The night air was thick with the promise of death. James felt it in his bones. Clasped in silver armor and a ruby sword strapped to his waist, James Albin looked ahead at the two similarly dressed men before him. Wiping the sweat from his sleek black hair, he took a step towards the knights, making sure to keep one hand near his blade.

Knight 1: Yield, James. The odds are in our favor; victory is beyond your reach.

James looked down on the man who had spoken and acknowledged his words. The two did, indeed, have the advantage in this fight when he considered the facts. The trees seemed to whisper secrets, foreshadowing the ambush that was about to unfold.

Knight 2: We know what you're up to James. This is reckless. You've already taken the power of two astrals; there's no telling what will happen if you take more.

For a second, James was caught off guard, surprised that they knew so much about his plan. The knight's voice was cold and sharp, far different than how James remembered it. He supposed he was also quite different from how they remembered him, but he didn't dwell on these thoughts.

James: If you know my plans, then why do you oppose me?

James already knew the answer to this question. The dread of the fight that was to come was beginning to overwhelm him. His mind raced as he tried to stall longer, but there was nothing else. It was inevitable. 

Knight 2: Grief and a thirst for vengeance have clouded your judgment, James. Our hearts may ache for your cause, but what you seek now... it's beyond our oath to uphold.

A sigh fell over James as he came to reality. There was no running from this fight.

James: So, our paths diverge here. William, Alexander, fate demands its duel.

The two knights nodded their heads in agreement, signaling the start of the fight between the three brothers.

The shorter of the two brothers, known as Alexander, immediately backed up and clasped his hands together. His eyes turned a violent shade of dark green and the branches in the surrounding area seemed to come alive, shaking violently and growing unnaturally. William Albin, the oldest of the three, turned back and ran for the trees. His eyes turned stormy gray, and in a single bound, he was able to jump into the mess of leaves and branches created by his younger brother.

James had been in enough fights with his brothers to understand the strategy taking place. Alex was to act as bait, while William attacked from the safety of the leaves, changing positions and striking whenever he saw an opening. It was the most intelligent tactic considering the abilities William possessed, and it left James with a level of uncertainty as to when he could expect an attack.

Keeping up with his role, Alexander raised one hand in the air and charged his brother, simultaneously calling forth a single branch from a nearby tree and shaping it into a thorny blade. James unclasped his own sword and stood guard, ready to defend a strike from his brother. However, Alexander feigned his attack, getting close enough to allow James to get into a guard position and then stepping back. Raising his sword into the air, Alex beckoned forth a flurry of branches at James who had only moments to react. 

James dropped his guard as soon as his brother stepped backward, and his eyes suddenly turned blood red. Right before the branches could gouge through his flesh, James summoned forth a wall of jagged crimson crystals around his feet, stopping any incoming branches. At the exact moment the crystals stopped the branches, James created a single crystal with a sharp point and sent it at his brother's chest. Alexander was only just able to move out of the way in time, and the crystal grazed his stomach, leaving a trail of blood. James prepared to use this opening to strike his brother's chest with his sword; yet, a gust of wind immediately blew him backward, knocking him off his feet.

William: So this is the power of the Crystal Astral. May I ask who you stole it from?

James: Honestly I'm a bit offended that you think of me as a thief. We've known each other our whole lives but now you both look at me like a stranger.

William: The man before me now bears little resemblance to the brother I once knew. Given what whispers carry, to call you a thief might not be so far-fetched. There's no reality where the James that I knew would use such an astral, considering the hell it put us through.

James's focus drifted from William's accusations, his senses straining against the howling wind that twisted his brother's voice into a disorienting cacophony. As James tried to stand another gust of wind struck him in the back, and then another in the side. Soon James was being bombarded with slices of wind from every direction, tearing gashes into the armor that James wore and cutting into exposed pieces of skin.

Irritated, James placed both hands on the ground, and once again, his eyes turned red as crystals formed in a circular pattern around him, destroying every tree in the vicinity.

