Seraphine's eyes blazed with fury. "This land belongs to no one but its people. Your so-called king has no claim here."
Balthazar's smile widened with a dark glint. "We'll see about that."
With a swift motion, he drew his sword, and the air around us seemed to crackle with dark energy. Seraphine was already moving, her blade flashing out with precision as she unsheathed her sword. The clash of steel against steel rang through the clearing, a stark contrast to the surrounding silence of the forest.
"Stay back," Seraphine ordered, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "This one's mine."
Aurelia and I exchanged a quick glance, the urgency in Seraphine's voice making the decision clear. We didn't need to discuss it further; we both knew that the fight needed to happen. With a brief nod, we stepped back, allowing Seraphine and Balthazar space to engage.
