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The tension in the air thickened as Volk, his tone both commanding and curious, asked, "Fly us to the Elven Continent."

The owl people exchanged fearful glances, their golden eyes darting between one another. Their feathers bristled, not in defiance, but in panic. The female owl, still trembling from her earlier plea, took a cautious step forward. "W-we can't…" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Volk's sharp gaze narrowed as he stepped closer. "Can't?" he repeated, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Or won't?"

The female flinched but held her ground. "It's not that we refuse," she said quickly, her words tumbling out in a desperate attempt to explain. "It's… it's that we're not equipped to carry such heavy loads. We're built for speed, not strength. Carrying even one of you for such a long journey would be…"

"Impossible?" Volk interjected, his tone mocking yet probing.

She nodded hesitantly, her feathers trembling under his scrutiny. "Yes… impossible. But…" She hesitated, her gaze flickering to the other owl people as if seeking their silent agreement. "There are… others who can."

Volk raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. He crossed his arms and tilted his head, his tusks glinting as he grinned. "Others, you say?"

The older owl, the one with streaks of white in his feathers, stepped forward. His voice was steadier, though it still carried the weight of caution. "Yes, great leader Volk. There are those among the winged tribes who are built for such tasks. They are the eagle people—stronger, larger, and capable of carrying great weights across vast distances."

Volk's eyes gleamed with intrigue, but his expression darkened as he leaned closer. "And where are these eagle people?"

The older owl hesitated, his beak opening and closing as if weighing the consequences of his next words. Finally, he sighed and said, "They reside in the high peaks, far from here. They rarely leave their territory and are… not ones to cooperate easily."

Volk's grin widened, his sharp teeth on full display. "Not ones to cooperate easily, you say? That sounds like a challenge."

The owls exchanged nervous glances, their feathers rustling as they shifted uncomfortably. The younger owl from earlier, his pale gray feathers still damp from tears, spoke up timidly, "They're proud… very proud. Even more than us. If you wish to… to gain their help, you'll need to prove yourself."

Volk let out a deep, rumbling laugh that echoed across the clearing. The Horde, standing behind him, chuckled along, their amusement at the owls' predicament evident. "Prove myself?" Volk repeated, his tone dripping with amusement. "I think I've proven myself enough by not turning all of you into practice dummies."

The owl people flinched at his words, their heads bowing lower in submission.

Volk's laughter subsided, and he straightened, his eyes glinting with determination. "Fine," he said, his voice carrying the weight of command. "Take me to the eagle people. Let's see if their pride can hold up against the Horde of Lyern."

The older owl hesitated but nodded. "As you wish, great leader. But… be warned. The eagle people are not just strong. They are cunning, and they do not take kindly to outsiders."

Volk smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Good. I wouldn't have it any other way."

The scene ended with the owls reluctantly preparing to guide Volk and his Horde, their fear evident in their every movement as the shadow of their new leader loomed over them.

The journey to the mountain peaks was an arduous one, testing the resolve of Volk and his Horde at every step. Though the goblins had crafted ingenious flying machines, their mana reserves were not infinite, and the weight of the orcs, ogres, and other hulking members of the Horde made sustained flight a luxury they could not afford for long stretches.

At first, the group attempted to ascend using the machines, gliding between the jagged cliffs and steep inclines. The wind, sharp and biting, tore at their clothes and flesh, forcing them to grit their teeth and push forward. The owl people, serving as reluctant guides, flapped their wings effortlessly above, their movements smooth and practiced. They occasionally glanced back at the struggling Horde, their expressions a mix of pity and concealed smugness.

"Keep moving!" Volk bellowed, his voice echoing through the craggy expanse. His fiery gaze swept over his Horde, many of whom were sweating and panting from the effort of scaling the rugged terrain.

The ogres grumbled, their massive hands gripping onto rocks that crumbled under their immense weight. One of them slipped, a shower of pebbles tumbling down the slope, and he barely caught himself with a roar of frustration. The goblins, though more nimble, were equally strained. Their small frames shivered in the biting cold, and the effort of carrying the delicate components of their machines weighed heavily on them.

Volk himself marched with relentless determination, his broad shoulders cutting through the wind as he led the way. He would occasionally glance at the owl people soaring above, his jaw tightening. They had the audacity to fly leisurely while his Horde struggled, but he bit back his irritation. They were his ticket to the eagle people, and he wouldn't jeopardize the mission by snapping too soon.

As the terrain grew steeper, the flying machines began to sputter and falter. The mana crystals embedded in their cores flickered, their once-bright glow dimming. The goblins managing them began shouting in panic, scrambling to stabilize the devices before they fell apart mid-air.

"Land those things now before you crash them!" Volk shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. The goblins obeyed, landing awkwardly on the rocky path. A few of the machines tipped over, spilling their parts onto the ground.

One goblin, his face smudged with grease and soot, looked up at Volk with wide, nervous eyes. "W-we need to recharge them, my lord. Without mana, they're useless!"@@novelbin@@

Volk scowled but nodded. "Then we'll walk. Pack them up and keep moving!"

The Horde groaned collectively but complied. The machines were disassembled and strapped to the backs of the ogres, who grumbled under the added weight but bore it without complaint.

The climb became a grueling ordeal. The air grew thinner, making every breath a laborious effort. The wind howled mercilessly, and the rocky path was littered with treacherous loose stones that threatened to send them tumbling into the abyss below.

"Watch your footing!" Volk barked as one goblin stumbled, nearly losing his balance. The goblin caught himself and nodded quickly, his face pale.

Hours turned into what felt like days as they trudged upward. The sun began to set, casting long shadows over the peaks and painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold. The temperature plummeted further, and the Horde wrapped themselves in whatever cloaks and furs they had brought.

The owl people, still gliding above, occasionally called out directions, their voices barely audible over the wind. "This way! The path narrows here—be careful!"

"About time they did something useful," Volk muttered under his breath, earning a chuckle from one of the ogres.

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As night fell, they set up a makeshift camp on a small plateau, the only flat space they could find. Fires were lit, casting flickering shadows against the jagged cliffs. The goblins huddled together for warmth, while the ogres and orcs took turns keeping watch. Volk sat near the largest fire, his sharp eyes scanning the peaks above.

The owl people perched nearby, their silhouettes barely visible in the darkness. Volk could hear their soft murmurs, though he couldn't make out their words. He didn't care. His mind was focused on the challenge ahead.

When dawn broke, the journey resumed. The path grew even narrower, forcing them to move in single file. The cliffs on either side were sheer drops, the kind that made even the bravest warriors swallow hard. The wind seemed to mock them, pulling at their clothes and threatening to unbalance them with every step.

"Almost there," one of the owl people called out.

Volk clenched his fists, his determination unwavering. "Almost there" wasn't good enough. They would reach their destination, no matter the cost.

By the time they reached the higher peaks, the Horde was exhausted. Even Volk's indomitable energy seemed slightly dimmed, though he refused to show it. The owl people landed gracefully ahead, gesturing to a towering cliff in the distance.

"There," the older owl said, pointing with a feathered hand. "The eagle people make their home on those peaks."

Volk stared at the distant cliffs, his eyes narrowing. The journey had been brutal, but they had made it. And now, he thought with a grim smile, it was time to see just how proud these eagle people truly were.