The night blazed with fire. Mestories, once a cradle of beauty, was now a battlefield of light and shadow. The cries of fairies mingled with the roars of demons as the clash spread like wildfire across the kingdom.
From the palace balcony, King Elvarion stood tall, his silver robes torn by the winds of battle. His staff pulsed with radiance, and with a single sweep, he unleashed a cascade of golden arrows, piercing through a cluster of winged beasts. Each strike ignited them into ash before they could reach the inner walls.
"Fall back to the eastern ridge!" he commanded, his voice steady, even as the air quaked. "Hold formation! Do not scatter!"
The fairies obeyed, their disciplined ranks rallying behind the king's words.
Beside him, Queen Seraphina spread her arms, her wings shimmering with celestial light. She began to chant in the ancient tongue, her voice rising above the chaos. From the heavens, threads of pure starlight descended, weaving themselves into a protective dome that sealed the capital from another barrage of fire.
Her magic was magnificent—yet the toll was visible. Sweat lined her brow, her body trembling from the strain. Still, her eyes never wavered.
"Seraphina," Elvarion called, glancing at her. "Do not burn your life force."
She only smiled faintly. "This kingdom is worth every spark of me."
Inside the throne room, Princess Fiona pressed her hands to the glass window, watching her parents defy the storm. Her heart twisted with pride, fear, and helplessness all at once. She could feel the pulse of her crystal orb—the ancient relic gifted to her at birth—calling to her.
Her wings fluttered anxiously. "I can fight too…" she whispered to herself.
The door burst open, and a guard entered, his armor scorched. "Your Highness, the queen commands that you remain here. We will defend the inner halls with our lives."
Fiona's eyes flashed with frustration. "Lives are already being lost out there! Why must I hide while my people bleed?"
But before she could argue further, the palace shook violently. A crack spread through the starlight barrier, spiderwebbing across the sky dome. The queen faltered, clutching her chest as the pressure mounted.
"Mother!" Fiona screamed, rushing forward.
Seraphina caught herself, raising her staff once more. "Stay inside, Fiona! Your destiny is not to fall here. Trust us."
Her words were strong, but Fiona could see the fear hidden deep in her mother's gaze.
The next moment, the ground split open beyond the palace gates. From the fissure, a wave of towering demons, larger and fiercer than the first, clawed their way up, their bodies glowing with molten veins. Their roars shook the heavens, and even the bravest fairy soldiers hesitated.
Elvarion's grip on his staff tightened. "So… they finally send the generals."
Fiona's blood ran cold. If the first wave had nearly shattered Mestories, what hope remained against these monsters?
The night of fire was far from over. It had only just begun.
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To be continued...