THE LOST MAGIC KINGDOM

The sun was sinking behind the jagged peaks, casting a warm, amber glow over the land. Kael was focused, sweat dripping from his brow, as he concentrated on the exercises Calen had set for him. He stood with arms outstretched, trying to harness the power of the ancient dragon coursing through him. His breaths were shallow, strained, as he struggled to control the raw energy within.

"This... this isn't working," Kael muttered, frustration building. He could feel the power thrashing inside him like a wild beast, always just out of his grasp.

"You're pushing too hard," Calen's voice called from behind. "The dragon's magic isn't to be tamed with brute force. Relax, Kael. Let it flow with you."

Erya stood nearby, arms crossed, observing the training with an amused smirk. Kael had made significant progress, but he was far from mastering the dragon's power. It would take time, but she knew Kael's stubbornness would drive him to get there eventually.

Then, without warning, a piercing scream sliced through the air. Kael's head whipped toward the sound. In the distance, a figure was sprinting toward them—a woman, her long hair flowing like silver threads behind her. She was running with desperate speed, but what truly caught their attention was the enormous elephant charging after her, its massive feet shaking the earth with every step.

"What in the name of the gods?" Kael breathed, eyes wide with shock. The sheer size of the creature was enough to make anyone freeze, but what took him by surprise even more was the woman herself. She was stunning—radiant in her desperation, yet graceful as she ran. For a moment, Kael stood motionless, caught off guard by her presence.

"Kael, move!" Erya snapped, grabbing his arm and pulling him into motion. "She's in trouble!"

The woman was growing closer, but the elephant was gaining fast. The ground rumbled beneath them as the beast thundered closer. The woman's face was pale, terror etched into every line as she looked over her shoulder.

"Help! Please, help me!" she screamed, her voice filled with panic.

Kael's feet still refused to move. His mind raced, but his body was frozen. He was transfixed by her—he couldn't explain why, but something about her energy, her urgency, seemed to grip him.

"Kael!" Erya shouted again, shaking him from his stupor. "We don't have time!"

Finally snapping out of his daze, Kael turned to run, but he was still too slow. The elephant was almost upon them, the ground quaking beneath its weight.

"Calen!" Erya shouted urgently, readying her sword.

Calen didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, his hands raised calmly. "Hati, stop!" His voice rang out with command, but there was no fear in it, only authority.

The elephant halted abruptly, its massive form shuddering as though caught in an invisible net. Its great head turned toward Calen, who stood unfazed.

The woman, gasping for breath, collapsed to her knees just a few feet from them. Kael was still catching his breath as he turned to see her up close, his heart pounding in his chest. She was even more beautiful up close—wild, untamed, but with a strength in her eyes that he couldn't quite place.

"Are you... are you alright?" Kael asked, his voice unsteady as he knelt beside her.

The woman looked up at him, her chest rising and falling quickly as she caught her breath. Her eyes were a piercing blue, intense yet vulnerable. She nodded, still shaken but visibly relieved. "I... I didn't think I'd make it."

Kael froze for a moment, his gaze lingering on her. It wasn't just the danger they had just escaped—it was her. Something about her presence made everything else fade away.

Erya, standing off to the side, rolled her eyes. She had noticed Kael's dazed expression and the way his attention was locked on the woman. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, but she said nothing—yet.

"You're lucky," Calen remarked, his voice calm as he moved toward them. "Hati doesn't stop easily, but with a bit of influence, you can manage him."

The woman raised her head toward Calen, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said, her voice soft but earnest. She gave him a slight nod before her gaze drifted back to Kael.

Kael quickly stood, brushing himself off as he cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah. You're safe now. We're glad we could help."

There was a slight awkwardness in his tone that wasn't lost on Erya, who raised an eyebrow. She stepped forward, her usual stoic demeanor slipping slightly as she spoke.

"I'm Erya," she said, her voice a little sharper than usual, "and this is Kael." She glanced at Kael, then back at the woman with an unreadable expression. "What happened? Why was that beast chasing you?"

The woman stood slowly, her legs shaky but determined. She straightened herself and wiped the dirt from her clothes. "I'm Lyra," she said, giving them a weak smile. "And... I've been running from that thing for hours. It's a long story."

"Are you alright?" Kael asked, suddenly realizing how much he wanted to know more. He'd never been one to talk to strangers like this, but there was something about her, something that made him want to know everything.

Lyra gave him a quick glance, her lips curling into a playful smile. "I'm fine now, thanks to you." Her eyes flicked between Kael and Erya, then she added, "But if I'm being honest, I think I owe you both more than just a thank you. That elephant's not one to let go of a chase so easily."

"Glad we could be of help," Kael replied, his heart still racing from the encounter—and not just because of the elephant. He didn't realize it, but his eyes lingered on Lyra a little too long.

Erya, noticing this, cleared her throat. "We should keep moving. There's no time to waste."

Lyra gave a small nod. "I agree. I've been tracking something... dangerous. But if you're headed in the same direction, maybe we can help each other out."

Kael's eyes widened, his thoughts still tangled. "You're tracking something dangerous?"

She smiled, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Oh, you have no idea. But I think you'll be glad to have me along. I know these lands better than anyone."

Kael's mind raced, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins. But now, with Lyra here, the journey had just become far more unpredictable—and far more exciting.

"Well, it looks like you're stuck with us now," Kael said, smiling awkwardly, though his heart skipped a beat at the thought of her joining them.

Erya gave him a knowing look but said nothing, choosing to move ahead. "Let's go. The road ahead won't get any easier."

Kael, still distracted by Lyra's presence, nodded and fell in step with her. The journey had taken an unexpected turn, but Kael couldn't shake the feeling that Lyra's arrival was no accident.