As Ada’s army roared, charging in, Gul raised his axe and yelled, “Gul al dul!” (Slay them all!)
Ada and Ziron charged side by side. Ada ducked and sliced through an orc’s legs, then stabbed him through the head. Behind her, Ziron jumped off a rock and cast a fireball at an orc, sending him flying back and knocking down a few more.
Ada stood back up, threw her two swords at two incoming orcs, then dashed toward another, slamming him down with her fist.
Ziron unleashed lightning, sending it traveling through the ground, electrocuting several orcs.
Ada floated into the air and then slammed down, launching a group of orcs flying. She dashed forward, grabbed two orcs by their throats, and threw them into a group of others before retrieving her swords and slicing through two more.
Ziron spun his staff, fending off three orcs, until Ada switched sides with him and sliced through five in a single motion.
Ziron finished the wave by releasing flames from his hands, burning through the last of the orcs.
Ada, Ziron, and her army began to push forward through the battlefield. The clash of steel and roars of war echoed around them as Ada yelled out with every ounce of power in her voice:
“PUSH! DON’T LET DOWN, MEN!”
Her army roared back, fueled by her command, their blades cutting through the orcs like a raging storm. Ada led the charge at full speed, her swords slicing through anything in her path. Ziron was right behind her, blasting enemies with bursts of fire and lightning, clearing the way.
The ground trembled beneath their combined assault. Orc after orc fell, but Ada didn’t slow down—not for a second. With Ziron at her side and her army behind her, there was no stopping them
Then, out of nowhere, Gul suddenly roared,
“Gal un gug!”
The ground began to shake violently. Ada looked around, her eyes narrowing as she tried to figure out what the call was for.
Before she could react, massive trolls burst out of the ground, crushing men and dwarves beneath their enormous fists. The battlefield erupted into chaos as the towering beasts swung wildly, flattening everything in their path.
But it wasn’t over.
A loud, piercing screech echoed from above the hills. Ada snapped her head up, and her heart dropped.
Giant bats.
Dozens of them, wings wide as ships, came diving down toward the battlefield.
Ada clenched her fists, then screamed at the top of her lungs,
“HOLD FAST, MEN! THE SKIES!”
Her army tightened up, shields raised, archers scrambling to fire at the incoming swarm. Ada’s mind was racing. Trolls tearing through their lines. Bats raining death from above. Gul standing in the back, grinning like he’d already won.
But Ada?
Nah. She was just getting started
In the chaos, Ada suddenly realized she and Ziron had been separated.
She sliced through a bat swooping toward her, barely blinking, and shouted,
“Ziron?!”
Somewhere through the madness, Ziron called back,
“Ada?!”
She looked around, her heart pounding as trolls crushed her men and the skies darkened with bats.
“What do we do?! Our men are getting outnumbered!” she yelled over the noise.
Ziron’s voice echoed back,
“Ada, you know what to do—!”
But before he could finish, a scream of pain sliced through the battlefield.
Ada froze.
She knew that voice.
Mildren.
The king.
She spun just in time to see a massive troll clutching Mildren in its fist.
Her heart raced as she watched helplessly—her men being tossed aside like ragdolls, trolls rampaging through the ranks, orcs cutting down anyone in their way.
Ada’s eyes locked on Mildren.
“NO!” she screamed, dashing forward with everything she had.
But she was too late.
With a sickening crack, the troll broke Mildren’s back and tossed his body aside like it was nothing.
Time slowed.
Ada's heart pounded louder than the war around her.
She caught sight of Mildren’s son—frozen in shock, staring at his father’s lifeless body.
And that was it.
Something inside Ada snapped.
Her power surged.
She floated into the sky, eyes burning with rage, and let out a roar that shook the battlefield.
Then she came crashing down like a meteor, landing in the middle of a massive group of orcs. A wave of dark energy erupted from her, draining the life from every enemy around her in an instant.
Ada raised her voice, louder than ever:
“FOR ALLLDRRRRROOONNNNN!”
The battlefield fell silent for a moment.
Mildren’s son looked at her in disbelief.
The men stared, stunned by what she’d just done.
But then—something changed.
That shock turned into fire.
Courage.
The soldiers roared as one, their war cry shaking the ground.
Ada stood tall, lifting her sword and pointing it forward.
Her voice cut through the noise:
“CHARGE!”
