Chapter 69
Ella's POV
The wooden cart raced across the wasteland, its wheels grinding over gravel with dull thuds.
I sat inside the carriage, peering through the gaps toward the outside—the distant sky was stained ash-gray by thick smoke, with explosive firelight flashing on the horizon from time to time.
"Getting closer and closer," I said in a low voice, my fingers gripping the carriage edge tightly.
Brian was concentrating on removing Julian's seal, his palm pressed against his chest, ancient incantations flowing from his lips. Julian's face was still pale as paper, beads of sweat on his forehead glistening in the dim light.
Another huge boom came from afar, and the entire carriage shook. Julian frowned—even in his semi-conscious state, his unease could be felt.
"Gregory," I called through the mental link.
"I know," his voice rang in my mind. "The battlefield is less than five miles ahead. We need to find a way around."
Brian completed his portion of the ritual, and the silver seal dimmed a bit more. He stood up and walked to the carriage door, took a deep breath, then leaped down. A few seconds later, a massive gray-gold wolf appeared in my view, taking Zachary's place and pulling the cart forward.
Zachary climbed into the carriage, sat down beside Julian, and began casting his part. His technique was gentler than Brian's and Gregory's, as if soothing some wounded creature.
"How much longer?" I asked.
"Even if I give it my all, at least two hours," Zachary said without looking up. "This kind of seal can't be removed in a short time."
I bit my lip, irritation rising in my heart.
Two hours—how much could happen on a battlefield in two hours? Could Kane hold out? What about Alpha Walter and Luna Jenna?
Don't worry about that bastard. Ignis said lazily in my mind. He deserves to suffer.
"Shut up," I responded in my mind.
Oh, stop pretending. She laughed. You clearly still care about him. But I have to say, I'm more concerned about when our pretty boy will wake up. Sage has been sealed for too long—I'm dying to see him—
"I said shut up!"
Brian's urgent warning came in my mind: "Watch out!"
The cart suddenly shook violently, and I nearly fell from my seat. Gregory's wolf form leaped up sharply, barely avoiding something. I stuck my head out to look—a huge iron bear trap lay on the ground, its rust-stained teeth gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"Blood River traps," Zachary said in a deep voice. "They've set up a defensive line in this area."
My heart sank. If these things were everywhere, how could we get around?
The cart continued forward, but the speed had obviously slowed. Brian and Gregory had to be more careful. The explosions in the distance grew clearer and clearer, and even the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
I don't know how long passed before the cart finally stopped.
I pushed open the door and stepped onto the ground.
The scene before my eyes made me gasp—we were standing at a cliff's edge, and below the cliff was the battlefield.
Brian and Gregory had already returned to human form, standing at the cliff's edge looking down. I walked to their side and saw a sight I would never forget for the rest of my life.
The wall had collapsed.
The massive white stone wall had been crushed by a worm that looked extremely disgusting, countless fragments scattered across the snow. And that originally white snow was now completely stained crimson with blood. The smoke hadn't fully cleared yet—through the gray haze, I could see Alpha Walter and Luna Jenna leading the remaining warriors, taking battle positions on the ruins.
What they faced was a sea of Blood River forces.
"My God," Gregory murmured. "We're too late."
"Not yet," Brian clenched his fists. "As long as they're still fighting, there's still hope."
"But how do we get down?" Gregory pointed at the cliff. "This is at least two hundred feet high. Even if we shift to wolf form and jump down, we'd break our legs. If we go around—"
"At least twenty minutes," Brian interrupted him. "In twenty minutes, those people down there might all be dead."
My heart began to race wildly.
I turned to look at the cart. Julian was still sitting inside, and Zachary was still removing his seal.
"If only werewolves had wings," Gregory said bitterly. "We could fly straight down!"
I quickly walked to the cart and pulled open the door. Julian looked at me with half-open eyes, weak but conscious.
"If we take the detour down, your father, your mother, and Silver Moon's warriors won't hold out," I said urgently. "Is there any way? Any way at all!"
Julian struggled to sit up and reached for the crown on his head.
"After Sage was sealed," he said slowly, his voice hoarse, "all my ice elemental power comes from the energy stored in the crown." He raised his hand, fingertips lightly touching the blue gemstone. "I used it once in the great battle with the goblins, once more in the contest with Brian."
He paused, looking into my eyes. "There's one last time left."
I looked at that gemstone—its light had dimmed to almost invisible, no different from the three completely gray stones beside it.
"Zachary, faster!" I turned to ask.
"I'm trying my best!" Zachary repeated, the movements of his hands not stopping.
I bit my lip and looked at Brian and Gregory. They were both looking at me, their eyes full of inquiry.
What are you hesitating about? Ignis said in my mind. You know what to do.
"We are the subordinates of the Crimson Flame Warlord," Brian walked in front of me and knelt on one knee. "In the Warlord's absence, the Warlord's daughter is our commander."
Gregory also knelt down. "Give us your orders."
My throat tightened.
This was the first time—the first real time—I had been treated this way. Not as Kane's slave, not as Julian's pawn, but as someone worth following.
I took a deep breath and looked at Julian.
He had already stood up, though swaying unsteadily, his eyes were resolute.
Zachary walked to Brian and Gregory's side and said solemnly, "If you encounter Nicholas, you must wait for me. Don't be impulsive under any circumstances." He looked at both of them. "Only when the three of us are together can we defeat him."
Both men nodded.
Julian closed his eyes, both hands pressing on the crown. I could feel the cold aura emanating from his body, growing denser and denser, stronger and stronger.
Then he opened his eyes and shouted loudly, "Ice Chasm!"
In that instant, ice pillars burst from the ground beneath our feet. I felt myself lifted by a force, my whole body leaving the ground.
Brian and Gregory were the same—three thick ice pillars carried us toward the sky.
But that wasn't all.
More ice pillars extended from the cliff's edge, building a slide leading to the battlefield's center in mid-air, plunging straight into the canyon's depths, like a stairway descending from heaven.
"Ignis!" I called out loudly.
Flames instantly engulfed me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer myself—or rather, she and I had merged into one. I felt my four limbs on the ground, felt power surging through my veins, felt flames burning beneath my fur.
I was a wolf.
A massive crimson wolf wreathed in flames.
Finally! Ignis cheered in our shared consciousness. I've been holding it in for way too long!
I raced down the ice bridge at full speed.
Behind me, Brian and Gregory had also shifted to wolf form, following behind me. The ice surface extended beneath our feet, leading straight to the heart of the battlefield.
Wind howled in my ears.
Flames leaped on my body.
And ahead was my destiny.