Sweat trickled down Kendrys' body, a crushing and familiar heat burning within her like an untamed fire. Lying down, her hands bound by thick roots, she was unable to move. Every muscle in her body, strained to the limit, seemed to cry out under the futile effort to free herself. Her breath came in short gasps, and a dull tingling coursed through her immobilized limbs.

Above her, a blurry figure appeared, wavering in her muddled vision. Marte. His features were hollowed by exhaustion, marked by deep circles under his eyes, but a faint smile lit up his lips.

— "You're finally awake," he murmured softly.

Kendrys blinked.

— "You look exhausted, Marte," she replied.

— "I am…" he admitted, sitting down beside her with a weary sigh.

— "How long… have I been asleep?" she asked.

— "Three weeks," Marte answered.

Kendrys abruptly sat up, a sudden wave of energy coursing through her body. The roots binding her arms snapped. She swayed slightly but steadied herself.

— "We need to return to the capital. Immediately," she declared.

Marte, slumped over, lifted his eyes to her with a desperate slowness.

— "Not without me," he murmured. "I need to rest."

Kendrys turned her head towards him, her gaze softening slightly.

— "Was it you who healed me?" she asked.

Marte nodded slowly, a tired smile playing on his lips.

— "Yes… but it nearly drained all my energy."

— "Thank you, Marte."

He nodded faintly, his eyelids half-closed.

— "Rest here," he advised in a weak but firm voice. "It’s safer than rushing to the capital. Let’s wait a few weeks, and we’ll go back together… once I’ve recovered."

But Kendrys shook her head.

— "They might need me there," she said.

Marte sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping further.

— "Take care of yourself," he murmured at last.

She nodded, her eyes meeting his one last time.

— "I promise."

Without another word, Kendrys turned and left the room. Her steps echoed on the old wooden stairs.

Marte remained slumped on the couch, his gaze fixed on the closed door. A sigh escaped his lips, and he briefly closed his eyes, letting his fatigue envelop him.

At the bottom of the staircase, a young woman waited for her, a relieved smile lighting up her face. Her hands, clasped in front of her, betrayed a nervousness she tried to conceal.

— "You’re finally awake," she said.

— "Do we know each other?" Kendrys asked.

The young woman gently shook her head.

— "I’m a friend of Marte," she explained. "This inn belongs to me."

The words eased some of the tension in Kendrys’ shoulders. She nodded in acknowledgment.

— "Thank you for helping me," she finally said.

— "It was my pleasure," the innkeeper replied with a soft laugh. "Marte’s still upstairs?"

— "Yes, he’s resting. He really needs it."

The young woman sighed deeply.

— "I’m glad to hear that. He wasn’t eating anymore, spending his nights watching over you. His plants were draining all his energy," she murmured.

— "Where can I find a horse and some food?" Kendrys finally asked.

The innkeeper returned a moment later with carefully packed provisions, then directed her to the nearest stable.

As a gesture of gratitude, Kendrys pulled out a well-filled purse from her pocket and offered it to the young woman.

— "Take this," she said.

But the woman gently pushed the purse away.

— "It’s not necessary," she replied.

Kendrys hesitated for a moment, her fingers still clutching the purse, before putting it back in her pocket.

— "Thank you for everything," she said at last.

The young woman gave her one last smile. Kendrys, after a brief exchange of looks, bowed slightly in respect before turning on her heel. She crossed the threshold of the inn, provisions in hand, her mind already set on the road ahead.

*****

Kendrys was finally approaching the castle, its imposing towers cutting against the gray sky after five days of relentless riding. The fortress, perched atop a steep mountain, loomed ahead.

The icy mountain wind whistled past her ears, slipping into her clothes and tossing the rebellious strands of her hair. Despite the fatigue weighing on her shoulders, Kendrys kept her posture straight and regal, her mount advancing with steady steps along the rocky path leading to the castle gates.

The heavy black iron doors stood tall before her, guarded by eight armored soldiers. Their rigid stances, almost martial, signaled their readiness. As Kendrys slowed her approach, one of the guards, evidently their leader, stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

— "Who are you?" he demanded in a grave voice.

