Dawn had barely broken over Zephiria, but the sky remained laden with heavy, black clouds streaked with dazzling light. Lightning cracked relentlessly above the capital, as if issuing a warning. The citizens of the Lightning Nation could feel the imminent danger. The very atmosphere seemed to vibrate with the pressure of what was to come.
In the grand hall of the imperial palace, Fulmina, the Empress of Lightning, stood tall and imposing on her throne of storms. Her silver hair floated in the static air, while arcs of electricity ran up and down the pillars of the room. Surrounding her, the Guardians of Lightning, the most powerful warriors of her kingdom, gathered in silence, awaiting her orders.
The first to break the silence was Khalon, her most loyal lieutenant. Tall and imposing, dressed in dark armor etched with electric currents, he stepped forward with a firm stride. His eyes scanned the assembly, ready to react to the slightest sign of weakness from the enemy.
— Your Majesty, our scouts confirm that Magmor's forces are preparing to march on the northern borders. They are gathering in the volcanic crevices of Magnarion. The Warriors of Flame haven’t been seen in such numbers for centuries.
Fulmina nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on a window shattered by the last surges of lightning.
— Magmor is always eager to unleash his forces, as ever, she replied in a calm yet resolute tone. But this time, it’s not just a war of flame against lightning. Something bigger is at play.
The Guardians murmured among themselves. Each of them knew the ancient tales of the convergence of elements, when every force would awaken and upend the balance of the world. Fulmina rose slowly, lightning stretching out behind her like invisible wings.
— Khalon, we cannot stand by and wait for Magmor to strike. We must get ahead of him. Gather our forces. We will march toward Mount Fulgura, where the heavens and the earth meet. There, we can prepare to counter the threat.
Fulmina’s tone left little room for debate. Khalon bowed deeply, striking his fist against his chest in a sign of loyalty.
— At your command, Empress, he responded before leaving the room with long strides.
AN INVISIBLE PRESENCE
As the Guardians left the room to ready the army, a dark figure hidden in the shadows of the throne room remained in the background. None of the warriors had noticed, but Fulmina was never caught off guard. Her intense blue gaze fixed on the shifting shadow.
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— Show yourself, Mentara, Fulmina murmured, her voice echoing like a clap of thunder in the room.
An ethereal form emerged from the darkness, its contours blurry like a waking dream. Mentara, the mistress of illusions and dreams, slowly materialized, her feet not touching the ground, floating just above the stone floor. Her deep violet eyes betrayed her power of mental manipulation.
— Empress, she said in a soft but penetrating voice, I’ve sensed things... things even Magmor doesn’t yet understand. The boundaries of reality are starting to fray. This isn’t just a war between elements. An ancient power is awakening. And it’s far more dangerous than Magmor’s magma or Zephiria’s lightning.
Fulmina furrowed her brow. She knew of Mentara’s talent for seeing beyond the veil of reality, for deciphering the mysteries hidden in the shadows. She knew her visions were not to be taken lightly.
— Speak, Mentara, Fulmina commanded as she sat back down on her throne, her hands resting on her legendary weapon, L’Aiguillon des Tempêtes.
Mentara floated closer, her immaterial body rippling in the air.
— I’ve seen cracks in the foundations of the world, doors opening to forgotten realms. Ancient beings, older than the elements themselves, are beginning to awaken. If we don’t act swiftly, their forces will pour into this world. And none of the elemental armies will be able to stop them.
Fulmina remained silent for a moment. She had long felt that the tensions between the elemental kingdoms were just the surface of a far greater problem. But hearing this prophecy made her even more determined.
— Mentara, you will join Khalon. Prepare to use your powers to deceive our enemies. We must stay one step ahead.
Mentara gave a slight nod, her enigmatic smile floating in the air before she disappeared back into the shadows. Fulmina, on the other hand, was already thinking ahead to the next steps. If what Mentara said was true, then the future of the world depended on more than just the mastery of elements. It was about mastering forces that even the elemental gods couldn’t control.
THE BLADE OF FROST
Meanwhile, in the frozen kingdom of Glaciella, the Queen of Ice herself was preparing her troops for another front. The plains of eternal ice, silent and motionless, concealed a ferocity feared by all. The Ice Warriors were masters of control, able to freeze an enemy in an instant.
Glaciella, dressed in her radiant blue gown, stood on a frozen terrace, gazing out at the snow-capped mountains surrounding her kingdom. She knew that if Magmor and Fulmina clashed, it would upset the climatic balance of the entire world. The eternal ice would melt, causing catastrophes no one could imagine.
Her weapon, Frostbite, a rapier made of eternal frost, gleamed at her side. Her powers over ice were unmatched, but she knew that this time, her mastery of the elements might not be enough.
A hooded figure materialized in the cold wind. Valen, the master of dreams, approached silently, his feet leaving no trace in the snow.
— Queen Glaciella, the time has come. The dreams I’ve seen leave no doubt. We must prepare.
Glaciella didn’t respond immediately. Her gaze remained fixed on the snow-covered horizon. She could feel the storm approaching.
— Yes, Valen, she murmured, the war of the elements is near. But what follows may be even worse.