The air inside the **Crystal Palace** felt heavier than usual, and the bitter cold that usually provided comfort now seemed to bite with uncertainty. Princess **Crystal** watched her father, **King Isaac**, as he prepared for what was to come. His face, usually so full of warmth despite the cold he commanded, was now drawn and tense.
At the head of the grand table, **Queen Elizabeth** sat silently, her icy blue eyes never leaving her husband's face. She was strong, regal, but even Crystal could see the worry flickering in her gaze. The weight of their kingdom's safety sat squarely on the king's shoulders, and they all knew it.
King Isaac cleared his throat, breaking the silence. His voice, though firm, carried an unusual softness as he addressed his family. "My dear Elizabeth, Crystal... The fire kingdom has been relentless in their pursuit. We've tried negotiations, we've offered peace, but **King Lucifer** and **Queen Hela** will not be swayed."
Crystal's stomach churned. "So... war is inevitable?"
The king nodded gravely. "Yes. Their dragons are restless, and our scouts have reported that the forces of **Hel** are moving closer to our borders. I must lead our army to meet them in battle."
Crystal's heart dropped at the mention of battle. "But Father, can we win? The dragons—"
"—are fearsome," King Isaac interrupted gently, "but we have faced their kind before. The **Avalanche**—our **Snow Giant**—will fight beside us. We have our **Ice Guardians** and the courage of our people."
Queen Elizabeth finally spoke, her voice steady but her worry apparent. "But Isaac, what of the other kingdoms? Will they stand with us?"
King Isaac shook his head, his expression darkening. "Only silence from the others. It seems that fear of fire has clouded their judgment. We stand alone."
Crystal clenched her fists, her voice trembling with frustration. "Why does everyone fear Hel so much? We have done nothing to provoke them!"
Isaac stood and approached his daughter, placing a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes, fear is a stronger motivator than reason. The fire kingdom has always been seen as unstoppable, with their dragons and their power. But we—" He looked between his wife and daughter, "—we will not fall without a fight."
Queen Elizabeth stood up from her chair and approached her husband, taking his hand in hers. "You will come back, Isaac. You must come back. Our people need you... we need you."
Isaac gave her a small smile, though the sadness behind it was undeniable. "I will do everything I can. But if the worst should happen..." He paused, his gaze lingering on his wife, and then on Crystal. "Elizabeth, Crystal, you both must prepare to defend Azura. I trust that you will protect our kingdom, no matter what."
Crystal felt a lump in her throat. Her father had never spoken like this before. It was as if he knew something terrible was coming, something he could not prevent.
"I will do my best, Father," Crystal said, her voice small but determined.
The king kissed his daughter on the forehead and pulled Queen Elizabeth into a long, tight embrace. "I love you both," he whispered, before stepping away.
That night, King Isaac left for the battlefield.
---
The following morning, Azura was hit with the devastating news.
Crystal stood on the palace balcony, her breath forming misty clouds in the freezing air. The sun had barely risen when she saw the lone figure riding up toward the palace gates—one of their soldiers, battered and bruised, clinging to his mount as though he might fall at any moment.
"Mother!" Crystal called out, rushing back inside to alert Queen Elizabeth. Together, they made their way to the courtyard, where the soldier collapsed off his horse, landing hard on the snow-covered ground.
He was covered in blood, his eyes wide with shock. "Your Majesty... Princess... the battle..." He struggled to speak, but the words that followed hit them like an avalanche. "The king... is gone."
Crystal's world spun. "What do you mean, gone?" she demanded, her voice shaking. "Where is my father?"
The soldier sobbed, his face pale and stricken. "He... he was ambushed. The dragons of Hel... they came from the skies, and their army overwhelmed us. The king fought bravely, but..." He paused, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "No one survived. All of our forces... they were slaughtered."
Queen Elizabeth staggered backward, her face as white as the snow beneath her feet. Crystal could hardly breathe as the reality of the situation sank in. Her father—King Isaac, the man who had taught her everything she knew about strength and leadership—was dead. And their army, their protectors... all gone.
"No," Crystal whispered, her eyes welling with tears. "No, this can't be happening."
The soldier wiped his face, struggling to maintain his composure. "It gets worse, Your Majesty. The fire kingdom... they're coming. They want to erase the entire royal bloodline. They're planning to invade... today."
Crystal's breath caught in her throat, and she watched her mother's icy composure begin to crack. But, in a heartbeat, Queen Elizabeth's face hardened, her eyes blazing with cold determination.
"Leave us," she commanded sharply, dismissing the soldier. "Tell no one what you've just said."
The guard hesitated but eventually stumbled away from the courtyard, leaving the royal family in deafening silence.
Crystal turned to her mother, panic rising in her chest. "They'll come for us, Mother. They'll kill us all."
Queen Elizabeth took a deep breath, looking at her daughter with unflinching resolve. "They will come. But they will not find us cowering like cowards."
She stepped forward, her voice fierce and authoritative. "We will not let Azura fall to Hel. Those cowards who fled... let them hide. But we will fight for this kingdom—for your father's memory, and for our people."
Crystal clenched her fists"then we have to run away mother,we can't let fathers legacy be killed"