Ela paused before the vast mirror of her dorm, chewing on her bottom lip as she straightened the creases of the crimson dress. It was a beautiful gown; golden flowers adorned the bodice and slowly made way for the piercing red color of the smooth skirt as they descended. Striking, she noted. Too striking.

The servant behind her jerked the laces of the embedded corset, and with a contented sigh she tied the last ones into knots. "It is a pretty dress, my lady." As she gazed at Ela's reflection, the young girl's lips drooped. "Are you certain it is fine to wear to the ball?"

Ela span around, seizing the ornament she was given to wear. A sterling cylinder with elegant twirls chiseled on its surface, and a matching pin that passed through it to secure it in place. At the tip of the silvery stick lay a miniature bird with its wings sprung out. The only sign she wasn't some Flouornan noble pillaging a Seyali ball. Ela exhaled deeply at the prospect and let the trinket slump on the servant's palm. "This is what was sent to me, so this is what I wore."

The maid sighed, slipping Ela's glossy hair inside the cylinder. When it rested high on her head in an onyx waterfall, she pushed the pin inside it. "The tailors must have gone mad." She peered at Ela through the mirror, but the girl didn't react. It's not the tailors that are crazy. It's an entire nation.

Mara was nowhere to be seen. Ela assumed that she had been briefly moved to another room so the girl could relax in a peaceful environment void of any screams and giggles and obnoxious gossip. Yet the change didn't seem so temporary anymore. So that's the plan. To isolate me. She ate alone, walked alone; she was like a ghost that haunted the Academy. A mere rumour.

And somehow, Kage's plan had worked on a small part of herself. She didn't want to be alone anymore. She just wanted things to go back to the way they were before.

Ela puckered her lips, glaring at her reflection. I can't go back now. It wasn't just a siblings' fight anymore. It was war.

As the servant trailed after Ela's rushing form in the crisp atmosphere of the evening, many students stared at the girl with gawks full of bewilderment. She could practically feel their glares on her skin; they suffocate her, stiffened her muscles. And suddenly, she couldn't muster any expression other than a contrived smile accompanied by an equally poisonous glower. She knew they were jealous. They thought she was back to her perfect life with her perfect brother in her perfect bubble.

They couldn't be more wrong.

As Ela and the servant girl reached the inner gate of the Academy, they were almost smothered by the dozens of sweaty figures gossiping nervously. All the students had been invited to the ball, as they were all considered Ela's 'acquaintances'. In reality, Ela didn't know half of them. They were just another lot of unfamiliar faces peering at her as if they were really concerned. Another horde of rumour-hungry gossipmongers.

Ela dragged the clear embroidered cloak the servant had placed over her shoulders closed and tried to contain a shiver. The atmosphere had only turned more chilly with all the gazes glued on her.

Before her, she detected a dark blue and raven coach. On it rested Kage in his black uniform, with small azure details around the waist and the collar.

Ela's fists clamped tight for a moment, and then slackened. Remember the plan. Don't let your rage show.

The girl walked hesitantly toward her brother, her venomous scowl not fleeing her face. Kage stared at her dress through slender eyes. It was clear a storm was raging behind his amber irises, and the sudden tensing of his jaw didn't escape Ela's meticulous gaze. "An interesting choice of color," he stated, still regarding the crimson fabric.

"You can tell that to your tailors." Ela nodded towards the carriage's door. "May I?"

Kage's glare didn't leave Ela's form as he swung the door open, beckoning her inside. When they both sat on the silky cushioned seats, Ela scooted to the seat furthest from him. Silence reigned for the first few minutes of the ride. Then, Kage cleared his throat.

"Did you have any time to consider your situation?" he queried in a tone that tried too hard to be easygoing. Ela almost huffed. As if he's not questioning me right now.

Regardless of her thoughts, the girl nodded. "Yes. Not that there was much else to do after I was mysteriously signed out of all my classes."

Kage pursed his lips, but ignored her pointed remark. "And? Came to any conclusion?"