Still on horseback, Kendrys let a brief silence hang before locking eyes with the guard. She pulled a royal insignia from her pocket, holding it aloft for all to see. The daylight glinted off the golden emblem, drawing their attention.

— "Kendrys," she declared. "Royal Guard."

The guard captain furrowed his brows, squinting as he scrutinized the insignia.

— "No one is allowed entry, by order of the king," he finally said.

Kendrys didn’t flinch. Sitting tall in her saddle, she met his gaze with an icy intensity. Her face remained impassive, but her eyes gleamed with a sharp light, like a blade poised to strike.

— "Send a messenger to the king," she said. "Tell him Kendrys is at the gate."

The guards exchanged uncertain glances, a heavy silence stretching between them. One of them, younger, looked as if he might say something but reconsidered under the captain’s sharp gaze.

— "Wait here," the captain ordered, nodding to one of the soldiers.

The soldier hurried off toward the castle, his boots clattering against the uneven cobblestones. Kendrys followed his retreat with a piercing gaze before returning her attention to the remaining guards.

She dismounted, her boots kicking up a dry cloud of dust, and tied her horse to a wooden post. Always on alert, Kendrys turned her eyes toward an inn on the outskirts. The wind carried snippets of muffled conversations.

She had barely taken ten steps when a piercing scream shattered the relative calm. The sound, so close, came from a nearby alley. Her senses sharpened instantly. She rushed toward the source of the cries, her boots striking the uneven pavement with urgency.

Rounding the corner sharply, the scene before her made her catch her breath. A man was advancing slowly, his face frozen in a strange, vacant expression—mechanical, almost. His blood-soaked clothes clung to his body, and his shuffling steps seemed devoid of any will.

Around him, bodies lay scattered on the ground. Their chests had been torn open, gaping, painting the street with sprays of blood and fragments of flesh. The air was thick with the metallic stench of blood and death.

A burning anger surged through Kendrys. Her fists clenched, and in an instant, flames erupted around her hands—vivid, untamed fire crackling at her fingertips. Without hesitation, she hurled a fireball directly at the man. The attack struck its target, and his body was engulfed in flames, collapsing with a sinister crackle.

The man’s back suddenly exploded with a dull thud, scattering charred flesh around him. Two glowing eyes emerged from the scorched mass, shining with malevolent light, as a grotesque smile twisted what remained of his face.

— "Missed, little human," a cavernous voice jeered.

A black cat sprang from the corpse, its sinister laughter slicing through the air like a razor. It leapt onto the roof of a nearby house, its movements swift and fluid, defying gravity.

Furious, Kendrys raised her flaming hand and launched another fireball at the creature. But the cat, with supernatural agility, dodged the attack effortlessly, landing on another rooftop.

— "Missed again," it mocked. "At this rate, you’ll end up burning down the entire town."

Kendrys gritted her teeth, her fiery gaze locked onto the creature. With a sharp motion, she extinguished her flames, aware of the danger her powers posed in such a confined space. Instead, she chose to pursue the demon on foot, her rapid steps echoing through the cobblestone streets.

The cat bounded from roof to roof, a fleeting black blur against the gray sky. Despite all her energy and determination, Kendrys couldn’t catch up. Her muscles burned, her breath grew ragged, but she did not slow.

After several minutes of frantic pursuit, the demon vanished into the shadows of the alleys. Kendrys came to a halt, panting, her hands trembling with frustration. Refusing to give up, she let flames envelop her once more and rose into the air, surveying the city from above.

From this vantage point, she scanned every corner, every rooftop, every dark alley. Her eyes desperately sought any movement, any flash of black. But there was nothing. The demon had vanished.

Kendrys descended slowly, her anger still simmering, and fixed her gaze for a moment on the street where it had all begun. The mutilated bodies, the dried blood on the cobblestones. She clenched her fists. This wasn’t over.

