#11

The towering gates of the Duke of Whales’ mansion creaked open, revealing an imposing estate. The grand halls and sprawling training grounds of the mansion were more than Arwenzylle could have imagined. But as she stepped inside, she didn’t see luxury or beauty—she saw opportunity. This was the place where she would forge her destiny, no matter the cost.

Months turned into years. Arwenzylle trained relentlessly, waking before dawn and collapsing into bed long after the sun had set. Swordsmanship was grueling—her hands bled from countless hours spent gripping the hilt of her blade, her muscles screamed in protest as she pushed herself beyond her limits, and she bore the bruises of every sparring match with Duke Veynar’s knights. Magic proved no easier. She spent countless nights pouring over ancient grimoires, channeling her energy into precise spells, and wrestling with the dangerous forces that threatened to overwhelm her.

For every failure, she found a spark of triumph. She mastered her footing in combat, learned to channel her magic with precision, and earned the grudging respect of the Duke’s men. Yet through it all, Duke Veynar’s demeanor remained unchanged. His cold, assessing gaze was the same as the day they first met, neither offering praise nor condemnation. He was a man of few words, and his silence only pushed her harder.

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The day came when the fragile peace between Dryvener and the Empire of Windhurge shattered. Duke Veynar led his forces to war against Duke Thalamus, one of Windhurge’s most formidable commanders. The battlefield was chaos—clashing swords, roaring flames, and the cries of soldiers filled the air. Arwenzylle fought at Duke Veynar’s side, her magic cutting through the enemy lines with devastating force.

It was during one such skirmish that she saw him—Charleston. Her heart stopped. Her former husband, the man who had betrayed her so cruelly in her past life, stood among Duke Thalamus’ forces. He looked different, older, and more hardened, but the sight of him brought back a flood of memories she had tried to bury.

Anger surged within her, a storm that she could not contain. Her magic flared uncontrollably, a searing inferno of raw energy. "You!" she screamed, her voice echoing across the battlefield. The sky darkened as a black hole formed, swirling with destructive force. Soldiers from both sides were dragged toward it, their cries of terror lost in the deafening roar.

“Arwenzylle! Stop!” Duke Veynar’s voice cut through the chaos, but she couldn’t hear him. She was consumed by her fury, her magic spiraling out of control.

Suddenly, she felt a presence in front of her. Duke Veynar stood there, his body shielding hers. “What are you doing?!” she cried, her voice cracking.

Before he could respond, a glowing sphere of magic shot toward them. Veynar moved without hesitation, taking the full force of the attack. The impact was brutal—a spear of energy pierced through his chest, and he fell to his knees, blood pooling beneath him.

“Why… why?!” Arwenzylle sobbed, falling to her knees beside him.

The Duke’s face was pale, but his voice remained steady, filled with a quiet resolve. “Because your life is worth more than mine. I’m prepared to sacrifice my life… and I would gladly do it twice.”

His words shattered something inside her. Her grief and rage merged into something far more powerful. The air around her crackled as her magic surged to its peak. The swords left behind by the fallen knights rose into the air, their steel shimmering as they hovered ominously.

Arwenzylle’s hair turned a brilliant silver, her eyes glowing like molten metal. The ground beneath her trembled and cracked, fissures spreading like veins across the battlefield.

The soldiers of Duke Thalamus and the Windhurge prince froze in terror as the earth itself seemed to bow to her fury. Arwenzylle raised her arms, and the floating swords pointed toward the enemy forces.

“This ends now,” she said, her voice ringing with an otherworldly authority.

With a single motion, the swords shot forward, raining down upon Duke Thalamus’ army like a storm of vengeance. The ground quaked as the battlefield was engulfed in chaos, the enemy forces scattering in panic.

The prince of Windhurge, watching from a distance, turned pale. “What… what kind of monster is she?” he whispered, his voice trembling.

Arwenzylle stood amidst the destruction, her magic crackling like a tempest around her. She turned her gaze to Duke Thalamus, her voice cold and unyielding. “This is the price you pay for your treachery.”

Duke Thalamus staggered back, his confidence shattered. For the first time, he realized the war was lost—not to Dryvener, but to the girl standing before him, a force of nature that even the heavens seemed powerless to contain.

As the battlefield fell silent, Arwenzylle dropped to her knees beside Duke Veynar, tears streaming down her face. She cradled his head in her lap, her magic now a soft glow. “Don’t you dare die,” she whispered. “You’re not allowed to leave me.”

The Duke’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. “You’re stronger than you realize, Arwenzylle. Remember that.”

And with those words, he closed his eyes, leaving her to face the weight of her power and her destiny.

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