The Flames of War

Selene’s heart pounded as the weight of Aiden’s words settled over her. The Northern Lords had crossed the border. The attack she had fought so hard to prepare for had come sooner than expected. There was no more time for strategy or negotiation—only action.

“Sound the alarm!” she commanded, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. “Summon every available soldier and prepare the defenses. We hold the line.”

Aiden gave a sharp nod before rushing from the war room. Mira lingered for a moment, her expression torn between fear and determination. “Are you certain we’re ready?”

“We have no choice,” Selene said firmly. “We fight, or we lose everything.”

With that, she strode to the armory, her mind racing through the countless ways this battle could unfold. She had lived through this war once before, and she had lost. But this time, she would not fall so easily.

As she donned her armor, the weight of it felt familiar, like an old burden she had once cast aside. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword. If fate had given her another chance, she would not waste it.

By the time Selene reached the city’s outer defenses, the war horns had already begun to wail. Soldiers rushed into formation, their faces a mixture of fear and resolve. The air was thick with the scent of burning torches and the metallic tang of sharpened steel.

From her vantage point on the stone battlements, Selene could see the enemy approaching. The Northern forces were vast, their banners rippling under the moonlit sky. They moved with the confidence of men who had tasted victory before.

Selene turned to her gathered commanders, scanning their faces. “We do not falter,” she declared, her voice carrying across the wall. “We fight not just for our kingdom, but for our people, our families, and our future. The North seeks to take what is ours, but they will find only ruin!”

A roar of agreement echoed through the ranks. The tension in the air shifted, hardened into something fierce and unyielding.

Then, the first arrow flew.

It arced through the night, a deadly whisper of war, before embedding itself into the chest of a soldier beside Selene. He crumpled without a sound.

“Shields up!” Selene bellowed. The soldiers obeyed instantly, forming a wall of steel as a hail of arrows rained upon them. The clash of metal and the cries of the wounded filled the night. The battle had begun.

The Northern forces surged forward like a tidal wave. Siege ladders slammed against the walls, and enemy soldiers began their ascent. Selene didn’t hesitate. She cut through the first man to reach the top, her blade singing through flesh and bone. Blood sprayed across the stones, but there was no time to think—only fight.

Aiden was beside her in an instant, his sword carving a path through the invaders. “They’re stronger than we anticipated,” he gritted out between strikes. “We need to push them back before they gain control of the walls!”

Selene nodded and turned to the archers. “Target the ladders! Keep them from swarming the walls!”

Arrows rained down, striking their marks with deadly precision. Ladders were toppled, sending enemy soldiers plummeting to the ground. But still, the Northern forces pressed on, undeterred by the losses.

A horn sounded from below. Selene’s eyes darted to the main gate, where a battering ram was being brought forward. If they broke through the gates, the city would fall.

“Mira!” Selene called. “Take a unit and defend the gate. Use fire—burn the ram before it reaches the doors!”

Mira nodded and disappeared into the fray. Selene turned back to the wall just in time to block a savage strike aimed at her head. The Northern soldier snarled, pressing his advantage, but Selene twisted, using his own momentum against him. With a swift stroke, she ended him.

The battle raged on, time losing all meaning. Selene fought with everything she had, her movements precise, deadly. But for every enemy they cut down, more took their place. The Northern Lords had come prepared.

A cry from below drew her attention. She turned just in time to see Mira’s forces struggling to hold the gate. The battering ram had reached the doors, its rhythmic pounding sending cracks splintering through the heavy wood.

If the gate fell, they were doomed.

Selene’s decision was instant. “Aiden, hold the wall! I’m going to the gate.”

“Be careful,” he warned, but there was no time to reassure him.

She raced down the stone steps, weaving through the chaos of battle. By the time she reached the gate, Mira’s forces were barely holding the line. The ram struck again, and the wood groaned under the force.

Selene grabbed a torch and turned to the nearest group of soldiers. “We need to destroy that ram! Follow me!”

With a battle cry, she led the charge. Arrows zipped past her, swords clashed, but she did not falter. She reached the ram, thrusting her torch into the oil-soaked wood. Flames erupted, licking hungrily at the structure. The fire spread quickly, consuming the ram and forcing the Northern soldiers to retreat.

A victory—but a small one. Selene knew this fight was far from over.

She turned, scanning the battlefield. Her forces were holding, but barely. If they didn’t find a way to break the Northern assault soon, they would be overwhelmed.

Then, in the distance, she saw it—a rider weaving through the enemy ranks, cutting down foes with practiced ease. He moved like a shadow, his strikes precise, his presence commanding. Even from afar, Selene felt something… familiar.

Who was he?

She didn’t have time to dwell on the question. A horn blasted across the battlefield, and suddenly, the Northern forces began to retreat.

Selene watched, breathing heavily as the enemy pulled back beyond the border. The battle was over… for now.

Aiden reached her side, his expression grim. “They retreated too easily. This isn’t over.”

Selene’s gaze drifted back to the mysterious rider, now disappearing into the darkness. She had a feeling Aiden was right.

The war had only just begun.

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