Kendrys returned to the starting point, where several guards had gathered. Their faces were marked with fatigue and worry, their armor, though polished, seemed to weigh down their movements.

She brandished her insignia with a firm gesture.

— "It was a demon. I’ll file a report," she announced.

The guards, visibly shaken, instinctively stepped aside, though their eyes remained fixed on her, a flicker of fear and confusion within them. As they began to disperse, Kendrys grabbed one of them by the arm.

— "I need to enter the castle," she ordered.

The man stiffened under her grip, carefully avoiding her gaze.

— "No one is allowed inside."

— "Why?" Kendrys pressed.

The guards exchanged nervous glances, hesitation hanging heavily in the air between them. After a moment of silence, one of them cleared his throat before murmuring:

— "There’s a plague."

Kendrys narrowed her eyes.

— "A plague of what?"

Another guard, older and more experienced, stepped forward. He nodded slowly, inviting her to follow.

Without a word, she fell into step behind him. They walked in silence to their barracks, where the atmosphere was even more oppressive. The place seemed drained of all hope.

Inside, the guards removed their armor with weary motions, the metallic clatter of pieces hitting the floor breaking the heavy silence. One of them pulled out a bottle of rum and slammed it onto the table, a desperate attempt to escape the grim reality.

— "Care for a drink?" he asked.

— "No," Kendrys replied.

The soldier shrugged and poured himself a generous amount, followed by his companions. The amber liquid shimmered in the flickering candlelight.

Finally, the guard who had led her spoke.

— "The plague began a few weeks ago," he said in a low, somber tone. "At first, it was just the servants. We didn’t worry too much… until it reached the royal bloodline."

Kendrys remained motionless, her hardened features masking the storm of thoughts swirling within her.

— "How many victims?" she asked.

The guard hesitated, downing his glass before answering.

— "Many. It’s impossible to say exactly how many. The castle is under quarantine. No one goes in, no one comes out. Those who tried… never returned," he added.

— "Who’s been affected?" she insisted, her tone growing sharper.

— "Rumor has it that even the lords have been stricken," another guard murmured.

A heavy silence settled once more. Kendrys, standing tall and composed, seemed like a statue of discipline, though inside, her mind churned with unease.

After a long moment, she reached out, grabbed the bottle of rum, and poured herself a glass. She stared at the liquid for a moment, her gaze distant, before downing it in one gulp. The burning taste clung to her throat.

— "Thank you for the information," she finally said, setting the glass down with a sharp clink.

She turned on her heel and left the barracks. Outside, the cold air lashed at her face, but she didn’t slow her pace

*****

As night fell, Kendrys slipped into the forest bordering the castle. The gnarled trees twisted like petrified figures in an eternal dance, their intertwined branches forming a dark and oppressive canopy. The wind whistled through the foliage.

Each step on the mossy ground cracked old branches beneath her boots. She knew this place.

Every corner, every turn was etched into her memory.

She pushed aside a thick bush. As if moved by its own will, the foliage parted gently, revealing a discreet opening hidden under a thick layer of moss. Kendrys took a deep breath and crouched to enter the passage.

The tunnel plunged beneath the castle’s foundations, darkness swallowing her almost immediately. The air was cold and damp, and each breath carried a faint taste of earth.

Her hands slid along the rough, wet walls, where fine spiderwebs clung to her skin. She grimaced, stifling a shiver of disgust. She hated spiders.

To pierce the oppressive darkness, she summoned a flame to the tip of her finger. Its flickering light revealed a narrow, spiraling staircase descending deeper into the earth’s bowels. Each step was worn, crumbling from the passage of time, and Kendrys had to brace herself against the wall to keep her balance.

The dull clatter of her boots echoed in the enclosed space, each sound reverberating endlessly through the tunnel.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally reached the tunnel’s end. The light of her flame revealed a forgotten courtyard where nature had reclaimed its domain.

The worn cobblestones had all but disappeared beneath a dense carpet of greenery, where climbing plants and wildflowers bloomed in disarray.

