Flames ( HP Fire Series #1)

26. The Battle of the Elements

Autumn's p.o.v.

Darkness. Along the cold, ancient passageways, we were once again accompanied by the distant mourning of breezes and the occasional trickle of water. Nobody spoke as our feet pattered softly on the ancient foundations. The maze wove thickly together as the paths became steeper and steeper.

"Wait." I held up a hand as my enhanced vision picked up the silhouette of three doors directly ahead. 

"Welcome to the crossroads. Choose wisely." A misty voice rumbled deep among the maze as the hair at the back of my neck prickled up.

"Who are you?" Rose whispered, and her eyes growing wide with sudden realisation. "The Fates."

"Rosalil Evans." The voice acknowledged." The time has come for you to choose your own fate. Beyond lies three doors, three different fates. Which is your choice?"

I looked at Rose whose eyes were transfixed on the doors. Her fingers fumbled around her neck as I suddenly realised what she was looking for. The pendant Ro got her for Christmas!

"Come on, come on..." She mumbled, her fingers clasping the tiny pendant, her eyes closing. We watched as the pendant glowed, a gentle aura of green mist surrounding us like a protective barrier. And then it faded.

"To the right." Rose said confidently as the mist slowly parted. 

"Danger lies ahead but you will be together. May the fates be with you." With that, the right door opened, sucking us into its endless darkness...

---

"Watch out!" I shouted as Haz rolled away from the roaring fire. Infernos blazed from the mouth of the stone statues lining the walls. A wave of biting frost swept towards us as I shielded all of us barely in time. 

"What the hell is this place?" Ro shouted over the howling cyclone. The elements were getting restless as I scanned the chamber. A confined room with nothing but angry spirits of nature. And... a door! But there is no hope in crossing it except to defeat the elements.

"We have to get to the door!" I told them as Ro deflected an incoming wave of ice.

"I'm letting down the barrier and we'll fight together." I said as the girls held their wands firmly. We will defeat this. "In three, two, one!" I let the barrier down and we dashed towards the door. It was almost impossible.

Cyclones howled and fires roared around us. Haz's wand slashed wildly, battling the restless winds. Ro and Rose fought shoulder to shoulder, defending each other from the sleets of ice that kept attacking relentlessly. Dozens of deadly sharp daggers shaped from frozen hard ice that rained like meteors on us. Gods, the elements were really furious. I wonder if being trapped here for thousands, even billions of years have made them so restless, eager for vengeance. 

Having the power over elements, I shielded myself, watching as the elements edge away from me. I was free to pass but they weren't letting my friends go away so easily. They were desperate for revenge. For the ones who trapped them here. Their souls burned with anger and the hope of freedom. Their hearts had once burned with passion and hope for being liberated, except that they were now tired of waiting. They had once been hopeful but that time had long gone. Now, they were hungry for revenge. Any human being who dared set foot here will perish, just like the others who had challenged and tricked them.

Wait, those weren't my emotions. Trembling, I placed my hand on the fire, my strongest element as the hate coursed through me. I felt the malevolence and the spite towards humans, their greed which destroyed the nature, driving these ancient powers into hiding, never to see the world as its old self again. I was overwhelmed. I made up my mind. We weren't tricking the elements to get past. A plan formed at the back of my mind, small and delicate like a bubble. I flashed a glance at my friends. They were slowly being overpowered. Haz was tiring and her wand movements were slowing. Torrents of water crashed on her and Ro ran to shield her. Rose wasn't as sure-footed as just now and I let out a gasp of despair as Rose stumbled and fell.

"I have a plan!" I shouted over the deafening noise. I didn't care if the plan worked anymore. I had a tiny chance. "Focus on the purest water, the most intense frost, the most ferocious fires, and the strongest gales." I commanded as they looked at me, clearly confused. 

"Now!" They closed their eyes as I channeled my magic to protect them. Their wands dropped to the ground as they relaxed, sinking into the memories and feelings of the purest elements. 

"We will free you." I said in the phoenix's tongue, the most ancient magical language. The elements responded by swirling around me. The memories of the girls projected in my magic, strong and pure as they wrapped around the spirits.

"Roam free and be free!" I chanted the line continuously with everything my magic has to offer as the roof of the chamber burst open. Rocks shattered and clouds of dust formed as the elements surged upwards into the world, finally embracing the world after being chained in the darkness for centuries. The sky rumbled in the distance. I opened my eyes.

"Great work, Aut." Haz said as they swayed a little, their most prominent memories of the elements contributed in the effort of liberating the spirits.

"That was seriously awesome magic." Rose shook her head unbelievably. "Come on, we have no time to lose." She said, pointing at the sky. It was almost twilight by now. 

"I have a slight hunch that the Ultimate Wand lies beyond this door." I gestured.

"In that case, great. After so many surprises, I'm certainly glad to see how powerful Mr Mysterious is to need so many bodyguards." Haz said sardonically as I laughed. How great it was to laugh without any worries. Maybe our problems will disperse after the wand is gone. After all, isn't it the most powerful wand ever?

"Let's go." The door was just a few feet away. Beyond, the wand awaits us.

"Together?"

"Together." I confirmed as we pushed the door open, coming face to face with someone familiar. 

Nebulae.