Moonlight bathed the silver hills of Lunethra, where the mist never truly settled and the stars felt just within reach. Beneath the glow, the city of Miradell shimmered with ethereal elegance—dreamlike and serene. But tonight, serenity was pierced.
A scout burst through the astral gates, his armor flickering with psychic burns. "General Sylra!" he gasped. "Obsidian Blades. South trail. Five minutes out!"
Lady Sylra Moondust, Lunethra's general, narrowed her glowing eyes. She raised her spear and whispered,
"⟦Saelun'thir en'kai.⟧" (Light shall guide us.)
In the dream-hall, Queen Avaleen, wife of Kael and ruler of Lunethra, stood tall in silver robes. "Summon Etherion's forces. Tell my husband—we are under attack."
The signal was sent.
Back in the Frostwolf camp, Kael Vale's eyes flared the moment the psychic message touched him. He stood mid-meal, armor already half-equipped.
"Elira," he called. "Mount the archers."
"Avaleen?" she asked, already knowing.
"She needs us."
Within minutes, the Vale siblings, the Frostwolf Reavers, and the Ironjaw Corsairs soared on enchanted ships toward Lunethra. The tribes followed on their beasts and gliders. The war alliance moved as one.
Meanwhile, in Miradell, the battle had begun.
Obsidian Blades—elite assassins of Umbrosia—cut through Lunethran guards, their blades smoking with dark runes. But Lunethra was no passive kingdom.
Lady Sylra floated above the ground, her body glowing as ten psychic projections of herself danced in battle. Each one struck like lightning, confusing the enemy.
"⟦Ilun'ar vek'draal!⟧" she chanted. (Ten minds, one wrath.)
The Obsidian Blades faltered—but then came a scream. One of the city's temples exploded in black flame. An Umbrosian Wraith stalked forward, twice the size of the others, wearing runed bone armor.
Zynex had arrived.
He moved like smoke, slicing three guards before they could blink.
Just as he reached Avaleen's tower—
CLANG! A burst of wind and fire knocked him back.
King Aerion landed beside his sister-in-law, Solthorn glowing. "You'll not take another step."
Zynex hissed, eyes soulless, and vanished.
Kael charged forward, blade swinging wildly, missing only shadows. "Coward!"
"Focus!" shouted Elira, unleashing Moonpiercer arrows into the cloaked Obsidian soldiers climbing the walls.
From the rooftops, Zeke blinked in and out of shadows, clearing snipers.
"Missed me, mist city," he joked mid-strike, slicing down an enemy.
Below, Orion and Lyra arrived with Havor and the Reavers, immediately shielding the wounded and freezing an advancing brute. Lyra's aura lit the streets. "⟦Vita ser'en sol!⟧" (Life shall rise in light!)
Rugok and Drulgar smashed enemy lines from the east gate. Namier called water barriers, shielding civilians. Selu turned dark fire into mist with a dance of liquid blades.
"Push them out!" Kaorun roared. "⟦Through root, through storm!⟧"
The warband, though small, was purged by dawn. Zynex escaped, but Lunethra stood.
As the mists calmed and the sun broke the night, Aerion looked over the silent city.
"We held."
Avaleen met his gaze. "But not without blood. This was just a whisper of what's coming."
And in Umbrosia, Malgareth watched through a dark mirror.
"It begins."