But what drew her attention was the enormous rose bush standing at the courtyard’s center. Its twisted and imposing branches seemed to rise from the ground like an ancient entity, and its roses, a deep, vibrant red, were as large as clenched fists.

Kendrys stepped closer, an odd curiosity compelling her to reach for one of the roses. She carefully plucked the flower, but as soon as the stem was cut, its petals burst like fireworks, scattering into a myriad of glowing fragments.

Startled by the reaction, Kendrys stared for a moment at the bare stem still in her hand. She slipped it into her pocket.

Her attention then shifted to a hidden door, almost entirely concealed behind a wall of climbing ivy. The thick leaves covered the surface of the aged wood, making the door nearly indistinguishable to an untrained eye.

She pushed aside the plants, revealing the door. Her hand rested on the rough wood, hesitating for a moment. Then, with a slight push, the door opened with a sharp creak.

The air changed immediately—drier, heavier, laden with the scent of aged wood and damp stone. Kendrys stepped inside, softly closing the door behind her. The castle's darkness wrapped around her like a familiar shadow, and her senses sharpened once more.

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Inside, an oppressive silence reigned. The air, thick and stale, carried an acrid smell that clung to her throat and burned her nostrils. Kendrys inhaled slowly, then conjured a thin layer of flames around her body.

She moved forward cautiously, her senses on high alert, scanning for any signs of danger. When she reached the steward’s office, a faint light glowed from within. Through the partially open door, she spotted Soren, bent over his desk, his quill gliding across the parchment.

— "I know you’re there, Kendrys," he said calmly, without lifting his eyes.

Kendrys extinguished her flames and stepped through the threshold.

— "Have you sent your report?" he asked.

— "Not yet," she replied.

Soren set his quill down and raised his head. His eyes, ringed with deep shadows, were dull, almost lifeless, and his face, usually severe, was etched with an unusual weariness.

— "I’m listening," he said simply.

Kendrys took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts.

— "I spent a week in the north," she began, her gaze locked on Soren, gauging his reaction. "I found flocks of sheep dead, all drained of their blood."

She paused.

— "I had to hide for several days before discovering it was the work of blood-drinking flies. They seemed drawn to a nearby marsh."

Soren nodded faintly, his expression impassive, as though expecting more.

— "There, I found a witch," she continued. "She captured me, but Marte intervened. He killed her."

— "Where is he now?" Soren asked.

— "Still there," she replied, watching his face for any reaction.

— "Very well," he murmured, returning to his writing.

The scratching of the quill against the parchment filled the room with a steady, monotonous sound. Kendrys stood still, her eyes fixed on Soren’s every movement.

— "Do you need anything else, Kendrys?" he asked without looking up.

— "I’ve heard about an epidemic," she replied.

This time, Soren stopped writing. He remained still for a moment, as if her words had shattered an invisible barrier. Slowly, he lifted his head and met her gaze with his glassy eyes.

— "Yes," he said at last. "Many have died. Those who survived are now immune, but no one can leave the castle."

A cold shiver ran down Kendrys’ spine.

— "Have you discovered the cause?" she pressed.

Soren stared at her for a long moment, his gaze hollow.

— "No," he replied curtly, before returning to his writing, as though her question held no significance.

Kendrys remained motionless, her mind swirling with unease. A deep, visceral discomfort crept into her, impossible to ignore. Something here was profoundly wrong.

She turned on her heel and left the room.

As Kendrys returned to her room, she was struck by an acrid stench of sulfur permeating the air. Each breath seared her throat, making the atmosphere almost unbearable. She opened the window in search of fresh air, but the smell lingered, clinging to her like a malevolent shadow.

Kendrys ignited, allowing her flames to engulf her body, and leapt into the street below.

Around her, the townsfolk shuffled along with dragging steps, their feet barely lifting from the cobblestones as if they no longer had the strength. Their arms hung limply by their sides or swung in slow, disjointed motions, like puppets without strings. Some carried bags or baskets, their fingers gripping the handles with an odd stiffness, their joints seemingly locked.

