The elf village of Sylvara shimmered beneath the golden glow of the late afternoon sun. Ancient trees rose like living towers, moonleaves glowing softly between branches. Music—harps, flutes, laughter—drifted on the breeze.
Near the square, young elves clustered under a flowering arbor, voices buzzing with excitement.
"Is it really today?" one asked, pale-gold braids swaying.
"Yes," another grinned. "The duel for Princess Liza's hand—and the next Head. Zoa fights like lightning. Kenya bends the wind itself."
"Then hurry," the first said, grabbing his hand. "I won't miss a strike."
They vanished into the crowd streaming toward the arena carved into the World Tree's roots.
In the House of living wood and crystal, tension choked the royal chambers.
Princess Liza stood on the balcony overlooking the arena. "I don't understand why you're both so upset," she said quietly.
Eris's auburn hair framed a flushed, furious face. "Because you're being forced into marriage for a crown you already deserve."
Sara leaned against a pillar, calm but eyes sharp. "You know why, Eris. The law."
"Some ancient law written by men terrified of powerful women?" Eris snapped.
Liza's hands clenched the rail until wood creaked. "Father is ill. The kingdom needs stability. I won't let pride destroy us."
Her voice cracked on the last word.
Eris's anger faltered, guilt flashing. "I didn't mean—"
Doors opened. The Head entered—frame weakened, hair silvered, but eyes still commanding.
"My daughters," he said warmly. "The people are waiting."
They bowed.
"Come," he said. "Today our future is decided."
The arena thundered with life. Green and silver banners snapped. The host's voice boomed, magic-amplified.
"People of Sylvara! Are you ready for the duel that decides our future?"
"YEAHHH!"
"First champion—Zoa, son of Prince!"
Zoa entered to roaring applause, tall, broad, blade gleaming.
"Second champion—Kenya, son of Chief Advisor!"
Kenya strode forward, wind curling at his feet, bowing to the royal box.
"Let the duel begin!"
The arena pulsed with cheers.
They circled, eyes locked—
Zoa surged forward, longsword blazing with lightning. Kenya sidestepped on a whispering wind, blades flashing in a deadly cross—low to gut, high to throat.
Steel rang sharp. Sparks showered.
Zoa pressed, raw power cracking the floor. Kenya spun, wind slashing Zoa's shoulder open.
They broke, circled once.
Then both attacked.
Blade crashed blade. The shockwave splintered runes. Zoa shoved; Kenya twisted airborne, dropping in a vicious spiral cut.
Zoa blocked—barely.
BOOM!
Flame tore through the village center. Black smoke surged. Screams shredded the air.
A bloodied soldier stumbled into the arena and fell to one knee.
"Run! Demons! The demons have attacked!"
The Head's voice thundered. "Do not panic! Soldiers—defend the village!"
Guards surrounded him as he drew his sword and rushed forward.
Liza turned to her sisters. "Sara—get your bow. Eris, stay in the palace."
"No," Eris said. "I'm coming."
"This isn't—"
"You always say Father underestimates us," Eris cut in. "Don't do the same to me."
Liza hesitated… nodded. "Stay close."
They ran toward the smoke.
The village center was slaughter.
Homes of living wood cracked and collapsed in flame. Demons—red-skinned, horned, weapons trailing fire—tore through the streets like living storms. One elf warrior was lifted into the air and ripped apart mid-scream, entrails spilling. Children wailed as roofs caved in sparks and embers.
Liza, Sara, and Eris fought back-to-back, blades and arrows flashing.
"Where's Father?" Eris whispered, voice cracking with fear.
A massive shadow swallowed the square.
Kamas stepped forward—twice elf height, black horns curling, molten veins glowing beneath cracked skin. In his fist: something round, dripping.
He released it.
The object rolled slowly across blood-stained stone.
It stopped at Liza's feet.
For a heartbeat, none understood.
Then Sara made a shattered sound and dropped to her knees.
Eris fell beside it, hands hovering, trembling, unable to touch the severed head—eyes still open, crown askew.
