The Earth Elder rose slowly, his ancient joints groaning in the sudden silence. The room was empty, save for the sobbing Halodor and the lingering scent of morning warmth.
He'd felt her power surge. A blinding, primal force. But it was wild. Unshaped. Flared like a star and then vanished, leaving no echo.
Not yet the steady, controlled ocean of an awakened monarch.
The thought lingered until the last of the dreamlike trail of light vanished.
Amanda dashed through Elderglade's connected floors, rushing through thick branches and floor gaps like the wind. Her surroundings were a whirl of motion: the violent clang of swords, the cries of warriors, and the sharp hiss of magic spells.
She winced as the harsh smell of burnt bark and melted ice filled the air, mixing with the smell of blood. Crystal constructs shimmered like deadly sculptures. Their icy forms bent the light in a thousand bright colors.
Yet the tide was turning. Amanda's sharp eyes saw cracks spreading like spiderwebs through several constructs. Steam rose as furious fire magic hit frozen defenses, and elves rallied with new strength. The frozen figures collapsed one by one, breaking into sharp pieces that covered the ground like broken glass.
"The Elder!" someone shouted from below.
"The Water Elder! He's retreating!"
A flash of movement drew Amanda's gaze up. His icy wings beat with a strange grace, his robes waving as he took off from the battlefield. Time slowed as they passed each other. And for the first time, Amanda noticed he seemed tense.
Rushed.
Another fragmented soul... she thought. Where might he be heading?
The battlefield roared below her, but her focus stayed locked on the Elder as he vanished into the tops of the ancient trees.
She continued down, her pulse racing as the battlefield below came into sharp focus.
Bang!
A shattering rumble shook the massive surrounding trunks.
Then the air switched wildly between icy bites and burning waves. Each breath was a mix of frost and steam that clung to Amanda's skin. The clash of elements formed a thick, wet haze that covered the scene in a dream-like fog.
Her feet barely touched the frozen ground before the steady hiss of ice meeting hot metal filled her ears. Steam rose up, creating ghostly shapes that danced in the chaos. Scattered elves fought bravely. Some used fire-filled blades that burned the air with every swing. Others raised magic shields. Yet, for every strike that worked, another elf fell, their bodies still on the frozen ground.
Within the all-consuming whiteout, the source of the destruction towered before her: a colossus made of crystal. Without warning, its ice-covered limbs swung with cold fury. The ground trembled with each step. Massive cracks spread out with every crushing blow. The monster's icy skin gleamed like sharp diamonds under the shifting light.
Amanda's breath caught as she saw a group of elves huddled near the battlefield's edge. A lone elf knelt among them, holding two trembling elflings to her chest. Nearby, another elf stood firm, her massive shield braced against the attack. The shield groaned and bent with each hit, but the elf holding it stood her ground. Her stance was steady, her strength a clear sign of hope against the ice titan's fury.
She pushed forward, her senses sharp despite the chaos. Her eyes locked on the streaks of red light that hovered like ghostly threads around the giant's crystal body. Each ribbon of red light cut cracks into the monster's surface. They traced complex patterns that seemed ready to break the icy giant.
She noticed a faint shimmer trailing each crack in the titan's surface. The icy veins pulsed as if alive, healing themselves almost instantly.
It was a battle of wearing them down, and the titan was winning.
Her heart sank as she saw the figure at the center of the endless attack. The red streaks danced with deadly skill, each one marking the anger of her twin blades. The warrior moved like a storm, her form a blur of focused anger as she danced around the towering enemy.
Queen Seraphina! Amanda cried internally, her chest tightening at the sight. The Queen's movements were as strong as ever. Each strike had the grace of a warrior who had fought for centuries. But there was a desperate feel to her attacks, a wildness that hinted at something deeper. The Queen was pushing herself too hard, and Amanda could see the strain in her every move.
"Move the children farther back!" the shield-bearing elf roared, her voice carrying over the loud noise of battle. Her shield bent again under the weight of the titan's icy fist, the metal screaming, but she held firm. The elves she protected hurried to obey, dragging the children toward the safer spot of a nearby nook.
"Elandor, stand firm! We can't let it break through!" Seraphina shouted. She flipped backward, avoiding a sweep of the titan's arm, and landed with a cat's grace. Her crimson eyes burned as she turned her attention back to the giant. "Keep them alive, no matter what!"
Elandor gritted her teeth and slammed the shield into the ground. A ripple of golden light shot out, forming a short-lived shield around the huddled elves.
The clash of magic and ice filled Amanda's ears. Each hiss of melting frost was followed by the sharp crack of ice growing back. The titan's tall form seemed larger with every step. Its presence felt heavy and impossible to escape.
Amanda focused on the elf clutching the elflings.
"Lilia!" she called, her voice rising above the chaos.
The name cut through the air. The elf's head whipped around, her eyes widening as they met Amanda's. Even through the dirt of battle and the strain on her face, Amanda could see it: the flicker of knowing, then the flower of pure surprise.
"Amanda!" Lilia's voice rang out. For a short moment, the battlefield faded. The world shrank to just the two of them.
But the break was brief. A deep groan tore through the air, shaking the ground under Amanda's feet. It snapped her attention back to the giant monster ruling the battlefield. The ice titan's crystal chest twisted strangely. Its massive arm was already moving, swinging down with the force of an avalanche.
Amanda's blood ran cold. The path of the attack was clear: its deadly arc aimed right at Seraphina. The Queen, catching her breath, stood still for a heartbeat too long. She had turned to look at Amanda. The sight of her held her crimson eyes for just a moment.
"Watch out!" she shouted, her voice raw with panic. She rushed forward. The distance between them was a gap she couldn't hope to close in time. Every muscle in her body screamed to move faster, but the titan's icy fist was already halfway through its terrible strike.
No! Not like this! The thought burned through Amanda's mind as her legs pushed her forward. Each step was a useless race against what was about to happen. The distance stretched on forever, a cruel gap between her and Seraphina.
The ground shook, sending cracks spreading out. The titan's arm cut through the air with a loud whoosh.
A wind of frost came before its deadly drop.