And with that, the army of Aldron surged forward like a tidal wave, fueled by rage, loss, and Ada’s unstoppable will
Suddenly, the tide of war shifted.
Ada’s army, fueled by rage and vengeance, tore through the bats, trolls, and orcs, slicing them down and driving the enemy back. They began to push forward, gaining ground on Gul himself.
In the chaos, Ziron spotted Gul standing atop a rocky ledge, overseeing the battle with that same smug grin. Without saying a word, Ziron hopped onto a horse, determination in his eyes, and rode straight toward him.
Gul noticed.
He smirked, stepping down from the rock, casually waiting as Ziron approached.
When Ziron arrived, he slowed his horse and looked around, but Gul was nowhere to be seen.
Then, a deep, booming voice echoed from the shadows,
“Ah… Ziron, the Grand Wizard. How foolish of you to face me alone.”
Ziron narrowed his eyes.
“Tch. Coward! Show yourself!”
Suddenly, Gul roared from behind him, swinging his massive axe. Ziron barely dodged, the blade slamming into the earth where he had just been.
Back in the heart of the battle, Ada fought relentlessly, calling out,
“Ziron! Ready to make the push?... Ziron?”
No response.
She turned, scanning the field, but he was gone.
Panic hit.
Her eyes darted frantically over the chaos until, finally, she spotted them—Ziron and Gul locked in combat on the far side of the field.
Ada’s heart dropped.
Without hesitation, she whistled sharply, her horse galloping to her side.
In one swift motion, she mounted up and kicked hard, charging across the battlefield, dodging wreckage and enemies, her focus locked on Ziron.
“Hold on, Ziron... I’m coming.
Ada arrived just as Ziron and Gul clashed, and without a second thought, she launched herself off a rock, slashing Gul across the back.
“Gahhh!” Gul groaned, stumbling from the hit.
He turned, his eyes narrowing when he saw Ada standing before him.
“Ah… the false queen,” he sneered.
Ada didn’t flinch. Her voice was cold, steady.
“Miss me?”
Gul roared, charging at her with his massive axe.
Ada met him head-on, her two swords crossed, blocking the crushing blow. The ground shook from the force.
Ziron seized the moment, casting a fireball straight at Gul. It landed, exploding against him and knocking him forward.
But Gul recovered fast.
He blocked Ada’s follow-up strike, then with his free hand, grabbed her and hurled her through the air.
“AHHHHH!”
She crashed hard into a rock.
“Ada!” Ziron shouted, his heart racing.
Furious, Ziron charged in, launching another fireball. Gul swatted it aside and swung his axe. Ziron barely dodged, but Gul's follow-up swing with his arm smashed Ziron into the ground, the impact shaking the dirt beneath him.
Ada forced herself up, ignoring the pain, and leaped back into the fight, slashing at Gul.
But Gul was ready.
He blocked her attack, knocked her swords from her hands, and grabbed her, slamming her into the ground with bone-crushing force.
“GUAH!” Ada gasped, winded from the blow.
Ziron, struggling to his feet, raised his hand and summoned a lightning bolt. It struck Gul squarely, forcing him to release Ada.
Gul snarled, his fury boiling over.
“ENOUGH!”
With terrifying speed, he charged at Ziron, grabbed him by the throat, and hoisted him into the air.
Ada, barely standing, saw it happen. Rage flared in her eyes.
“NO YOU DON’T!” she roared, dashing forward and landing a fierce punch to Gul’s face.
Gul stumbled back, surprised by the force.
But he wasn’t finished.
He countered Ada’s next swing, then drove his knee into her gut.
“Gauh!” she gasped, doubling over.
Ada glared up at him, growling through the pain.
But Gul wasn’t done.
With one brutal hit, he sent Ada flying again.
She hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop beside Ziron.
Both of them lay there, struggling to breathe, beaten and bloodied as Gul slowly picked up his axe, his heavy footsteps drawing closer.
Each step felt like the sound of death marching toward them.
Ada, barely able to stand, swayed on her feet. Her vision blurred, the world around her spinning, but all she could focus on was Ziron... lying there, hurt, defenseless.
She couldn't let him take another hit.
No matter the cost.
Ziron saw her move, his voice cracking as he shouted,
“Ada! No! Don’t!”
But before he could push himself up, Ada launched forward.
She dashed straight at Gul.
Gul was ready.
With brutal precision, he slammed his fist into her stomach.
“Gah!” Ada grunted, the air ripped from her lungs.