Liza stared frozen… then raised her sword.
"I'll kill you," she said, tears carving clean tracks through soot.
She charged.
Her blade sank deep into Kamas's wrist; black blood hissed and smoked on the ground.
"Hmph. Impressive," he sneered, voice like grinding stone. "But your father begged before the end."
His axe descended in a brutal arc.
Liza blocked—sword exploded in shards. The impact hurled her across the square. She slammed into stone, ribs cracking, blood filling her mouth.
"LIZA!" Eris screamed.
Kamas turned to her, ruined eye weeping ichor. "There you are. The Blessed Elf."
An arrow punched through his good eye.
He roared, staggering.
"MOVE!" Sara shouted, already nocking another.
They dragged Liza up—her legs buckling—and fled into the trees as the village burned.
The Forbidden Forest.
They reached the sealed border. Eris slammed her palm to the glowing ward.
Crack.
It shattered.
They plunged into twisted black trees. Leaves whispered secrets. Air clung cold and thick.
A jagged cave mouth yawned ahead. They stumbled inside.
Sara's hand bloomed faint light. "Too dark."
A deep, calm voice rolled from the shadows.
"Who's there?"
Eris spun, sword ready. "Show yourself! Who are you?"
"Not speaking to you weaklings," the voice said. "Addressing the one outside."
"Who are you calling weaklings?!" Sara snapped.
"Obviously you two. The one you carry is… a little stronger."
They edged deeper. In the glow: a massive man, body a map of scars, chained—wrists, ankles, neck—bolted to living rock. Pale gold runes pulsed on the links.
"Who are you?" Sara demanded. "Why chained like that?"
"Free me," he said simply.
"We don't know what you did," Sara shot back. "You could be a monster."
"So you'd rather die to the demon blocking the entrance?"
Eris pulled Sara aside. "We should."
"What if he's the one Father warned about?"
"You never believed those stories," Eris hissed. "Right now he's our only chance."
A roar shook the cave. Dust rained.
"Enough!" Sara said. "Eris—break them!"
Eris pressed hands to the central chain. White-gold light flared—her palms blistered instantly from the holy runes.
Kamas filled the entrance. One eye ruined, the other blazing.
"Found you, little rats."
Sara loosed—arrow struck shoulder. He laughed.
"You think toys defeat me?"
He swung. Sara twisted—the flat of the axe crushed her into stone. She crumpled, gasping.
Kamas seized Eris by the throat, lifted her effortlessly. "Now come quietly, Blessed One."
Crack.
White lightning—silent, blinding.
Chains exploded. Shards flew like shrapnel.
The man rose, fist buried elbow-deep in Kamas's chest.
Kamas flew backward, crashing into moonlight outside.
He staggered up, black blood gushing. "Who are you?"
The man stepped out, twin black daggers materializing in his hands.
"I asked for your name," he said quietly.
"I am Kamas. Sixth Sinner of the Demon King's Sinister Six!"
The man tilted his head. Faint, humorless smile. "The Sinister Six… they've grown weak."
"What did you say?!"
Blur of motion.
Kamas swung wildly. One blow grazed the man's side—red bloomed.
The man didn't slow.
When he stopped, Kamas stood frozen a heartbeat… then collapsed in neat, cauterized slices.
Silence fell, heavy.
The man turned deeper into the forest.
"Please wait!" Eris shouted, coughing from the chokehold. "Help us!"
"I already did," he said without turning.
"My sisters are badly wounded! We've run all day. Another demon could come!"
He kept walking.
"You said I'm a Blessed Elf!" the man said with no expression on his face.
Eris cried out. "I can heal Sara… but Liza's wounds are cursed. She may not survive!"
He paused.
"…No," the man said.
"Please. I beg you. They're all I have left." Eris with tears in this eyes.
Memories—blood, snow, broken promises—flashed in storm-gray eyes.
"…Fine," he said quietly. "I will help you."
They are just like us. He thought
Together, the scarred man and three broken princesses returned into the cave.