"Coward!" Arshya roared, fury tearing from his throat. "So this is how you wage war, Azaria?!"
Zaden laughed softly, a dry sound meant to mask the strain tightening every muscle in his body. His arm locked harder around Querijn's throat, just enough to still her struggle without stealing air completely. The silver knife remained pressed against her skin, cold and unwavering.
"Don't fight it, Princess," he whispered close to her ear. "I don't want this chaos to go any further."
"Hypocrite…" Querijn hissed through clenched teeth. "Then why attack at all…?"
"My father chose this path," Zaden replied quietly. "Not me."
"…So our problem is the same," she murmured.
Zaden did not realize his grip loosened slightly. Querijn drew a deeper breath, though the blade still threatened her life. His heart pounded violently as his eyes flicked toward the battlefield ahead. Forty feet away, Arshya unleashed a furious gale, hurling Netzaleh soldiers through the air like broken dolls. Armor clanged against crystal. Bodies struck the floor and did not rise.
Zaden's fingers tightened around the knife handle.
To the east, Elisse stood fifteen feet away, her gaze burning with unrestrained hatred. Dozens of ice arrows hovered behind her, trembling with restrained violence.
"Elisse Sadrakh looks just as savage as her father," Zaden muttered under his breath. "Do they want Netzaleh reduced to ashes as well?"
"Obviously, you fool," Querijn replied coldly.
"And yet," Zaden continued, voice lowered, "I don't sense the same hunger from you."
"…Not all Qaissaran speak with one mouth," Querijn answered. "Why do you think I stand here unsure?"
"The Sky has driven this land mad," Zaden said. "Some worship it. Others curse its name."
"I can answer your confusion about the Sky."
Zaden exhaled softly. "It means nothing if your answer mirrors your father's delusion."
"It doesn't," Querijn replied. "Nor does it resemble your father's creed."
Their whispers formed a fragile stillness amid the carnage. No one else heard them. Doubt surged inside Zaden because he felt no deception in her tone. From his position, Arshya and Elisse remained distant. Jeremiah knelt near the tower's center, silver blade planted into crystal flooring, shielded by scattered soldiers moving frantically around him.
"I want to end this with just the two of us," Zaden said at last. "If possible."
"Look around, Prince," Querijn replied bitterly. "Blood stains everything. Lives have already vanished."
"…So you surrender?"
"Not yet," she said. "But I can help—if you help as well. With commitment."
"Then we're aligned," Zaden replied. "Leave it to me."
Querijn nodded once.
Zaden glanced sideways. Elisse raised her arm, ice arrows quivering with lethal intent. Instantly, Zaden pressed the blade closer to Querijn's neck, letting its edge graze skin.
"One step closer," he warned, voice ringing across the chamber, "and your sister's throat opens."
Elisse froze.
Arshya's rage snapped toward Zaden.
"So this is your scheme?" Querijn hissed. "Now what? You want me to shout for them to stop?"
"My role is done," Zaden said calmly. "Now it's my father's turn."
"Wha—"
Querijn fell silent.
Silver light erupted.
Jeremiah's blade flared violently. Lines of radiant energy crawled across the floor and ceiling, branching outward like living veins. Lightning crackled along each strand. Without warning, countless silver sword fragments burst forth, streaking toward Arshya.
Blades pierced his neck, tore into his back, ripped through his legs.
Arshya collapsed with a howl.
Purple radiance dimmed across his body. Pain seared through every nerve, even without blood. His scream echoed wildly. Then, fury reignited. The glowing lines thickened again as rage fueled his strength.
Arshya forced himself upright.
He charged Jeremiah.
Meanwhile, Elisse shrieked as silver blades struck her shoulder, gouged her arm, and pierced her abdomen. Blood soaked her white mantle. Her knees buckled. Breath failed her. Vision blurred. Querijn caught her before she hit the ground.
Elisse's strength vanished rapidly.
Querijn dragged her sister toward the tower wall. Crystal shimmered. A massive opening formed. Without hesitation, Querijn hurled Elisse through it, sending her crashing toward Qaissaran soldiers gathered below.
"Go!" Querijn screamed. "Take her and retreat from Zerdilla!"
Elisse's cries faded as darkness swallowed her consciousness.
Behind them, Zaden saw Arshya staggering toward Jeremiah. He sprinted to intercept. Jeremiah sensed the approach and forced himself upright despite shattered knees. He swung his silver blade weakly as Arshya launched violet fire.
Both screamed.
Flame devoured Jeremiah's chest. Steel carved diagonally across Arshya's torso.
Jeremiah collapsed, engulfed by soldiers desperately smothering purple fire that consumed flesh and armor alike.
Arshya hit the ground, then rose again, fury blinding him.
He did not see Zaden.
The Prince seized Jeremiah's fallen sword.
Arshya froze as steel pierced his chest.
Blue light surged violently from the Azaria blade, flooding his body with searing agony. Every joint screamed. Muscles locked. Zaden drove him backward, slamming him against the towering crystal at the chamber's heart.
Arshya could not move.
Zaden leaned close, voice steady despite exhaustion.
"Kevash, Isaiah."
Blue radiance exploded.