Three days passed in a blur of preparation. Kael, Leah, Lira, Gareth, and Merlin rallied their allies—two hundred warriors in total: elven archers with magic-infused arrows, phoenixes ready to unleash fire from the sky, griffin warriors clad in iron armor, and loyal human knights from Valoria. They traveled north to the Ironspine Cliffs, the griffin sanctuary bustling with activity as they set up defenses.
Elven archers positioned themselves on the cliffs' edges, their bows drawn, targeting the narrow path that led to the sanctuary. Phoenixes soared overhead, patrolling the skies, their flames glowing gold. Griffins stood guard at the sanctuary's entrance, their claws bared, their roars echoing through the rocks. Human knights and griffin warriors built barricades of stone and wood, reinforcing the path with Merlin's runes—glowing green symbols that would slow the Crimson Order's advance and repel dark magic.
Kael stood atop a high platform, overlooking the defenses. The merged fire in his veins hummed, but he could still feel the split—dragon fire simmering with anger at the betrayal, phoenix fire urging calm and unity. He closed his eyes, focusing on balancing them, and the fire steadied.
"The Crimson Order will be here soon," Leah said, joining him. She wore elven armor, her bow slung over her shoulder, her silver eyes scanning the horizon. "Our scouts spotted their army—three hundred soldiers, led by Lord Titus Voss."
Kael's jaw tightened. Titus Voss—his uncle, his father's brother. A man he'd once respected, a man who'd sworn loyalty to the alliance after Kael saved the realm.
"Titus," Kael said, his voice cold. "Why would he turn against us? We're family."
"Power," Leah said. "The Crimson Order promises him control—over the north, over the realm. And fear. He's afraid of the four bloodlines, afraid of your power as the Emberborn."
A horn echoed through the cliffs—loud, sharp, and menacing.
"They're here," Gareth said, appearing beside them in his humanoid form. He drew his sword, his golden eyes dark. "Three hundred soldiers, just as the scouts reported. And Titus is leading them."
Kael looked down the path. The Crimson Order marched forward—human soldiers clad in red armor, their shields emblazoned with a crimson cross. At the front, Lord Titus rode a black horse, his armor red and gold, his face cold and determined.
The army stopped at the base of the path, Titus riding forward alone.
"Kael Voss," he shouted, his voice echoing through the cliffs. "Surrender the griffin sanctuary. Disband the alliance. Let humans rule the realm, as we were meant to."
Kael stepped forward, his merged fire glowing faintly in his palms. "Titus. You're my uncle. We're family. Why are you doing this? The alliance has brought peace. Prosperity. Why throw it away?"
Titus laughed, a hollow sound. "Peace? Prosperity? This is weakness, Kael. Humans bowing to elves, to phoenixes, to griffins. We are the superior race. We should rule the realm alone."
He raised his hand, and the Crimson Order soldiers raised their weapons. "Surrender, or we will attack. The sanctuary will burn. The griffins will die. And you—you will be executed as a traitor to humanity."
Leah stepped beside Kael, her bow drawn. "We will not surrender. The alliance is strong. We will defend the sanctuary. We will defend the realm."
Titus sneered. "Foolish child. You think your elven magic, your phoenix fire, your griffin claws can stop us? We have power. Power you can't imagine."
He raised his hand, and a dark mist swirled around him—faint, but familiar. Kael's eyes widened. It was the same darkness as the Ancient One, the same darkness as the Shadowstone fragment.
"You're working with dark magic," Kael said, his voice tight. "You're corrupted."
Titus laughed. "Corrupted? No. Empowered. The Ancient One may be gone, but his darkness remains. It flows through me. It flows through the Crimson Order. And soon, it will flow through the entire realm."
He raised his hand, and the Crimson Order charged. Soldiers roared, their weapons glowing with faint dark magic. They ran up the path, attacking the barricades.
"Fire!" Leah shouted.
Elven arrows flew, hitting soldiers between the eyes. Phoenixes launched fireballs, burning soldiers to ash. Griffins dive-bombed, clawing at soldiers, their roars shaking the cliffs. Human knights and griffin warriors fought at the barricades, their swords clashing with the Crimson Order's weapons.
Kael charged down the platform, summoning his flame sword. The merged fire burned bright—dragon fire and phoenix fire balanced, for now. He sliced through a Crimson Order soldier, the fire purging the dark magic from his body.
