**Hel**, the kingdom of eternal flame, roared with life as it celebrated its grandest festival of the year, the **Ignis Fatum**, the Festival of the Fates of Fire. It was a day when the entire kingdom paid homage to the flames that gave them power, strength, and immortality. Massive pyres lit the horizon, filling the air with the heady scent of burning wood and the deep, thunderous chants of their people.
At the heart of Hel stood the **Cavern of Embers**, where the royal family resided. The massive stone palace seemed to glow from within, as if the very walls were made of molten lava, pulsating with the energy of the flames that fueled their world. Inside the grand hall, torches lined the walls, their fiery tendrils dancing in rhythm to the heartbeat of Hel itself.
**King Lucifer** sat on his obsidian throne, his dark eyes glinting as he surveyed the celebrations unfolding before him. His sharp features were framed by a crown of black iron, glowing faintly from the heat of the flames surrounding him. Next to him stood **Queen Hela**, her beauty cold yet fierce, a balance to his searing presence. By their side, their daughter, **Princess Nevaah**, observed the festivities with a calm, calculating gaze, her lips curved ever so slightly.
Lucifer leaned back, a dark smile playing on his lips as he watched his people revel in the power of fire. "Another year, another **Ignis Fatum**," he murmured, his voice deep and smooth, laced with a dangerous allure. "The flames burn brighter than ever, Hela."
Queen Hela smiled, her gaze following the fiery displays outside. "The people worship the fire as they should. It is the source of their strength, the soul of our kingdom."
"And yet, there is always more to be done," Lucifer continued, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of his throne. "Power is not given, it is taken. And I intend to keep it that way."
Nevaah spoke up, her voice soft yet powerful. "Do you think there's any real threat to Hel, Father? The flames burn eternal, after all."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed slightly. "The flames burn, yes. But eternal? No fire lasts forever without care. And we must ensure no enemy, no kingdom, ever threatens to douse it."
As if on cue, the doors to the grand hall creaked open, and the flickering light of the torches seemed to dim slightly. The **Prophet of Hel**, **Ignatius**, entered the room. Clad in a dark crimson robe, his face obscured by a hood, he moved with an unnatural grace, as though the flames themselves guided his every step. In his hands, he carried a staff carved from ancient volcanic rock, its tip glowing faintly with embers.
The air in the room grew heavier, and a thick silence fell over the hall as Ignatius approached the throne. Lucifer's dark eyes locked onto the prophet, his smile fading into a thin line.
"Ignatius," Lucifer drawled, his voice low and dangerous. "I trust your presence is not without reason."
The prophet bowed deeply, his voice rasping like a dying flame. "My King, Queen, Princess... I bring news from the fire itself. The flames have whispered to me."
Lucifer's eyes glittered with interest, but his tone remained dangerously calm. "And what do these flames say, Prophet?"
Ignatius straightened, his hooded gaze turning toward the royal family. "The great flame that sustains Hel... it is weakening. Fading."
A ripple of unease spread through the room, but Lucifer remained still, his expression unreadable. "You speak of nonsense," he said coldly. "The fire of Hel has burned for centuries. What could possibly threaten it?"
Ignatius took a step closer, his voice dropping to a grave whisper. "The flames have revealed a prophecy, my King. A terrible fate. The flame that keeps Hel alive will soon be extinguished unless... unless the **Ice Kingdom** is destroyed."
At this, Lucifer leaned forward, his dark gaze fixed on the prophet. "The Ice Kingdom?" he said slowly, a dangerous edge creeping into his voice. "Azura?"
Ignatius nodded solemnly. "Yes, my King. The frost of Azura threatens the very core of our fire. If the Ice Kingdom is not destroyed, the flame will die, and with it, Hel."
For a moment, the room was deathly silent, save for the faint crackle of the torches. Lucifer rose slowly from his throne, his tall, imposing figure casting long shadows across the floor.
"Is that so?" he said softly, his voice like velvet, though it carried the weight of a storm brewing beneath it. He stepped down from the throne, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light as he approached Ignatius. "Tell me, Prophet... what kind of king do you take me for?"
Ignatius did not waver, though the intensity of Lucifer's presence was overwhelming. "I take you for a king who will do whatever it takes to protect his kingdom, even if it means war."
Lucifer smirked, his gaze shifting to Hela, who watched him with an unwavering gaze of her own. "War... with Azura," he mused, almost to himself. "What do you think, my queen? Should we melt the Ice Kingdom and ensure our fire burns forever?"
Hela's lips curved into a cold smile. "The ice has always been a threat to the flame. If Azura must fall for Hel to thrive, then so be it."
Lucifer turned back to Ignatius, his eyes burning with a dark determination. "The flames have spoken, you say? Then who am I to ignore their wisdom?"
Nevaah, who had been silently listening, spoke up. "Father, do you think this is truly necessary? The Ice Kingdom is formidable. They will not fall easily."
Lucifer's smile widened, his voice dripping with confidence. "Let them try to resist. Let them bring their snow and their frost. They will find that fire is far more enduring than they could ever hope to be."
He turned back to Ignatius, his voice a command now. "Gather the generals. Prepare the armies. If the Ice Kingdom is the threat to our fire, then we will snuff them out before they even know we're coming."
As the prophet bowed and turned to leave, Lucifer's eyes darkened in thought. He had fought wars before, but to destroy Azura, he would need more than just the might of Hel.
He turned to Nevaah. "Send word to **Atlantia**. Triton owes me for keeping his borders free of demons last summer. His mermaids will be useful in cutting off Azura's escape routes from the sea."
Nevaah nodded. "And Elvirin? They are close enough to lend us aid."
Lucifer chuckled darkly. "Yes, Queen Evelyn will gladly offer her earth giants in exchange for fire protection on her borders. The elves and fairies will add to our numbers."
"And the **Wind Kingdoms**?" Nevaah asked, her voice thoughtful.
Lucifer's eyes glinted with satisfaction. "King Xian will support us if I promise him access to the western territories of Hel. His Tornrads will tear through the Ice Kingdom like they never existed. As for Queen Sylvia, she will keep her neutrality, as she always does."
Nevaah raised an eyebrow. "She won't stand in our way?"
Lucifer shook his head. "Sylvia cares for her people and little else. She won't lift a finger to help Azura, nor will she join the battle. She will keep to the South, watching, but not interfering."
Hela, who had been listening intently, finally spoke. "That leaves Azura vulnerable from every side. There is no kingdom left to help them."
Lucifer smiled, pleased with how the plan was unfolding. "Let them freeze in their icy fortress, thinking they can withstand us. By the time our armies are ready, there will be nowhere for them to run. Not to the sea, nor to the earth, nor to the skies."
He turned back to Ignatius, his voice a command now. "Prepare the armies. We will move swiftly, like the flames that consume everything in their path."
Ignatius bowed deeply, his voice barely above a whisper. "As you wish, my King."
As the prophet turned to leave, Lucifer's voice rang out once more, low and sinister. "One more thing, Prophet... if your prophecy is wrong, if the flames do not weaken as you say... I will make sure you burn in them for eternity."
Ignatius paused, then nodded without hesitation. "I understand, my King. The flames do not lie."
Lucifer watched him leave, his gaze still dark, thoughtful. Then he turned to Hela and Nevaah, his smile returning—sharp, predatory. "Prepare yourselves, my loves. The flames will soon consume all."
Hela's smile mirrored his, and Nevaah's eyes gleamed with a new, dangerous light.
For in the heart of Hel, the fire never truly slept.