The air was heavy with scent of smoke and burnt earth. Shattered trees stood like blackened setinels around the clearing, their branches whispering of chaos.
The ground trembled under Norgard's shadow, his roar splitting the sky as flame devoured the battlefield. Ammon stood firm, the heat searing through his skin.
"You dare raise your blade against me again, mortal?" Norgard's voice rumbled like thunder.
"He's too strong!" Ayden said.
Then we defeat him together, Ammon replied.
Ayden placed his palm over Ammon's shoulder, sharing his flame- powers flooding through Ammon's vein like molten light. The sword in Ammon's hand ignited, glowing gold with Ammon's power. For the first time, Ammon felt true power.
Elara's voice rose before them, her trembling chant binding the air with silver light.
Nogard roared, lunging forward, but Ammon met him head-on, his blade cutting through the inferno. The strike pierced the dragon's chest. Again, Ayden's flame roared to life, turning fragments of Nogard into stone. Another combo strike from the determined adventurers, led to an explosion that shook the heavens.
Norgard's monstrous form began to fracture. Flame consuming him from within.
With a binding burst of light, Nogard shattering to the sky- like a dying star.
Ammon stood amid the ruins, his chest heaving as the fresh glow of dawn brushed across his face. His sword hunged loosely in his grip, it's edge dulled and nicked from the long fight. The ground beneath him was littered with obsidian like scales- remnants of Nogard monstrous form, dissolving into fine dust.
He wanted to feel victorious.
He wanted to feel it was over.
But the weight in his chest, said otherwise.
Ayden stood, a few feets, his cloak torned, faint smoke curling from his palm.
At the center of the battlefield, Elara knelt beside a fading figure. Her tears shimmered as her mother spirit smiled faintly before she dissolved into luminous motes that rose and vanished into the canopy above. The last curse of Nogard possession was finally undone.
"She's freed". Elara whispered, placing her palm to her chest. "At last".
A soft wind stirred. The lake beside them once black and poisoned, now glow in serene light, it's water clear and still. The shimmered of the rising sun reflected on the surface, like a promise of peace. The beast that once guarded the forest, retreated to their depth, their eyes no longer wild with corruption. The forest itself seemed to exhale.
Suddenly, a faint hum filled the air. That was when Ammon saw Kael and the royal guards.
"You survived", Kael said flatly, his voice unreadable.
Ammon's lips curved into a faint, weary smile. "You sound disappointed, brother."
"Let's go home".Prince Kael, said rashly.
Ammon gaze lingered towards Elara. You've done us, more than we can ever repay. He said softly.
Elara smiled faintly, though her eyes carried the weight of centuries. "Thank you Ammon". She finally said. Norgard's defeat might not be the end of darkness but it proves that fate can be bend.
Ayden folded his hand, his usual calm hiding his emotions beneath. "You're not coming with us then?"
She shook her head, the forest still whispers of wound, that needs tending. My place is in the woods and yours beyond. But remember, if you ever need help, you know were to find me.
Silence hung between them-a silence heavy with words that could not be said.
Then Ammon nodded, at last. "Then may our paths cross again, when the world is ready."
The portal expanded, wrapping them in waves of light. The air shifted cool and sharp. The last thing Ammon saw before stepping through was the reflection of the lake- still, clear and whole again.
The light faded.
The smell of smoke struck first. Then came the sound- distant, broken and sharp. Ammon's boot met cracked stones, his senses snapping awake. The city, he once called home was in ruins. The proud spires of Dravencia Castle scarred, walls shattered by what seems like fire. The streets were empty, the market square covered in ash and silence.
"What happened here?" Ammon whispered.
No one answered.
A guards stumbled towards them, his armour dented and his left arm covered with bloodied clothes. His eyes widened as he saw the princes and he fell to one knee.
"Young masters, forgive us", we couldn't stop them.
"Who," Kael demanded. Who attacked the capital.
The man shook his head weakly. "Beasts", my lord, "Beast".
Kael clenched his jaw, his darting eyes towards Ammon with something between suspicion and fear. The air around them thickened with uncertainty.
Ammon stared into distance, towards the broken towers of his homeland. He could feel it, the stirring of something dark and vast.