The cabin buzzed with life for the first time in days—laughter, light conversation, and the gentle background noise of Varia and Volio bickering over who made the better s'more. Sapphire polished her new katana in the corner, while Kyo checked on Elliot, who still looked a little pale but was smiling shyly at Volio's latest bug drawing.
But then—a knock at the door. Not an ordinary knock, but sharp and deliberate, each rap sending a ripple of tension through the room.
Winter tensed immediately, his eyes narrowing. Kyo's hand hovered over his chest, electricity prickling in the air as Elliot's catlike ears twitched. An icy chill crept up Winter's spine, so familiar it made him grit his teeth.
Eldo, however, went pale, his whole body stiff. He knew that aura—knew it far too well. For a moment, he couldn't even move.
Winter moved first, every sense on high alert. He stepped to the door, opened it just a crack, and looked out.
A pale man in a spotless black butler suit stood on the porch, hands folded before him, his eyes two pools of infinite midnight. "I've come to have the Prince claim what is rightfully his."
Winter didn't even blink. "I don't give a damn what you came here to do, suit. Turn around and walk away."
The man's face twisted with anger—then, with a deep, controlled breath, he smoothed his expression and raised his voice, projecting so all could hear. "Prin... No. Eldo. If you refuse to claim the world and waste all the precious time I have given you to ascend your uncle's throne, I will have no choice but to punish you—and everyone you hold dear—in whatever way I see fit."
Eldo fumbled out of bed, still shaky but forcing himself upright. He limped to the door, standing shoulder to shoulder with Winter, voice trembling with fear and a flicker of courage. "Malachi... This isn't the way. It can't be."
Malachi's lips curled in disgust as his gaze shifted from Eldo to Winter. "Look what you've done to him—poisoned his mind with your pathetic morals."
Winter's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Last chance. Get the hell out, or I'll kill you right here."
Malachi's smile was cold and thin. "So be it, Elemental." He raised a hand, conjuring a bolt of crackling purple lightning that shot straight into Winter's chest, blasting him across the cabin and into the far wall with a sickening thud.
"Winter!" Varia shrieked, rushing to his side with Volio. Panic spread through the room.
Outside, Malachi straightened his suit and backed away from the porch. "Come outside," he called, his voice cold and echoing. "Accept your death penalty willingly, and I promise I'll make it swift. Otherwise, you'll all suffer."
Eldo's fists clenched. He stepped outside, every muscle trembling but determined. Sapphire followed, hand on her katana. Elliot and Kyo exchanged a look—then they, too, stepped into the evening light, facing Malachi together.
Malachi's eyes glittered with anticipation. "So, you choose suffering. What a shame... especially for you, Eldo. Your uncle had such high hopes for you..." His words oozed disappointment, then—without warning—he shot another bolt of dark lightning at the four of them.
Elliot's hands moved in a blur, psychic force deflecting the bolt into a distant hillside. The earth erupted in a shower of dirt and stone.
Malachi's smile widened. "Impressive." He raised both hands, conjuring a dozen flaming purple fireballs that circled the group, hissing and pulsing with malevolent energy. "All the more fun to break you."
He sent the fireballs hurtling at them in a barrage. Elliot waved her hands, deflecting most with psychic bursts, but sweat beaded on her brow as the attacks multiplied. "MORE!" Malachi howled, summoning a new wave of fireballs, each one burning hotter and faster.
Eldo countered with his own flames, intercepting the dark fire, vaporizing them mid-air. Kyo arced lightning, knocking others out of the sky—but the assault was relentless. Flames rained down, the ground burning, the air thick with smoke and power.
Elliot's strength faltered. She dropped to one knee, then collapsed, exhausted. Sapphire dashed to her side, scooping Elliot onto her back and sprinting into the cabin for cover.
Malachi's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Looks like this fight will finally become interesting." He watched as Winter stumbled out of the cabin, brushing off Varia's desperate attempts to hold him back.
Winter's gaze was pure murder. Malachi laughed, his butler suit unraveling, twisting into a cloak of writhing shadow. Purple lightning danced across his arms. "You should know, all fall before The Tinkerer!"