Their heads were slightly tilted, their faces turned toward an unseen horizon. Their gazes were fixed on an invisible point, their pupils dilated and unmoving. No blinking, no spark of awareness in their eyes—only an abyssal void, as though their souls had been stripped away.

A woman with dull hair, wrapped in a faded shawl, passed a few steps from Kendrys. She carried a basket overflowing with apples, one of which rolled to the ground, shattering against the cobblestones. The woman didn’t stop, didn’t even glance down, continuing her relentless march without a hint of concern.

A man dressed in a tattered tunic stumbled along nearby, his movements jerky, as if battling invisible strings pulling at his limbs. His head turned slightly in Kendrys’ direction, but his gaze passed through her as though she wasn’t there.

A cold shiver ran down her spine. What she was witnessing was far from natural. An invisible, malevolent force seemed to be controlling these bodies.

Pushing aside the oppressive feeling, Kendrys made her way to a nearby tavern. Inside, the atmosphere was stifling, almost suffocating. Laughter erupted from the patrons at intervals, but it rang hollow—distant echoes, forced, almost mechanical.

Kendrys scanned the room. The patrons slumped in their chairs, raising their tankards with clumsy, uncoordinated gestures. Their eyes were devoid of emotion, of life, of any trace of humanity. Empty shells. She suppressed a shiver and forced herself to move forward.

Behind the counter, a server was furiously polishing glasses, his movements rapid and repetitive, like a well-oiled machine—but one lacking grace.

After a moment’s hesitation, Kendrys approached the counter. The server, as if sensing her presence before she even arrived, turned abruptly, his face twisted into a rigid, almost grotesque smile.

— "What can I get you?" he asked in an unnaturally cheerful tone.

— "A beer," she replied.

— "I’ll get that for you right away," he declared with exaggerated enthusiasm before disappearing behind the bar.

She took a seat at a table. A few minutes later, he returned with a frothy tankard in hand. She thanked him with a slight nod before lifting the drink to her lips. Discreetly, she sniffed the liquid, and a strange, subtle but unmistakably suspicious scent wafted up to her nose.

Kendrys pretended to drink, then discreetly emptied the contents of the tankard into a plant beside her. She watched the plant closely, expecting an immediate reaction. But nothing happened. The plant remained still, its leaves unblemished.

She placed the empty tankard on the counter and waited, her gaze sweeping the room in search of a clue, a sign. Ten minutes later, the server reappeared, his rigid smile still plastered across his expressionless face.

— "Would you like another beer?" he asked.

— "No, this is perfect," she replied.

— "Very well, madam," he said, executing a clumsy bow before walking away.

His steps, unnaturally long and oddly synchronized, gave his silhouette a grotesque, almost surreal appearance. Kendrys followed him with her eyes.

As she stood to leave the tavern, a cold hand, hard as stone, suddenly clamped down on her arm, halting her mid-step. A shiver rippled through her body, but she spun around sharply, her hair igniting instantly.

In front of her stood a small, dark-haired man with an unremarkable appearance, yet his eyes, milky white, stared beyond her, fixed on an invisible point. Despite his blind gaze, Kendrys felt the chilling penetration of his presence. A wide smile stretched across his face.

— "Can I help you?" she asked sharply, flames dancing around her shoulders, ready to erupt.

The man didn’t respond. His smile twisted even further, a grotesque grimace that continued to stretch unnaturally, revealing uneven, yellowed teeth. His icy hand gripped her arm with an inhuman strength.

The man’s skin began to smolder, cracking and blackening under the heat, releasing the scent of burning wood. Yet he remained motionless, impervious to the pain, his smile frozen in place.

With a cry of rage, Kendrys gathered her strength and shoved him violently. The force hurled his frail body backward, slamming him into a table with a dull thud. The entire room seemed to hold its breath for a moment. Then, in perfect synchronization, the other patrons of the tavern rose to their feet.

Their movements were slow but coordinated, their heads turning toward Kendrys in unison. They advanced silently, forming a menacing mass, intent on encircling her.

