[Under the morning sun in the Fire Empire's training courtyard, the air was almost scorching hot. Sparks flew from the tips of the wooden practice swords wielded by the three: Selena with steady steps, Tarkan with his calm, and Diana with her loud voice and hasty movements.]
Diana (wiping sweat from her brow):
"Where's Agnes? Didn't she say she'd train with us today?"
Selena (coolly, holding her ice sword):
"She went to the market. She said she wanted to stroll a bit."
Diana (with childish complaint, waving her sword):
"Oh! Why didn't she tell me? I would have shopped with her!"
Tarkan (laughs lightly as he raises his sword in front of him):
"Perhaps she wanted a bit of quiet away from your constant chatter, Diana."
Diana (frowning and shouting lightly):
"Hah! What kind of talk is that?! Everyone loves my conversations!"
Selena (raising an eyebrow coolly):
"Really? Then why do I see birds fleeing whenever you start talking?"
(Tarkan bursts out laughing, while Diana just sticks out her tongue childishly.)
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[Location: Fire Empire – The Grand Market]
(Agnes walked through the crowded alleys. The strong scent of spices mixed with grill smoke, and vendors' calls rose from every side.)
Vendor (calling out, waving a small bottle):
"Luck charm, miss! Rose scent and fire flavor!"
Agnes (smiling lightly):
"Oh, thank you, but I don't think luck likes dealing with me much."
(She continues walking with quiet steps, her eyes admiring the vibrant shop fronts. She passes a flower seller and stops for seconds.)
Agnes (whispering):
"Fiery flowers... I've never seen this color before."
(The seller smiles):
"They say they only grow in land that knows no fear."
(She contemplates them a little, then continues her way, moving away from the crowd. After a short distance, she reaches a small mountain path behind the market. The breeze here is cooler, and the noise begins to fade. She climbs with slow steps until she reaches a small peak overlooking the empire's glittering sky.)
Agnes (sits on a high rock, hugs her knees, and closes her eyes):
"Everything seems so peaceful here... No shouting, no orders, no fear... Just the sky and the wind."
(A light breeze blows, moving her hair. She smiles lightly and whispers to the wind as if talking to it:)
Agnes:
"Do you think I'll ever learn to understand you? Or will you remain a riddle that defies me forever?"
(But the wind doesn't answer her. Instead, it comes with a strange calm, carrying something unfamiliar. Agnes feels something odd in the air—a slight tremor in her heart and a coldness creeping over her skin.)
(She opens her eyes slowly and looks around... No one.)
Agnes (whispers):
"Who's there?"
(Silence answers her. She rises slowly, looks around cautiously, and her heart begins to pound. Suddenly, a powerful roar is heard from behind her, shaking the ground beneath.)
(Her eyes widen, she turns quickly, but before she realizes what's happening, a powerful blow hits her chest, pushing her backward, and she falls hard to the ground. She chokes, feeling a burning pain in her chest as she tries to get up with difficulty.)
(She opens her eyes and sees it before her: a massive beast, a mix between a wolf and a dragon, its black skin glowing with a dark red hue, its horns twisted out of its skull. Its eyes glow golden, and its voice is like a hellish roar.)
(It advances toward her with heavy steps, each step shaking the ground beneath. It raises one of its giant claws to strike her again, but she—with sudden lightness—raises her arms before her face, and a transparent air barrier forms in front of her.)
(The strike hits the barrier, and dust scatters in the air. Agnes retreats backward, her body trembling, but she smiles lightly despite her pain.)
Agnes (with ragged breaths):
"So... you didn't fail me this time, wind..."
(The beast roars again, and the sound of the wind around her gradually rises as if it's truly awakening.)
(The atmosphere in the market has become completely strange; stones fly from the force of the blows, vendors scream, and visitors run fleeing. The wind whirls dust, and the sky is overcast with unnatural black clouds.)
(The demon raises its claws again, attacking Agnes. Agnes closed her eyes, thinking the blow would hit her, but nothing happened. A strong voice behind her made her open her eyes quickly.)
Agnes (astonished, her eyes widening):
"Who…?"
(In front of her, Lakis stands, his hands holding flames, the demon's blow deflected away from Agnes.)
Lakis (laughs sarcastically):
"Can't you live without trouble, little one? Heh."
(Agnes feels a little angry at Lakis's sarcasm, but she ignores it, focusing on her task now.)
Agnes (calmly, despite exhaustion):
"Now… that's the mission."
(Lakis attacks the demon with a strong strike, but the beast is unaffected and roars with a sound that shakes the earth.)
(Screams fill the market, stones fly, and chaos reigns. People run in every direction, and fear grips everyone. In the palace, news quickly reached Emperor Ranius.)
Ranius (firmly, raising his gaze):
"What is happening there?."
