was still ten armed men against a young woman—and possibly a fire-breathing dragon with half an army on its back.

Adrenaline surged through her body as she considered countless scenarios that might unfold once she reached the top of the cliff. Rumors said that the higher you climbed the mountain, the more terrifying the monsters became. But however dreadful, nothing could compare to the idea of having solid ground beneath her feet again.

A heavy burden lifted off her when she finally pulled herself over the edge and, exhausted, looked around. The forest above her seemed unchanged, but the chirping and fluttering of the forest dwellers sounded different than at the forest's edge.

Cautiously looking down again, Severa saw eight soldiers halfway up the cliff, while the remaining two lay dead at the bottom. Her mouth curled into a smile, her heart still pounding wildly from the effort.

By climbing the steep mountain wall, she had remained in the soldiers' sight for a long time. But now that their heads were pressed against the rock face, Severa had the chance to disappear into the forest unnoticed.

The sun was beginning to set, and a pink glow appeared on the horizon. The small insects, easily hidden among leaves during the day, were now clearly visible with their glowing abdomens. This helped them continue their work during the dark hours but also made them easy prey.

Other flowers also began to glow, crying out for attention, but most insects knew better than to be lured by their soft light.

Severa crept through the forest as quietly as possible while the sun disappeared behind the horizon. It would now be harder for the soldiers to find her in the dark. This was her chance to disappear for good.

She gazed through the dense canopy at the sky, where the mountain's peak stood proudly against the deep blue light, illuminated by several moons and stars.

Severa remembered the route from Sylvamarius along the Gibbos hills, a four-day journey to Monterra, the village north of Sylvamarius, located beyond Nivalis. It was a safer route than crossing the mountain, but acceptance in Monterra was unlikely.

She had no intention of following in her mother's footsteps, who had fled to Sylvamarius long ago. Although city chief Ambrosius wasn't the cruelest, he hadn't spared her when she tried to settle in the city. Her father had risked his life to keep her with him.

Severa had no intention of winning a fool's heart. The mere thought made her nauseous. Love, dragons, and the Brimsjá army were far more terrifying than heights.

She hoped the Brimsjá army would assume she headed toward Monterra. Perhaps, upon reaching the small village, they would unleash their frustration on its inhabitants and finally forget about her.

The advantage was now on Severa's side, as it was dark and the soldiers could barely see her climbing through the canopy. Moreover, unlike the forest filled with glowing lights from flowers, plants, and luminescent creatures, the rock face was a large black expanse where Severa could easily evade their sight.

Severa had made her choice and took large strides through the forest, heading toward the next cliff. It didn't take long before she reached the forest's edge, where the trees could no longer grip the steep, hard ground.

The mountain rose almost straight up, with occasional ledges providing shelter for certain plants and trees.

Without wasting time, she climbed again. As soon as she reached the first ledge, she remembered how exhausting the initial climb had been and briefly regretted her choice. She swung her legs over the edge and leaned against the rock wall to rest.

Next to her, the purple light of a beautiful flower shone. Fearing the soldiers would see her in its glow, she broke the stem and pressed it against the ground. She covered the flower with her hands until all light slipping between her fingers disappeared.

Severa sighed and looked out over the forests. In the distance, beyond Sylvamarius, she thought she saw the black silhouette of the Pyroraptor sleeping on a small mountain peak. It was both a reassuring and frightening sight. Her hatred for the dragon had grown again, as had her fear. She didn't know how many villagers were still alive; honestly, she didn't care. The only person she cared about in the whole village was her father.

The images of the ruthless army determined to destroy everything reappeared before her eyes. She was certain her father hadn't stood a chance. He was probably too weak even to get out of his chair and had been consumed by the flames in his house. That thought broke her heart and filled her with rage. Once again, she had lost a loved one to a dragon.

Now she had no one left. Not only were the only two people she cared about gone, but also the home she cherished was destroyed. She loved the cozy narrow streets, the loud town clock, and the uncomfortable benches in the square, but they had all gone up in smoke.

The ground beneath her seemed to want to suck her down, and her legs tingled with the urge to throw herself off the rock. The trees below seemed to whisper that everything would be over if she just let go, a tempting offer.

Sick with grief and fear, she pressed her back even closer to the rock wall behind her, afraid her body would listen to the trees.

Her gaze fell again on the fire dragon, still sleeping peacefully as if nothing had happened, and she clenched her fists in rage, driven by all the thoughts she couldn't shake.

Maybe she had fled, but she was certain that, no matter how this journey ended, Brimsjá would pay the highest price. This act would not go unpunished.

She sat for a few more minutes to calm down, but anger and hatred pumped through her body, urging her to keep going. Soon after, she was back with her hands gripping the rock wall, her eyes fixed firmly upward. Every few minutes, Severa cautiously glanced back at the Pyroraptor, which still seemed to be sleeping deeply.

The night passed slowly, and her arms felt numb. When she was about four meters from the cliff's edge and glanced back at the dragon, she saw its silhouette moving in the faint morning light. She gathered every last bit of strength and climbed as quickly as she could. With a swing, she threw her hand over the edge of the cliff. Her numb fingers pressed as hard as they could against the stone surface to pull her body up. Not long after, Severa swung her leg over the edge and rolled onto her back. Above her, the mountain peak loomed high. It was already quite cold up here, and a thin layer of snow glistened on the mountain's summit.

As her eyes drifted from the top downward, she noticed that the rough mountain face transitioned into unnaturally long bands of precisely carved stone.

Severa turned onto her stomach and looked up at a gigantic sculpture carved into the mountain's front. It was a structure with a dark, imposing appearance, devoid of windows and featuring only a massive, tall, narrow door. What function the building once served was unclear, but Severa guessed it was a temple. It was obvious that no one had been here for a long time, as ivy had stretched across the intricate relief of the door. Beyond that, the smooth, hard walls remained bare, offering nature no cracks or niches in which to settle.

Severa stood up and took in the temple fully. It was both unobtrusive and overwhelmingly present. Cautiously, she walked to the temple's gate and placed her hand on the door.

Should I shorten this chapter a bit to prevent you from falling asleep as well?  Or are you enjoying a break from the action?