로그인Celeste"Run!"The command ripped through the stunned silence.For a heartbeat, no one obeyed.Everyone stared at the dragon.The glow inside its throat brightened from gold to white.Heat rolled across the valley.The stones beneath my boots grew warm.Cassian didn't flinch.Neither did the woman.She stood with one hand resting lightly against the dragon's neck."Your Majesty," Cassian said calmly."Only enough," she replied.The dragon inhaled.Then exhaled.A pillar of white fire erupted into the sky.It didn't strike the retreating armies.It climbed higher.Higher.Straight into the clouds.The heavens split apart.The blast punched a circular hole through the gray sky.Clouds vanished.Blue sunlight poured through the opening.The roar echoed across the mountains for what felt like forever.Every person on the battlefield stood frozen.I had never seen power like it.No spell.No siege engine.No weapon forged by man.Only raw destruction.The dragon closed its jaws.The valley
CelesteThe silence lasted only a heartbeat.Then the Imperial Vanguard stopped.Thousands of soldiers froze as one.Their lines stretched from one end of the valley to the other. Shield walls stood six ranks deep. Long spears pointed toward the sky like a forest of steel.No one spoke.No one moved.A rider emerged from the center of their formation.His horse was black from mane to hoof.Its armor gleamed like polished obsidian.The rider wore no crest.No colors marked his allegiance beyond the black cloak flowing behind him.A silver wolf had been engraved across his breastplate.He rode forward alone.Neither army challenged him.Even the wounded seemed afraid to breathe.The horse halted halfway between the three forces.The rider removed his helmet.Dark hair.Sharp features.Cold gray eyes.He couldn't have been older than thirty.Yet the confidence in his posture belonged to someone who had never known defeat.The commander's face hardened."I know him.""Who is he?""Marshal
Celeste "No!" The command tore from both our throats at the same time. Neither army listened. The first soldiers reached the ridge. Steel crashed against steel. The silence shattered. The commander shoved me away. I stumbled back as one of his men lunged between us, shield raised. His sword came down toward my head. I sidestepped. My dagger slipped beneath his arm. He gasped. His weapon clattered onto the rocks as he collapsed. "Protect the commander!" The cry echoed across the ridge. Half a dozen enemy soldiers surged forward. Before they reached me, my own men crashed into them. Captain Rowan slammed his shield into the first attacker, sending him sprawling over the edge of the slope. Sergeant Elric buried his axe in another man's shoulder. The ridge dissolved into chaos. Blood sprayed across the stones. The commander looked as furious as I felt. "I gave the order!" he roared. "Stand down!" No one obeyed. Battle fever had taken them. Reason had vanished.
Celeste"No!"The command tore from both our throats at the same time.Neither army listened.The first soldiers reached the ridge.Steel crashed against steel.The silence shattered.The commander shoved me away.I stumbled back as one of his men lunged between us, shield raised.His sword came down toward my head.I sidestepped.My dagger slipped beneath his arm.He gasped.His weapon clattered onto the rocks as he collapsed."Protect the commander!"The cry echoed across the ridge.Half a dozen enemy soldiers surged forward.Before they reached me, my own men crashed into them.Captain Rowan slammed his shield into the first attacker, sending him sprawling over the edge of the slope.Sergeant Elric buried his axe in another man's shoulder.The ridge dissolved into chaos.Blood sprayed across the stones.The commander looked as furious as I felt."I gave the order!" he roared."Stand down!"No one obeyed.Battle fever had taken them.Reason had vanished.He cut down one of my soldie
CelesteHis sword dipped.Only by an inch.It was enough.I rolled toward my fallen weapon, fingers scraping across the hilt.Steel kissed my palm.I came up swinging.He barely managed to intercept the strike.The impact drove him back two steps.His injured shoulder sagged.The arrow protruded through the joint, the shaft trembling with every movement.Whoever had fired it knew exactly where to aim.Not to kill.To break his rhythm.Rage flashed across his face.He snapped the shaft with one hand and let the broken wood fall.The arrowhead remained buried beneath the armor.Ignoring the pain, he raised his sword again."You've got loyal soldiers.""So do you."Below us, someone shouted."Archers! Hold your fire!"Another voice answered from the enemy ranks."No one interferes!"Neither army moved.Hundreds watched from the blood-soaked hillside.No one dared dishonor the duel.The commander attacked again.His speed hadn't vanished.But it had changed.His left arm no longer moved f
CelesteOur swords met before either of us finished the first step.The impact echoed across the ridge.He drove forward.I gave ground.Not because I had to.Because I wanted him committed.His blade came from the left.I caught it.He reversed the strike instantly, aiming for my ribs.Steel scraped steel as I twisted my wrist.Sparks burst between us.He spun with the momentum, his cloak sweeping across the stones.The next strike came from an angle I'd never seen before.I barely caught it.The force numbed my fingers.He was changing his rhythm.No longer measured.No longer testing.He wanted this finished.Good.So did I.I stepped inside his guard.Our shoulders slammed together.His breath escaped in a sharp grunt.I drove the pommel of my sword toward his temple.He ducked.The blow glanced off his helmet instead.He answered with a savage knee to my stomach.Air exploded from my lungs.Pain folded through my body.I stumbled back.He didn't hesitate.His sword flashed again.
Celeste I stepped out as Edgar continued his interrogation, afraid that his guards were going to find Lyra sneaking aroundBut as I stepped out, I didn't find her. Instead, I found a couple of guards outside.They bowed as I walked out.Relief washed over me like a bail of cold water had been pour
Celeste The interrogation room was stuffy, almost like it was on purpose. Edgar was staring at me from the far corner of the room. I stared at the gardener. He looked nothing like he did hours ago. His hay coloured hair had lost its luster and was not stained and sticking to his forehead. The
Celeste He trusted my judgement or he was suspicious? I didn't voice out my thoughts. “You seem to forget that I am no strategist.” He chuckled “You are definitely more than that, my love.” I let out a sigh. “Fine, I'll interrogate him, but I doubt I'll be able to be of much help.”
Celeste “Alright then. I'll get right on it.”“Thank you.” I sighed“And Sylvester?”“Yes, your majesty?”“The king doesn't need to know about this mission.”He nodded.He paused at the door, just as he was about to push it open.“Do you have any message for the family?” He asked.“Just find them







