The town square erupted into chaos.
Villagers ran in every direction, shouting and pushing past one another as they tried to escape. Market stalls overturned, baskets of fruit rolled across the ground, and dust filled the air.
But the Highland soldiers held their formation.
Six of them rushed toward Kael and Mira with weapons drawn.
"Stay close," Mira said quietly.
Kael nodded, flames already flickering around his hands.
The first soldier swung his sword toward Mira.
She stepped to the side with quick precision.
"Ignis!"
A burst of fire exploded from her palm, forcing the soldier backward. His armor glowed red from the heat as he stumbled away.
Another soldier rushed toward Kael with a spear.
Kael felt the heat building inside his chest again. The magic responded quickly now, as if it had always been part of him.
He thrust his hand forward.
"Ignis!"
A wave of fire shot across the ground. The soldier jumped back just in time, but the flames forced him away from the prisoners.
Behind them, the old man Kael had helped fell to his knees, coughing.
"Run!" Kael shouted to him.
The old man didn't hesitate. He scrambled to his feet and disappeared into the crowd of fleeing villagers.
The Highland captain watched the scene with cold anger.
"Fools," he muttered.
He lifted his sword again.
"Archers!"
Two soldiers moved to the edge of the square and quickly drew their bows.
Kael saw them and felt a chill run down his spine.
"Mira!"
"I see them," she said.
The archers fired.
Two arrows cut through the air.
Mira spun her hand upward.
A wall of fire burst into existence between them.
The arrows burned instantly and fell to the ground as ash.
The soldiers hesitated.
Even trained warriors feared magic.
But the captain stepped forward again.
His voice was sharp and commanding.
"They're only children!"
The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons.
"Surround them!"
They spread out slowly, forming a circle around Kael and Mira.
Kael's heart pounded.
"There are too many," he whispered.
Mira smiled slightly.
"Relax."
She cracked her knuckles.
"This is still manageable."
One soldier rushed forward from behind.
Kael reacted instantly.
"Ignis!"
The blast of fire pushed the soldier backward, but another one attacked from the side.
His sword swung dangerously close to Kael's shoulder.
Kael barely jumped away in time.
The blade sliced through his sleeve.
"Careful!" Mira shouted.
She dashed forward and slammed her foot into the soldier's chest.
The man crashed into a wooden stall, breaking it apart.
But the captain was already moving.
Unlike the other soldiers, his movements were calm and controlled.
He stepped toward Kael with his sword raised.
"You're the one they warned us about," he said quietly.
Kael frowned.
"Warned you?"
The captain's eyes narrowed.
"The boy with fire magic."
Kael felt his stomach tighten.
The Highlands already knew about him.
Without another word, the captain attacked.
His sword flashed forward with incredible speed.
Kael raised his hands.
"Ignis!"
Flames burst between them.
But the captain moved through the fire faster than Kael expected.
His blade cut through the flames and nearly struck Kael's chest.
Kael stumbled backward.
He barely blocked the next strike with another blast of fire.
The captain's strength was far beyond the other soldiers.
Mira noticed immediately.
"That one's different!" she shouted.
"No kidding!" Kael replied.
The captain smirked.
"You're inexperienced."
His sword spun smoothly in his hand.
"Magic alone won't save you."
He lunged again.
This time Mira stepped between them.
"Ignis!"
A powerful stream of fire erupted from her hands.
The captain jumped backward, avoiding the flames, but his cloak caught fire briefly before he extinguished it.
For the first time, his calm expression cracked slightly.
"You two are more troublesome than expected," he said.
Behind him, the remaining soldiers regrouped.
The circle tightened.
Kael's breathing grew heavier.
They had freed the villagers, but now they were trapped.
Mira glanced at him.
"Any ideas?"
Kael looked around quickly.
Burning stalls.
Broken carts.
Smoke filling the square.
Then he noticed something.
A large water barrel near the center of the market.
An idea formed in his mind.
"Trust me," he whispered.
Mira raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds dangerous."
Kael smiled slightly.
"It probably is."
He raised both hands.
Flames ignited around them, brighter than before.
The captain prepared to attack again.
But Kael wasn't aiming at the soldiers.
He aimed at the wooden supports holding the water barrel.
"Ignis!"
The flames struck the wood.
The supports exploded apart.
The massive barrel tipped over.
Hundreds of gallons of water crashed into the square, flooding the ground and knocking several soldiers off their feet.
The captain stumbled backward as water splashed across the battlefield.
Mira blinked in surprise.
Then she laughed.
"That actually worked!"
Kael grabbed her arm.
"Now run!"
The two of them dashed down a side street while the soaked soldiers struggled to recover.
Behind them, the captain's furious voice echoed through the town.
"After them!"
But by the time the soldiers regrouped, Kael and Mira had already vanished into the narrow streets of Raven's Crossing.