Grayson, narrowly avoiding being pulverized under a Titan's foot, surged forward with the speed of lightning, dashing just in time as the giant's heavy stomp sent a violent tremor through the earth.
Dodging the lunging feet of several more Titans, Grayson dashed toward the heart of the ice storm, where the ground was now slick with a layer of smooth, hard ice. The storm continued to hurl sharp icicles in all directions, forcing the Titans to retreat as their shields were battered and nearby buildings crumbled under the onslaught.
Rather than retreating, Grayson charged forward, using the slick ice to slide directly into the storm's vortex, which instantly swept him skyward.
The biting wind swiftly coated him in frost, but Grayson, undeterred, swung his arms fiercely, stabilizing himself in mid-air, squinting through the blizzard for any sign of Elyra.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a small, black object hurtling past. With quick reflexes, he grabbed it, drawing the shivering form of Elyra close to his chest, the little owl now an icy orb from the frigid assault.
"Hang on, little one!" Grayson secured his position amidst the swirling currents, stripping off his black robe to wrap around Elyra, then tied it firmly around his waist.
It was then he noticed the storm intensifying toward its center, the temperature plummeting to minus fifty degrees. Exposed, Grayson's skin swiftly became encased in a thick layer of ice.
With a thunderous crash, a blast of freezing energy burst from the core of the storm, sweeping across the plaza and encasing everything in frost.
Morven and the others, spared from the icy sweep by Seraphine and the genie's combined efforts, looked down from their rooftop refuge to see the frozen statues of Titan soldiers and buildings below, the Ice Phoenix screeching in fury before taking flight.
"Grayson? Where's Grayson?"
They searched frantically but found no trace of him. The genie whisked them to the ground, where they searched among the frozen Titans, to no avail.
As worry gripped them, the ground shook violently, and a host of Titan soldiers emerged, encircling the plaza.
"Who allowed you humans into Titan territory?" The lead Titan general stepped forward, his menacing gaze bearing down on them, his voice thunderous.
Seraphine stepped forth, her staff tapping the ground, transforming into a hovering mermaid amid a burst of white foam, "I am Seraphine, Guardian of the Merfolk Sanctuary, on a mission sanctioned by the Elders of the Merfolk and the Silver Dragon Wing Knights of the human empire, to seek an audience with the Titan's offspring, Tyrrel!"
"The Merfolk Guardian?" The Titan general scanned Seraphine, then the others, and the genie, "Even if true, those two humans don't look like knights. Who are they?"
"They are my companions, human rangers, and another, caught in the ice storm, is still missing. Finding him is crucial to a matter of great importance," said Seraphine, urgency in her voice.
The general eyed her skeptically, "Even if your words hold truth, can you prove the Ice Phoenix's vengeful actions weren't provoked by you?"
"Vengeance?" Seraphine's confusion was genuine. "What happened?"
"You don't know?" The general pointed to a towering cliff nearby, "There lies the nest of the Ice Phoenix, Phoenix. A boulder struck the slumbering creature, shattering its egg. Assuming the attack came from our direction, the Phoenix sought revenge."
"Perhaps your soldiers threw rocks, mistaking the Phoenix's egg," Seraphine deftly suggested, shifting blame.
Undeterred, the general declared, "Impossible. Not even our soldiers can throw that high!"
"Who then?" Morven stepped forward, challenging the general's claim.
"A powerful mage could manipulate such stones with magic," the general's gaze fell on Seraphine.
Before she could respond, a roar shook a nearby collapsed building, and all eyes turned to see a staggering figure emerge.
"Grayson!" Seraphine cried, rushing forward with Morven and Katheren.
Grayson, bare-chested and his trousers shredded, disheveled hair cascading over his shoulders, staggered out, clutching his robe, and collapsed to one knee.
They rushed to support him, but Seraphine's attempt to heal was halted by Grayson's weak grip, "Save Elyra first."
Hesitant until Grayson's determined gaze urged her, Seraphine unwrapped the robe on the ground, revealing the still-frozen Elyra.
"Genie, fire, please!" Seraphine called.
Before the genie could respond, the general interjected, "Ordinary fire won't do. Only a feather from the Phoenix's tail can thaw its ice."
He sneered, "But no one can pluck its feathers, unless a miracle happens."
Grayson, fueled by a surge of defiant energy, locked eyes with the general, "No, I am the miracle. That damned bird didn't turn me into an icicle!"
His skin flushed with blood, strength coursing back into him, he vowed, "With even a sliver of hope, I won't give up on Elyra! Tell me, where can I find that cursed Ice Phoenix?"
The general scrutinized him before conceding, "Perhaps you should try. The risk is great, but doing nothing guarantees our loss. Head west to the highest cliff and retrieve an Ice Tail Feather... and return like a true hero."