The battlefield in Romania was silent now—ash from the fallen demon scattered like snow. The air still sizzled with residual magic. Ron stood amidst the ruins, eyes closed, feeling the Earth's ley lines pulse with relief. One more corruption sealed. One more Hydra stunt crushed.
But even with victory in hand, his heart felt unsettled.
> "They'll come again," Ron muttered. "Smarter. Harder."
Bucky checked the perimeter. "Yeah. But this time, they saw what you can really do. You're not just a mage… you're a warning."
Suddenly, a flicker in Ron's senses—something soft, but precise. Not Hydra. Not demon. Human… cloaked.
He turned in a blur.
From the shadows of a crumbled chapel, a woman stepped into view.
Long crimson coat. Dark hair tied back in a combat braid. Eyes sharp and unreadable. She moved like a ghost, yet radiated presence.
Ron's aura flared. "You're not here by accident."
She smiled, calm and confident. "Neither are you."
Bucky raised his weapon, but Ron motioned him down. "Talk fast."
"I'm Elara," she said. "Former MI-13. Magical black-ops. I've been tracking Hydra's arcane division for three years… until you blew up one of their prime assets."
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here now?"
Elara stepped closer, her voice steady. "Because they'll escalate. They always do. And I know what they're bringing next. You'll need more than strength—you'll need knowledge."
Ron studied her. Her aura shimmered faintly with blue sigils—wards, protection, but not hostile. Her magic was real… and refined. Not stolen like Hydra's.
> "You're a sorceress."
"Trained. Not born. Unlike you," she said, gaze meeting his.
Something flickered in that moment—subtle tension. Not aggression. Something else.
Curiosity. Intrigue.
Bucky crossed his arms. "You trust her?"
Ron didn't answer right away. Instead, he extended a hand toward her, not as an attack—but an offer.
"I'll hear you out. But no lies."
She nodded and placed her hand in his. Their touch sparked—not just magically—but something more… human. Fleeting, but undeniable.
> "Then let's make a deal, Silver Mage," Elara whispered. "You help me destroy Hydra's last ritual vault. And I'll show you where they keep their living weapons."
Ron tilted his head, intrigued. "Deal."
And just like that, fate began to twist—around two powerful souls walking the line between light and shadow.
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