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(Elsewhere, Diana, Selena, and Tarkan finished training immediately upon hearing of the incident and ran towards the market. As they approached, they saw the destruction and chaos spread on the mountain and hurried there.)
Tarkan (shouting as he raises his sword toward the demon):
"Lakis! What's going on here?"
Diana (running toward Agnes, picking her up gently):
"Agnes! Are you alright? Did you try to defend yourself?"
Agnes (tired, getting up with difficulty, her eyes shining with gratitude):
"I… I'm okay… Thank you, Diana…"
(While Diana reassures Agnes, Selena steps forward alongside Tarkan and Lakis to face the demon together.)
Selena (sharply, pointing her sword at the beast):
"I won't let you hurt anyone!"
Tarkan (moves his sword in coordination with Selena):
"We must control the situation before the entire market is destroyed!"
Lakis (in an angry but focused voice):
"This demon… is unaffected by any of my strikes!"
(The fight grows fiercer. Each strike from Lakis or Tarkan stirs air waves or small fires, while the demon responds with powerful claws and a terrifying roar. The wind and destruction make the market seem on the verge of collapse.)
Agnes (sitting on a nearby rock, watching the situation with wide eyes):
"I must gather my strength… Now… before…"
(Diana gently holds her hand, trying to give her strength and reassurance.)
Diana:
"Agnes, focus! We're here with you!"
Agnes (smiles slowly despite exhaustion):
"Alright… I'll try."
(The fight continues, the sky overcast with black clouds reflecting the intensity of the conflict, while each person tries to protect the others and control the enraged beast.)
(The fight reached its peak. Lakis, Tarkan, and Selena attack the demon (Serji) with all their might, but its immense power makes their strikes almost ineffective. Suddenly, Emperor Ranius appears at the edges of the market, his eyes stern, his hand raised confidently.)
Ranius (calmly and firmly):
"The wait has been long… It's time to end this."
(With a flick of his hand, he releases a tremendous burst of fire energy that collides with Serji, exploding in a wave of black and red light. The demon's scream tears the air for a moment, then it falls dead to the ground. The chaos gradually subsides, the wind fades, and the stones slowly settle.)
Agnes (astonished, standing dumbfounded):
"It's… over…?"
(Agnes, heavily affected by exhaustion, her knees trembling, puts her head on the ground and faints.)
Diana (screams in fear, holding her):
"Agnes! No! Wait!"
Selena (anxious, looking around quickly):
"We must take her away from here. We can't leave her like this!"
Lakis (carefully carries Agnes in his arms, lifts her from the ground, and smiles at her tenderly for the first time):
"Calm down… You're safe now, don't worry."
Agnes (opens her eyes slowly, surprised by Lakis's calm smile):
"Lakis…?"
Lakis (in a soft voice, uncharacteristic of him):
"The Emperor saved you… and I'll stay here to make sure you're okay."
Tarkan (breathes deeply, looking at Agnes cautiously):
"That was a difficult experience… We can't allow anything like this to happen again."
Diana (gently wipes Agnes's brow and smiles):
"Look at me… everything is fine now, isn't it?"
Agnes (smiles slowly, her head on Lakis's shoulder, feeling comforted):
"Yes… everything is fine now…"
Ranius (looks at them all, his voice stern but calm):
"You have all proven your courage today… but don't forget, true strength lies in mind and calm above all."
(Calm blankets the market, the destruction shows the extent of Serji's power that was controlled, while everyone catches their breath, and Agnes leans on Lakis, feeling safe and reassured.)
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(After the chaos in the market ended, soldiers began clearing the rubble and cleaning the area, gathering battle traces. The market gradually began returning to normal as calm slowly returned. Agnes, Lakis, Diana, Selena, and Tarkan returned to the palace, exhausted, to get some rest.)
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[In the Fire Palace - Meeting Hall]
(In the palace meeting room, Emperor Ranius sat next to Commander Xiver at a wide table, papers and a map before them, their faces serious.)
Ranius (seriously, placing his hand on the map):
"This isn't normal… Serji is a very powerful demon, imprisoned for centuries in the lands of Savj. How did he escape from there?"
Xiver (looks at Ranius with focused eyes):
"It seems hidden forces helped him… something we haven't seen before. We must check all weak points in the ancient prisons."
Ranius (sighs, putting his head in his hands slightly):
"If Serji is free, it means a greater danger is coming… We cannot underestimate this."
Xiver (calmly, brushing aside some papers):
"True, Emperor… We must reinforce border guards and monitor all strange movements, especially in areas guarded by the ancient sorcerers."
Ranius (thinks for a moment, then takes out a piece of paper and begins writing):
"Alright… I'll send a message to the Wind Emperor, Regas, to inform him of what happened to Agnes… He must know his daughter is safe and that this danger has approached."
