The spray of water misted my face as Willow and I galloped across the river on our waterhorses, their hooves creating ripples in the clear water that stretched out before us like an endless ribbon.
The sun was beginning to lower on the horizon, casting a golden glow over everything, and the sound of our laughter echoed through the air as we raced against the wind.
Willow tilted her head back, her eyes half-closed, as a soft chuckle escaped her lips.
"Back then, it felt like the whole world was ours, like nothing could touch us.”
“And now?” she asked, glancing over at me with a mischievous grin.
I shrugged, trying to match her light-hearted tone. “Now, it feels like we’re borrowing time from someone else’s world.”
Willow laughed again, but there was a softness to it, like she knew exactly what I meant. We had grown up since those carefree days, and the weight of responsibility was always just a step behind us, even in moments like these. But for now, we allowed ourselves to forget that.
A sudden splash of water broke our reverie, and I looked up to see a bird swooping overhead—a waterbird, they dipped down toward us, its watery wings spraying droplets as it glided effortlessly through the sky.
Willow pointed at it, laughing loudly. “It’s like it’s racing us!”
I smiled, watching as the bird looped around us, its shimmering form reflecting the colors of the sky. “Maybe it’s trying to show us up.”
With another laugh, Willow nudged her waterhorse forward, urging it to pick up speed. “Come on, let’s see if it can keep up!”
They glided across the water’s surface. I could feel the cool spray hitting my face, and for a moment, it was as if we were kids again, racing through the Shroom Forest without a care in the world.
As we raced forward, something caught my eye—a flicker of orange at the edge of the riverbank. My heart skipped a beat, and I pulled on the reins, slowing my horse to a stop.
Smoke rose—thick, black, and unusual. Vidin of all places has no place for fire. Not here, not in this water-rich land. Yet there it was—flames licking at the base of trees, the fire spreading rapidly despite the moisture.
Ian’s breath hitched. His mind raced. This kind of fire could only be the work of someone from Vitalis—the fire kingdom.
The waterhorses, sensing danger, slowed to a halt. But Ian wasn’t about to stop. He urged his horse forward, shouting over his shoulder to Willow, "We have to stop it. If it's spreading this fast, it can't be natural!"
Willow nodded, worry lining her features, as her horse leaped onto the land. The water beneath its hooves remained fluid, like a living entity, adapting as they charged toward the flames.
"Ian, who could’ve done this?" Willow shouted, eyes wide as they neared the fire. "Fire doesn't just appear here. It has to be an attack!"
Ian gritted his teeth, his mind flashing to the only kingdom capable of such destruction. “Vitalis... They must be behind this.”
As the waterhorses circled the flames, they released streams of water from their bodies, dousing the fire with all their might. The waterbirds continued their efforts as well, diving again and again, but the fire was persistent—something unnatural fueled it, and we both knew it.
“Ian!” Willow called over the roar of the flames. “What if this is a diversion?”
“A diversion?” I echoed, struggling to keep my voice steady.
“For something bigger,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “Something we’re not seeing yet.”
The possibility sent a cold wave of fear through me, but I couldn’t let it distract me. Not now. “We’ll worry about that when we put this fire out.”
We worked side by side with the creatures of the forest, directing the water from our horses and doing everything we could to contain the blaze. But as the minutes passed, the reality became clear—the fire wasn’t dying. If anything, it was growing stronger.
“It’s like it’s feeding off something,” I muttered to myself.
Without another word, Ian whistled sharply through his fingers, a high-pitched, peculiar sound that carried through the forest. It was a sound only one creature could hear—Ed, his Ember Dragon. Within moments, a small shadow darted from the canopy above. Ed, no bigger than a hawk, fluttered toward them, his wings ablaze with shimmering embers.
The fire grew hotter as they approached, crackling and roaring with ferocity. Ian's eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary blaze. As Ed landed on his shoulder, Ian could feel the dragon's tiny talons press into his skin, a familiar, reassuring weight.
"Ed, we need you," Ian whispered, his voice carrying urgency. He felt the dragon’s response before it happened. In a mere moment, Ed began to grow—his small frame stretching into something much larger, his wings expanding, eyes glowing with intensity.
Now towering over them, Ed let out a deep, rumbling growl before he tilted his head toward the blaze. With a single, powerful breath, Ed exhaled a torrent of water, flooding the area with an overwhelming deluge. The fire hissed in resistance, but it stood no chance against the might of Ed’s water torrent. Slowly, the flames began to sputter, die, and fade.
As the fire dwindled, something caught Ian’s eye—a spark, faint at first, but unmistakable. It shot up from the ground in a thin, golden line, winding its way through the earth like a serpent before streaking up into the sky.
"What is that?" Willow gasped, her gaze following the spark’s path as it vanished into the clouds.
Ian’s heart pounded as he dismounted, stepping closer to where the spark had originated. He crouched low, brushing his fingers against the earth, which was still warm, though no longer burning. "It’s not just fire," he muttered, frowning deeply. "Someone—something—has been here. This wasn’t a random act. Someone invaded our land."
Willow looked back toward the now smoldering forest. "Do you think it’s a signal? From Vitalis?"
"I don’t know." Ian stood up, his eyes hardening as he scanned the surroundings. "But we need to find out. This isn’t over."
They both stood in tense silence, watching the sky as the last remnants of the spark disappeared, leaving an eerie calm in its wake. Ian felt his pulse quicken. Whatever had caused that spark was still out there—watching, waiting, and planning.
A/N : Oops delayed updates
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Final Brushstrokes of a Tragic Romance || BxB | MLM
Fantasía"He is my everything I want to escape this life and live with him" "I love him so much but he shouldn't leave his kingdom for me" In a realm where history's threads are interwoven, Prince lan of Vidin faces the dual challenge of his father's dec...
