Freya's fingers trembled against her staff. The warmth of her magic was a stark contrast to the biting cold in the air. She looked above, past the horizon, her breathing slowed.
"That feeling..." she whispered. "What was that, Seraphina?"
Seraphina's crimson eyes, sharp and ancient, narrowed, her gaze distant, as if seeing beyond the physical realm.
"Elderglade's Veil," she breathed.
"The barrier that has guarded us since the dawn of our race... it's been breached."
The declaration sent ripples of disbelief through the gathered elves. A warrior with a tight silver braid stepped forward, his twin daggers gleaming. His knuckles whitened around the ornate hilts.
"The Veil... breached?"
"But how? The Elven God's own blessing binds the Veil!" he protested, though doubt crept into his voice.
Before the weight of his words could settle, another voice cut through the tension, sharp and urgent.
"The Elder!"
An elf scout, her leather gear smudged with dirt, materialized from the shadows of a massive root, her breath coming in quick gasps. "The Water Elder—he's retreating!"
Above them, the Elder's crystalline wings shimmered. His brittle laughter echoed through the ancient branches.
"If you survive... meet me on the upper grounds," he sneered, a clear dismissal in his tone, as though they were all beneath him. His smile held no warmth as his gaze swept over them. "I have more pressing matters to attend to."
With a single, powerful beat of his wings, a devastating gust of arctic air exploded outward. The cold was so intense it crystallized the moisture in their lungs, each breath becoming a struggle as ice formed in the air, blurring their vision.
Through the howling wind came a sound that made the very trees tremble.
The giant's thunderous groan.
The sound of tearing air followed, sharp and violent. The thick blanket of frigid mist moved, spiraling toward a single point like water down a drain as the frozen giant's massive arms swept down in a devastating arc.
But Seraphina, her posture unwavering and regal even in the face of chaos, didn't flinch.
In a flash, a figure with a face set like stone emerged before them.
A warrior.
As striking as the shield she bears.
Despite her lithe frame, she carried something magnificent. A shield. It was a masterwork of elven craftsmanship, its ancient runes pulsing with stories of protection and sacrifice. Even the elflings, huddled together with wide, fearful eyes, could sense its rank: Legendary-class, the kind of artifact that appeared perhaps once in a generation.
She lifted the massive shield as if it weighed nothing, raising it to meet the giant's attack. Behind her, another elf warrior took position, runes glowing faintly on the backs of her hands as she wove them through the air.
Minor Shield!
The words rang out. Golden light coalesced before them, forming a translucent wall of amber energy.
The giant's blow met the ancient shield with a deafening thunderclap. The devastating impact sent a physical shockwave ripping through the air, dispersing the fog in an instant as the very ground beneath them shuddered.
Through it all, the shield-bearer stood unwavering. Her feet were planted firmly against the living wood, holding back a force that could have leveled mountains.
When the echoes faded, they stood in a circle of relative calm. Through the clearing mist, the frozen giant loomed. Its crystalline body housed countless preserved souls, catching the returning light in haunting ways.
The shield-bearer's jaw was clenched, her muscles trembling with exertion. A bead of sweat traced down her temple, freezing before it could fall. Her breath came in controlled bursts, creating small clouds in the frigid air.
"My Queen," she managed through gritted teeth, her voice tight with concern. "Something troubles you."
Seraphina stood motionless, her long, pointed ears subtly twitching.
"I miscalculated," she finally spoke, her voice a whisper, yet carrying the weight of command. "I thought to use him as a distraction, to draw attention while we struck at the heart of their corruption." A bitter smile played across her lips. "Instead, he's done what none have managed in all our history. He's wounded Elderglade itself."
Another thunderous impact shook the forest, and leaves rained down in emerald cascades.
"The veil..." the shield-bearer breathed, understanding dawning in her eyes. "But that's impossible. The Elven God's blessing—"
"Is being tested," Seraphina cut in, her words sharp as winter frost. Her arms tightened as her fingers gripped her blades. "The Shadow Elder won't let this stand. She can't."
A particularly violent tremor rocked the platform. The giant shifted, its icy body groaning as it loomed closer. Within its crystalline form, the preserved elves seemed to dance macabrely with each movement.
"She'll kill him," the shield-bearer realized aloud, her voice hollow.
"Yes," Seraphina replied. "And I will bear that burden, along with whatever fury my child may bring." Her crimson eyes, usually sparkling, now burned with something ancient and terrible as they finally turned to meet her warrior's gaze.
"It's a mother's duty to shoulder the consequences of her choices, is it not?"
Her words hung in the air, sharp and brittle as the frost forming around them. Another devastating impact shook Elderglade to its roots.
Somewhere in the distance, beyond the veil that had protected them for millennia, a roar of primal fury shattered the air.
The sound was a promise—a vow of violence that would shatter their world.
The battle for Elderglade had only just begun.