It's… it's over?
Elira's breath came in ragged gasps as she stared at the lifeless body of Ikaris lying before her, his vacant eyes frozen in an expression of shock. He was dead. Finally.
A single drop of blood trickled down the edge of her sword. Her grip tighten on the hilt. She wanted to believe it, to accept that this nightmare had ended, but something gnawed at the edge of her instincts, an unshakable feeling that refused to let her relax.
She heard a laughter.
The sound sliced through the silence like a dagger, chilling her to the bone. It wasn't a nervous chuckle or the crazed laugh of a dying man, it was confident, mocking. It came from behind her.
Elira spun around as another figure stepped forward through the line of soldiers, parting them as if they were mere decorations. Her stomach twisted into knots as she locked eyes with him. He was identical to the man lying dead at her feet.
"You really thought that was me?" His voice dripped with amusement, his head tilting. "That ugly, useless soldier?"
The realization hit her like a strike to the gut. She had been fooled. They all had. This… this was the real Ikaris.
Elira barely had time to react before he lunged, drawing his blade with deadly precision. She raised her sword in time to meet his, the clash ringing out in the cold air. The impact rattled through her bones, but she held firm, pushing with all her strength.
Ikaris, however, barely seemed fazed. His grin widened, his eyes gleaming like a predator toying with its prey. With a swift movement, he pulled back and delivered a brutal punch to her ribs. Pain exploded through her side as she staggered backward, her vision blurring momentarily.
She barely recovered when he came at her again, his blade a silver streak aimed directly at her throat. Elira's heart stopped. She knew she wouldn't be able to dodge in time.
Metal met metal.
A powerful force knocked Ikaris's sword away at the last second. Elira's eyes darted to her right. Nick had intercepted the strike. He stood firm, his sword locked against Ikaris's in a battle of sheer willpower.
Ikaris turned his gaze to Nick, amusement flickering across his face. "Ah. The little knight."
Nick didn't waste words. He lunged, aiming directly for Ikaris's throat. But before the blade could land.
He caught it.
With his bare hand.
Nick's eyes widened in horror as Ikaris gripped the blade, crimson blood dripping from his palm. And yet, Ikaris smiled as if he barely felt it.
In one fluid motion, he twisted his arm and wrenched the sword. In the same movement, he lifted Nick's entire body off the ground by the very weapon meant to kill him.
Elira barely had time to shout before Ikaris flicked his wrist.
Nick was sent hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed through the ranks of soldiers, flew past the battlefield, and disappeared into the rooftops of the city with a deafening crash. The sound of wood and stone shattering echoed through the air.
Ikaris chuckled and stopped.
A metallic scent filled the air.
He looked down.
Elira was there, crouched on her left leg, her sword pressed firmly against his throat. Her hands trembled with the effort, every muscle in her body straining. She had struck the moment he had been distracted by Nick. Her blade had sunk deep.
Ikaris tried to react, but Elira was faster. With one final cry, she pushed with all her might, slicing clean through.
His head tumbled to the ground, rolling before coming to a stop at her feet. His body followed a second later, collapsing into a heap.
Elira didn't move. She couldn't. The weight of what happened kept her frozen in place.
The battlefield stood still. The soldiers, both enemy and ally remained locked in place, as if time itself had momentarily stopped.
Slow clapping broke the silence.
"Wow. You killed my impersonator. Good job."
Elira's stomach dropped. Another voice. Another Ikaris.
She turned, her pulse pounding in her ears. Another soldier stepped forward, bearing the same face. How many of them were there?
Before she could react, someone grabbed the back of her shirt and yanked her backward.
"Elira, we gotta go! Now!"
It was Renn. His face was pale, his eyes darting between the motionless soldiers and the marching forces beyond.
Elira hesitated for a fraction of a second long enough to see the real Ikaris raise his sword, and with it, the silent army around him. The Crimson Citadel soldiers reacted at once, clashing against the approaching forces.
Renn pulled again, harder this time. "We don't have time for this!"
She cursed under her breath but allowed herself to be dragged away, weaving through the chaos of battle.
Somewhere in the distance, Nick lay injured. They had to find him—fast.
Elira and Renn sprinted through the battlefield. Screams of war clashed against the ringing in her ears, but her focus remained razor-sharp.
"Nick!" Elira shouted, her voice barely cutting through the chaos. There was no response.
Renn's eyes darted upward. "There! The roof!"
Elira followed his gaze and spotted a broken rooftop where Nick's body had crashed on. A trail of shattered wood and dust surrounded it. Her stomach clenched.
"I'll boost you up," Renn said, crouching down. Elira nodded, stepping onto his hands. With a lift, he launched her upward. She barely managed to grip the edge of the roof, her muscles straining as she pulled herself up.
Nick lay sprawled across the debris, his eyes barely open. His sword was impaled into the ground beside him, trembling from the impact.
Elira dropped to her knees beside him, shaking his shoulder. "Nick, stay with me. Can you move?"
