The temple's towering spires loomed over the battlefield as the storm intensified. Rain lashed against armor, banners snapped in the wind, and the clash of thunder drowned out murmurs of doubt and fear. Yet, the march toward the temple continued—on both sides.
The princess rode at the head of her army, her sword unsheathed and gleaming in the lightning. Behind her, the battered remnants of her kingdom pressed forward, each step a testament to their resolve.
"Do you feel it?" Eldric asked, riding beside her.
She didn't answer immediately. The air was heavy, almost suffocating, as though the storm carried more than just wind and water. It carried power. Destiny.
"I feel everything," she said at last.
---
On the opposite side, Queen Selene's forces moved with grim efficiency. Her black-clad soldiers marched in perfect unison, their movements synchronized despite the chaos around them.
Selene stood atop a ridge, her gaze fixed on the temple. She could see the faint glow still lingering around its entrance, like the dying embers of a fire that refused to be extinguished.
"The light is fading," her general said.
"But its power lingers," Selene replied. She clenched her fist, feeling the pull of the temple, the promise of what lay within. "This is no ordinary child. That much is clear."
The general hesitated, then asked, "Do you think they'll use the power against us?"
Selene's smile was cold. "They'll try. And when they fail, we'll take what remains."
---
Inside the temple, the child stood at the altar, their glowing eyes fixed on the storm beyond. They could feel the approaching armies, their emotions crashing against them like waves.
"Why do they fight?" the child asked.
The seeker, standing beside them, sighed. "They fight because they believe it's the only way to survive. Because they fear what they don't understand."
The child's gaze didn't waver. "Will they destroy each other?"
The seeker hesitated. "That depends on you."
The child clenched their fists, the crescent mark on their palm flaring with light. "I don't want this."
"I know," the seeker said softly. "But sometimes, the greatest burden is being the one who must decide."
---
At the temple's base, the princess dismounted, her soldiers forming a protective line around her. She could see Selene's army on the far ridge, their black banners stark against the storm's fury.
"They'll reach us soon," Eldric said, his hand resting on his sword hilt.
"Let them," the princess said. Her gaze shifted to the temple entrance, where the faint glow of the child's light still flickered.
"And if the prophecy is true?" Eldric asked.
The princess didn't answer. Instead, she stepped forward, her boots sinking into the mud as she approached the temple doors.
Inside, the child turned toward the entrance, their glowing eyes meeting hers through the storm.
---
Selene's army surged forward, their war cries slicing through the thunder. Her generals led the charge, their blades gleaming, their eyes alight with anticipation.
But as they neared the temple, the storm seemed to shift, its fury intensifying around them.
Selene's horse reared, and she yanked the reins, her sharp gaze narrowing. "What is this?" she hissed.
The child's voice echoed from the temple, soft yet carrying over the storm:
"Enough."
The storm stopped. The rain ceased. The battlefield fell silent, as if the world itself had paused to listen.
The child stepped into the open, their small frame illuminated by the crescent's light. Their voice, calm but resolute, carried across the valley.
"This is not your war."