It was too late to stop it. The air swirled in a vertical circle and continued growing into a whirlpool of light. Spinel squealed and jumped into Ansgarde’s waiting hands, her feathery hair raised on ends by magical static, turning her into a fluffy ball.

“You didn’t summon Lamassu, did you?”

Spinel nodded repeatedly.

Ansgarde felt short of breath. “I was only joking. We can’t go on a quest!”

A hum pulsed out of the swirling depths, and she strained her eyes, hoping to glimpse what was on the other side. She wanted to have a better look, but fear glued her sandals to the floor.

Then, a creature twice her size bounded out of the portal. Ansgarde jumped a step away, a scream stuck in her throat. In person, Lamassu was magnificent and terrifying.

She had the body of a sleek black feline, massive black feathery wings, and a matching black humanoid face. Slitted yellow eyes regarded Ansgarde curiously. Her claws were large enough to cut through bone.

”You've summoned me,” she said and smiled a little, revealing long fangs.

“I apologize if we’re not welcome to,” Ansgarde stuttered.

She had seen a variety of fierce demon races in Lower Heliodor, but none made her quiver as this being in front of her. What had Spinel gotten them into?

Lamassu’s muscles flexed as she leisurely circled them. All shrivels of doubt that the Cloud Empire or the dragon curse were real disappeared as this mythical creature stood before her.

“What might you want?”

Ansgarde swallowed, begging her brain to work. Could she outfly this creature if it came to it? The balcony was very close by. Just a few bounds and she could take to the air. She was a great flyer, but predators enjoyed chasing their prey, didn’t they? Lamassu was most definitely a fierce predator. Were demons on her menu?

“Speak, Spawn of Heliodor,” her modulated voice echoed in the gallery, “or I shall take my leave.”

The words sparked a thread of recognition in her mind. Ansgarde glanced toward the empty case. She was a Spawn of Heliodor.

“You guard the Cloud Empire.”

“I do.”

Was the other part of the legend true then? Was an Empyreal destined to free the dragons?

Spinel whispered words of encouragement from her hiding spot, and Ansgarde wasn’t sure what to do. The opportunity to go on this quest was never as close as it was now. If she were Sadie from her story, she would ask Lamassu permission to cross. But she wasn’t Sadie, and this was not a fantastical dream.

“Why call me now?” Lamassu’s tail twitched between sentences. “Your race held the scroll for centuries.”

“No one tried to summon you before?”

“They have.” Lamassu blinked slowly, her voice calm. “I did not let them pass.”

Ansgarde was relieved to hear that. The guardian wouldn’t let someone unqualified bother the dragons.

“Why now?” the feline asked again. Thankfully, she looked curious, not annoyed. Her claws were mostly retracted.

“They’re putting the scroll in storage. I might be the last demon to have read it.”

Even more likely, she was the last demon to care about the fate of the dragon race. Everyone wrote them off as a myth, a tale to read to their spawn at bedtime.

Lamassu stopped circling and sat in front of her, perfectly still. Her glowing eyes penetrated deep inside Ansgarde’s soul.

She wished she was Sadie. Her hero would have immediately jumped on the opportunity to travel to The Cloud Empire. Sadie wouldn’t allow fear to think for her.

Their eyes were locked on for a good while before Lamassu looked away.

“You’re worthy,” she stated. “Follow me, Empyreal.”

And she jumped through the portal without other explanations.

Ansgarde’s legs felt weak all of a sudden. “Follow her?” she asked Spinel. “As in now?”

She wasn’t ready. How could she drop her responsibilities and go on a quest unprepared?

The portal revolved like a whirlpool of blues, deep hum pulsing from within. Just a few steps and she could travel between realms to the place she had dreamt of. If her grandfather was here, what advice would he give her?

Ansgarde smoothed out her troublemaking friend’s hair, pulse pounding in her ears. If an Empyreal had to free the dragons, and she was the last Empyreal to read the scroll, the responsibility was hers. Who else would do this? And if she didn’t, what then? Go back to the life she despised? She would never be happy with order and monotony. She’d never make her mother proud. Why sentence yourself to a life you don’t want?

“Ooh ee,” Spinel encouraged.

“You’re leading the way, right? I’m your sidekick, Spinel.”

Spinel grinned broadly and held onto her hand, anchoring herself, ready for a bumpy ride. Was she?

Ansgarde took a running start but paused, her muscles locked up, her stomach twisted into knots. Was she really going to do this - jump into a portal, not knowing where it led to?

The portal swirled in front of her, waiting. Its magic prickled her skin, a tease, a promise of more. If she didn’t do this, she would spend her entire boring life wondering what if. Sadie would have jumped.

No more fantasy. It was time for the real adventure.

Ansgarde grit her teeth and jumped through the portal which closed after her with no sound.