His eyes fluttered before locking onto hers. "I'm alive… barely." A weak smirk tugged at his lips.
Relief surged through her, but there was no time to celebrate. The battle raged below, and they were still in danger.
"We have to get out of here," she muttered, giving him a hand.
"Thanks," Nick muttered, his voice hoarse as he pushed himself up with shaky arms. His body like lead, every muscle aching, but the sharp pain was already dulling, fading into a numb throb.
Elira reached out and caught his arm, steadying him as he struggled to his feet. Her grip was firm yet careful, as if she knew exactly where he hurt.
Without a word, she helped him down, guiding him into Renn's waiting arms. Renn caught him easily, bracing against Nick's weight.
Elira landed beside them with a silent, effortless leap. She didn't even spare a glance at the crumbling rooftop behind her, she had done this a thousand times before.
"What happened with Ikaris?" Nick asked, his voice laced with exhaustion and frustration.
"That… wasn't Ikaris actually. He's just making his soldiers pretend to be him to trick us." Renn's tone was grim, his fists clenching at his sides.
Nick scoffed, shaking his head. Elira, without a word, handed him his sword. He took it, gripping the hilt tightly in his right hand, the familiar weight grounding him.
The sounds of screaming and clashing grew louder and closer. The battle was far from over.
From the opposite direction, three figures sprinted toward them.
Elira's eyes narrowed. She recognized them instantly. The triplets.
Her jaw clenched as memories of their last encounter flashed in her mind, what did they want now?
"News from the king!" one of the boys shouted between heavy breaths.
"Urgent news!" the second added.
"We can't believe we found you so quickly. We were sprinting!" the girl panted, sweat dripping down her face.
Elira crossed her arms, waiting, her patience thin. "What is it?"
The first boy exhaled sharply. "The king said…" He gulped in air before continuing. "He said he wants Elira to meet up with his daughter for some planning. He didn't tell us much."
Nick and Elira exchanged a puzzled look.
"Just her?" Nick asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
"He didn't say anything about being alone, so you could go too," the girl clarified quickly.
"Then I'm coming," Nick said, his grip tightening on his sword.
Renn straightened. "I'll come too-"
"No." The girl cut him off, shaking her head. "The king specifically ordered that Renn be brought to the palace immediately."
Elira's brow furrowed. "Why?"
The triplets offered no answer. Instead, the girl forced a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Renn. We'll take you. You won't be alone."
Renn hesitated but eventually nodded. Though reluctant to part from his friends, he took comfort in knowing he wouldn't be traveling alone.
He turned to Nick and Elira, eyes steady. "Be careful."
Elira nodded. "You too."
With that, Renn followed the triplets. The girl turned briefly before departing, giving Nick and Elira directions before vanishing with her brothers and Renn.
Nick sighed, glancing at Elira. "Something feels off."
"I know," she murmured, her gaze fixed ahead. "But come on. Let's move."
They set off, navigating through debris, each step making the air feel heavier.
When they reached their destination, a flat circular rocky platform, Nick frowned.
"Where's Kirith?"
They stepped toward the center cautiously.
"Maybe she hasn't arrived yet," Elira reasoned. "She'll be here soon."
Nick's fingers twitched around his sword. "Or maybe she was attacked. Kidnapped." His voice darkened, anger flashing across his face.
A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the air. "Oh, you shouldn't worry about her."
Both Elira and Nick snapped to attention, spinning toward the voice.
A tall man leaned lazily against a jagged rock. His silver hair gleamed under the sunlight, and with framing sharp blue eyes that practically laughed at them. His smirk, half amusement, half contempt stretched wider. Twin swords rested in his six-fingered hands, his fingers drumming idly against the hilts.
Realization hit Elira. Without hesitation, she drew her sword, the steel whispering against the sheath.
Nick hesitated. Wait. Kirith must've sent someone. She wouldn't put herself in danger… right?
But Elira already knew the truth.
The man let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. "I must say, I had my doubts. 'The best assassin in the lands,' they told me. I thought, surely, they exaggerate. But here you are."
Nick tensed, instincts screaming at him. Something was very, very wrong.
Elira's worst fears were confirmed.
The man pushed off the rock with a slow, lazy motion, twirling one of his blades with infuriating ease. "Though, I wasn't expecting two of you. Someone's been sloppy with their details." His gaze flickered between them, weighing them, his smirk deepening, as if deciding which one he'd enjoy breaking first.
Nick adjusted his stance, stepping beside Elira. "Who the hell are you?"
The man let out a low chuckle, feigning disappointment. "Oh, you don't know? That stings. Really. I was hoping for a little more awe." He tapped one sword against the other, the metallic ring sharp. "But I suppose it doesn't matter."
His blade flicked up, the tip hovering inches from Elira's throat. His eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. "So… which one of you is it?" His smirk curling into something sharper, crueler. "I was really hoping to get an autograph."