Her body felt like it was shattering, every bone threatening to give out, but Gul didn’t stop.
A second blow—a savage punch to her face.
She stumbled back, barely standing.
Then another.
A punch straight to her gut so hard her back arched from the force.
The sounds of Ada’s pain echoed across the battlefield.
Ziron, watching helplessly, yelled out desperately,
“Ada! Please, just go down! I… I don’t know how much more of this I can take!”
But Ada wouldn't fall.
She couldn't.
Vision nearly gone. Body broken. Breath ragged.
She lifted her arms weakly, still trying to fight.
But Gul was merciless.
He unleashed a relentless barrage of punches, each one driving her back until her body slammed against the rocks.
Blow after blow.
Each strike was worse than the last.
And through it all, Ada’s screams of pain ripped through the land, chilling every soldier who heard them.
Finally, as her strength gave out, Ada collapsed onto her back, barely holding on, gasping for breath.
Gul wasn’t finished.
He stepped forward, pressing his boot down on her chest.
The weight crushed her, and Ada let out a scream so loud and raw it shook the battlefield:
“AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
Ziron’s hands trembled as he tried to hold back the rage, the heartbreak.
His voice broke into a desperate plea.
“Please! Please… stop!”
Ziron’s hands trembled as he watched Gul crushing Ada beneath his boot.
Finally, he couldn’t hold it anymore.
“I SAID STOP!” Ziron roared, his voice shaking the battlefield.
He rose with fury, launching multiple fireballs directly at Gul, each one slamming into him with explosive force.
Gul stumbled back, growling as the blasts hit, but Ziron wasn’t done.
He shot himself into the air, gaining the high ground, and unleashed a relentless flurry of fireballs.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Each one hit harder than the last, forcing Gul to stagger.
Then, Ziron charged lightning into his hand, his eyes burning with rage. He flew in close, unleashing the bolt straight into Gul’s chest.
“Gauh!” Gul grunted, the shockwave sending him crashing into the rocky wall with a thunderous crack.
Ziron, drained and breathing heavily, ran to Ada’s side.
“You okay?” he asked, voice tight with worry.
Ada, barely conscious, her body broken and bloody, managed a weak nod.
“I’ll... I’ll be fine...” she whispered, falling to her knees, unable to hold herself up.
Ziron clenched his fists.
“No, you’re not, Ada!”
But then…
Time slowed.
Out of nowhere, Gul’s massive axe drove straight through Ziron’s back.
Ada’s heart stopped.
“ZIRON!” she screamed, her voice echoing through the battlefield.
Gul ripped the axe back and threw Ziron’s body aside like nothing.
Ada just… stared. Frozen. Waiting. Praying for any sign of life.
But deep down... she already knew.
The last bit of Ziron’s energy faded, and Ada felt the crushing weight of it.
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And then…
She SNAPPED.
With a trembling fist, she slammed her hand into the ground. The earth quaked beneath her.
Covering one eye, her voice came low, filled with venom:
“You... you monster.”
Her body shook as purple energy flickered across her armor.
Her hair shimmered, flashing in and out of a glowing purple hue. The ground cracked beneath her feet as her rage erupted.
“YOU... WILL PAY FOR THAT!”
She staggered up, barely able to contain the surge of power tearing through her.
Her aura pulsed, the air itself trembling.
Gul, standing just feet away, stopped.
For the first time... he looked afraid.
Ada lifted her head, her voice thunderous:
“I’M GOING TO MAKE YOU SUFFER!”
And in that moment, the battlefield changed.
This wasn’t Ada fighting anymore.
This was something else.
The storm was coming.
Ada roared, her voice shaking the heavens as her aura exploded, shooting high into the sky like a pillar of purple flame.
The entire battlefield froze.
Gul took a step back, genuine shock on his face.
“What the...?!”
But before he could even process it—
BOOM.
Ada vanished in a blur of light, and in the blink of an eye, she drove her fist straight into Gul’s stomach.
The hit was so fast, so hard, it launched him through the air like a ragdoll.
Before he could even hit the ground, Ada was already there.
She roared again, fists glowing with power, and unleashed a flurry of devastating blows, slamming into Gul from every angle.
Left. Right. Uppercut. Spin kick.
Gul couldn’t block.
He couldn’t dodge.
He couldn’t even see her.
Ziron, barely clinging to consciousness on the ground, watched through blurry vision.
