The fireball had struck the crystal prison, which began to crumble from the impact. Kruos saw the intense purple light emanating from the dust that had fallen. He turned back to Agni and slammed his fist down. A loud crackle was heard as a flash of purple light zoomed toward them. A blade deflected off Kruo’s hand and pushed him away from Agni.

“Good choice, Son of fire,” Agni faintly heard the voice, though it did not echo throughout his mind this time. He managed to push his head up and saw Anemos standing between him and Kruos.

“Let the winds of Arosia flow freely once more,” she said in her distorted voice.

She dashed forward at an incredible speed, leaving a trail of purple wind in her wake, followed by a crackle of the wind.

Kruos began to be surrounded by a swirling tornado. Each time he attempted to dash at Agni, he was met by Anemos, who quickly struck him back and disappeared again in the winds. She began to slash all around him, causing gashes around his body. He slammed his hands into the ground and let out an ice breath into the air. It quickly dispersed, but he continued nonetheless. Anemos stopped right before him, angled her dagger forward, and kneeled. She quickly pushed her foot off the ground and charged through the monster's stomach. Blood exploded outwards from where Anemos had exited through. A giant hole now filled its chest as it fell to the ground. Agni stared in amazement at Annie’s agility. She slowly stood up and looked over at him. Her gaze began to terrify him. He heard continuous whispers all around his mind. He began to crawl away in fear. She reached out her hand and tried to step forward, but her leg quickly gave in. She removed her helmet to reveal her face, and the whispers immediately stopped.

“Agni?” she called out softly.

She tried walking toward Agni but was very weak. She fell, and Agni immediately rushed to her. He had almost forgotten that he was severely injured.

“Anemos?” He said.

She half chuckled, “You can call me Annie. I already know you won’t get used to my real name.”

“Sorry about that,” he admitted.

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“Where is Vartan?” She asked. He looked down in sadness.

“He’s…gone,” he said, trying not to tear up.

“I’m sorry, Agni.” She said.

“It’s going to be okay, I think,” he sniffled. “Are you able to get up?”

“I …don’t know,” she told him.

The entire mountain began to tremble. All around, clumps of rocks began to fall from above.

“The mountain is collapsing,” Agni realized.

“We have to go..now,” he told her. He ran to pick up his sword and placed it on his back. He knew that Annie would not be able to walk out with him.

“Grab on to me,” he instructed her. “I can carry you out.”

She put her around him, and he hoisted her up. She pressed against his chest.

He stopped and began to blush. “Uhhh.”

“You’re warm,” she told him.

“Right.” he had forgotten how cold the tundra was to everyone else.

The exit to the cave was now covered in giant rocks, though Agni noticed a small opening where Kruos had thrown him against the wall. When he looked through it, he realized he was almost near the mountain's peak and began panicking.

If they jumped from this height, they would surely die. He stood, puzzled over what to do, when he heard Annie’s faint voice.

“Jump,” she told him.

“WHAT?!” he yelled in fear, “Are you crazy?!”

“Trust me, Agni,”

He hesitated at first, then realized there was no other choice.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and jumped.

The wind brushed against his body as he plunged to the bottom. He began to yell out in fear and grasped Annie closer to him. As he approached the ground, however, he felt an updraft of wind begin to push up against his feet. He quickly lost speed and gently stepped onto the ground in shock.

“Was that you?” he asked once he regained his breath.

She nodded.

“Where do we go from here?” She asked him.

He began to walk forward, still holding onto Annie.

“We have to find the others.”

“Yuvia and Therum?” She asked.

“They have to be out there. I know it.”

He walked through the snow despite his injuries. The ancients would soon awaken, and Agni knew he would need the help of the entire Kingdom if he had any chance of defeating them.

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THE WINDS HAVE AWOKEN

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END OF VOLUME I