The northern lands lay before them, a landscape twisted by Alaric's dark magic—blackened trees, murky rivers, villages shrouded in mist. The air hummed with corruption, and Kael could feel it clinging to his skin, feeding the dragon fire in his veins. It raged brighter now, hot and unruly, the phoenix fire a faint flicker beneath it.
"Stay behind the shields," Merlin shouted, raising his staff. Glowing green runes spread across the ground, forming a barrier around the warriors. "Kael, focus. Burn the dark magic, not the land. Not the people."
Kael nodded, stepping forward. He closed his eyes, summoning the dragon fire. It roared to life, a wave of orange-red heat washing over him. He directed it toward the nearest village, where dark magic swirled thickest around the houses.
The fire surged forward, burning through the dark magic. The mist lifted, the corruption faded, and the village's blackened roofs began to glow with a faint light. The villagers cheered, stepping out of their homes, their faces filled with relief.
"Good," Leah said, a faint smile on her face. "You're controlling it."
Kael opened his eyes, breathing hard. The dragon fire dimmed slightly, but he could feel it fighting to break free. "Let's move to the next village."
They marched north, Kael burning the dark magic from village after village. At first, it worked— the corruption faded, the villagers cheered, and the alliance held. But as they went, the dark magic grew stronger, and the dragon fire grew more unruly.
By midday, they reached a large town, where dark magic had erupted into a massive storm, swirling above the buildings, corrupting the people below. The townsfolk were fighting—humans attacking elves, elves clawing at griffins, their eyes glowing red with darkness.
"Burn the storm," Gareth shouted. "Quickly, before it consumes everyone."
Kael stepped forward, summoning the dragon fire. It roared to life, bigger than before, and he directed it toward the storm. The fire hit the dark magic, and the storm exploded into a shower of black smoke.
But the dragon fire didn't stop. It surged forward, burning through the smoke, and hit the town square.
The villagers screamed as the fire burned their homes, their crops, their belongings. A group of elven children, hiding behind a cart, were caught in the flames.
"Kael, stop!" Leah shouted.
Kael's eyes widened. He tried to dismiss the dragon fire, but it was too late. The phoenix fire flared, trying to counter it, but the split was too deep— the two fires clashed, sending a wave of heat through the town.
Lira, in her phoenix form, soared forward, unleashing a wave of phoenix fire to protect the children. The fire wrapped around them, shielding them from Kael's dragon fire.
The dragon fire faded, and Kael collapsed to his knees, breathing hard. The town square lay in ashes— homes burned, crops destroyed, villagers crying. The elven children huddled behind Lira, their faces filled with fear.
"What have you done?" Lira shouted, transforming into her human form. Her red hair was glowing with anger, her eyes like embers. "You promised you'd control it. You promised you wouldn't harm innocent people."
"I'm sorry," Kael said, his voice shaking. "I lost control. The dark magic was too strong. The dragon fire—"
"The dragon fire is destruction," Lira said, her voice cold. "It's what Alaric used. What Julian used. It's what you're becoming."
She turned to the phoenix warriors, who stood nearby, their faces filled with shock and anger. "Phoenixes, gather. We're leaving the alliance."
"Lira, no," Leah said, stepping forward. "We need you. The alliance needs you."
"The alliance is dead," Lira said. "Kael has chosen destruction over healing. He's chosen dragon fire over balance. And we will not follow a monster."
She turned to Kael, her eyes filled with betrayal. "I thought you were different. I thought you were the Emberborn— the one who would mend the light. But you're just like the rest of them. A Voss. A destroyer."
Kael stood, his hands clenched into fists. The dragon fire flared, hot and angry. "I'm not a destroyer. I'm trying to save the realm. You're the one betraying us. You're the one making the prophecy come true."
"Brother against brother," Lira said, her voice quiet. "That's what the prophecy said. I never thought it would be you and me."
She turned, walking away. The phoenix warriors followed, their heads held high. They spread their wings, soaring into the sky, and vanished into the distance.
The alliance fell silent. The villagers stared at Kael, their faces filled with fear and anger. The elven elders shook their heads, the human knights muttered among themselves, and the griffin warriors looked away.
Leah stepped forward, placing a hand on Kael's arm. "She'll come around. We can fix this."
Kael shook his head. "No. She's right. I lost control. I used dragon fire to destroy, not to protect. The split is too deep. The prophecy is coming true."
Merlin sighed, stepping forward. "The dark magic is still spreading. We need to keep going. We need to heal the land. But we can't do it without the phoenixes. Without their fire, the corruption will return."
Gareth nodded. "I'll send griffin scouts to find Lira. I'll try to talk to her. To make her understand."
Kael closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The dragon fire dimmed, and the phoenix fire flickered faintly. He could feel the split widening, his heart breaking.
He had lost Lira. He had lost the phoenixes. He had lost the trust of the alliance.
And the dark magic was still spreading.
The prophecy was unfolding.
Brother had turned against brother.
The realm was fracturing.
And Kael didn't know if he could fix it.
He opened his eyes, his resolve hardening. "We keep going. We heal the land. We find Lira. We mend the alliance. We stop the dark magic. No matter what."
The warriors nodded, their voices mixed with hope and fear.
They marched north, Kael at the front, his flame sword glowing with a faint, unsteady light.
The ashes of trust lay behind them.
The shadow of the prophecy loomed ahead.
And Kael's choice— dragon fire or phoenix fire, destruction or healing, division or unity— would soon decide the fate of the realm.
The merged fire in his veins burned dim, a flicker of light in the darkness.
And for the first time, Kael wondered if he was strong enough to be the Emberborn.