---
The courtyard of Eldros was packed. Knights lined up in gleaming armor. Archers readied their bows atop the walls. Mages whispered incantations beneath their breath. Everyone was waiting—for her.
Seraphina stepped forward, the wind catching her cloak, the Everflame glowing gently on her palm. Her voice echoed through the silence.
"People of Eldros," she called out. "I do not stand before you as royalty, nor as a warrior. I stand as one of you. A daughter of this land. A keeper of its light."
She looked across the crowd—some wounded, some scared, some barely older than children. "Malrec wants us to kneel. To accept his darkness as fate. But I say no."
Her voice rose like fire. "We may be afraid—but that doesn't mean we're weak. We may be wounded—but that doesn't mean we're broken."
The Ember Sigil on her hand burst into golden flame.
"He has shadows. But we have the Everflame."
Cheers began to rise.
"We have love," she continued. "We have loyalty. We have hope. And tonight—tonight we fight not just for survival, but for a future that belongs to us."
The people roared. Swords were raised. Feet stomped. Magic crackled in the air.
Cassian moved beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You were born to lead them."
She turned, meeting his eyes. "I was born to protect them."
He smiled. "And I was born to protect you."
---
Later, on the battlefield
The sky had turned blood red as Malrec's army approached—giant beasts forged of shadow, men with eyes like coal, and the Fallen King himself atop a black stallion, wearing a crown of bone.
Seraphina stood at the front, her flame-lit hair whipping in the wind.
"Positions!" she cried. "Archers ready!"
Cassian drew his blade. "We hold here."
And then—the first shadow beast charged.
A blur of black fur and fangs.
Seraphina raised her hands. The Everflame burst forth in a radiant arc, slamming the beast into the dirt. The battle had begun.
Knights clashed steel with corrupted warriors. Mages hurled bolts of light and fire. Screams echoed. Dust rose. The battlefield became chaos.
Cassian fought at her side, fending off two foes at once. "How are we doing?" he called.
"We're not dead yet," she shouted back.
Then—a monstrous shadow creature, taller than a tower, let out a roar and charged directly for Seraphina.
Cassian yelled, "Seraphina!"
But she was ready.
She closed her eyes—and sang.
Her voice rose above the war, clear and haunting, a song older than the kingdom. The Everflame answered.
From the sky, a massive pillar of golden fire descended, striking the beast mid-charge and shattering it into ash.
Silence fell across part of the field.
Warriors stopped. Even Malrec turned his head.
Seraphina stood with the Everflame dancing around her like a crown.
She opened her eyes. "This is just the beginning."
---