The flower in Gwyneth's palm had gone from slightly favoring one side to practically begging her to go in a specific direction. "The Earth Spirit must be close," Thea noted.

Gwyneth nodded as the area around her became illuminated by flame. She could now clearly see that she was in the middle of a clearing, at least several meters on each side. The fire around her gave the clearing a circular shape, though she was sure it was more rectangle than anything.

However, she quickly focused her attention on the young man standing before her. Staring into his electric purple eyes, she willed her body to stop trembling. She had no doubt in her mind that she could very easily lose her life to the man standing before her.

But that was not the only fear in her mind.

"What did you do to my friends?" Gwyneth demanded. She didn't imagine he would let them off easily if he faced them. And if he was here, that means they had failed.

"They're still breathing if that's what you're worried about." He gave a nonchalant shrug with a crooked smirk. She knew he was enjoying tormenting her and hated him more.

"Why do you—"

"Because Aeceria should have crumbled to the ground centuries ago. Earth's sacrifice was in vain." Ares narrowed his eyes at Gwyneth who only grew more exasperated by being cut off.

It was as if he knew exactly what would tick her off and used it against her. Had he inherited Aston's memories similar to how Aston had glimpsed his? Or was he just naturally good at reading others?

"You're surprised how I knew what you were going to ask." Ares watched Gwyneth's expression with intrigue. "Simple. Your friends asked the same thing."

His answer only infuriated the princess even more. He was smug and cocky like Aston but in a coy way. Maybe this was the source of Aston's ego all along.

"Why do you believe the Aecerians deserve to die? Is it because of our ability to borrow magic that we have long since lost?"

"You make too many assumptions." He crossed his arms and smirked at her as she grew even more flustered.

"Is my assumption wrong?" Gwyneth clenched her fists desperately wanting to punch his nose that sat high and mighty in the middle of his corrupted face.

"You assumed I craved Aeceria's destruction because of her people. My desire for Aeceria to fall into ruin has nothing to do with its citizens. It's merely an inevitable truth that Earth failed to realize. Earth will use all of their strength supporting Aeceria until they burn out and the entirety of Halcyone enters a dark age before Earth reincarnates, isolated from their siblings."

"That won't happen for thousands of years," Thea corrected.

"I never said it would happen sooner, merely that it is inevitable, Thea." Ares rolled his eyes. "Halcyone is beyond saving—"

"And who are you to decide that? You're not some sort of god! You're a human being, the same as me!" Thea shouted from within the sword, matching Gwyneth's own rage.

"And even if you were," Gwyneth continued from where Thea had left off, "you evacuate the citizens before destroying an entire kingdom!"

"You think I haven't tried that?" Ares laughed humorlessly. "None of you humans ever listen to me."

"Maybe it's because you look down upon us! Maybe it's because you try to exert control over us without even consulting us about how we feel! Why should we blindly trust you when you don't even trust us?!"

Finally, Ares had lost the upper hand and he scowled. "If you think you're so high and mighty, then come fight me."

Gwyneth slowly unsheathed her sword, Thea, and held her between both hands. She had slowly been adjusting to the weight but knew she would still be clumsy. She had learned from the many books she had read to always let your opponent go first.

It seemed Ares had also known this because he too was in a defensive position.

Rolling her eyes and realizing the two would be at a standstill unless she started, she decided to be the bigger person and swung her sword as fast as she could, which still ended up being slow. To her utter surprise, Ares grabbed the sword with his bare hand.

"How are you...?!" Gwyneth trailed off as she tried to yank her sword back. A smirk was the only answer she received as she continued to struggle. Finally, a light flickered from the sword as Thea freed herself from Ares' grasp.

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Gwyneth repeatedly swung at Ares who would either dodge her flailing or grab her sword when she had a good strike. After his third grab, she spun the sword around and around hoping to maybe dislocate his arm, but he simply watched in amusement, unfazed until Thea freed herself tired of Gwyneth's shenanigans.

She narrowly dodged as an orb of darkness headed straight forward, slower than she had anticipated. Was he mocking her now? No, to her horror, it was following her. Ares laughed as the mysterious orb chased Gwyneth around the flame-lit arena.

"Are you even going to attack?" Gwyneth asked exasperated.

"I did. I'm waiting for you to give up." Ares chuckled.

Gwyneth rolled her eyes. She worried he was right; she was quickly losing stamina.

"Block the strike with me. I'll annihilate it with light," Thea ordered.

Gwyneth nodded before sharply turning on her heel. Holding the sword up, the orb collided with it and a blast of light consumed it. She whispered her thanks to Thea before turning to Ares.

"Impressive." He clapped sarcastically.

"Are you going to fight or are you going to just stand there?" Gwyneth readied her blade again.

"Bold words for someone who can barely hold their own. Trust me, you wouldn't be able to handle it if I took you seriously."

