Dawn, still hidden beneath the veil of night, hung heavy over Greymire. The streets lay silent, but within the inn, Ellie’s mind was anything but. Restless. Clamoring. She paced the small room, her footsteps quick, her breathing shallow. The duel loomed ahead like a yawning abyss, and all she wanted was to run—to vanish into the anonymity she had once worn like a shield.

“How did it come to this?” she muttered, gripping the edge of the table, knuckles white. She could barely hear her own voice over the pounding of her heart. "They expect me to fight a sorcerer?" Her voice shook, betraying the panic she could no longer hold in check.

Ellie’s eyes darted around the room, looking for something—anything—that might give her a way out. But there was none. The weight of the town’s expectations, of her own pride and fear, crushed down on her like a mountain. It didn’t matter how much she paced, how much she tried to breathe. She couldn’t escape the suffocating reality that awaited her at dawn.

“I can’t do this.” Her hands curled into fists. "I have to leave. Now."

It was a desperate thought, but the only one that made sense. If she could slip away before anyone noticed, disappear into the forest—maybe Thorne would find another challenger. Maybe he'd forget about her. She wasn’t a hero. She wasn’t the warrior people wanted her to be.

Ellie grabbed her satchel and shoved a few essentials into it—bread, water, her map. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the straps. The gate’s not far, less than a mile. If I leave now...

But just as she started toward the door, a soft knock echoed through the small room.

Her body went rigid. She froze, breath caught in her throat. A second knock followed—firmer, more deliberate.

“Ellie Liddell,” a voice called from the other side. Calm. Unhurried. “We know you’re in there.”

Her pulse spiked, her heart pounding loud enough to drown out everything else. She backed away from the door, her mind racing. No, no, no. Not now. Not yet.

The floorboards creaked as she tiptoed backward. Think, Ellie, think. The window—she could slip out of the window into the alley. But her heart sank as she glanced toward it. It was barely big enough, and the alley outside… likely watched.

“Don’t make this difficult.” The voice was lower now, more insistent. “The sorcerer awaits.”

Ellie clenched her teeth, her nails biting into her palms. Thorne had sent them—his agents—to make sure she wouldn’t flee. Of course he had. The duel wasn’t just about magic or power. It was a spectacle, a game to him.

“I can’t...” Her voice cracked, a whisper to herself. She glanced at the satchel still half-packed on the bed. Running wouldn’t work. Not anymore.

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Another knock. This one louder, more commanding. Then a pause—followed by soft, shuffling footsteps outside. Ellie’s breath caught again. Were they leaving? Were they—

“Ellie,” the voice said again, quieter now, almost gentle. “Thorne has no desire to harm you… yet. But if you make this difficult, if you try to run… his mercy will end.”

Her chest tightened as if a hand had wrapped around her lungs, squeezing. She knew what Kael Thorne was capable of—everyone did. She wasn’t a fool. If she ran, if she made him chase her, she wouldn’t be facing just a duel. She’d be facing his wrath.

But I can’t fight him. Not like this. Her knees buckled as she slumped against the wall, sinking down to the floor. There’s no way out.

Outside, the voices murmured, their patience wearing thin. She could almost hear them shifting, preparing to break down the door. If she didn’t move soon, they'd drag her out.

With a trembling hand, she reached for the latch.

The moment the door creaked open, three figures stepped into view, all dressed in dark, elegant robes. Their faces were calm and impassive, far too composed for the early hour. The tallest of the group—a woman with pale skin and a sharp jawline—stepped forward.

“It’s time.” The woman glanced past Ellie, toward the dimly lit streets, then nodded toward the square. “You cannot delay any longer.”

Ellie stared at her, the urge to speak rising in her throat, but her words stuck. There was nothing she could say that would change their minds.

The woman’s eyes softened, just barely. “There’s no shame in fear, Ellie Liddell. But running will only make things worse.”

Ellie swallowed hard, her mind scrambling for some kind of retort, but she had nothing. All she had was the cold, gnawing dread that twisted her insides. They’re right.

Without a word, she stepped out into the street. The early morning air bit at her skin, the sky a dull gray as the first hints of dawn bled through the horizon. The town square loomed ahead, silent save for the flickering torches that lined its edges.

She could feel the eyes watching her—unseen, but there. Judging. Expecting.

They crossed the square in silence, her small procession cutting through the empty streets like a funeral march. The guildhall’s stone walls loomed at the far end, its shadow swallowing them whole as they approached.

And there, standing in the center of the square, was Kael Thorne.

He was draped in black, his silhouette tall and sharp against the torchlight. His eyes—those cold, predatory eyes—glinted as he watched her approach. A smile curled at his lips.

“Ellie Liddell,” he purred, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d flee into the night like a common thief.”

Ellie’s throat tightened. She forced herself to meet his gaze, but the weight of it was unbearable. He was everything she had feared—everything she had dreaded since the duel was first announced.

“You’ve made the right choice,” Thorne said, stepping forward. “Now let’s see if you’re truly as dangerous as they say… or if you’re just another pretender.”

Ellie clenched her fists at her sides, her legs trembling beneath her. She could feel the square closing in on her, the weight of the moment pressing down on her chest.

Thorne took another step forward, his smile widening. “This is your last chance, Ellie. Show me something worth my time. Or die in obscurity.”

Her mouth was dry. Her mind blank.

There was no escape now.

With a single, resigned breath, Ellie took her place in the center of the square. The duel had begun. And there was no running anymore.