The roar of battle swallowed them whole.
Selene barely had time to process where they were before a fireball streaked past her, exploding against the frost-coated ground. Heat and ice clashed in the air, creating steam that thickened the battlefield like a suffocating fog.
Lucian pulled her close, his body shielding her instinctively. "Stay with me," he said, his voice urgent but steady.
Her pulse thundered in her ears. Soldiers in crimson armor charged forward, their blades glowing with the ember magic of the Flameborn. On the other side, warriors clad in silver and ice-blue wielded frost-tipped lances, their breath visible in the cold air.
The Emberlands. The Winter Court.
Two kingdoms locked in war.
Selene's throat tightened. This wasn't just any battle—this was the beginning of something far worse.
A horn blew from the western hill, deep and commanding.
Lucian stiffened. "That's the Emberlands' battle call."
A moment later, another horn answered from the east, its sound sharp and piercing like breaking ice.
Selene recognized it immediately. "That's the Winter Court."
They weren't just caught in a battle.
They were caught between two worlds that should never have gone to war.
She turned to Lucian, her mind racing. "How is this happening? The Emberlands and the Winter Court have never fought like this."
Lucian's gaze darkened. "Something changed. Something—or someone—made this happen."
And then she saw him.
A figure in dark robes, standing at the edge of the battlefield on a raised cliff, overlooking the carnage like a god watching his creation unfold.
Tall. Hooded. Familiar.
Her breath caught. "Elaris."
Lucian followed her gaze, his fists clenching. "That bastard."
Elaris—the trickster, the illusionist, the puppet master—had done this.
Selene didn't hesitate. "We have to get to him."
Lucian nodded. "Agreed. But we're going to have to go through this war first."
Selene's grip on his hand tightened. "Then let's not waste time."
They ran.
Through the chaos, through the clashing steel and roaring flames, through the screams of soldiers who had no idea they were fighting a war orchestrated by something far greater than themselves.
Lucian cut down anything in their path, his sword flashing like lightning. Flames erupted around him, his power flaring with each strike.
Selene moved like the winter storm she was—her frost spreading with every step, freezing enemy weapons mid-swing, creating shields of ice that deflected incoming attacks.
Together, they were unstoppable.
But the battle raged on.
As they neared the hill where Elaris stood, Selene's heart pounded with fury.
He was watching them now.
Waiting.
And when they reached the base of the hill, his voice—smooth as ever—echoed through the air.
"You're late."
Selene and Lucian stopped just feet away from him, breathless but unyielding.
Lucian's sword dripped with embers. "End this. Now."
Elaris chuckled. "Oh, but why would I? Look at them." He gestured to the battlefield below. "Fighting. Burning. Freezing. All for a war they don't even understand."
Selene's nails dug into her palms. "You're behind this. Aren't you?"
Elaris tilted his head. "Am I?"
Lucian snarled. "Enough riddles."
Elaris sighed, as if they were the ones being unreasonable. "You two don't understand the bigger picture. This—" he gestured to the battlefield, "—was always meant to happen. Fire and Ice cannot exist together without war."
Selene's blood ran cold.
He was trying to make them believe they were the cause of this.
Lucian took a step forward. "You're wrong."
Elaris smiled. "Am I? Look around, Lucian. Your people fight because they fear losing their kingdom. Because of you." He turned to Selene. "And yours? Because they think they're saving you."
Selene's breath hitched.
Lucian's eyes darkened. "You want us to believe we caused this?"
Elaris smirked. "I don't need you to believe anything. I just need you to choose."
Selene's stomach clenched. "Choose?"
Elaris spread his hands. "Two armies. Two kingdoms. And only one can win." His gaze flickered between them. "So tell me, which side will you save?"
Silence.
Selene's heart pounded as she glanced at Lucian. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable.
They couldn't choose.
They wouldn't.
But if they did nothing, the battle would never end.
Lucian exhaled sharply. "Selene."
She looked at him.
His gaze was steady. Determined.
"We end this," he said. "Together."
Selene nodded. "Together."
Then, without another word, they turned back to the battlefield.
And unleashed everything.