The army marched forward in steady formation, banners waving high as the rhythmic clatter of hooves and armor echoed through the valley.
Above them, Jason flew ahead of the others, his expression hard as stone.
From a distance, Anna watched him, concern etched across her face.
Connor, flying beside her, noticed her gaze. “Hey, baby bird,” he said lightly. “You okay?”
Anna hesitated before answering. “Jason has been… distant lately. I’m just worried about him.”
Connor smirked. “Yeah, I’ve noticed too. Maybe he’s just really determined to end this.”
“Yeah…” Anna murmured, her gaze lingering on Jason.
Connor glanced between the two before nudging her lightly with his elbow. “If you’re that concerned, go talk to him.”
Anna stared at him for a moment, then nodded. Without another word, she propelled herself forward, cutting through the wind until she reached Jason’s side.
“Hey, Jason. Can we… talk?”
His eyes remained locked ahead. “We need to focus on stopping Darius.”
“I get that, but you’ve been—”
Before she could finish, the barrier of the dimension split open, revealing a landscape drenched in heat and fury. A colossal volcano loomed in the distance, its molten veins pulsing like a living thing.
Above it, thousands of dragons filled the sky, their scales glinting like shards of fire and shadow.
The king's eyes widened in alarm. “The barrier is down! But why?”
Jack swooped lower. “He probably didn’t see the need for it anymore,” he speculated grimly. “The egg’s about to hatch.”
Captain Will exhaled sharply. “I guess bringing the black dragon was pointless, then.”
The commander spurred his horse forward, his voice rising above the growing chaos. “Alright, everyone! Remember the plan! The elementiels will separate Darius and the Dragon Queen while the knights hold off the dragons!” He raised his sword high. “For Camelot!”
The army roared in unison. “For Eirene!!!”
At once, the sky exploded into chaos.
Dragons swooped down, releasing torrents of fire, lightning, and acid upon the advancing knights. Siege weapons retaliated, launching flaming arrows, iron spears, and cannon fire into the sky. The clash of metal and beast shook the earth as battle erupted in full force.
Above, the elementiels surged toward the volcano, pushing through the dragons that dared to block their path.
Adam glanced upward at Jason, who flew ahead like a blazing comet. His jaw tightened. “Be careful, brother.”
They landed inside the volcano’s crater, where the egg stood before them—tall, ancient, its shell coursing with veins of red and black energy.
“It hasn’t hatched yet,” Anna observed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Connor narrowed his eyes. “Its energy… is something else.”
Jason clenched his fists. “What are we waiting for? Let’s just break it open and get him out while he’s still unconscious.”
Before anyone could stop him, he launched forward, arm pulled back to strike.
“Jason, wait—!” Jack shouted.
YOU ARE READING
The Elementiels
FantasyAfter Jason Marquoid loses someone dear to him, he discovers a new power that can change the world as we know it. He must find a way to harness this new found power in order to prevent the deaths of those he loves and cares about. Volume One: The Dr...