For the first time in what felt like forever... he smiled.
“Go, Ada...” he whispered.
Gul, panting, finally managed to steady himself. Desperate, he swung his fist toward her.
Ada caught his arm—with one hand.
The battlefield fell silent.
She looked him dead in the eyes, completely unfazed, and with zero effort, stopped the blow cold.
Then, in one smooth motion, Ada flipped, spinning through the air, and slammed a brutal kick into Gul’s chest.
The force made his entire body cave in, sending him crashing back with a thunderous roar.
For the first time...
Gul was struggling.
Really struggling.
His confidence shattered.
Ada landed softly on the ground, her purple aura swirling around her like a storm, her eyes locked on him.
And Gul finally realized...
He was in the fight of his life.
Gul, furious and desperate, roared and charged straight at Ada.
He swung hard, landing a solid blow against her side.
But Ada didn’t budge.
She stood there—completely unfazed.
Not even a flinch.
Slowly, she turned her head, locking eyes with him, and smirked.
“Is that all?” she asked coldly.
She tilted her head.
“Hm... then my turn.”
Before Gul could react—
WHOOSH.
In a blur, Ada vanished and reappeared with her foot planted square in Gul’s face.
The kick sent him flying through the air, smashing through trees like they were paper.
Ziron, barely hanging on, watched from the ground.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
This…
This wasn’t the Ada who fought her father.
No.
This was something more.
Something far beyond anything he’d seen from her before.
Ada floated high into the sky, scanning for Gul’s landing spot.
She spotted him, crumpled in the wreckage of broken trees, struggling just to push himself up.
Ada descended slowly, landing gracefully beside him, one hand resting casually on her hip.
She stood tall, her aura pulsing, her expression calm but deadly.
Gul looked up, growling through his pain, his pride shattered as he saw Ada standing there—completely unshaken, completely in control.
And for the first time...
He knew.
He wasn’t winning this fight
Ada stared down at Gul, her eyes glowing bright with surging purple energy.
Cold. Unforgiving.
Gul, barely able to lift his head, saw the look on her face… and he knew.
He’d lost.
Ada took slow, deliberate steps forward.
Raising her hand, a swirling blast of pure power began to charge in her palm, crackling with devastating force.
This was it.
The end.
But then—
Ziron’s voice rang out, weak but loud enough to cut through the storm:
“ADA... DON’T!”
Ada froze.
The shock hit her harder than Gul ever could.
Ziron... after everything Gul had done to him... after nearly being killed... after watching his people fall...
And he was telling her to stop?
Her arm trembled. The blast flickered.
Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered through gritted teeth,
“...Why?!”
The words barely made it out, her anger choking her.
Ziron, barely holding on, looked at her with pleading eyes.
“Because... you’ll become him...”
Ada’s heart shattered.
She wanted nothing more than to end Gul right there. To make him pay.
But Ziron’s words... they cut deeper than any wound.
She stood there, shaking, torn between vengeance and the man who meant everything to her.
Finally...
With a heavy breath and a tear rolling down her cheek, Ada slowly lowered her arm.
The blast faded.
Her glowing eyes dimmed as she closed them, swallowing the rage burning inside her.
She turned away from Gul, leaving him broken, defeated, and forgotten.
Ada floated back down and landed softly beside Ziron.
She dropped to her knees, exhausted, resting her hand on his wound.
In a quiet voice, filled with both desperation and hope, she whispered the ancient phrase:
“Vel'kara shen valdur...”
(May the light lend me strength to heal any wound.)
Her hands glowed, this time brighter than ever—radiant purple light pouring into Ziron, sealing his wounds.
But as the healing worked... Ada groaned in pain.
The energy drained from her, her own life force pulling into the spell.
But she didn’t care.
Ziron was alive.
And that was all that mattered
As the dust settled and Gul lay defeated, Ada looked up to see the orcs retreating, scrambling back toward their kingdom, fear finally breaking them.
The battle was over.
Ada, drained but determined, gently lifted Ziron into her arms.
With a deep breath, she took to the sky, soaring over the battered battlefield.
Below her, the army stood waiting—silent, watching with anxious eyes as their leaders returned.
They weren’t looking at the retreating orcs anymore.
They were watching Ada.
Worried for Ziron.
Ada landed softly in front of them, Ziron cradled in her arms, his clothes torn and stained, his face pale from the fight.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then Ziron, ever the fighter, smirked at them through the pain and said,
“It’ll take more than that to take me down.”
