A week had passed since my arrival at Blackstone Academy, and it had been anything but quiet. Word had spread quickly that I was the Demon King's son, and though I tried to keep a low profile, it seemed like every other day someone was challenging me to a duel. Whether it was to test their strength or just to show off, it didn't matter — I won each one with ease.
Nyla had come back for a rematch, claiming the first time was a fluke, but the result was the same. Her so-called lightning speed wasn't enough, and I could read her movements well in advance. Others followed, each duel blending into the next, and it became clear they were all trying to figure out where they stood in comparison to me.
But the duels weren't the only thing keeping me busy. Classes at Blackstone were far more intense than I'd expected. The instructors weren't the type to hold back, and every lesson felt like a test of both magical skill and mental endurance. My foresight ability helped me stay a step ahead in most situations, but there were moments when I had to hold back, especially when practicing elemental magic. No need to make it too obvious that I was more than capable of handling myself.
Aurora, my older sister, made no secret of her excitement to see me. Every time I crossed her path, she would ruffle my hair and call me "little brother" with a smile that barely hid her obsession. The other students found it amusing — I found it exhausting.
And so, by the end of that week, I found myself standing in the academy courtyard, looking out at the towering structure of Blackstone and wondering how much longer I could keep up this balancing act. Trying to blend in while being anything but ordinary was proving to be more difficult than I anticipated.
As if sensing my thoughts, Rael, my roommate, came jogging over.
"Hey, Aiden!" he called out, slightly out of breath. "You heading to the training fields?"
I shook my head. "No, not today. I've had enough of the duels for now."
Rael chuckled, clearly relieved. "Yeah, I can imagine. You've beaten everyone who's challenged you so far. It's a bit… intense."
I shrugged, brushing off the attention. "It's not about winning. I just don't want to lose."
He nodded, understandingly. As the sun began to set over the academy, casting long shadows over the courtyard, I couldn't help but feel that the real challenges were yet to come. I had mastered every duel, but the political games and dynamics of the council were a different kind of battle entirely.
...
..
.
In a grand chamber overlooking the tumultuous sea, the King of Pyrone sat at the head of a massive stone table, flames from the torches casting flickering shadows across his hardened face. His fiery kingdom was known for its military might, and his reign had been defined by countless victories on the battlefield. To his left sat the King of Azure, ruler of the wind-swept lands across the sea, his demeanor calm, but his eyes sharp and calculating. The two monarchs had gathered here in secrecy, their kingdoms separated by the vast expanse of water, but united by a common purpose.
"We've waited long enough," King Ferox of Pyrone growled, his fist slamming down on the table. His broad shoulders heaved as he leaned forward, his eyes blazing with an intensity that mirrored the fire in his soul. "The Demon Kingdom has had its time in the shadows. They continue to multiply but it all ends soon. And now that the hero is ready… it's time to move."
King Elowen of Azure, dressed in robes of sky-blue and silver, remained composed. His kingdom was known for its mastery of the winds, and his voice carried the same quiet authority of a strong gust. "The hero is a strong asset, yes. But we mustn't forget that the Demon Kingdom is resilient. They also have powerful magic. And the Demon King has a son."
Ferox sneered. "That boy? He's a child. Also he is nothing compared to what we've been preparing for. Besides, we have something they don't."
Elowen's gaze sharpened. "You mean.... The *Armageddon* plan?"
Ferox nodded, his hand brushing against a scroll lying on the table between them. The parchment, yellowed with age, bore the seal of Otis Redding the First, a symbol of power that transcended generations. "It's been centuries since Otis Redding united the four strongest elemental kingdoms under a single banner. The demons barely survived the first onslaught, and now with the hero leading the charge, they don't stand a chance."
Elowen leaned back in his chair, his fingers tracing the ornate pattern of the armrest. His mind was calculating, ever cautious. "The Armageddon plan... It's not just a strategy. It's an all-out assault on everything the Demon Kingdom stands for. If we do this, it won't just be a war. It'll be annihilation."
