Fire struck ice, causing a cloud of steam to gush out from impact. It became difficult for everyone to see what was happening. Lightning crackled over the pavilion, followed by clinking of metal and painful groans. A deafening clash released another surge of raw power that pushed back the mist, revealing the state of the melee.
The Tsaedarri lay dead on the floor, one with its head rolling down the stairs while the other had been cleaved into two at the abdomen. Vesihara was on his knees, the hand holding the sceptre had been dismembered at the elbow. However it was growing back at an unnatural rate. That must be due to his crown, the Song Waker, Shihara thought.
On seeing that new muscles had begun forming over the freshly grown bone, Gesahara brandished Storm's Judgement and lopped off the entire arm.
"THIS IS WHAT WEAKNESS LOOKS LIKE." She addressed the crowd, "WEAKNESS AND COWARDICE!" She kicked at the corpse of a Tsaedarr.
"Get this over with, Gesa." Vesihara grunted in pain, "Finish this."
Even without looking at him, Gesahara swung her weapon, beheading her brother in a single clean swipe. Then she kneeled and dropped Storm's Judgement, which immediately vanished into thin air. Gently, she removed Song Waker from Vesihara's decapitated head and after that picked up Pyre Maker.
Rising, she slid the circlet over her own forehead, to which the priests gasped but immediately silenced.
"With the blessing of spirits of earth and forests, I shall shepherd my people to eternal glory.
With the blessing of spirits of sky and winds, I shall rule with strength and wisdom.
With the blessing of spirits of fire and rain, I shall lead my legions to triumph and success." Gesahara paused for a while but didn't stop, although the protocol was concluded.
"With the blessing of spirits of passion and forbearance, I shall reclaim all Dreamsung relics and herald a new age on Ashireth!"
To this the crowd remained silent, but bowed to her in reverence. They were all stunned to hear those words that expressed such a brilliant yet terrible idea. The silence was broken when Gesahara's troops cheered in unification.
"All hail Empress Gesahara!" they raised their weapons in respect, "Daughter of the Conqueror! Scion of the Uniter! Herald of a New Age!"