The army erupted into cheers.
The fear broke.
Hope returned.
And for the first time since the battle began... they believed.
For the first time in what felt like forever...
Ada smiled.
Just a small one. Barely there. But it was real.
She didn't even notice it herself...
But Ziron did.
Even through his exhaustion, he caught it. And at first, it shocked him—seeing her smile, after everything they'd been through.
But then... he just smiled back.
The battlefield, once filled with screams and chaos, was now alive with the sound of victory.
The army cheered.
They laughed.
They hugged each other, celebrating the impossible battle they had just survived.
And Ada?
She sat back quietly, just watching them all. For once, not needing to lead. Not needing to fight. Just... existing in the moment.
And Ziron? He didn’t hold back. He raised his fist in the air and cheered right along with them, his voice joining the chorus.
Then, from the crowd, Mildren’s son stepped forward.
Ada noticed him and straightened up a bit, unsure what to expect.
But instead of words of command or grief, he simply bowed his head deeply before her.
It caught Ada off guard.
Then he looked up and said softly,
“Thank you... for avenging my father. It means a lot to me.”
Ada blinked, unsure how to respond.
No one had ever thanked her like that before.
For a moment, she almost didn’t know what to do.
But deep down, despite all the pain...
she felt something she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
Peace.
Ada quietly bowed her head back to Mildren’s son, showing him the same respect he had just given her.
He smirked and, with a grin, said,
“Come on, join in on the fun.”
Ada shook her head softly.
“No... I’m fine. I’ll just watch.”
Malrick shrugged with a playful smile.
“Alright, if you insist. Oh... and you can call me Malrick.”
Ada smirked at his confidence.
For someone who had just lost his father, he carried himself with surprising strength.
Without thinking, Ada stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Malrick... call me Ada.”
Malrick's grin grew wider.
And for Ada...
For just a brief, fleeting moment...
She felt something she hadn’t felt in years.
Warmth.
Not from the battle.
Not from the power she carried.
But from them.
From people.
From family.
From peace.
In the distance, the cheers started.
Faint at first... then growing louder...
“ADA! ADA! ADA! ADA!”
The army rallied behind her name, their voices echoing across the hills.
And for once...
Ada just stood there.
And let herself feel it
The cheers grew louder.
“ADA! ADA! ADA! ADA!”
What started as distant voices became a roar.
The soldiers.
The survivors.
Even the wounded.
They all surrounded her, shouting her name with everything they had left.
And then...
Ziron, leaning on his staff, barely standing, joined in.
“ADA! ADA! ADA!”
Hearing him... that was what hit the hardest.
Ada stood there, speechless.
For the first time in her life... she didn’t feel like a weapon.
She didn’t feel like a curse.
She didn’t feel like the Death Knight.
She felt... human.
Malrick stood beside her, chanting too, a proud smile on his face as if he'd known her forever.
And Ada?
She just... let it happen.
For once, she didn’t pull away.
She didn’t retreat.
She didn’t hide behind the fight.
She stood tall.
In the middle of them all, as the people of Alldron cheered her name into the skies...
And for the first time...
Ada believed she might actually deserve it.
As time passed and the echoes of Ada’s name faded from the battlefield…
A storm was brewing elsewhere.
In the distant lands of the Blood Elves, chaos erupted.
A purge led by the Wood Elves raged through the city.
Magic clashed. Steel rang. Screams filled the air.
At the heart of it all stood Valrie, the lone Blood Elf Mage, her hands glowing with fierce arcane light as she held a barrier over her people.
Explosions cracked against the shimmering shield as Wood Elves battered it with everything they had.
Behind her, a man yelled out in desperation,
“Valrie! How long can you keep the barrier up?!”
Through gritted teeth, sweat pouring down her face, Valrie shouted back,
“Not much longer!”
The man looked around, hopelessness setting in.
“We’re not going to make it...”
“DON’T SAY THAT!” Valrie snapped, her voice breaking with rage and pain.
“I WON’T... I WON’T LET THIS HAPPEN!”
But then—
The barrier shattered.
A shockwave rippled through the air as the Wood Elves burst through, weapons drawn, eyes burning with hatred.
Valrie stumbled but forced herself back to her feet, magic swirling around her hands, her hair glowing faintly as the void stirred inside her.
She planted her feet and unleashed a blast of arcane force, sending the first wave of attackers flying back.
