Peace is fragile.
Lady Seraphine had not accepted it.
Believing the human queen a threat to demonic supremacy, she conspired with rogue warlords to shatter the barrier entirely. If both realms burned, Malakar's "weakness" would end.
The attack came at dusk.
Creatures twisted by forbidden magic stormed the palace. Fire rained from the cavern ceiling. Chaos erupted.
Elara was separated from her guards.
Seraphine appeared through smoke.
"You were never meant to survive," she hissed.
Before Elara could respond, chains of shadow wrapped around her wrists.
"You think love will save two worlds?" Seraphine sneered. "War is our nature."
But even as fear clawed at her chest, Elara stood firm.
"No," she said. "Choice is."
The ground split open — not from attack, but from fury.
Malakar rose from the flames, wings of living fire unfurling behind him.
"Release my queen."
His voice shook the mountain.
Seraphine faltered — just long enough.
Elara closed her eyes and reached for the strange silver light inside her. It answered.
Light and fire collided.
The chains shattered.
Together, she and Malakar drove back the invaders, sealing the breach once more.
When it ended, Seraphine lay defeated.
Malakar looked to his council.
"Exile," he declared. "Mercy is not weakness."
And none dared argue again.