Age of Powers.

The Showdown: Last part - Episode 13: The Return of the Flame.

Kei stood frozen, staring at the figure before her. The familiar warmth of the flames dancing around Teri's body was unmistakable, yet something felt different. It wasn't just the surprise of her return—there was something in her eyes, a flicker of something deeper, something unreadable.

"Teri?" Kei's voice trembled, barely able to contain the shock. "You're... alive?"

The battlefield, once engulfed in the chaotic roar of the storm, fell eerily silent. Ignis took a step forward, her fists still clenched but no longer ablaze. Her eyes darted between Kei and Teri, her suspicion evident. "Kei... are you sure that's her?"

Teri's smile deepened, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She stepped forward, and the flames surrounding her flickered with an odd intensity, casting long shadows over the shattered ground. "It's me, Kei. I never left—at least, not entirely."

Before Kei could respond, the Storm Guardian shifted, its form still towering but weakened by the earlier battle. Its glowing eyes now fixated on Teri, its massive hands twitching as though uncertain of whether to strike or retreat.

Teri turned her gaze to the creature, and without a word, raised her hand. The flames around her flared, brighter and hotter than before, until they were nearly blinding. The Storm Guardian let out a low, rumbling growl, as if in recognition, and then... it knelt. Its great form lowered to the ground, submitting to her presence.

Kei's heart skipped a beat. "What... what are you doing?"

Teri lowered her hand, the fire dissipating. She turned to Kei, her expression unreadable. "It's not your fight anymore, Kei."

"What do you mean?" Ignis snapped, stepping closer. "We've been fighting this thing for days! You can't just show up and—"

"Ignis," Teri interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "This is bigger than you know."

Kei felt the Shivering Tempest stir within her, as if sensing the rising tension. Her icy aura pulsed dangerously, reacting to the uncertainty swirling in her mind. "Teri, we thought you were gone... we thought you—"

"Died?" Teri finished, her smile fading. "I did. In a way."

Kei's breath caught in her throat as she heard those words. She took a step closer, the cold energy inside her beginning to spike. "Then how are you here? Why didn't you tell us?"

Teri's eyes darkened, and for a moment, a shadow passed over her face. "I couldn't tell you. Not until now. There are forces at play here, Kei—forces even you don't fully understand."

The Storm Guardian, still kneeling, rumbled softly as though in agreement. Kei glanced at the massive creature, her heart pounding. "You control it?"

Teri didn't answer right away. Instead, she raised her hand again, and the creature's form shimmered, its energy pulsating in sync with her own. "The Storm Guardian answers to those who hold the balance of power. I've learned things, Kei. Things about the storm inside you, about the powers we were never meant to control."

Kei's hands tightened into fists. The storm inside her flared in response, threatening to spiral out of control once more. "So what are you saying? That you've come to take my power too?"

Teri's eyes softened, and for a brief moment, Kei saw the friend she remembered—the one who had fought beside her, who had been there through thick and thin. But that moment was fleeting. "I'm not here to take anything from you, Kei. I'm here to offer you a choice."

Kei's heart pounded. "A choice?"

Teri nodded, her voice lowering. "The storm inside you—it's more dangerous than you realize. It's not just a power... it's a curse. And it will consume you if you don't learn to control it." She stepped closer, her gaze intense. "But I can help you. I can show you the way."

Ignis narrowed her eyes, stepping in front of Kei protectively. "And what's the price for this 'help,' Teri? You expect us to just trust you after everything?"

Teri's gaze flicked to Ignis, a hint of irritation crossing her face. "You're still so quick to judge, Ignis. But this isn't about trust. This is about survival. If Kei doesn't take control of her powers soon, there won't be anything left of her—or of this world."

The wind howled through the battlefield, a stark reminder of the chaos surrounding them. Kei's mind raced, torn between the familiarity of Teri's presence and the warning signs flashing in her mind. Could she really trust her? Or was this some elaborate trap?

"I..." Kei began, her voice shaking. "I don't know."

Teri's expression softened again. "You do know, Kei. Deep down, you've always known." She reached out her hand. "Let me help you. Together, we can stop this. We can end the storm."

The storm inside Kei roared, pushing against the boundaries of her control. She could feel the Shivering Tempest clawing at her, begging to be released. But something about Teri's offer felt wrong. Her instincts screamed at her to hold back.

Before Kei could respond, a sudden blast of heat shot across the battlefield. Ignis, her hands ablaze with fury, stepped forward, her eyes locked onto Teri. "No. I won't let you manipulate her."

Teri didn't flinch. Instead, her gaze turned cold, and the flames around her flared in response. "Ignis, don't make this harder than it needs to be."

"Harder?" Ignis spat, the air around her crackling with heat. "You think you can just walk back into our lives and expect us to fall in line? After everything we've been through?"

Kei's heart pounded in her chest as the two most important people in her life stood on the verge of a confrontation. She could feel the tension rising, the air thick with power and mistrust. The storm inside her was spiraling, pulling her in different directions, threatening to tear her apart.

"Teri..." Kei's voice was barely a whisper, but it carried the weight of her indecision. "What do you really want?"

Teri's eyes softened again, and for a moment, the flames around her dimmed. "I want to save you, Kei. Before it's too late."

Kei hesitated, the storm inside her growing louder, more insistent. But deep down, she knew one thing for certain: nothing was ever that simple.

Next time on The Showdown: Last part – Episode 14

Kei is faced with a choice that could change everything. Will she accept Teri's offer and risk losing control of her power, or will she stand by Ignis and fight to protect what little remains of her humanity? As old alliances fracture and new threats emerge, the lines between friend and foe blur. The final battle is coming, and Kei must decide who she can truly trust.

Find out in The Showdown: Last part – Episode 14: Flames of Betrayal.