Kendrys felt her heart race, but her instincts took over. In one leap, she stepped back, flames erupting around her. Her feet left the ground in a fluid motion as she propelled herself through the window in a burst of light and shattered glass.

The shards sparkled briefly before clattering onto the cobblestones with a metallic ring.

Outside, the horror escalated. The streets were swarming with a seething crowd, their glassy eyes reflecting the same soulless void as those she had left inside. Hundreds of figures converged toward her.

On the rooftops, shadowy forms climbed with inhuman agility, tearing off tiles and hurling them in her direction.

Kendrys took a deep breath. Her flames roared back to life, engulfing her in fiery wings. With a single powerful beat, she ascended into the air, soaring above the seething mass pursuing her.

The streets, rooftops, and every corner of the city seemed animated by this dark force. She turned her sights toward the prison.

In front of the heavy prison gates, four sentinels stood motionless. Their postures were upright, their expressions rigid, but their eyes were fixed on some distant point.

— "Visitation hours are over for today," they said in unison, their voices monotonous.

Kendrys produced her royal insignia.

— "I need to enter. Now," she commanded.

The guards remained still for a moment before one stepped forward.

— "Follow us," he said in an icy tone, without meeting her gaze.

They advanced through the prison’s corridors, their footsteps echoing against the stone floor in perfect rhythm. But something was wrong. Kendrys observed the walls, the intersections. This path was unfamiliar to her.

— "Where are we going?" she asked.

There was no answer. The guards continued walking, their boots striking the stone floor in a cadence that was almost hypnotic. Their movements were too precise, too mechanical to be natural.

Kendrys abruptly stopped. Her instincts on high alert, she reached out and grabbed the arm of the nearest guard. The coldness she felt made her nearly recoil. This wasn’t the chill of human skin. It was something far colder, far more alien.

A shiver of disgust ran down her spine, her eyes widening slightly.

— "This isn’t possible…" she murmured, more to herself than to the guards.

Acting on instinct, Kendrys unleashed her flames, a reflex born of urgency. The intense heat lit up the corridor, roaring around the guards and engulfing them in a fiery wave.

What happened next only deepened her unease. There were no screams, no defensive movements, not even a step back. The figures stood motionless, as if they felt neither pain nor fear.

Within seconds, the flames consumed their bodies. But as the firelight dimmed, their true forms were revealed.

Crude wooden fragments lay scattered on the floor, lifeless. Thin cracks ran along the charred remains.

Kendrys stepped back, her breath quickening as her mind struggled to rationalize what she had just witnessed.

Pushing her thoughts aside, she quickened her pace, her breathing uneven. When she finally reached Fulger’s cell, a disturbing scene awaited her.

Inside, Fulger sat casually, surrounded by the dismembered bodies of about a dozen officers. Their limbs, now lifeless, revealed wooden surfaces beneath their torn uniforms. Splinters and fragments of wood littered the ground.

Fulger slowly lifted his gaze to her. His eyes, weary yet tinged with amusement, met Kendrys’ intense stare. A faint smile played on his lips, an almost mocking expression.

— "You’ve been visiting often these days, Kendrys," he said.

Kendrys frowned, ignoring his remark.

— "What are these… things?" she demanded.

Fulger shrugged nonchalantly, his smile widening slightly.

— "Puppets," he replied simply, as if the word explained everything.

Kendrys knelt beside one of the bodies. Her fingers brushed against the rough wooden surface, finely carved. There was no trace of life essence, no hint of an aura—just inert wood.

— "We need to leave. Now," she declared, standing up.

Fulger didn’t move immediately. He watched her, his dark eyes glinting with an unreadable expression.

— "Why?" he retorted, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Kendrys didn’t answer. She placed her hands on the cell bars, and an intense heat spread through the metal. The surface began to glow red, then melt, droplets of molten iron dripping to the floor.

Fulger, still seated, observed the display with detached interest. When the bars had been reduced to a pool of liquid metal, he finally stood, a shadow of exhaustion passing over his face.

