The Elemental Citadel sat in eerie stillness, high above the fractured skies of Oxyna, encased in glowing crystalline spires and layers of elemental enchantments. Usually, this sanctuary vibrated with harmonious energy, pulsing in rhythm with the natural balance of the realms. But not tonight.
Tonight, the very essence of the citadel trembled beneath the surface, as if even the magic knew what had returned.
Inside the Grand Chamber of Balance, the Elders gathered urgently. The seats of the Four Pillars—Earth, Water, Fire, and Air—glowed with unease. Their faces, carved by centuries of rule, betrayed something rare: fear.
At the centre of the chamber stood the High Elemental of Balance, Aetheris, his expression grim, his robes crackling with unstable energy.
“It’s confirmed,” he said, v
