The Enchanted Warriors (Dragon Riders AU)

50🖤

The heavy wooden doors of the North Christyl castle groaned as they parted, revealing the ominous silhouette of Kasumi. Her sharp, calculating eyes gleamed like polished steel in the moonlight, and a cold smirk curled her lips as she stepped aside to allow the other figure entry. Her presence exuded authority and bitterness, her black silk robes flowing like a shadow in her wake.

"Took you long enough," Kasumi drawled, her voice dripping with disdain, as the woman stepped into the grand marble hall.

The newcomer's laughter rang through the castle like the crackle of a blazing inferno, sardonic and sharp. Her striking red hair framed her face, a cascade of flames pinned behind one ear, exposing the delicate curve of her jaw. Her gown, a molten wave of crimson, whispered across the pristine white marble floor, trailing like liquid fire. The contrast was deliberate, every detail a calculated statement. Her blood-red lips curled into a smile that was equal parts mockery and menace.

"Kasumi," the woman drawled, her voice smooth and venomous, "I expected a warmer welcome from you."

Kasumi stopped in the middle of the grand hall and turned, her sharp features illuminated by the dim light. "You'll find no warmth here, Ava. Only purpose."

Avas laugh was rich and dangerous, filling the vast space like smoke creeping under a door. "Purpose," she repeated, her tone dripping with mockery. "And here I thought I was your purpose."

The tension between the two women was electric, the kind of friction that could spark a wildfire. Kasumi's expression tightened, but her lips curled ever so slightly into a cruel smile.

Kasumi's voice is like ice cutting through Kaelith's fire. "You're just the match. I'm the one who lights the flame

The red-haired woman tilted her head, her smile deepening into something feral and predatory. "Oh, Kasumi," she murmured, her fingers trailing along the marble pillar beside her. "The fire isn't here to burn out. It's here to leave nothing but ash."

Together, they walked further into the castle, their steps echoing in the grand hall. The air seemed to grow heavier with each moment, charged with a sinister energy. The walls, once symbols of protection, now seemed to bow under the weight of their presence, as if the very stones could sense the havoc these women intended to unleash.

The two guards at the end of the grand hallway froze, their spears crossed as they spotted Kasumi striding toward them. Their wary eyes widened when they noticed the woman at her side. Ava's fiery presence demanded attention, her scarlet dress catching the torchlight like liquid flame.

"Lady Kasumi," one of the guards stammered, stepping forward cautiously, "who-"

Before he could finish, Ava raised a single hand. A dark shadow, oily and viscous, snaked out from her fingers, moving faster than thought. The shadows coiled around the guard's throat like a living serpent, constricting with a sickening crunch. He collapsed to the ground without a sound, his body lifeless before he even registered what had happened.

The second guard barely had time to react. He lunged forward, spear raised, but Ava's lips curled into a wicked smile. With a flick of her wrist, the shadows multiplied, striking like tendrils of night. They latched onto the guard's limbs, wrenching him to the ground.

Kasumi didn't flinch as the man gasped, clawing at the invisible force suffocating him. Instead, she stepped over his twitching body with calm indifference, her eyes cold and unbothered.