Gwyneth deflated. He was right, she had little to no chance of succeeding against him. But why hadn't he finished her off already? He was here for the Earth Spirit, wasn't he? So, why toy with her?

"You're right. I can't stop you." Gwyneth shook her head deciding to cut her losses short. "But I can make a deal with you. This sword for the Earth Spirit." She held out the blade in both hands.

"Gwyneth! What are you doing?!" Thea panicked from within the sword.

"Who said you need to fight to be a hero?" Gwyneth offered the sword a lopsided grin.

"I thought human sacrifice was beneath you." Thea scoffed.

"Oh, come on, it's not like he'd kill you—"

"Yeah. If you gave me that sword, I'd probably repay the favor." Ares shrugged.

Gwyneth's eyes widened as her smile became even more lopsided. "N-Never mind then." She resumed her attacking position.

"Back to it then?" Ares snapped his finger as he leaned against his other palm bored. A small dark orb rotated above his finger.

"Listen to me very carefully, Gwyneth," Thea spoke. "Your power is creation I need you to create a bond between us—"

"What? No!" Ares interjected, the spinning getting faster.

Sensing her time was limited, Gwyneth got to work right away, picturing a rope that connected her being with Thea's. Almost instantly, she felt a shift. It was as if she were a guest in her own body observing her own actions she was longer in charge of.

"Let's end this once and for all, Ares." Gwyneth felt her mouth move as the words came out, but she knew they were Thea's.

She just hoped she would get her body back in the end.

Gwyneth felt her hand drop the sword as her body dashed with speed she didn't know she possessed. Except she didn't possess it because her legs swelled in pain.

Her hands glowed with a bright light as she reached for Ares' who quickly dodged, attacking with fire instead. The light immediately extinguished the fire, leaving Ares to curse as he went back to darkness.

The two exchanged blows with each other, and at some point, Gwyneth couldn't remember when, she had entirely lost feeling in her body as she assumed adrenaline had taken over. They both seemed to be evenly matched. It would truly be a test of endurance.

"What's the matter? Isn't your successor supposed to be the hero?" Ares smirked.

"The prophecy never said she had to do it on her own," Thea spoke through Gwyneth.

"Very clever. I think we should end this little sparring match." Ares summoned a sword that emitted a dark purple glow. Gwyneth's eyes widened when she realized it was Elric's sword, the same one Aston was fond of replicating.

"Certainly. I'd be happy to kill you again." Thea pulled her previous vessel into her hand using the element of wind. This time, the sword retained its bright yellow glow.

Ares certainly wasn't afraid to attack first this time, and he quickly overpowered her with how weak Gwyneth's body was. Thea briefly released one hand from the blade to blast Ares' stomach with a ray of light.

That didn't stop him as the two continued to trade blows with each other.

"Why don't you just give up?! You know just as well as I do that this world is inevitably going to end!" Ares clenched his teeth.

"Because who would we be if we hastened its demise?" Thea asked.

Ares took a few steps back, dissolving his blade a holding his hands up in defense. "Let me ask her a question."

"This isn't some sort of trick, is it?" Thea narrowed Gwyneth's eyes for her.

"Have I ever lied?"

Thea sighed. "No." Gwyneth felt the connection between them vanish as she immediately collapsed to the ground. The pain that was already bad before became overwhelming. How had Thea managed to sustain her for so long?

"What is it that you really want from me?" Ares asked, his expression unreadable. For once, Gwyneth could believe he was being serious.

"For you to leave the Earth Spirit alone. Wasn't that obvious?" Gwyneth raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Beyond that. When you were fighting me, you hesitated. I don't think it was just out of fear. Your expression... You didn't really want to kill me, did you?"

Gwyneth paused, unable to do anything but blink. Hadn't she just been scared? Hadn't she wanted to end his life the same way Thea had? To save her kingdom?

"I want to stop you," Gwyneth finally decided on; her voice barely above a whisper. "If I have to kill you, I must. But if I could stop you another way... I'd much prefer that."

Ares' expression shifted but she still couldn't make it out. For a brief second, she could've sworn she saw him smile. But it had faded just as soon as it had appeared. "Then let's call it a draw. I was getting tired anyway."

"Draw my ass. You surrendered and you know it." Thea scoffed from within the sword.

"And yet I could pulverize you in that state." Ares rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Enjoy your Earth Spirit. I'll make another attempt next century." He waved the two off before disappearing.

"Is... Is that it?" Gwyneth asked bewildered. Had she fulfilled the prophecy?

"Doubt it. So long as Ares lives, Halycone's peace is threatened. We need to find a way to subdue Ares. Either by killing him, subduing his magic, or subjecting him to centuries of sleep. Reasoning with him is not an option," Thea replied.

But was it really not an option? Just now, Gwyneth felt like she got through to him for the first time.