Scene 1: Rising Tensions
The forest was a battleground of silence, the only sounds were the faint rustle of leaves and the steady breathing of three people on the verge of war. Rose's piercing green eyes flicked between Elliotte and Christopher, her stance sharp, her staff faintly glowing in her hands.
"I'll decide if we're allies," she said, her tone cold and unyielding, "depending on whether you stand in my way."
Elliotte stood his ground, his gaze steady but imploring. "We don't need to fight. We want the same thing—Morvanious must be stopped."
Her expression darkened at the name, her knuckles tightening around her staff. "Morvanious," she repeated, her voice sharp with bitterness. "You're chasing the devil himself, and you think teaming up is a solution? You have no idea what you're up against."
Christopher stepped forward, his movements casual but deliberate as he unsheathed his dual katars. The moonlight caught their edges, making the polished steel gleam ominously. He twirled one with dangerous ease, his tone dropping into a deadly calm. "We weren't asking for your permission."
Rose's eyes narrowed as she raised her hand, a ring on her finger glowing faintly. "Stellarbind!" she commanded. In an instant, her staff transformed into a radiant bow, golden energy humming along its sleek frame. She drew an arrow made of pure light, the string vibrating with barely contained power.
Elliotte's stomach dropped. She's a ring wielder too.
"Both of you, stop this!" Elliotte shouted, stepping forward with his arms raised, but the weight of their standoff crushed his words.
Rose didn't hesitate. She loosed the arrow with a sharp twang, and Christopher darted forward, his katars flashing as they deflected the bolt mid-air. Sparks of energy exploded where the weapons clashed, lighting the forest floor with brief, flickering bursts of gold and silver.
"You've got good aim," Christopher said, his grin sharp as a blade, his voice laced with playful malice. "Too bad for you—I'm better up close."
Rose leaped back, her movements as fluid as water, vaulting onto a tree branch in one graceful motion. "And you think I'll let you get close?" she snapped, drawing another arrow and firing three in quick succession.
Christopher darted between the glowing arrows with a speed and precision that was almost inhuman, closing the gap between them in seconds. He leaped onto the branch she stood on, his katars slashing in quick, relentless arcs.
Their weapons collided in a blinding clash of light and steel. Rose's bow shifted back into a staff mid-swing, blocking his strikes with expert precision. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, shaking the branches beneath them.
Christopher grinned, his voice low and mocking. "Not bad, princess. But you're starting to sweat."
Rose's sharp glare could have cut through stone. "Keep talking. You'll regret it." She spun her staff with incredible speed, forcing Christopher to leap back as the glowing weapon sliced through the space where he'd been standing.
She flipped off the branch, landing lightly on the forest floor and firing another arrow as she fell. Christopher twisted mid-air to dodge, landing in front of her with a smirk.
Elliotte had had enough.
"Enough!" his voice thundered, amplified by the power of the Rings of Light. The commanding tone froze them both, their weapons still raised but unmoving.
"This is what we're doing now?" Elliotte demanded, his gaze sharp as Exilibur's blade. "Fighting each other while Morvanious gets stronger? We're wasting time!"
Christopher raised an eyebrow but slowly lowered his katars, the playful glint in his eyes dimming slightly. Rose remained still for a moment, her staff glowing faintly in her grip.
Elliotte's voice softened, though the authority in it remained. "We can't do this alone. The only way we stand a chance is if we work together."
Rose's grip on her staff loosened slightly, her sharp gaze flicking to Christopher and then back to Elliotte. After a long pause, she sighed, lowering her weapon. "Fine. A temporary truce."
Christopher twirled one of his katars before sheathing it. "Whatever you say, boss," he said with a shrug. "But don't blame me if she starts shooting again."
Elliotte ignored him, his focus fixed on Rose. "Let's focus on the real fight."
Scene 2: The Forest Ambush
The uneasy silence didn't last long. A sudden rustling in the underbrush drew their attention, followed by the unmistakable sound of boots crunching against leaves. Rose's sharp gaze turned toward the source of the noise, her hand instinctively tightening around her staff.
Elliotte summoned Exilibur, its radiant glow illuminating the shadowed forest as the tension thickened.
A group of soldiers emerged from the tree line, their armor catching the faint moonlight. The emblem of Aedralis—a phoenix surrounded by flames—gleamed on their chest plates.
At the head of the group stood a man with broad shoulders and an air of command. His dark hair was streaked with silver, and his cold blue eyes assessed the trio with the precision of a predator. A long crimson cape billowed behind him, the phoenix emblem emblazoned proudly across its fabric.
"Rose Sterling," the man said, his voice low and commanding. "Explain yourself."
Rose stiffened, lowering her staff slightly. "Commander Alden," she said, bowing her head. "I sensed powerful energy and came to investigate. It was coming from them." She gestured toward Elliotte and Christopher.
Alden's cold gaze shifted to the two men. His presence was oppressive, his authority radiating like a storm ready to break. "Who are you?" he asked sharply.
Elliotte stepped forward, his voice steady but respectful. "I'm Elliotte Lancaster, from the Kingdom of Ironclad. Rose mentioned your mission to stop Morvanious. We want to help."
Alden's jaw tightened, his expression hardening. "How Foolish could you be," he said, his voice sharp as a blade. "Rose, first you abandoned protocol. Then exposed our mission to strangers. Do you understand the consequences of your actions?"
Rose lowered her gaze, guilt flickering across her face. "Commander, I—"
Alden cut her off with a sharp wave of his hand, turning his attention back to Elliotte. His lips curled into a cold smile as he extended his hand. "My apologies for the misunderstanding," he said smoothly, offering them a gesture of Handshake.
Elliotte hesitated but reached out, his instincts warning him too late.
The moment their hands touched, soldiers surged forward, snapping enchanted manacles onto Elliotte and Christopher's wrists.
Elliotte struggled as the restraints burned against his skin, the faint glow of their magic suppressing his power. He tried to summon Exilibur, but the blade refused to appear. "Magic inhibitors," he muttered, his chest tightening.
Christopher thrashed violently, his muscles straining against the cuffs. "What the hell is this?!" he snarled, his voice laced with fury.
Alden ignored him, his cold smile never wavering. "You'll answer directly to the king of Aedralis now," he said.
Christopher bared his teeth, his patience snapping. "Release me," he growled, his voice low and dangerous, "or I'll tear every one of you apart!"
The soldiers raised their weapons, their polished blades gleaming in the moonlight. Alden met Christopher's glare without flinching, his tone calm but deadly.
"Try it," he said.
The forest fell into an uneasy silence, the tension crackling like lightning waiting to strike.