Shouts filled the night air.
Knights, rattled from the explosion, scrambled to their feet with weapons raised, steel flashing under the moonlight.
"Where did that blast come from?!" one bellowed, eyes darting through the dark treeline.
The air trembled again.
"Incoming!" a guard shouted, his voice cracking as he pointed skyward.
The knights followed his gesture—eyes widening as a streak of fire came hurtling down, its edges twisted with veins of black, as if night itself clung to the flame.
"Scatter!" another roared.
The soldiers dove for cover, shields rising, boots pounding earth. The fireball struck, exploding into a wave of heat that tore across the road. Horses screamed in terror, eyes rolling white, and several bolted from their reins, trampling past the shattered remains of the rear carriage.
Dust, smoke, and ash swirled thick.
The Emperor’s carriage shuddered with the impact.
Inside, the Emperor surged forward, his hand already on the door. "I need to see—"
The door didn’t budge. A heavy boot pressed firmly against it from the inside.
The Emperor’s eyes snapped up. Aithur sat relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, his boot casually pinning the door shut. His expression was calm, almost bored, as though explosions outside were nothing but fireworks for his amusement.
"Move your foot!" the Emperor snapped, his voice thundering. "That is an order!"
Liliana, sitting opposite, remained still, her arms crossed as she spoke coolly. "And where exactly do you think you’re going, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor glared at her.
She gestured lightly toward the chaos outside. "Your people are already bleeding to keep you alive. Do you mean to run into the open and make their job impossible?"
The Emperor’s jaw worked furiously, but Aithur cut in, his tone dry. "She’s right. And besides..." His violet eyes flicked lazily toward the monarch. "You’re not as strong as you used to be." Original content can be found at novel⸺fire.net
The words hit sharper than steel.
The Emperor froze, teeth clenched, his pride stung raw. He wanted to argue, to roar—but his shoulders sagged. A string of curses hissed through his teeth as he retreated back into his seat.
He looked almost pitiful, slumping against the cushioned seat like a sulking child, lips pursed in an exaggerated pout.
Liliana rolled her eyes. "Behave."
But her gaze sharpened as she peered through the slit of the carriage window. Her voice lowered, deadly calm. "When do you think those two will show themselves?"
Aithur smirked faintly, resting his chin in his palm. "Any moment now."
He began to count softly under his breath. "Three... two... one—"
The shattered rear carriage groaned as its ruined door flew off its hinges, spinning through the air before slamming into the dirt several feet away.
The knights instantly turned, weapons raised, eyes trained on the gaping carriage frame.
But their attention was ripped away as shapes flickered into existence along the treeline. Dozens of hooded figures stepped into the moonlight, their robes marked with jagged black lines that seemed to writhe unnaturally.
"Apprentices..." one knight growled, tightening his grip. His eyes narrowed in disgust. "Traitors."
The hooded figures smirked in unison.
From among them, a man stepped forward.
His hood fell back, revealing sharp features, hair swept back, and a grin carved across his face. His voice cut through the field with amused venom.
"He really did predict it."
The knights stiffened, glancing at one another.
Hans’s grin widened. "Did you fools truly think the temple was our only target? That little raid was nothing more than a rehearsal."
A ripple of unease passed through the guards.
One of them spat to the side, voice bitter. "So that’s it... the whole attack on the temple—it was just a distraction."
Hans chuckled, slow and mocking. "Exactly. While you lot were busy mourning burned stone and babbling about prophecies, we’ve been preparing for the real game."
His eyes shifted deliberately to the Emperor’s carriage.
"Our mission," Hans said, his tone sharp as a blade, "isn’t about some saint or savior nonsense. That’s just smoke and mirrors. We came here to kill your king."
The field went still.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
The Emperor stiffened inside the carriage, his hands curling into fists.
The guards roared in fury, their voices echoing. "Protect His Majesty!"
Weapons rose as they formed a shield wall before the carriages, their boots digging deep into the dirt.
But Hans only smirked, his eyes gleaming with sadistic glee. "Form all the walls you want. They’ll crumble."
Before the knights could respond, a new voice ripped across the battlefield—raw and furious.
From the destroyed carriage, a figure emerged.
His hair whipped about wildly, firelight casting his face into a feral mask of rage. His wooden practice sword dangled uselessly in his hand, splintered down the middle.
His magic roared to life, flames flaring around his body like the mane of a beast.
"You idiots—" his voice cracked with fury, "—are going to PAY!"
He thrust the shattered sword upward, sparks spitting from the broken wood.
"Do you have ANY IDEA—" Fire swelled in his hands, crawling up his arms. "—HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND A GOOD TOY?!"
The ground itself shuddered as heat radiated outward, his magic snapping uncontrollably. The nearest guards stumbled back, shielding their faces from the intensity.
From the Emperor’s carriage, Liliana leaned slightly out the window, one brow raised. "He’s throwing a tantrum."
Aithur smirked, purple light dancing faintly in his pupils. "A show’s about to begin."
Hans didn’t flinch. He tilted his head, lips curling into a wicked smile.
Blue light shimmered beneath his feet.
Then the earth itself lit up.
Lines of glowing azure carved into the soil, racing outward in a perfect circle until they enclosed the battlefield. Symbols twisted into place, foreign and ancient, sealing the road in a dome of faintly shimmering light.
The knights gasped, their swords clattering against the barrier when they struck it. Sparks fizzled, but the circle held firm.
Hans spread his arms wide, like a performer on stage. His voice dripped with cruel amusement.
"Did you really think we wouldn’t come prepared?"
The hooded apprentices behind him chuckled darkly, their laughter merging with the hum of the activated seal.
Hans’s grin widened. "Welcome... to your cage."
One knight, face pale, muttered, "This... this isn’t just a raid... it’s an assassination."
Another cursed, realizing. "And we walked right into it."
Hans clicked his tongue mockingly. "Oh, you’re not as stupid as you look. Good. At least you’ll understand the irony of dying here."
Eilan sneered, flames coiling tighter around his body like serpents. His eyes burned with wild hunger.
"Good," he growled, baring his teeth. "Then none of you will escape."
And with a roar like a tiger, he lunged.