LOGINARAH
The scene shifted to a cemetery. Arah watched as Marianne knelt before her mother’s tomb, fidgeting with a faceless doll in a worn dress. Marianne spoke about how she’d sometimes pretend her mama was in the doll—one that Anne had once owned. It was dirty now, nearly bald.
Tears welled in Marianne’s eyes as she spoke about her work. Arah could feel the burden of it all, the pressure Edmond was placing upon her. She knew exactly what that was like.
Mar
NARRATORIn the Crescent Tower…At the distant explosion, Garud snapped upright within her enclosure, and the chains binding her groaned under the sudden strain.She went still.Her amber eyes flared, then bled into a deep, luminous indigo.Something else had taken hold.Suddenly, she slammed her head into the nearest already-fragile column. A second impact followed, her body driving into the wall of the chamber. The sigils carved across its surface flared violently, their light surging as they fought to contain her.Garud shrieked, and she struck again.And again.Each impact sent more fractures racing through the stone. Chunks broke loose, crashing to the floor in a cascade of debris. The sigils flickered erratically, their glow stuttering as lines of power fractured and split. Some shattered entirely—symbols breaking apart and dimming to nothing, their magic extinguished.
NARRATORIn the Grand Castle…Looming over the castle, the Dragon parted its jaws. A torrent of fire surged forth, pouring straight into the open Great Hall. The blaze roared like a living force, swallowing the space in a violent flood of heat and light.The sigils carved into the walls ignited at once, flaring with a steady glow. Their magic held firm, shielding the structure and the sylphs within from the worst of the flames. But the inferno spilled downward, reaching the war command chamber below.The two scholars stationed there exchanged puzzled glances. The heat did not touch them, held at bay by the chamber’s protections, yet something else had stirred. Drawn by it, they stepped closer to the five Vulkar’s Rod relics.Thin cracks spidered across the hardened shells, leaking threads of molten light. The air around the fragments shimmered, as if reality itself were warping under the pressure building within.
ARAHEEN“Open the roof,” her father commanded.At once, the guards moved.Mechanisms groaned to life as hidden latches disengaged. The domed ceiling of the Great Hall split along its seams, metal segments sliding apart in smooth arcs. One by one, the panels folded outward like unfolding petals, until the ceiling gave way to the night.A vast, starless sky opened above them.While the structure shifted, Araheen descended from the stage—quick, but measured, careful not to draw attention.“Father—”But Lothair had already moved, drifting beyond her reach.Her focus snapped instead to Gildeon, who was watching the opening above.“You’re not seriously going to shift here, are you?” she said under her breath.He lowered his gaze to meet hers and gave a slight shrug. “I’m a prisoner,” he said. “I don&rsq
ARAHEENThe realizations came all at once.The tightened security across the citadel. The quiet sense that her father and the High Council had been withholding something. The unease she had glimpsed in the Warden’s eyes when Zephyr’s name was spoken.“Tell me,” she said, her gaze locking onto Theobald, “does the decision to spare surrendering salamanders have anything to do with this?”Theobald took a long drink before answering. His eyes dipped briefly before lifting to meet hers and Feviel’s.“Zephyr’s followers have grown significantly over the years,” he began. “Those who survived the hunts in the past continued to build their strength in secrecy.”He paused, briefly looking into the distance. “They call themselves the Zephyrists. A faction of rebels consisting of Fractured sylphs… and salamanders who have grown tired of dying for their creed.”Araheen and Feviel listened in silence.“If we choose to exterm
ARAHEENShe stared at her reflection in the tall mirror lining the wall of the Great Hall, her expression distant.Her curls were gathered into an elegant bun at the back of her head, pinned in place with her sigil needle, shaped like a delicate ornament among the strands. A few loose curls framed her face, softening her otherwise composed appearance.She wore silver-strapped heels and matching dangling earrings. Her emerald dress clung to her form, a long slit running up one side to reveal her smooth leg, and the fitted holster that secured her phoenix dagger.Since her father had given it to her, she had not parted with it once.In the mirror, she saw Feviel approaching from behind, carrying two glasses of sparkling wine—similar to the kind lower mortals often drank in celebration.He smiled as his gaze moved over her reflection.“You look beautiful, as always.” He handed her one of the glasses. “But you seem troubl
GILDEONA couple more days passed, and they finally raided the fifth salamander outpost.This one barely resisted.Unlike earlier sieges, where the sylphs had to grind through defenses to force the enemy’s surrender, the commander here folded almost immediately. Unfortunately for him, he still had to die. The sylphs did not spare high-ranking enemies—not unless they needed something from them first.And unlike before, no one called Gildeon ‘traitor’ or ‘blue cunt’s dog.’“Looks like they’ve accepted their fate,” Feviel said behind him as they moved through the corridor toward the command chamber. “Haemos is dead. They probably think their forces are already broken.”He remained silent.“Or perhaps it’s seeing you with us,” Feviel added, a subtle taunt in his voice.“Let’s retrieve the Vulkar’s Rod piece and leave,” Araheen cut in, likely stepping between them before things escalated. “I feel something unpleasan
ARAHShe burst out of the back hallway, sensing the danger in the air. She froze in place, her eyes darting toward the plume of smoke curling up from the distant horizon. Fire crackled, likely coming from the direction of the main gate and watchtowers. Had the enemy blown them up with magic?Her stoma
GILDEONHe yanked off his shirt, tossing it aside. Time to get serious. Individually, these three looked tough—tougher than that rogue crab witch he’d dealt with before. Gildeon could’ve faced them one by one, but he needed to see how they fought together.Half his arm shifted this time, controlled po
ARAH“Then who did it?” she asked, her pulse pounding in her ears. Her mind flashed back to that night—to her terrifying encounters with each man. “Are you saying someone else gave the order?”“That is impossible,” the guard r
ARAHShe stirred, her body feeling as if a boulder were pressing down on her. Her mind was hazy, her muscles sore, and her joints cracked with even the slightest movement. How long had she been asleep? Her mouth felt like sandpaper, and the bright light stung her eyes, tear