(Ranius sends the message, stares at the paper for a moment, then raises his head saying:)
"We must ensure Agnes is completely safe and that nothing like this happens again…"
Xiver (nods, his eyes serious):
"Of course, Emperor. I will follow up personally and send our forces to monitor any abnormal movements."
Ranius (in a decisive tone):
"Let it be so… There is no room for error."
(Calm dominates the meeting room, worry mixed with caution to protect the empire and the princes.)
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[The Next Day]
(The next day, the Wind Emperor Regas sat calmly in his palace when a message from Ranius reached him. He opened the letter, read it carefully, and his face frowned slightly upon hearing the news of the attack on Agnes.)
Regas (in a quiet but firm voice, addressing his aide Giladin):
"Giladin, prepare the carriage immediately… I will go to the Fire Empire to see for myself what happened."
Giladin (slightly surprised, raising his eyebrows):
"My lord… Are you sure? The road is long, and you have much work…"
Regas (calmly and confidently):
"No time for hesitation… Agnes is in danger, and I must ensure her safety myself."
Giladin (sighs, then smiles appreciatively at the Emperor's decision):
"Very well, my lord… I will prepare everything at once. And I will manage affairs during your absence."
Regas (nods, reassured):
"I know, Giladin… I rely on you. Nothing should disrupt the empire's functioning during my journey."
Giladin (with a small bow of respect):
"It is my duty, my lord."
(Regas lifts his eyes to the sky for a moment, breathes deeply, then leaves the palace planning to reach the Fire Empire quickly, his eyes carrying a mix of worry for his daughter and the strong resolve of an emperor.)
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[In the Following Days]
(The Wind Emperor Regas arrived at the gates of the Fire Empire in a magnificent carriage speeding down the road. Upon arrival, Emperor Ranius himself received him, standing before the large gate, with guards' faces lined up on either side.)
Ranius (in a firm voice that shows apology):
"Welcome, Regas… I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly, and I know the reason for your coming is painful. I wish to personally apologize for what happened to the Saintess."
Regas (shakes his head slowly, his eyes fixed on Ranius):
"I know what happened was not expected… but what matters is that Agnes is safe now."
Ranius (bows slightly):
"Yes, fortunately, our forces managed to control the situation. But I know the attack caused you concern."
Regas (in a low voice, observing the place):
"Concern is natural, but we cannot allow such events to repeat."
Ranius (smiling calmly):
"Do not worry."
(Then Regas headed towards the palace, accompanied by his guards, with Ranius following slightly behind to lead him to Agnes's room, giving strict instructions to the guards.)
Inside the palace, Agnes opened her room door to find herself puzzled. She didn't expect a knock, but she was surprised by a tall man with a strong presence, his sharp gray eyes staring directly at her… it was her father, Regas.
Agnes (voice slightly trembling, straightening her posture):
"F… Father…"
Regas (smiling gently, his steps steady towards her):
"Agnes… Don't worry, I'm here now."
Agnes (sighs, tears almost glistening in her eyes, but she tries to remain strong):
"Father… I didn't expect you to come so quickly…"
Regas (approaches and hugs her):
"I always watch over you, even if I'm not close. What happened was unacceptable, and I promise, I won't let anything threaten you again."
Agnes (whispers emotionally, returning the hug):
"Thank you, Father… I… I was so afraid…"
Regas (leans slightly to whisper to her):
"And I'm here to make you feel safe, my little one."
(Agnes sat on a chair near the room's window, light streaming through it to illuminate her tense features, while her father Regas stood before her, his eyes observing her every movement with tenderness and firmness.)
Regas (in a quiet but stern voice):
"Agnes… tell me everything about what happened with the demon Serji and Prince Lakis."
Agnes (shakes her head lightly, her eyes shining with a mix of fear and relief):
"I was so scared, but I felt safe when he came…"
Regas (smiling gently, looking at her with loving eyes):
"Your power, Agnes… it is great, but it needs discipline and understanding. All that happened is a lesson for you… and I will teach you how to control it."
Agnes (looks at the window, then returns her gaze to her father):
"I hope so, Father… I want to understand my power… to be strong enough to protect myself… and to protect those I love."
Regas (comes closer, places his hand on her shoulder):
"And you will be strong, Agnes… You are from the Air Empire, the sky gifted you this power for a reason… We will work together to nurture it… and I will let no one threaten you from today onward."
Agnes (a small smile creeps onto her face, her eyes shining):
"Thank you, Father… I feel like I can finally breathe freely…"
Regas (looks at her with eyes full of pride and love):
"That is what I want for you… to feel safe, to know you are strong… and that you are never alone."
(Outside the room, Ranius remained quietly observing the scene from afar, feeling that Emperor Regas's presence had restored reassurance to Agnes, and that Agnes had finally begun to feel at ease after the terrifying attack she had faced.)