Leah fired arrows, picking off soldiers who got too close. Lira, in her phoenix form, soared overhead, unleashing waves of fire. Gareth transformed into his griffin form, crushing soldiers under his weight. Merlin raised his staff, casting spells to repel the dark magic, healing injured warriors.
Kael spotted Titus, fighting his way through the griffin warriors. The dark mist swirled around him, making him faster, stronger. He sliced through a griffin warrior's armor, leaving a deep gash in his chest.
"Titus!" Kael shouted, charging toward him.
Titus turned, his sword glowing with dark magic. "Kael. Finally. I've been waiting for this."
He charged at Kael, his sword swinging. Kael blocked with his flame sword, the merged fire clashing with the dark magic. The two fought—fire against darkness, nephew against uncle, unity against division.
"You could join us," Titus said, his voice cold. "We're family, Kael. Together, we could rule the realm. You could be king. The Emberborn and the Crimson Leader—unstoppable."
Kael laughed. "Rule with dark magic? Rule through fear? Never. You're not my family anymore, Titus. You're a monster."
He pushed forward, the merged fire burning brighter. He sliced through Titus's sword, then stabbed him in the chest. Titus screamed, the dark mist fading from around him. He fell to the ground, his armor clattering.
"Kael… help me," he whispered, his eyes filled with fear. "The darkness… it's controlling me. I didn't want this."
Kael hesitated. For a moment, he saw the old Titus—the man who'd taught him to ride a horse, who'd defended him from bullies as a child.
But then the dark mist swirled around Titus again, and his eyes glowed red. He grabbed Kael's sword, his hands burning, and pushed it back.
"Fool," he said. "You think you can save me? The darkness is too strong. It will consume you too. The prophecy will come true. The light will split. The realm will fall."
He launched a wave of dark magic at Kael, hitting him square in the chest. Kael flew backward, landing hard on the ground. The merged fire in his veins flickered, the split widening—dragon fire raging, phoenix fire dimming.
"Kael!" Leah shouted, running toward him.
Titus laughed, pushing himself up. He raised his hand, and the remaining Crimson Order soldiers charged. But before they could reach Kael, a beam of light shot from the sky—gold, green, white, and orange. It hit the soldiers, burning the dark magic from their bodies, sending them fleeing.
Kael looked up. The warriors—elves, phoenixes, griffins, human knights—were standing together, their magic combined. Leah, Lira, Gareth, and Merlin stood at the front, their hands glowing with light.
"We're with you," Leah said, helping Kael up.
Kael smiled, summoning his flame sword. The merged fire burned bright again, the split temporarily mended.
Titus stared, fear in his eyes. "No. This can't be. The darkness is supposed to win."
He turned and ran, vanishing into the rocks.
The cliffs fell silent, except for the sound of warriors breathing hard and healers tending to the injured. Kael let out a breath, dismissing his sword.
"How many did we lose?" he asked, his voice quiet.
Gareth shook his head. "Fifteen warriors. Ten human knights, three elven archers, two griffin warriors."
Kael closed his eyes, grief washing over him. More lives lost. More division. More proof that the prophecy was coming true.
"The Crimson Order won't stop," Merlin said, his voice grave. "Titus is still out there. The dark magic is still in him. And there's something else—this isn't just about Titus. Someone is pulling the strings. Someone is fueling the darkness, using the Crimson Order to split the realm."
Lira nodded. "The phoenixes sensed it. The dark magic isn't just from the Ancient One's fragment. It's older. More deliberate. Like someone is harvesting it."
Kael's jaw tightened. The merged fire in his veins flared—dragon fire dominant, hot and angry.
"We need to find Titus," he said. "We need to find who's behind the Crimson Order. We need to stop the darkness before it splits the realm apart."
The others nodded.
"Elven scouts will track Titus," Leah said.
"Phoenixes will search the skies," Lira added.
"Griffins will guard the sanctuary," Gareth said.
"Merlin will continue searching for answers about the prophecy," Merlin said.
Kael looked at his friends. They were tired, injured, but their resolve was the same.
The fight was far from over.
The split was widening.
The prophecy was unfolding.
But they were the four bloodlines.
They were the realm's guardians.
And they would not let the realm fall.
The merged fire in Kael's veins burned bright, a beacon of light in the darkness.
But he could feel it—the split, growing deeper.
And soon, he would have to choose.
Dragon fire, or phoenix fire.
Anger, or calm.
Division, or unity.
His choice would decide the fate of the realm.