Beguiling: A Frozen Heart

What a disappointing battle.

The arena was alive with tension, the air crackling with anticipation as the citizens of the Isenfall King–and beyond– watched from their stone seats. Banners fluttered in the wind, representing the various kingdoms in attendance. The midday sun glinted off the smooth marble columns of the arena, casting long shadows over the two figures locked in a a fierce battle in the center.

The air crackled as the two clashed, their dragon forms intertwined in a fierce battle for dominance. The crowd roared as fire met lightning in a spectacular display of raw power.

Ryu spun to the side, his dark purple wings flaring wide as he narrowly avoided a bolt of lightning aimed at him. His eyes flashed, and in an instant, he lunged forward, flames erupting from his mouth in a torrent of searing heat. The fire shot across the arena, but Stephan was ready. His golden wings beat once, propelling him high into the air, where he summoned a storm of lightning to counter the flames. The arcs of electricity met the fire, creating a blinding explosion that lit up the entire arena.

Ryu snarled, his taloned hand slashing through the smoke, aiming for his brother's side. Stephan blocked it just in time, their scales scraping together with a metallic hiss as they locked in close combat. Sparks flew as Ryu bared his fangs, pushing against Stephan's lightning-infused form.

"Getting tired, brother?" Ryu growled, his voice distorted by the dragon's rage within him.

"Not even close," Stephan retorted, his eyes glowing as lightning crackled across his skin. He pushed Ryu back, sending a massive bolt straight at him. It struck Ryu square in the chest, sending him crashing into the ground with a loud thud.

The crowd gasped, but Ryu wasn't down for long. With a roar, he shot into the air, flames erupting from his body in a fierce spiral. His wings beat furiously, sending gusts of wind through the arena as he swooped toward Stephan, fire blazing in his wake.

Stephan smirked, his golden form glowing as he spun his lightning into a protective barrier. The flames licked at the edges of the shield but couldn't penetrate the crackling energy.

Up in the royal box, Anaya gripped the armrests of her throne, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the brothers battle with everything they had. Fanning herself frantically with the "fan" she was gifted from Queen Junaiva. "They're going to kill each other like this..."

"Try not to sound that happy when you say it." Leif muttered, his face indifferent to the scene in front of him.

Below, Ryu and Stephan collided again, a whirlwind of fire and lightning, neither one willing to back down. Ryu's claws slashed through the air, but Stephan moved with the precision of a storm, striking with bolts of electricity every time his brother left an opening. One was purely offensive and one was purely defensive.

Stephan hovered above, lightning coiling around his body like a living serpent, his chest rising and falling as he took a brief pause to assess his brother. "You're getting reckless, Ryu," he taunted, his voice cutting through the noise. "That temper of yours will be your downfall."

Ryu's eyes burned with fire, his lips curling into a snarl. "You talk too much," he spat, smoke rising from his nostrils as he leaped into the air, meeting Stephan head-on. His wings flapped fiercely as he closed the distance between them, his clawed hand swinging for Stephan's throat.

The intensity of their struggle brought a hush over the audience. Even the banners, which had been fluttering wildly in the breeze, seemed to still for a moment as the two brothers hung in midair, locked in combat. Would they actually kill eachother...?

Up in the royal box, Leif leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the railing as he watched the brutal exchange. "Does this make us complacent if we don't stop it?"