What Fire Chose

THE AMBUSH

Blood streamed relentlessly through her fingers.

One hand pressed firmly against the deep wound in her abdomen while the other clung to the rough trunks of nearby trees, forcing her battered body onward. Every step felt heavier than the last as strength slowly abandoned her legs. Her breathing had grown ragged, and her vision blurred with every passing second.

She drew a shaky breath. Pressing harder against the wound, she gritted her teeth. She had to stop the bleeding. Otherwise... It would be too late. She had no idea how long she had been walking. Minutes? Hours?

Time had long since lost all meaning. Her foot caught on a protruding root. She lost her balance, crashing violently onto the forest floor. Grinding her teeth, she tried to push herself back up. She couldn't.

Her arms trembled uncontrollably. Her legs refused to obey. Closing her eyes for a brief moment, she fought against the darkness threatening to consume her. No... Not yet. Summoning the last fragment of strength left within her, she raised a trembling hand.

A tiny spark flickered to life in her palm. It drifted onto the carpet of dry leaves beneath her. The flame grew. With shaking hands, she dragged several fallen branches into it until the fire rose higher, piercing the darkness around her. They would come looking for her. This wasn't a campfire.

It was a distress signal. The last trace she could leave behind before the night swallowed her whole. Slowly, she lowered herself back onto the cold earth. Both arms wrapped protectively around her abdomen, as though she were trying to hold together not only her wound...

...but the life slowly slipping away from her. She had spent years fighting for these lands. She had come to protect her people. Instead... She had walked straight into an ambush. Her eyelids grew heavier. Cold spread through her body with terrifying patience.

As darkness slowly consumed her consciousness, only one thought remained. Her husband.

Twenty-Four Hours Earlier

The massive doors of the throne room slowly swung open. Elara looked up. The moment she saw the man stepping inside, warmth spread across her face. "My King." Before she had even fully risen from her throne, Dorian was already beside her. He gently slipped both arms around her waist.

"Good morning, my Queen." Smiling, Elara returned his embrace. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. It was a short but peaceful silence. When they finally pulled away, she looked at him curiously. "Where have you been all morning?"

"Buried in paperwork." As he answered, Elara's eyes drifted toward the sealed envelope in his hand. "And what's that?" Dorian lifted it slightly. "A letter from the Scarlet Borderlands." The smile on Elara's face slowly faded. "The borderlands?" He nodded.

"They insisted it be delivered directly to you." Taking the letter from him, Elara carefully examined the seal. It was genuine. She could tell before even breaking it open. She unfolded the letter and began reading. Within seconds, the tension on her face eased into a faint smile.

Dorian noticed immediately. "What does it say?" "They're preventing our people from gathering for the Awakening." She handed him the letter. "The Fire clans living there are asking for help." The expression on Dorian's face changed instantly. "No." Elara blinked in surprise.

"No?" "You're not going." "Dorian..." "It could be a trap." She pointed at the seal. "The seal is authentic." "That doesn't make it safe." "They're my people." "And you're my wife." Silence settled over the throne room. Elara's voice softened. "My love..." "It doesn't matter where they live." "They're still my responsibility." "They've been there for years." "I'm the only person they can ask for help." Dorian closed his eyes and released a slow breath.

"That's exactly what frightens me." Elara remained silent. Because she already knew what he meant. After a long pause, Dorian spoke again. "If a child cries for help..." "You go." "If an entire village calls your name..." "You go." "If your people need you..." "You wouldn't hesitate for a second." A bittersweet smile touched Elara's lips. Because every word he had spoken was true.

Their conversation lingered between them for the rest of the day. Preparations for the journey continued in near silence. The horses were saddled. The guards were chosen. The routes leading to the border were reviewed one final time. No one spoke louder than necessary.

Even within the palace halls, the weight of an approaching storm could be felt. That night, after they had retired to their chambers, the silence remained. At last, Elara broke it. "I don't expect you to understand." She looked directly into his eyes. "But I'm not asking for your permission either."

Dorian slowly lifted his head. "Elara..." "I'm the ruler of Vareth." "When my people need me, I go." "It doesn't matter where they are." A long silence followed. Finally, Dorian lowered his gaze.

"You're right." Surprised, Elara looked at him. "I'll never understand the bond you have with them." He stepped closer. Gently, he placed both hands on her shoulders. "But promise me one thing." "What is it?" "This time..." "Be more careful."

A faint smile appeared on Elara's lips. "I promise." Without another word, Dorian pulled her into his arms. Holding her tightly, he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you." Elara closed her eyes. "I love you too." That night, they both fell asleep. But only one of them...

Already knew the other would never come home. The morning sun painted Vareth's towering spires in shades of gold. In the palace courtyard, ten Fire Guards already stood mounted and ready. Elara tightened the clasp of her armor before gently stroking Ember's neck.

"We have a long journey ahead." The magnificent black stallion answered with a quiet whinny. One of the guards approached and bowed respectfully. "Everything is ready, Your Majesty." Elara turned for one last look at the palace behind her. A strange unease settled deep within her chest.

She dismissed it as nothing more than exhaustion. "We're leaving." For hours they rode across Vareth. Past towering mountains. Through quiet villages. Across endless forests. By the time evening arrived, they had reached the edge of the Scarlet Borderlands.

As night descended, something caught Elara's attention. The forest was silent. Far too silent. It didn't feel natural. She raised a hand. "Light the torches." The guards obeyed immediately, lifting their unlit torches. A small flame blossomed in Elara's palm. With a single graceful motion, she sent it flying.

The fire split into ten streams, igniting every torch at once. The road was instantly bathed in warm orange light. Just as they prepared to move forward... A faint crack echoed from somewhere among the trees to their right. Elara immediately raised her hand. The entire convoy halted.

