The Guardians of Avalon had gathered in their hidden stronghold beneath the ruins of a factory on Manchester's outskirts. The air was thick with tension, the room dimly lit by makeshift lanterns that cast flickering shadows across their faces.
Firebrand stood at the head of the room, his flames subdued but ever-present, flickering faintly at his fingertips. His golden eyes scanned the group, daring anyone to challenge him.
Lumina stepped forward, her radiant glow contrasting with the darkness around her. "Callum," she began, her voice steady but cautious. "We've fought hard to protect this city, but maybe it's time to consider another approach. What if we talked to The Vanguard? Finding common ground?"
The room murmured with varying degrees of agreement and dissent.
Yuri, his icy form emanating a faint chill, nodded. "She's right. We have the power to make a difference. Maybe we don't have to fight them. We can combine forces—work together to rebuild, not destroy."
Stormseer, ever the pragmatist, leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed. "And what makes you think they'd even listen? Swift Angel isn't exactly known for compromise."
Shadowbane, lurking near the edge of the room, smirked. "You mean the golden tyrant? Yeah, I don't see him holding hands and singing songs anytime soon."
As the debate grew louder, the Guardians were divided over their next move. Firebrand stood silent, his flames growing brighter and more volatile with every passing second.
Finally, he slammed his fist onto the table, the impact sending a burst of heat through the room. The wood beneath his hand began to smoulder.
"There will be no talking," he said, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
The room fell silent, all eyes on him.
Firebrand's gaze swept over the group, his tone unwavering. "You think they'll listen to reason? To compromise? They don't want peace—they want control. Just like every tyrant before them."
Lumina stepped forward, undeterred by the fire in his eyes. "Callum, we're supposed to be better than this. We're fighting for the people, not against them."
"And that's exactly why we can't back down," Firebrand shot back. "The moment we start negotiating, we lose. We show weakness. And they'll use it to tear us apart."
Yuri frowned, his voice calm but firm. "This isn't a weakness. It's a strategy. If we can avoid more bloodshed—"
"There's no avoiding it!" Firebrand roared, his flames surging. "This war ends when The Vanguard is broken. Not before."
To emphasise his point, Firebrand extended his hand, a plume of fire erupting from his palm. It arced through the air and struck a stack of wooden crates in the corner of the room.
The flames spread quickly, consuming the crates and casting dancing shadows across the walls.
"This is what they'll do to us if we hesitate," Firebrand said, his voice cold despite the inferno around him. "They'll burn everything we've built to the ground. So we strike first. We strike hard. And we won't stop until they're ashes."
The Guardians exchanged uneasy glances, the crackling flames reflecting in their eyes.
"Callum," Lumina said softly, her voice laced with both sadness and fear. "This isn't you. This isn't who we are."
Firebrand turned to her, his gaze blazing. "This is who we have to be."
Despite their reservations, the Guardians fell silent, unwilling or unable to challenge their leader further.
Stormseer stood, her expression neutral. "Fine. What's the plan?"
Firebrand extinguished his flames with a flick of his wrist, his expression hard. "We take the fight to them. No more hiding, no more waiting. We'll hit their base and make sure they never forget who's in charge of this city."
Yuri hesitated, his frosted breath visible in the warm air. "You're asking us to go all in. If this fails—"
"It won't," Firebrand interrupted. "Because I won't let it."
As the fire in the corner continued to burn, the Guardians dispersed to ready themselves for the coming battle.
Lumina lingered, her glow dimmed as she watched Firebrand. "You're pushing them too hard," she said quietly. "You're pushing yourself too hard."
Firebrand didn't look at her. "I'm doing what needs to be done."
"And if you're wrong?" she asked.
He finally turned to face her, his voice soft but unyielding. "Then I'll burn trying."
As the flames in their hideout consumed the last of the crates, Firebrand stood alone, staring into the inferno.
His resolve was ironclad, but somewhere deep within, a small voice whispered doubts he couldn't silence.
The fire raged on, both around him and within.