William abandoned his position in the fallen trees and placed a hand on the floor. His left eye suddenly became brown, and the ground began to violently shake. The crystals that scattered around the entire forest sank under the earth and William rushed over to retrieve Alexander, who had been caught in the wave of crystals.

James used this moment to breathe and give himself time to think. William's abilities allowed him to take long-range fights with ease, meaning his best bet would be to engage him in a close-range fight. However, William's wind astral prevented James from getting within striking distance. Closing his eyes for a second, James pondered what to do, and within seconds he formulated a plan. His eyes turned red once again and crystals formed around his body, repairing the armor that had been damaged. William, who had safely rescued his brother, turned back to face James. 

Putting one hand on the ground, the terrain began to change. Pillars and prisms began to form from the dirt and stone around him, all of them speeding towards James. James didn't move a muscle as a massive wall of crystals formed around him, protecting him from the attacks. 

James understood what Williams' strategy in this fight was. As long as William held James back, he could win, so he would use the wind and earth to keep his distance until James runs out of energy and becomes unable to defend himself. However, something James noticed while he was being bombarded by the wind was that his sword, despite being hit many times, remained in perfect condition. Using this fact to his advantage, James raised his sword and rushed at William with blinding speed.

At once, William summoned forth another powerful gust of wind, but this time, crystals protruded from the tip of James's blade, protecting him like a shield and deflecting the wind. The strategy worked perfectly and James was within striking distance.

The second James withdrew his crystals and raised his blade to strike his brother, William's left eye changed color again, going from brown to blue. Shards of ice suddenly arose from the ground in all directions leaving James with barely enough time to summon his crystal wall defense again. 

As James recovered, William backed away, creating a gap between him and his brother. Once again, William put his hands to the ground, this time summoning ice spikes all around his brother. James defended with crystals once again but this time, William saw through the defense and crashed his ice shards into James' wall of crystals while simultaneously charging at his brother using the wind to propel his motion.

William knew that with his strategy he was unbeatable, however, James' defense was stronger than he counted on. The only way to win this fight would be to destroy James' defense and deliver a killing blow before he can recover. 

As soon as WIlliam got within striking distance, he raised both hands in the air, and swords made of solid ice appeared at once. Before he could deliver the final blow however, James recovered from William's previous assault and raised his own sword to defend.

The two remained locked together in a clash for several moments until William finally released his trump card. His right eye changed from gray to brilliant orange and the swords of ice erupted in flames. 

James immediately backed off as the flames began to burn the exposed parts of his body, but William blitzed James once again. The two engaged in a glorious sword duel, with William slashing away, trying to use his swords to pry through James, and James blocking William's attacks while simultaneously suffering burns all over his body.

Each parry and block James executed was a dance with flame, William's fiery blades singing his armor. Their duel, a tempest of fire and steel, was a testament to their desperation and resolve. William kept his strong momentum up as he swung with killing intent, however, James found his opening. William's sword strikes landed in a pattern, and James simply waited for William to lift his swords up, which indicated a heavy attack. 

Mustering the last of his strength and pouring all his energy into his arms, James drove his sword through William's stomach before he could deliver the blow.

In the silence that followed, James gazed upon his brother, a pang of sorrow piercing through him. The weight of his actions, the finality of a bond severed by his own hand, settled heavy upon his soul. However, these thoughts quickly faded as he realized it was necessary. This was the path he had chosen for himself. This was the only way. 

James attempted to find a way out of the forest so that he could meet with the rest of his knights and recover. With the battle ensuing at full throttle, he would most likely be needed in order for his men to win. With the burns and injuries he had taken from his duel with William, he wasn't in the best shape to travel or fight anyone else. 

However, before James could figure out a way to escape, a thorn pierced his chest, cutting straight through his armor and crushing his heart. As James fell to the ground, coughing up blood, he saw Alexander limping towards William while clutching his chest. 

As James' vision became blurry, he reached a hand out to his brother, thinking back on everything that led to this moment.

James: I promise you. One day, I will get you all back.

And with that, James' vision went dark.