— "Impressive," he murmured, though his tone carried no sincerity.

Kendrys wasted no time. She grabbed his arm.

— "We’re moving. Now," she ordered.

Fulger let out a soft chuckle but followed her without protest. Together, they stepped over the remnants of the cell.

Behind them, shards of wood and molten metal lay scattered in the dark.

In the shadowy corridors, dozens of puppets stood in rows, motionless like disembodied sentinels.

Fulger abruptly stopped, letting go of Kendrys’ hand.

— "I’ll handle this," he said.

Before she could respond, Fulger began to tremble, as though containing a power too immense to control. His hands, raised before him, glowed with streaks of light that danced along his fingers. Suddenly, bolts of lightning erupted from his palms, flooding the corridors with blinding white light.

The energy crackled around him, filling the air with an intense hum that resonated like distant thunder. The raw heat and sheer force emanating from him made the stone walls tremble slightly.

With a swift motion, Fulger unleashed an arc of lightning toward the walls, triggering a destructive wave that rippled through the confined space.

The puppets, caught in the storm of energy, shattered under its impact. Their wooden bodies splintered, fragments flying against the walls and scattering across the floor. Some disintegrated into a rain of glowing embers, falling to the ground in smoldering remnants

When the attack ceased, silence fell abruptly. Only the residual sparks crackled faintly on the ground. Kendrys swept the corridor with her gaze. The puppets had been obliterated.

Fulger lowered his arms, his shoulders slightly slumped from the effort. Wisps of smoke still curled from his fingers, and his breathing, though steady, betrayed a hint of fatigue.

— "You could say thank you," he finally said, an ironic smile playing on his lips.

— "Impressive," she admitted. "But don’t linger. This isn’t over."

They escaped the prison, but no sooner had they crossed the threshold than a deep rumble filled the air, followed by a deafening crash. A tide of puppets surged from the alleyways, their disjointed bodies rushing toward them with terrifying speed. Their jerky, mechanical movements created a cacophony of creaking wood and clattering against the cobblestones.

— "There are too many..." Fulger murmured hoarsely.

He clung to Kendrys’ arm, his legs buckling under the strain.

— "Follow me!" she commanded, pulling him along.

She knew of a secret passage out of the city, but Fulger grew heavier with each step. His strength was failing, and every stride seemed to pull him closer to the thin line between life and death.

The puppets pursued them relentlessly—crawling, leaping with an almost supernatural agility. Some, half-destroyed, dragged themselves over their fallen comrades, their wooden fingers scraping against the pavement in a desperate attempt to reach them.

Fulger suddenly stopped, yanking Kendrys backward.

— "What are you doing? They’re coming!" she shouted.

He turned his head slowly toward her, a sad smile forming on his lips.

— "I’m going to slow them down," he said. "I can’t keep going."

Before she could respond or protest, he raised his arms. A rumble filled the air, and a blinding light erupted from his palms. Lightning exploded with devastating intensity.

The puppets were cut down by the wave of energy. Their bodies shattered into pieces, splinters of wood flying in every direction. The shockwave made the ground quake, and nearby buildings trembled under the impact.

But the display of power left Fulger utterly drained. He collapsed abruptly, his limp body hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

— "Fulger!" Kendrys screamed, rushing to his side.

She slipped her arms under his shoulders, desperately trying to lift him. But he was too heavy, and his breathing grew irregular. Around them, the puppets, though diminished, continued crawling, their broken forms inching closer with an eerie persistence.

Kendrys unleashed flames in every direction, creating a blazing circle around them. The air grew stifling, saturated with the acrid stench of burning wood. Yet the horde seemed endless—each puppet destroyed was replaced by two more.

Her energy waned quickly, and her breaths grew shallow. The puppets crept closer, their charred bodies forming a relentless, writhing mass.

A piercing scream shattered the chaos. Kendrys looked up just in time to see a metal bar slicing through the air, impaling Fulger.

— "No!" she screamed.

Lightning streaked furiously across the clouds. A second bar pierced his chest, pinning his body to the ground.