“YOU WON’T TAKE THEM FROM ME!” she roared.
“NOT MY CITY! NOT MY PEOPLE!”
The ground beneath her cracked as her power surged.
Alone. Cornered. Outnumbered.
But Valrie was ready to fight until her last breath
Just as Valrie felt her strength failing...
As the last of her magic burned out...
And as the Wood Elves stormed forward, blades raised, ready to finish what they started...
Suddenly—
From the front lines, screams erupted.
“WHO IS THAT?! AUGH!”
“THERE! SHE’S FIRE! SHE’S DEATH!”
The Wood Elves’ confidence snapped like twigs.
One by one, they were cut down before they could even react.
Valrie, panting, confused, pushed herself up and rushed to the front of the church, arcane sparks still flickering from her fingertips.
And what she saw…
It didn’t feel real.
Through the smoke, through the chaos, there stood a figure surrounded by fallen enemies, blades dripping with blood, aura pulsing with deadly, purple energy.
Ada.
The Death Knight herself.
With flames of destruction behind her and fear in the eyes of every enemy left standing.
And for the first time in this entire siege...
Valrie felt something she hadn’t felt in days.
Hope
Ada caught a quick glimpse of the mage by the church.
Just for a second.
A flash of glowing magic in her hands. Silver hair. Power radiating from her aura.
Ada felt the urge to ask who she was...
But before the words could even form—
FWIP!
An arrow tore through the air, so fast Ada had to twist her body mid-step just to dodge it.
It grazed her shoulder, slicing through her armor like it was paper.
Ada’s eyes sharpened.
She turned her head and spotted the attacker.
A Wood Elf.
Tall, armored in green and gold, standing with a longbow drawn, cold eyes staring down from atop the rubble.
And at her sides?
Two massive wolves, fur bristling, teeth bared, their growls deep and guttural as they circled Ada like predators stalking prey.
Ada exhaled slowly, flexing her fingers around the hilts of her swords.
“Alright... I guess we’re doing this.”
Behind her, Valrie stood at the church steps, watching with wide eyes.
Who... is she?
She'd never seen anyone move like that. Fight like that.
And this Wood Elf wasn’t just some scout.
She was an elite hunter.
But from the way Ada rolled her shoulders and smirked?
She wasn’t worried.
Not even a little
The Wood Elf archer narrowed her eyes, whistling sharply.
Her wolves immediately backed off, growling as they slinked behind her.
Then, without a word, she slung her bow over her shoulder and drew a single curved blade, its edge glowing faintly with green magic.
Ada raised a brow, genuinely surprised.
“A blade, huh? Finally... someone interesting,” she muttered with a grin.
Without hesitation, they both dashed forward, their movements like blurs across the broken battlefield.
CLANG!
Their weapons collided, sparks flying, the force of their strikes shaking the ground beneath them.
As they pushed against each other's blades, the Wood Elf snarled,
“Who are you?!”
Ada smirked, eyes glowing faintly.
“You tell me first!”
With lightning speed, Ada spun, sweeping the elf’s legs out from under her.
THUD!
The Wood Elf hit the ground hard, and before she could react, Ada was already standing over her, sword pointed directly at her throat.
Her voice dropped low and dangerous.
“Speak... before I slay you and your people.”
The woman glared up defiantly but finally answered through gritted teeth.
“...I’m Ameria.”
Ada paused, eyes studying her for just a moment longer than necessary.
“Ameria...” she repeated, as if testing the name on her tongue.
Behind her, Valrie watched from the church steps, completely transfixed.
Whoever this stranger was...
She wasn’t just saving the city.
She was rewriting the whole war
Ada kept her sword steady at Ameria's throat, her voice calm but commanding.
“Alright, Ameria... call off your army, and they’ll be spared.”
Ameria stared up at her, silent.
For a moment, it almost seemed like she might listen.
But then...
Something shifted.
In her mind, flashes.
Memories.
Her village in flames.
Her people screaming.
Falling to her knees, sobbing as the smoke rose into the sky.
And through the fire...
Black armor.
A figure standing tall, unbothered by the chaos.
Ada.
The very same woman holding a blade to her throat now.
Ameria’s eyes widened in horror.
And just like that, the calm shattered.
She snapped, fury exploding from her lungs as she screamed,
“YOU MURDERED THEM!”
Ada blinked, caught off guard by the sudden rage.
“What?”
