The mountains burned.
The sky wept snow and fire.
Sorra stood among the ruins of Havenreach, her chest heaving, her eyes locked on the creature that loomed before her — an abomination forged of ancient flame and corrupted ice. Its wings were tattered shadows, its breath a storm of frost and ember.
The Royal Crest of Terra pulsed on its forehead, seared into the beast's skin like a curse.
Her classmates fought and fell around her — magic flashing, steel clashing, the screams of the dying echoing into the frozen valley. She had already used too much mana; her vision blurred, her hands trembled.
Still, she refused to fall.
"Wind Boost!" she shouted, hurling herself skyward. Her boots struck an icy ledge, her body spinning midair as she raised her hands. "Inferno Cage!"
Flames roared to life around the creature's chest, spiraling upward — but the monster simply bellowed, shattering the inferno with a sweep of its claws. The shockwave flung Sorra backward, slamming her against a crumbling wall of frost.
Her breath caught in her throat. Pain flared down her ribs.
And in that instant, through the haze of fire and snow — a shadow appeared above.
At first, she thought it was smoke. But then it moved, fast and deliberate, cutting through the sky like a black comet.
Something struck the ground between Sorra and the beast — hard enough to crack the earth.
The shockwave cleared the mist.
A man stood there. Cloaked in black, his mask cracked at the jaw, crimson eyes glowing beneath it. His presence bent the very air — silent, cold, burning with restrained power.
The beast roared, the ground trembling in response.
The stranger tilted his head slightly. "You made quite a mess, Sorra."
Her breath froze.
That voice — calm, steady, threaded with the same quiet strength she'd grown up with.
"…Nova?" she whispered.
He turned his head just enough for her to see the faintest hint of a smile beneath the mask.
"It's been a while, little sister."
Sorra's eyes stung with tears — and relief mixed with disbelief. "You're real… I thought—"
"Later." He raised his hand, cutting her off as the monster reared back, gathering frostfire in its maw. "Right now, we finish this."
The Battle of Havenreach
The beast unleashed a torrent of blue flame that devoured the valley. The students screamed as the wave tore through the air — until a wall of black glass erupted before them, swallowing the inferno whole.
Nova stood at its center, arm outstretched, Total Creation humming like a heartbeat in his palm. The air shimmered around him, symbols flickering into existence, forming a spear of shadowlight that radiated impossible heat.
"Total Creation: Oblivion Spear."
He hurled it.
The spear split the blizzard in two, streaking across the sky like a meteor. It struck the beast dead in the chest — and for the first time, it howled in pain. The Royal Crest pulsed, cracking under the force.
But the creature didn't die. It stumbled, then rose again, fury turning its blood to molten fire.
Sorra gritted her teeth, standing beside him now, her crimson eyes blazing. "You always have to make an entrance."
He smirked faintly beneath the mask. "And you always overdo it."
Their mana flared — hers burning crimson and gold, his swirling black and violet. Two halves of the same forgefire.
Sorra lifted her hand. "Inferno Cage!"
Nova mirrored her. "Total Destruction: Flame Break!"
The ground ignited. Two waves of power collided — and merged — their flames spiraling into one colossal inferno that engulfed the beast entirely. The roar that followed shook the mountains to their roots.
The phoenix mark on its head shattered. The curse bled away into ash.
When the firestorm faded, only silence remained.
The students stood frozen, staring at the siblings who stood amid the wreckage — two silhouettes framed by light and smoke.
Nova lowered his sword slowly. "You've gotten stronger."
Sorra smiled weakly. "You too… Corpse."
His eyes flicked toward her in mild amusement. "You knew?"
"Did you really think I wouldn't recognize you under that ridiculous name?"
He exhaled — half laugh, half sigh. For a moment, they simply stood there, watching the embers drift across the snow.
Later — Havenreach Ruins
The battle was over, but the questions weren't.
Instructor Renford's injuries were being tended to, and the remaining students gathered near the ruined skycarriage. Sorra sat by the remnants of a frost-cracked wall, her cloak wrapped tight around her shoulders.
Nova leaned nearby, arms crossed, the cold wind tugging at his coat.
"You shouldn't have come here," she said softly.
"You shouldn't have stayed," he replied.
Their gazes met — stubborn, protective, unyielding.
Finally, she sighed. "You're chasing something, aren't you?"
Nova glanced toward the mountains, where smoke still rose from the battle. "Someone. The one who corrupted that beast."
Sorra followed his gaze. "Do you think they're connected to…?"
He nodded. "To the night House Grey burned. I'm sure of it now."
Silence hung between them — heavy, but not hopeless.
Sorra smiled faintly. "Then we hunt them. Together."
Nova turned, his crimson eyes softening. "You've grown, Sorra."
"So have you," she said. "But don't think you're running off alone again."
He chuckled under his breath. "Wouldn't dream of it."
The wind shifted, carrying the faint scent of ash and iron — the same scent that once clung to their father's forge.
Two siblings, once thought dead.
Two sparks rekindled against the dark.
And somewhere beyond the horizon, the embers of House Grey began to burn once more.