Vlad was having lunch with his family in the dining room. Sunlight streamed through tall arched windows, gilding the long oak table and the silver platters of roasted fowl, fresh bread, steamed greens, and spiced fruit. He sat beside his mother and Lysera. Cassian and Maelis occupied the opposite side, while Aldric's wife, Selena, sat at the end—her posture calm and graceful, dark hair pinned with silver combs.
Elarys noticed Vlad looking around while eating—his gaze drifting toward the empty chairs at the head of the table.
"What is it, Vlad? Who are you looking for?" Elarys asked, voice soft as she set down her fork.
"Why haven't Father and Uncle joined us?" Vlad asked, fork pausing halfway to his mouth.
"Must be because you're here," Cassian said, tone flat and edged, eyes flicking toward Vlad without warmth.
"Hey," Lysera snapped—sharp, immediate, her fork clinking against porcelain.
Cassian lowered his head, jaw tightening, but said nothing more.
Elarys patted Vlad's head gently, fingers lingering in his hair.
"Father must be busy with the elders, dear. He'll join us for dinner."
"As for my husband, he's probably playing around with the dragon," Selena said calmly, sipping from her goblet. "I heard him shouting her name this morning."
Cassian cut into the conversation, pushing his plate forward slightly.
"Mother… my dish is a little burned."
Elarys glanced at it—then at the servants, who hurried forward with fresh portions.
But across borders, in the shattered courtyard of Valeren's palace, the air reeked of charred flesh and scorched stone.
"Have you forgotten about the treaty we made with Kaishen?" Caelum shouted, voice cracking with fury as he stood on the ruined balcony, sword still drawn.
Seraphiel laughed—low, hollow, the sound echoing off broken marble like distant thunder.
"Treaty? You dare speak of that after you planted spies in my kingdom and hurt my child?"
Caelum clenched his fist before he could reply—knuckles white, veins standing out.
The Knight Order surrounded Seraphiel under the command of their Vice Captain—spears leveled, auras flickering along blades in blues and silvers.
One of them stepped forward, laughing as he introduced himself—tall, broad-shouldered, armor gleaming with gold filigree.
"Greetings, I am Kaelis Viremont, Vice Captain of the Valeren Knight Order."
"Well… that's about to change today after I defeat you," Kaelis added, pointing his sword at Seraphiel with theatrical flourish.
"Kaelis, what do you think you're doing?" Vaelor shouted from the balcony beside Caelum. "He's not someone you can take on! Stop this at once!"
"We'll see about that," Kaelis replied, eyes narrowing, aura igniting along his blade in a brilliant white-gold flare.
Seraphiel's smile faded; a subtle anger crept into his calm demeanor—eyes darkening, shoulders squaring. Kaelis tightened his grip on the sword.
Seraphiel stepped forward—and vanished.
The next instant, he appeared behind Kaelis, tilting his gaze toward Caelum.
"Are you going to hide behind your knights, Caelum?" he asked, voice low and cutting.
Kaelis smirked and swung his sword backward, aiming for Seraphiel. He felt the familiar resistance of flesh beneath the blade—wet, yielding. Lowering his weapon, he laughed.
"You shouldn't have ignored me, old man."
He turned—and froze.
A head rolled across the ground—eyes wide in shock, mouth open in a silent scream.
"I am not that old," Seraphiel's voice echoed lightly from further away, standing unharmed, blood dripping from his flame-wreathed hand.
Kaelis's eyes widened. He looked at the fallen body—it was one of the knights surrounding Seraphiel, armor split cleanly at the neck.
"How dare you!" he bellowed, surging forward, aura igniting along his blade in a roaring white-gold blaze.
"Kaelis, don't!" Vaelor yelled, desperation cracking his voice.
Kaelis swung down with a roar.
"Aura Slash!"
"Throne Shift."
The cut connected—but a faint metallic clang sounded instead of flesh.
Kaelis slowly lifted his gaze to the tip of his blade. It wasn't Seraphiel. He had exchanged places with one of the knights in an instant—now bleeding out on the marble.
Kaelis's face drained of color, his sword trembling in shock. He looked at Seraphiel, whose calm eyes glimmered with a dangerous excitement.
"You sick bastard," Kaelis whispered, stepping back cautiously.
"Seraphiel, that's enough!" Caelum shouted, voice cutting through the tension like a whip.
Seraphiel vanished again, leaving Kaelis scanning wildly, every sense on edge.
"If you're not going to attack, then that means it's my turn, right?" Seraphiel's voice came from directly in front of him—hands resting lightly on his stomach.
"Wind Thrust!"
A blast of air hurled Kaelis upward—but Seraphiel wasn't finished.
Earth rose beneath Kaelis's feet in jagged spikes, and with a pull of his hand, Seraphiel yanked him down. The spikes impaled him before he could react—piercing armor, flesh, bone.
Kaelis stretched a trembling hand toward Vaelor—blood pouring from his mouth, choking his words—and finally, his hand fell limp.
"No…" Vaelor screamed—raw, broken.
"Seraphiel…" Caelum's voice broke as he leapt from the balcony, rushing at Seraphiel with his sword shimmering with red aura—crimson light spilling like liquid fire.
"You finally came down, Caelum. Are you mad at me?" Seraphiel asked, laughing softly—the sound eerily calm against the chaos.
"Attack at once! Protect the king!" Vaelor roared, drawing his sword beside Caelum, determination etched on his face.
Seraphiel focused his mana into his fingertip. A flicker of heat danced across his skin before bursting into flame, twisting upward into a blazing sword—orange-red core, edges flickering white-hot.
Caelum gritted his teeth, aura spilling across his own sword in thick crimson waves.
"Seraphiel… this ends now!" he shouted.
