The silence didn't last long.
Malrec's roar tore through the battlefield like thunder. His voice wasn't human—it was ancient, filled with rage and power. The skies darkened further, and a bolt of black lightning struck the ground in front of his steed.
"You dare challenge me with fire, girl?" he bellowed. "I am the storm that swallowed kings. I am the darkness that never dies."
Seraphina stepped forward, the Everflame pulsing behind her eyes. "You are fear. But fear ends here."
Cassian stood beside her, panting from the fight. "Well, that was dramatic. Think he rehearsed that?"
Seraphina smirked. "Let's not let him finish his monologue."
Malrec raised his hand—and the battlefield shook.
Dozens of fallen soldiers, both friend and foe, began to twitch, rise, and groan. Their eyes glowed with shadow. He was raising the dead.
Seraphina's breath caught in her throat. "No…"
Cassian's face turned grim. "We need to fall back. Regroup."
But Seraphina didn't move. "No. We push forward."
"Are you mad?"
"I can stop him. I can feel it, Cassian. The Everflame… it wants to end this."
He grabbed her arm, eyes fierce. "And what does it want in return?"
She didn't answer. Because deep inside, she already knew—it wanted everything.
---
Later, deep in the battlefield
The tide had turned. Malrec's undead swarmed like locusts. Eldros' warriors were being pushed back.
Seraphina ran through the chaos, fire blazing in her palms, incinerating the dead with every step.
"Cassian!" she yelled, looking around. "Where are you?!"
A crashing sound—then his voice: "Over here!"
She found him locked in a brutal fight with one of Malrec's dark champions, a hulking beast in blackened armor. Cassian's blade had snapped. He was cornered.
Seraphina screamed and hurled a blast of fire, knocking the creature off balance. Cassian leapt and slammed the broken blade into its throat.
"Thanks," he panted, wiping sweat from his brow.
"You always owe me," she teased, but there was no joy in her voice. Only fear.
They both turned as Malrec stepped forward from the smoke, his massive form cloaked in shadow. He raised a hand—and the Everflame in Seraphina's chest shivered.
"I see it in you," he hissed. "The fire that was never meant for mortals. It will eat you alive."
"Maybe," Seraphina said, lifting her chin. "But first—it will burn you."
He roared and rushed at her with unnatural speed.
Cassian yelled, "Seraphina, get back!"
But she didn't. She planted her feet, eyes locked on Malrec's twisted face. The Everflame surged within her, stronger than ever—but something was wrong.
It hurt.
Her veins felt like molten metal. Her vision blurred. She stumbled.
"No," she whispered. "Not now…"
Cassian reached her just as Malrec's blade came down.
A blinding wall of flame erupted between them, saving them—but it hadn't come from Seraphina.
It came from the earth itself.
The ancient flame was waking.
Malrec backed away, growling. "She is awakening it. The Everflame is remembering who it belonged to."
He disappeared into smoke.
Seraphina collapsed to her knees, gasping.
Cassian caught her. "You're burning up."
"I—I couldn't control it," she breathed. "It's getting stronger. I don't know how long I can hold it."
He held her close. "Then let me hold you when you can't. You don't have to do this alone."
She closed her eyes, trembling.
The final battle was coming.
And the fire inside her might be the last thing she could trust—or the first thing to destroy her.
---