Kendrys froze, paralyzed by horror.

— "Fulger..." she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

The flames around her surged, fueled by uncontrollable rage and grief. They cascaded through the streets like a tidal wave, consuming everything in their path. The puppets were reduced to ashes.

With a powerful beat of fiery wings, Kendrys rose into the air, leaving behind a city ablaze. The streets, the buildings—everything was swallowed by an uncontrollable inferno.

Kendrys fled the capital, her body weighed down by exhaustion. Behind her, the burning city became a hellish spectacle. Among the many structures devoured by the fire, one tower stood out. Tall and imposing, it still rose above the destruction, but its top, cloaked in an incandescent shroud, twisted under the relentless heat.

Flames clung to its stone walls like greedy claws, licking its surface in a hypnotic dance. Thick plumes of black smoke billowed from its gaping openings, merging with the sky, already darkened by ash.

Suddenly, a deep crack reverberated through the air, followed by a series of detonations echoing like thunderclaps. The base of the tower, weakened by the flames and intense heat, fractured. Large sections of its walls collapsed inward.

The top wavered. Then, with a deafening roar, it slowly toppled, succumbing to its own weight.

As the tower collapsed completely, it sent a cloud of dust and ash billowing into the air, mingling with the smoke.

The fire, seemingly alive, appeared to possess its own will. It crawled along the façades of buildings, devouring structures like an insatiable predator. The flames spiraled skyward, licking at the ash-laden sky.

As Kendrys flew farther away, the inferno continued its relentless spread, reaching the city’s outskirts in infernal waves.

At the periphery, chaos reigned supreme. The streets, overrun with panicked residents, echoed with piercing screams. Disoriented figures ran in all directions—some carrying buckets of water, others clutching bags containing whatever they could salvage.

Children cried, clinging to their parents’ arms, while frightened animals scrambled to escape the growing hell.

The flames, fueled by the wind and flammable materials, had transformed into a wall of fire, spreading inexorably. They snaked through narrow alleys, leaping from roof to roof with terrifying speed. Each blaze erupted with a roar, an infernal symphony drowning out the cries and pleas for help.

— "It’s her!" a voice shouted from the crowd, piercing through the chaos. "She caused all of this!"

Other voices joined, their fear and anger mingling with the roaring flames.

Scattered gazes shifted skyward. There, Kendrys wavered clumsily, rising into the air. Ash swirled around her, carried by the heat.

Below, faces twisted with hate and terror. Kendrys could feel their fury reaching up to her, burning as fiercely as the fire consuming the city.

She clenched her fists, summoning what remained of her resolve. Each beat of her fiery wings carried her a little farther, but her body felt heavy, her power slipping from her control.

The flames continued to grow behind her, their crimson light illuminating the outskirts. She turned her eyes away from the destruction she left in her wake, but she couldn’t escape the reflection of her actions within the fire’s glow.

Her gift finally failed. The flames surrounding her flickered and died, leaving Kendrys exposed. Gravity took hold, and her body plummeted. The wind screamed in her ears as the ground rushed toward her.

She crashed hard at the forest’s edge, the brutal impact knocking the air from her lungs. Pain exploded through her body, every bone and muscle screaming in protest. A dull throb pulsed through her, leaving her motionless for a moment, unable to move.

Her breath came in short, ragged gasps as she struggled to fill her lungs. Her trembling hands sought support from the soft earth, but even that simple motion felt insurmountable.

Slowly, she pushed herself up, swaying on unsteady legs. Every movement was agony, every step an ordeal. Limping, she made her way toward the shadows of the forest.

Behind her, the capital still burned. A sea of fire, alive and insatiable, continued its relentless advance.

She didn’t dare look back. Yet even without turning, she could feel the oppressive heat of the inferno at her back, a presence she couldn’t escape.

Kendrys trudged forward, dragging her feet through the soft earth of the forest. Her legs trembled, her strength draining with every step, but she didn’t stop.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, as though trying to channel her rage and despair. She had caused this catastrophe.