Duke Liles Siegfreed leaned back in his obsidian-lined chair— the polished black armor made a light clink as he moved. He had just dismissed the last member of his military council, and was about to enjoy a moment of silence, when the door creaked once again. The figure that entered was gaunt, cloaked in dark blue, a shade reserved for the most elite of his intelligence corps.
"My lord," the man said, bowing low. "Word has come from our resourced agent in Echlion. Alfrenzo has left the city."
Liles turned his head to the man slightly. "In which direction?"
"From the route and speed he was travelling, it is highly likely that he is bound for either Marquess Mellon's property or Edelgard."
The duke's lips curled into a frigid smile of satisfaction. "Good. Then it is time."
He stood and turned to view the enormous window that licked across the skyline of Nowastra. Outside, the stark Ruthenian cold sun glimmered down above solid stone towers.
"Raveera is close. She is in Duskwatch," Liles said. "Send Raveera a message. Tell her... it is time to play with fire."
The intelligence chief nodded and exited with the same stealth he had entered. Liles began reviewing another scroll before a sudden laugh broke the silence. He turned sharply—his grim expression softening.
Across the stone-floored chamber, his daughter Lucia was laughing with her playmates. Fifteen and radiant, the duke's only child had inherited her mother's eyes. For a brief moment, the calculating Duke Siegfreed was a father again, not a scheming warlord.
But only for a moment.
______
Three cars rolled down the twisted road abiding the western slopes of Ruthenia.
The first car was a simple covered car, there was no higher purpose, and it carried Alfrenzo and Hunter Gardan within. The second car was heavily armored and filled with crates that contained cleaned mana stones. The third car was heavier armored than the second and carried six mercenaries for hire.
Tension permeated the air. The sight of a single feathered bird took several men to their weapons. Hunter's eyes moved constantly appraising the depth of the forest, each time glancing back toward the guard of sword on his hip.
Alfrenzo looked through a small window at the white stream of clouds above in the first car next to the chant of Hunters ear then mumbled, "Something's coming."
Hunter grunted. He too could smell it, that tingling in the air like the world holding its breath.
Unexpectedly the wind changed.
A whistle shattered the air.
Then—
A streak of red burned through the air above.
It was no arrow—it was like a spear of drawing flame in motion. It transverse the last rear car holding the mercenaries. An ear-splitting blast sent everything in the tumult of the earth surrounding them, it was like watching the world around them turn crimson fire.
The wagon blasted apart, metal and wood spraying shrapnel in all directions. The road cracked under the blast. Fire consumed the mercenaries before they could even scream.
"Down!", Hunter shouted reaching for Alfrenzo and dragging him away just as a second bolt buzzed over their heads.
A thick cloud of smoke billowed. The screams of horses cut through the air.
Suspended above them in an animated spiral of a red blistering air was a woman.
Her hair danced like fire. Her eyes glimmered with a malevolent laughter. She dressed in crimson robes tainted with black runes and thread-like flames glittering in gold fluttered like the wings of a phoenix.
"Alfrenzo." Her voice echoed unnaturally, "The duke sends his regards."
Hunter stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. He recognized her; not by what she looked like, but by the aura.
"Raveera," he said dourly, "Sister to Nags. A Grand Fire Mage."
"Raveera" turned her head sideways "Oh. You remember me? But I do not recall you knight."
"I served Duke Arhenius," Hunter explained. "You weren't in Ganglen when it fell."
"No," she appeared to think. "My brother was. I grew up with his stories. The knight who tore through squads. The one with the stupid name even! Hunter Gardan, I think?"
Lightning flashed overhead.
Hunter was silent. He stepped forward. His sword now drawn. The wind whipped at his cloak.
Raveera's grin widened.
"Should we find out what happens when Grand Fire meets Grand Steel together?"
Hunter's hand tightened. "Bring it."
Then Raveera moved.
The air exploded as Raveera raised her arm directly into the air in front of her and unleashed a fiery inferno, not an orange or red flame. The blue white at the center tried to consume the sky. A lance of fire exploded from her palm, twisted, spiraled, and shot forward like a comet towards Hunter.
Hunter ducked and rolled forward. The impact created a violent effect that sent him down. Without any hesitation, he exploded directly upward and sprinted forward. A blinding speed took him before he snagged a slashing sword strike toward Raveera's body.
Raveera spun in the air, the triumphant flames now wreathing her body as she blocked Hunter's effort with a flaming shield. The collision sent out blazing sparks. Hunter was vaporized backward from the sheer force but landed on his feet.
Raveera soared even higher.
"You are faster than I heard you were," she remarked.
"And you are louder than I thought," Hunter countered.
She made a quick gesture with her hand—several rings on her fingers flickered alive. Striking pillars of flame burst from the ground, following Hunter's path like hungry dogs. He zigged and zagged between the flames while his body faintly glowed with mana reinforcement. His sword gleamed.
He made one step, and he was next to her again—not from the sky, but launching himself using a burst of mana from his boots. Their weapons clashed again.
Steel shrieked against magic.
Hunter pushed with force, forcing his muscles to push him onto her. She exploded in fire again, pushing him back again.
"You are strong, but not strong enough," she taunted.
Hunter crouched low and heavy breathing in. "Then let's fix that."
He raised his blade. Red runes along the edge began to glow.
She turned in shock—too late. A punch struck her gut, reinforced by mana. She wheezed and fell back, catching herself with a flame burst.
Her eyes narrowed now. "So you're holding back."
Hunter cracked his neck. "You haven't even seen the warm-up."
Raveera's aura erupted.
Flames spiraled around her body, rising like a tornado. The temperature spiked. Trees began to burn. The air shimmered from heat. Her hands summoned a sphere of flame so dense it began distorting the light around it.
"I'll give you a real reason to stay dead, Gardan!"