Le Vallon Aérien

A daring early‑nineteenth‑century aeronaut sets out to chart the remote peaks of the Pyrenees, using a balloon to reach summits inaccessible to even the most seasoned mountaineers. His meticulous notes on geology, temperature and atmospheric currents promise to reshape scientific understanding, yet he keeps his discoveries private until they are certain. When a final ascent brings him over a curious circular range, he spies a vast, hidden plain that beckons investigation.

Descending to the foothills, he discovers that the valley is guarded by sheer, ice‑like walls and inhabited by shepherds who speak of an isolated community living within. The locals describe a place shrouded in mystery, said to be home to a troupe of enigmatic “sorcerers” whose ties to the underworld are whispered in hushed tones. The narrative weaves together vivid observations of the landscape with the strange customs and legends of its secretive residents, offering a fascinating glimpse into a world that has remained untouched by the outside.