Willow emerged from the snow in a daze, taking a moment to gather herself as she scanned her surroundings for any sign of Yamen. It was then that she noticed the blizzard had ceased, and the ice on the walls began to rapidly melt. Reacting quickly, Willow retrieved the dagger she had taken from her boot cuff and set off towards Yamen, but her pace was no match for his readiness as he rose to meet her incoming attack.
Meanwhile, the other two mercenaries made their way back to the tavern to investigate the sudden torrent of flames emanating from their employer's location. As they arrived, they were met with a startling sight—a fierce battle unfolding before them. Their employer, revealed to be a phoenix elf, blazed with fiery intensity, emitting flames of red, orange, and yellow that danced around him in a menacing aura. However, what caught their attention most was the confrontation between their employer and another figure—a formidable barkeep who stood defiantly against the elf.
With scorch marks marring her fists from her earlier strikes, Teresa confronted the elf, accusing him of insulting her establishment and wreaking havoc without remorse. Unfazed by his retort, the elf dismissed Teresa's grievances, asserting his disdain for the bar's offerings. Their verbal sparring quickly escalated into a physical clash, drawing the attention of a growing crowd of onlookers, including the two mercenaries.
As the mercenaries moved to intervene, they were halted by the appearance of a lone dwarven man, whose silent gesture urged them to stand down. Despite their initial reluctance, the mercenaries deferred to the dwarf's silent command, recognizing the potential consequences of defying him.
Meanwhile, Teresa engaged the elf in combat, dodging his fiery assaults and closing in for a series of swift strikes. Though the elf retaliated with javelins of flame, Teresa pressed forward, her determination unwavering. With a flurry of punches and kicks, she delivered a punishing blow that sent the elf reeling.
But the elf refused to yield, summoning a sphere of fire and unleashing it towards Teresa. Despite her efforts to evade, the fiery projectile pursued her relentlessly, forcing her into a desperate retreat. However, Teresa's resilience shone through as she deftly maneuvered around the flames, her resolve unbroken.
As the battle reached its climax, the elf conjured a magic circle beneath them, his intent clear. Yet, instead of succumbing to fear, Teresa laughed defiantly, summoning an axe to her hand and charging towards the circle's edge. In a blinding flash of light, the battlefield erupted into chaos, signaling the culmination of their fierce confrontation.