The wind blew cold across the plains of Arvendale.
The sound of drums echoed in the distance, carrying the promise of blood.
And on the horizon, the golden banners of the Empire fluttered—descending upon the North like a wave of fire.
Celestine watched from a hilltop, her dark cloak whipping in the wind.
Behind her stood hundreds—no, thousands—of followers, most armed with rusted spears and eyes full of hope.
They were not warriors, but dreamers.
And dreamers are the most dangerous kind of soldiers.
Damien approached, tense.
— "They came faster than we expected. Four battalions. Magic cannons. And they say Prince Leonhardt leads the siege."
Celestine closed her eyes for a moment.
— "So… it's him."
— "Will you fight him?"
— "No. Not yet."
She raised her hand, and the Seal of the Void glimmered in black spirals.
The ground beneath her feet trembled.
From deep within the earth, shadows began to rise—fragments of ancient armor, souls bound for centuries, awakening to her call.
— "The dead of Arvendale never rested," she whispered. "Today, they will have their vengeance."
---
⚔️ The Imperial Siege
On the other side of the field, Leonhardt surveyed the enemy lines.
He didn't see an organized army—he saw a desperate people.
And that troubled him more than any war.
Emilia rode up beside him, mounted on a white horse.
— "They're ready. But… Leonhardt, if Celestine uses the Void, nothing will remain of these plains."
He took a deep breath, gazing into the mist-covered horizon.
— "Perhaps that's the price of truth."
— "And if the Void consumes everything—including her?"
Leonhardt closed his eyes, the weight of doubt heavy on his chest.
— "Then… I'll follow her to the end, even if the end is nothingness."
The general to his left raised his sword.
— "Advance!"
The cannons roared.
The war began.
---
🌑 The Black Tempest
The first impact was deafening.
Explosions of magic tore through the air, ripping apart the ground.
Celestine's soldiers fell back—but she stood unmoving.
Until a blast of energy struck the ground before her—
and for the first time, the Void answered without being summoned.
The wind distorted.
Time froze for an instant.
And from the center of the plain, a column of darkness rose, touching the sky.
Damien shouted:
— "Celestine! You have to contain—"
But it was too late.
The energy spread across the field like a roar.
Spears shattered. Armor melted.
And in the midst of the destruction, Celestine's gaze changed—her red eyes now reflected entire constellations.
She no longer looked human.
The Void spoke through her.
> "Light burned the world in the name of purity.
I merely return its ashes to the earth."
With a single gesture, the shadows advanced.
The dead of Arvendale rose, marching against the soldiers of the Empire.
The battle turned into a nightmare.
---
⚜️ The Prince and the Villain
Leonhardt staggered through the smoke-filled battlefield, his body wounded, his cloak torn.
Amid fire and chaos, he saw Celestine floating above the field—the Seal blazing like an inverted sun.
He called out:
— "Celestine!"
She looked at him, and for a moment, her eyes were human again.
— "Leonhardt… why did you come?"
— "To stop you before nothing is left!"
She descended slowly, the wind swirling around them.
— "You don't understand. I don't want to destroy the world. I want to free it from the Empire that killed it."
— "But at what cost?"
She extended her hand.
— "The same cost the throne demanded of me."
Leonhardt took her hand, feeling the cold of the Void crawl across his skin.
— "Then take me with you. But don't fight alone."
For an instant, the Void hesitated.
The Seal shone… and the battlefield seemed to hold its breath.
But the Empire didn't wait.
A magic arrow struck Leonhardt's chest.
He fell, blood staining the snow.
Celestine screamed—and the scream was not human.
Light exploded around her, and the Void roared like a living storm.
The world went dark.
---
🌹 Chapter Epilogue
When silence returned, Arvendale was a sea of ashes.
The imperial army had retreated—half destroyed.
Celestine knelt beside Leonhardt, unconscious, the Seal faintly glowing in her hand.
Damien approached, trembling.
— "You… brought him back from the dead?"
She didn't answer.
She only looked at the prince's body and whispered:
— "No. The Void spared him… because he still has a role to play."
She raised her eyes to the gray sky.
— "The Empire wanted a villain. Now… they'll have one."
The wind carried the scent of blood and magic.
And in the distance, crows began to rise once more—
announcing that the war had only just begun.