With a flick of his wrist, the flame sword lunged toward Caelum—who barely parried it with a hiss of energy. Sparks rained down like red snow, heat licking the stone beneath them and scorching the marble black.
Vaelor and the other knights surged forward—coordinating attacks with careful precision. One knight swung a massive halberd in a sweeping arc; another unleashed a spinning aura slash. Seraphiel's eyes narrowed slightly, and with an almost imperceptible gesture, he vanished—reappearing behind a charging knight. The man's sword met nothing but empty air, and Seraphiel's fire blade scorched through his heart in a burst of flame and smoke.
Caelum leaped forward, swinging his aura sword with deadly precision. Seraphiel parried that strike with his flame sword—sparks scattering in violent arcs. Aura and flame sang as they collided, the air warping with heat and pressure.
Vaelor rushed again—his aura sword came down in a downward arc. Seraphiel pivoted, but this time the Knight Captain's strike grazed his sleeve—fabric tearing, a thin line of blood welling along his arm. The contact forced Seraphiel a step back—the first sign of resistance he'd faced today.
The knights pressed the advantage—combining attacks with careful coordination. Seraphiel was being pushed back, but a trace of thrill appeared in his eyes—pupils dilating, breath quickening. Each strike forced him to adapt, dodge, and redirect.
"Come now, is that all you've got?" Seraphiel shouted—voice carrying over the clang of steel and roar of flame.
The courtyard erupted in chaos. Sparks and fire danced with aura; echoing screams and the clang of steel filled the air. Knights slid across the marble—painting it with red—some falling, others barely maintaining their stance.
Vaelor swung his sword in a heavy arc at Seraphiel. He barely managed to block it—sparks of clashing mana erupting from the impact—but he was too slow to react to Caelum's follow-up stab. Instantly, Seraphiel focused his mana into his chest, forming a protective barrier just in time. The force threw him backward—slamming him into the castle wall with a deafening crash. Stone splintered under his weight; dust rained down.
After a tense pause, he pushed himself up slowly—blood trickling from his lips, fresh cuts lacing across his face and arms. Before he could steady himself, an arrow whistled toward him.
"Flame Wall!"
A searing curtain of fire erupted in front of him—reducing the arrow to molten ashes. Within the infernal barrier, a streak of flame shot outward—striking the archer with brutal precision. He collapsed, a burst of smoke rising from his body.
The wall dissipated. Seraphiel stood there—blood still dripping from his mouth—pressing his palm to his chest.
"Heal."
A wave of golden energy closed most of the cuts—the air shimmering with residual heat.
"Stand down, Seraphiel!" Caelum called, sword raised.
But Seraphiel's mind had not returned. His breaths were ragged; his eyes alight with manic intensity. The other knights strained—their stamina fraying under the relentless assault.
He lifted his hand toward the sky—flames gathering in a swirling vortex above his palm—his voice rising.
"How about I show you something grand… for my final act, Caelum? Meteor sho—"
A shadow fell across him.
"Kaira!"
The great dragon swooped down—landing between him and the courtyard with earth-shaking force. Wings flared wide; silver scales flashed like lightning. Dust and debris exploded outward.
"You fool! Come back to your senses already!" Aldric shouted from her back.
Seraphiel's gaze snapped down. Raizen was there—hand extended in a punch that slammed into Seraphiel's chest like a hammer—sending him skidding across the marble floor. Yet even as he fell, his resolve did not break. Flames erupted from his hand—forming a spear ready to strike—but it didn't move. His hand was held fast—roots of earth crawling up from the ground, binding him in place.
"Earth Bind?" Seraphiel's eyes darted around—fury and disbelief warring across his features. His gaze landed on Aldric—stepping forward, calm but unyielding.
"Stop this nonsense, brother," Aldric said, voice steady.
Seraphiel closed his eyes—flame licking the roots that held his arm.
"Are you standing against me? So be it."
His lips twisted into a cruel smile—the fire in his hand sputtered as it fought against the restraints.
Seraphiel lashed out—flames surged from his hands—forcing Aldric and Raizen to step back. Each step they took met with burning air. Sparks danced from the impact of Raizen's fists and Aldric's earth-shielded attacks—but Seraphiel pressed forward relentlessly—eyes locked on Caelum.
Each strike forced him backward a step, then forward—the battlefield shaking with every impact.
"Stay back!" Vaelor shouted—fending off the knights foolish enough to approach. Erik rushed through the chaos—healing injured knights with swift pulses of golden light.
Seraphiel roared as his flames pushed Aldric's earth barrier aside. Raizen lunged—aura crackling—but Seraphiel sidestepped—scratching the stone and leaving streaks in the air.
With a sudden push, Seraphiel shoved both Aldric and Raizen backward—creating a clear path to Caelum. He drew his fire-sword fully—pinning Caelum against the shattered marble wall—the blade hovering above, ready to strike.
"Father!"
A small, trembling voice pierced the inferno.
Caelum's son ran forward—chest heaving, tears streaming down his cheeks—and threw himself in front of his father.
"Go away! Don't hurt him!"
"Move! Child, get out of here!" Caelum shouted—but the boy planted his feet—defiant and unyielding.
Seraphiel froze. The fire-sword hung in the air—slowly lowering as he bent his head—eyes shadowed—the flames dimming. His lips twitched—not in a smile, but in thought.
Aldric's gaze sharpened.
"Now!"
Kaira leaped—claws pinning Seraphiel to the ground—while Aldric's earth magic surged through the dirt—binding him fast. The moment Seraphiel's hesitation met their attack, he was immobilized—powerless against their combined hold.
The flames guttered out.
The courtyard fell silent—broken only by the crackle of dying fires and the ragged breathing of the survivors.
Putting an end to the battle.