As Reyna regains consciousness, she is greeted by the sight of the forest floor beneath her. The gentle flutter of her eyelids reveals the snowflakes drifting down from the sky above, causing her to flinch in anticipation of the expected burning sensation that she usually felt in the snow. However, to her surprise, there is no pain. Slowly rising to her feet, the witch takes in the vast expanse of the woods surrounding her, her eyes scanning the area with curiosity.
"REYNA!" A voice roars and the witch spins, trying to find the source of the voice.
"GEORGE!"
"REYNA, WHERE ARE YOU?"
Reyna goes to reply but a glowing figure appears before her and she halts in her tracks as she stares at the woman before her.
"You're Lily," Reyna states.
"I am," The woman nods her head in greeting. "You grew up to be as beautiful as your mother"
"Am I-"
"No, not exactly," Lily explains. "Walk with me"
Reyna walks with the woman, branches cracking beneath their feet as Reyna continues to stare at the woman in bewilderment.
"I wanted to thank you," Lily says. "For taking care of my son"
"I-"
"No," Lily cuts her off. "Don't try and downplay what you have done for Harry"
"Why are you here?"
"I was your godmother," Lily replies. "James your godfather"
"How do I get out of here?"
"You have to find the boy," Lily replies as she begins to fade. "Find George and all will be as it once was"
Reyna opens her mouth to speak but Lily was gone, leaving Reyna all alone in the forest once again.
"REYNA!"
"GEORGE!"
With determination fueling her every step, Reyna sprints towards the source of the shout, her sole focus on locating the wizard and making her swift getaway back to reality. Each footfall resonates with a resounding thud against the forested terrain as she propels herself forward. Her breaths come in rapid, shallow gasps as she tears through the lush, verdant expanse.
A scream escapes the witch's lips when she collides with a tall figure, sending her tumbling to the ground. Reyna looks up to see George holding out his hand to her.
"Where are we?" George asks.
A loud growl fills the air and Reyna's eyes widen as she shares an apprehensive look with George. The snap of a branch causes them both to turn to be faced with a hoard of creatures of nightmares. Scorched humanoid figures with visible rib cages and red glowing eyes circle the two teenagers.
"Is those inferi?"
"No," Reyna shakes her head. "They're incensis. Burned ones"
"Right, are they friendly?"
"They try to kill any living thing they come in contact with, so not really,"
"Marvellous,"
A weight fills Reyna's right hand and she looks down to see a sword in her hand. She looks to George who has an almost identical sword in his hand. A loud screech escapes one of the creatures before it charges at Reyna who spins and kicks the creature in the face before swinging her sword, cleaving the creature in two.
"How did you do that?"
"I have no idea,"
The Burned Ones stare at the two halves of the one who had attacked Reyna before hisses and snarls fill the air. George and Reyna stand back to back, swords clutched tightly in their hands as they face the oncoming hoard of Burned Ones. Reyna swings her sword, decapitating one of the creatures before she spins and impales another. George is quick to leap into action, slicing at the creatures with a skill that surprised him.
Reyna and George exhibit remarkable agility and ferocity as they confront the approaching horde of creatures. Their movements are fluid, akin to that of water, while their combative prowess is reminiscent of an inferno's fury. The duo dispatches the oncoming threat with remarkable ease, leaving a trail of slain foes in their wake.
As the final Burned One approaches, Reyna plunges her sword into the creature's chest with a swift and decisive strike. The blade sinks in deep, burying itself to the hilt, and she swings her foot up, landing a kick that sends the creature reeling backwards, slamming it to the ground as it screeches before George decapitated the creature with one blow.
"How did we do that?" George asks staring at the scattered remains of Burned Ones.
"You both have skills you have yet to understand,"
Reyna and George raise their swords as a man approaches them. The man was almost identical to George causing Reyna to gape as she looks between the two.
"Oh sorry," The man chuckles. "Fabian, Fabian Prewett. As I was saying, the two of you are drawn to one another for a reason. The pair of you are futurum est"
"Destined to be one?" Reyna's tone was confused as she and George shared looks before they look back at Fabian.
"Yes," Fabian nods. "A prophecy foretold your story many years ago"
"A prophecy?" George asks.
"Yes," Fabian clears his throat. "A fire elemental born in a storm and a secondborn twin shall come together as one, both of them wielding the power of the fire that burns within her"
"It doesn't even rhyme," Reyna mutters.
"The Burned Ones appeared in this limbo for a reason," Fabian informs the pair. "They are drawn to your power Reyna and they won't stop"
"Why now?"
"Because you are the last of the fire elementals and someone has summoned the burned ones to make sure that line dies with you,"