"That's the point," Ferox said, his voice hard. "Nefaria's forces are already preparing to strike, and Pyrone is ready to send our legions to the frontlines. All that's left is for Azure to mobilize. Once the four kingdoms move as one, the demons won't have a prayer."
Elowen narrowed his eyes, considering the gravity of what Ferox was proposing. "It's not just us, though. The Kingdom of Ithris—"
Ferox waved a dismissive hand. "The Kingdom of Earth has already pledged their support. Their king is eager for revenge after the last skirmish with the demon forces. Their elemental power will be crucial in laying siege to the Demon Kingdom's fortresses. Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water... all of us united under the Armageddon plan."
Elowen stood up and walked to the window, looking out over the churning sea. He could feel the winds shifting, growing restless, as if the elements themselves were anticipating the coming storm. "I don't doubt the strength of our kingdoms," he said quietly. "But the demons are cunning. They've survived for centuries, despite our best efforts to destroy them. If we launch this attack, it must be absolute. No hesitation. No mercy."
Ferox rose to his feet, his armor clinking as he did so. "There will be no hesitation. Nefaria and Pyrone share a continent with the demons. They've already begun mustering their armies, preparing for the final assault. You, Elowen, have the power of the skies. Your forces will strike from above, sowing chaos among their ranks. And Ithris will bring the weight of the earth down upon their cities. They won't be able to defend against an attack from all sides."
Elowen turned to face Ferox, his expression unreadable. "The hero will be the key," he said. "His power will rally our forces, and with the support of the elemental kingdoms, we will crush the demons once and for all."
Ferox grinned, the fire in his eyes burning even brighter. "The hero has already begun his preparations. Once he arrives, we strike."
Elowen nodded. "Very well. Azure will join the Armageddon plan. We will lend the winds to your fire, and together we will bring the Demon Kingdom to its knees. For good."
Ferox extended a hand, and Elowen clasped it, sealing their agreement. The wind outside howled, carrying with it the promise of war, and in the distance, lightning crackled across the darkening sky.
As they stood there, locked in the moment, the door to the chamber creaked open. A figure cloaked in dark robes stepped inside, the flickering firelight casting strange shadows across their face.
"The Kingdom of Ithris has sent word," the figure said, their voice low and gravelly. "Their forces are moving from their continent to ours by sea toward Nefaria as we speak. They await only the signal."
Ferox nodded. "Then it's time. The Armageddon plan is in motion. Otis Redding's vision will finally be realized."
Elowen, ever cautious, spoke up once more. "This plan, Ferox. It will leave no survivors. You understand that?"
Ferox's grin widened, his expression savage. "That's the idea."
Elowen's gaze remained steady, but there was a weight behind his words. "Just remember, Ferox, that this is a battle not only of strength but of will. The Demon Kingdom may fall, but the repercussions will be felt across all the lands. We may be unleashing something we cannot control."
Ferox's laughter echoed in the chamber. "Control? I don't care about control. I care about victory. And once the demons are gone, we will shape this world in our image."
Elowen said nothing more. The winds would carry the weight of their decisions, and soon, the storm of war would be upon them.
The figure in the dark robes stepped forward, unrolling another scroll. This one was more recent, a detailed map of the Demon Kingdom and the surrounding territories. The kingdoms of Nefaria and Pyrone, situated on the same continent as the demons, would be the first to launch the assault. Azure would send its aerial forces, and Ithris, with its mastery of earth, would crush the Demon Kingdom's defenses.
It was a plan centuries in the making. A plan devised by Otis Redding the First, meant to eradicate the demons for good. And now, it was about to be set in motion.
"We strike in three months when the hero arrives," Ferox said, his voice final. "By the time the sun rises, the demons will know fear."
Elowen turned his gaze back to the sea, his mind filled with the swirling winds of war. "Then let the winds carry us to victory."
And so, the four kingdoms of the main elements—Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water—prepared to unite, their forces converging on the Demon Kingdom in a final, cataclysmic assault. The Armageddon plan was no longer just a theory. It was a reality, and the end of the Demon Kingdom was near.