Every gaze turned toward the darkness. "Defensive formation." Without a word, the guards shifted into position. "Stay alert." She sent four guards ahead to scout the path. Meanwhile, she continued forward slowly with the remaining escort. It wasn't long before they found them.

The four scouts lay motionless on the ground. Elara dismounted before her horse had fully stopped. She rushed toward them. One of the guards weakly lifted his head. "Your Majesty..." "They're dead." Elara's expression hardened instantly. Flames erupted across her palms.

With a powerful motion, she launched four massive fire orbs into the sky. The forest blazed with crimson light. Yet the feeling in her chest refused to fade. If anything... It only grew stronger. "Put the bodies on the horses." "We're leaving immediately." While the guards carried out her orders, Elara continued scanning the forest.

Watching. Listening. Waiting. Something... Was terribly wrong.

They had barely begun to move again when— A sudden gust of wind swept through the forest. The torches flickered violently. Then, in the span of a heartbeat... Every single one of them went out. Elara's pulse spiked. This... Wasn't natural.

Without hesitation, she summoned four more blazing spheres of fire. They shot into the sky, flooding the forest with crimson light once again. "Stay alert." Even she could hear the tension in her own voice. Then— Two dull thuds echoed through the trees. She spun around.

Two of her guards collapsed to the ground, arrows buried deep in their backs. Crystal walls erupted from the earth around the convoy, sealing them inside a shimmering fortress. One of the guards, breathing heavily, stared at the barrier in disbelief. "This route was supposed to be safe."

"General Kaelor personally ordered us to take it." A chill colder than ice settled in Elara's stomach. They had been led here. Trapped. She was about to respond when a desperate shout cut through the chaos. "Your Majesty!"

"The crystal is cracking!" Elara turned sharply. "Impossible." Then she saw them. Hairline fractures spread across the crystal walls like spiderwebs. They multiplied with terrifying speed. She immediately reached for the crystal with her power. She could feel the element flowing through her veins.

She called to it. Nothing happened. She tried again. Still nothing. "No..." That wasn't possible. The crystal answered her. It always answered her. One second later— The entire barrier exploded into thousands of glittering shards.

A dense mist rushed in from every direction, swallowing everything in sight. Elara's breath caught. "Mist..." Nerevia. Cassian. "Take cover!" The remaining guards immediately moved into formation. But the attack never came from the mist.

The earth trembled beneath their feet. A deafening rumble echoed through the forest. Massive roots burst violently from the ground. Screams tore through the night. Elara thrust both hands forward. Molten lava erupted across the forest floor. One root burned away.

Then another. Then a third. For a brief moment, it seemed she had regained control. Then— A searing pain exploded through her abdomen. Her entire body froze. Slowly... She looked down.

A crystal spear protruded from her stomach. For an instant, she couldn't breathe. Her trembling fingers wrapped around the jagged crystal. With a cry of pain, she tore it free. Blood poured through her hands. She barely had time to look up before another storm of crystal spears hurtled toward her.

Instinct took over. She raised her hand. The crystals should have stopped. They didn't. Her eyes widened. She reached for them again. Nothing. She tried once more. Still nothing. "No..." "This... this is impossible." The element was still there.

She could feel it. Burning inside her. Answering her. Yet the crystals... Refused to obey her will. Then one razor-sharp shard sliced through the air— Passing only inches above her heart.

Death... Had never been so close.

Without another thought, Elara leaped onto Ember's back. "We have to move!" The black stallion surged forward. Before they had gone more than a few strides, a dark silhouette emerged from the dense mist. Ember reared violently. "Ember!"

The horse let out a frightened cry. Elara lost her balance. She was thrown from the saddle, crashing hard against the forest floor. "Ember!" The stallion bolted into the darkness. "EMBER!"

Only silence answered her. For the first time... She was completely alone. Blood continued to pour from the wound in her abdomen. She couldn't see her enemy. She didn't even know what she was fighting. Ignoring the agony tearing through her body, she forced herself to her feet and stumbled deeper into the forest.

Mist. Roots. Wind. Those, she understood. Those elements belonged to kingdoms she knew. But... The crystals. Why hadn't they obeyed her? She was their Queen.

The element still burned within her. She could feel it as clearly as her own heartbeat. Yet every command she gave was met with silence. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. This wasn't simply an ambush. It had been planned. Every step. Every movement.

Someone had known exactly where she would be. Her vision blurred again. The sounds of battle had long since faded behind her. Only the wind remained. And the sound of her own ragged breathing. She staggered between the trees, each step slower than the last. Warm blood soaked through her armor.

Her strength was slipping away. Still... She refused to stop. Not while there was even a single breath left in her lungs. At last, her knees gave out. She collapsed against the trunk of an ancient tree. For a long moment, she simply remained there, struggling to breathe. Then, with trembling fingers, she pressed harder against the wound.

She couldn't let herself die here. Not like this. Not before learning the truth. Summoning the last remnants of her strength, she opened her hand. A tiny spark flickered to life. It drifted gently onto the dry leaves scattered across the forest floor. The flame spread. With shaking hands, she dragged several fallen branches into it until the fire climbed higher.

Someone would see it. Someone had to. This wasn't a campfire. It was a plea for help. The final sign that she was still alive. Slowly, she lay back against the cold earth. Both arms wrapped around her abdomen, desperately trying to hold together the life slipping through her fingers.

She had spent years fighting for these lands. She had come to protect her people. Instead... She had fallen into a carefully prepared trap. Her eyelids grew heavier. Cold spread through every part of her body.

The darkness welcomed her with open arms. The last image to cross her mind... Was Dorian's face. Then... Everything went black.