Ameria shoved Ada’s sword aside, rolling back to her feet, her hands trembling, not from fear—
but from the weight of finally facing the monster from her nightmares.
Valrie, watching from the church steps, narrowed her eyes in confusion.
What was Ameria talking about?
Ada... murdered who?
The air between them thickened instantly, the battlefield’s silence replaced with a tension that could snap steel.
And Ada...
For the first time in a while...
Had no words
Ameria stood her ground, anger burning in her eyes as she snapped back with venom.
“You don’t remember?!” she spat.
“The town of elves you slaughtered?!”
Ada froze, confusion written all over her face.
She shook her head slowly.
“What...?”
Ameria sneered.
“Maybe the name will help you remember... Deandria.”
Everything stopped.
Ada’s eyes widened.
She staggered back a step, her breath catching in her throat.
Behind her, Valrie watched the shock flood across Ada’s face—
and for the first time, she saw the cracks in the unbreakable warrior standing before her.
Memories hit Ada like a storm.
The screaming.
The fire.
The blood.
The mistakes she’d buried so deep they felt like another life.
And without a word...
Ada turned.
And ran.
Back into the woods.
Sobbing.
Not looking back.
Valrie stood frozen for a moment, heart pounding.
Then, without thinking, she bolted after Ada, her curiosity burning.
Who was she?
Why did she save us?
And what happened in Deandria?
Meanwhile, Ameria, still shaking, watched them disappear into the forest.
For a brief moment, she considered chasing...
But no.
For the first time since the battle began, fear crept into her mind.
Because now she realized—
if Ada came back angry...
there wouldn’t be anything left.
So Ameria retreated, calling her people with her, leaving only questions and echoes behind.
And Valrie?
She was determined to find the truth
----------------------------------------
Ada ran.
Branches tore at her arms. Leaves blurred past her eyes. But none of it mattered.
She just needed to get away.
Away from the battlefield.
Away from the stares.
Away from Deandria.
But fate had other plans.
For the first time in years, a simple twig beneath her boot caught her off guard.
SNAP.
Ada stumbled, lost her footing, and crashed to the forest floor.
And that’s when the voices came.
The ones she’d buried.
The ones that never truly left.
“WHY?! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! AHHHHHH!”
“WAIT, PLEASE! I HAVE CHILDREN! NOOOO!”
“MOM, PLEASE SAVE ME! AHHHHH!”
Ada clutched her head, curling into herself, her body trembling as sobs ripped out of her.
She pressed her forehead to the dirt, shaking uncontrollably, whispering broken apologies to ghosts that would never answer.
“I didn’t... I didn’t mean... I didn’t... please...”
And that’s how Valrie found her.
The mighty warrior who had torn through an entire army just minutes before...
Now lying on the ground in a fetal position, sobbing like a child lost in the dark.
Valrie stopped, breath catching in her throat.
She’d never seen anything like it.
The woman who had saved her people. The legend who had scared the Wood Elves into retreat.
Now completely shattered.
And something inside Valrie shifted.
For the first time...
She didn’t just see Ada as a warrior.
She saw Ada as someone who needed saving too
Valrie quietly sat a few feet away, unsure if she should speak or just... listen.
The woman who had just saved them all was now breaking right in front of her, lost in voices only she could hear.
Ada sobbed, trembling, whispering into the dirt,
“I... I didn’t want to hurt you... please... please get out of my head...”
Her cries grew louder, raw, and heart-shattering.
Valrie couldn’t take it anymore.
Slowly, carefully, she crept closer, reaching out to place a hand on Ada’s back—
But before she could—
Ada suddenly screamed,
“MOM, I’M SORRY!”
She bolted upright, eyes wild and panicked, and saw Valrie.
Without thinking, Ada scrambled back, pressing herself against the trunk of a tree, her breathing ragged, eyes wide with something Valrie never thought she’d see from someone like her.
Fear.
Pure, real fear.
Valrie gently raised her hands, voice soft and calming.
“No, no... I’m not here to hurt you.”
Ada stared at her for a long moment, tears still streaking down her face, her body shaking.
Then, almost whispering, her voice broken and defeated, she muttered,
“I wish you were.”
She wrapped her arms tightly around her legs, curling up as if trying to disappear, burying her head between her knees.
Valrie felt her heart shatter.
This wasn’t the unstoppable warrior who tore through armies.
This was someone haunted.
Someone who didn’t believe she deserved anything but pain.
And in that moment, Valrie knew...
Ada didn’t just need saving.
She needed someone to finally understand
Valrie stood in silence for a moment, watching Ada hug her knees to her chest, still trembling, tears streaming down her face.
Then, slowly, she moved closer.
Carefully.
Like approaching a wounded animal that had been hurt too many times to trust anyone.
She knelt down beside Ada, lowering herself to her level.
Her voice was soft, gentle, without judgment.
“I’m Valrie...” she said quietly.
“...who are you?”
For a moment, Ada didn’t answer.
She just stared at the ground, her breathing shaky.
Then, finally, she lifted her head, red eyes meeting Valrie’s.
“Someone you should fear,” Ada whispered, her voice barely holding together as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
Valrie tilted her head, smiling softly.
“Well... I’m not afraid of you.”
Ada blinked, like she wasn’t sure she heard her right.
Valrie continued, still smiling,
“You saved my people. I see you as a hero.”
Ada searched her face, looking for the lie.
Waiting for the fear.
For the disgust.
For the pity.
But... there was none.
Just honesty.
Just kindness.
Just... Valrie.
Ada wiped at her eyes, still unsure why this woman wasn’t running from her.
Finally, in a quiet voice, she said,
“I’m Ada.”
Valrie nodded, smile growing just a bit more.
“Well, Ada... me and my people are thankful you showed up.”
And for the first time in a long, long time...
Ada didn’t feel like a monster.
She just felt... human.
Finally, after the quiet settled and Ada’s breathing slowed, Valrie stood up.
She dusted off her hands, looked down at Ada, and with a soft, knowing smile, she held out her hand.
“We’ll need your help...” she said gently.
Then, after a pause, with purpose, she added,
“...friend.”
Ada stared at the hand.
Frozen.
That word...
Friend.
It felt unreal. Like something she didn’t deserve.
But Valrie meant it. She felt it.
And after everything...
Ada reached out.
Her trembling hand met Valrie’s, and Valrie helped her to her feet.
They locked eyes for just a moment.
And then—without thinking—Ada stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Valrie.
A real hug.
The first in... longer than she could remember.
And as she did...
The voices stopped.
The screams.
The cries.
The begging.
Gone.
For the first time in her cursed existence...
It was silent.
Peaceful.
Valrie was caught off guard at first, eyes wide, unsure how someone so fierce, so feared, could suddenly feel so... small.
But then...
She closed her eyes.
And she hugged Ada back.
Fully.
Without fear.
Without question.
Just... comfort.
And in that moment, without a single word more...
Ada finally realized she wasn’t alone anymore
Ada smiled softly at Valrie, wiping the last of the tears from her face.
“I better get back to my mentor. He’s probably sick worrying about me,” she said with a small laugh.
Valrie blinked, a bit surprised.
Ada. The unstoppable force. The warrior of legends...
had a mentor?
But then Valrie’s surprise turned into a smile.
“Better get going then.”
Ada nodded, turning to leave.
And as she walked off, back into the trees, Valrie watched her go.
It was strange.
They had just met.
But it already felt like watching an old friend walk away.
Someone you know you’re destined to see again.
By the time Ada returned home, Ziron was already standing tall, fully healed, polishing his staff as if nothing had happened.
When he saw her enter the throne room, his gaze lingered for a moment.
“Where were you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ada smirked and shrugged.
“Exploring.”
Without another word, she dropped into her throne, resting back, finally feeling the weight of the day lift from her shoulders.
Ziron watched her for a moment longer, sensing... something had changed.
Something big.
But he didn’t push.
Instead, he just returned to his staff, calmly polishing it in the quiet.
And Ada?
For the first time in her life...
She knew her purpose.
She wasn’t just a weapon.
She wasn’t just a monster.
She wasn’t alone.
And now...
She finally had another reason to fight.
As Ada sat quietly on her throne, her eyes closed, finally feeling a rare moment of peace...
It hit.
A sudden flash.
Sharp. Cold.
Her vision blurred, the world around her fading into darkness.
And standing there...
A figure.
Tall. Clad in dark armor.
Face hidden beneath a blackened helm.
Ada squinted, trying to make out any detail—anything to know who this was.
But there was nothing.
Only shadow.
Only the overwhelming, suffocating presence radiating off him like a storm.
And then...
A voice.
Low. Chilling. Echoing inside her mind.
“I’m coming for you...
...sister