Ela gulped down all the obscenities she wanted to sputter at him. She had grown to detest him over the last days. She had seen a side of him she never knew even existed, and she had understood Kage wasn't the great person she had thought him to be all those years. He has dictated my life long enough. It's time to make my own decisions. With a sigh, she urged a smile on her face. "Surprisingly, I did. I acted on impulse, I know. Those bandits deranged me for a moment."

The prince's brows knitted into a dark line. "Really, now?"

Ela didn't panic. She had thought all of this through. It was certain Kage wouldn't believe her instantly. "Yes," she assured, "really. This is my country, and soon it will be my war, too."

"Don't be so certain," he quipped. "The mere reason you are not in a prison cell right now is because you are still a student."

"It was just a poor decision."

"A poor decision that could cost us the Kingfisher."

Ela barked a taunting laugh. "Why do you think these so-called criminals have what it takes?"

"It's not their skill I fear," he retorted. "It's their luck. And perhaps the weird urge everyone feels to run away with them."

I could hit him on that weak spot. I could win this argument. Ela inhaled intensely and fastened her lids shut. But I won't. "The point is," she said, "I've sorted out my priorities. I want to help."

Kage tilted his head to the side, staring at the passing greenery. "And the quid pro quo?"

Ela's gaze snapped to him, and her eyes tightened to two golden slits. Since when does the celestial ruler offer anything in return?

At her reaction, the prince threw back his head and held his chest as he laughed. "You may not realize it, Elara, but I know you better than most people. We share blood." He shifted on his seat, his analyzing glance returning to scrutinize the girl. "You would never do something that won't turn out to be in your advantage. So I'll ask again; what do you want in return?"

Ela speculated for a moment. What did Kage have that she could possibly want? And what would he be willing to give her? Continuing her lessons was out of the question, and aiding the team in Musha was not something she could achieve without being detected.

Finally, she lifted her chin. "I want to leave the Academy. For good."

Kage raised a questioning brow. "And where do you suppose you would go then?" he challenged.

"I could stay at the palace." Ela's heart thudded against her chest as she stared at Kage, waiting for a reply. She couldn't do anything useful while being confined within the walls of the Academy, or with a thousand guards trailing after her at any given point. "Alone," she added hastily.

"Forget it. I cannot simply dismiss the royal guard."

"Fine. Stephano stays, the rest leave."

"You are at a first name basis, already?"

Ela smiled. "I'm quite good with people, you know."

The prince pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is no time to consider business proposals. I can arrange your move at the palace, but I won't risk those people snagging you again."

A strain dropped from Ela's chest as she heard those words. That's good enough. "Thank you," she sighed.

She wasn't sure what she wanted to do. The perplexing dress accompanied by the equally outrageous note had caused her to shoot up to her feet and pace around the room restlessly for at least half an hour after they arrived. Any servants that had dared to interrupt her contemplation had received at best a mild burn, and even when dinner was being served, she wouldn't leave the safety of her room. What if they were waiting outside? What if it was all a plan to test her loyalty?

If it was indeed some sort of examination, she had failed miserably. Because instead of instantly refusing whatever the bizarre letter was offering, she was still considering the carefully placed words scribbled on it. You don't know the weight of war, a voice whispered to her. It's not just a game. Yet somehow, she didn't think her choice would matter.

Kasmir's words were thrust back into her memory, reviving the curse that had laid hidden in the back of her mind for the last days. You will be caught in the crossfire of a war you did not choose to fight. You will have no choice but to hurt the people who care about you. Ela stifled a laugh. Nobody cared for her anymore. The last people she had felt close to viewed her as nothing but an asset.

As the coach's wheels creaked to a stop, Ela puckered her lips. And I chose this war. I'll be firing the shots this time.

The Ghara Hall shone just a shade brighter that night; the sapphire curtains that usually shrouded the imposing windows were now drawn, revealing a lush feast of colorful gowns and waistcoats inside. The ominous double doors were a gaping puncture in the mansion's strict exterior, brimming with guests that mostly remained strangers to Ela, no matter how many squinted glares she regarded them with. As the girl stepped out of the carriage, she quickly came to a daunting realization; she was the only one in red.

The prince beside her slipped an arm around her own, urging her through the curious crowd. "At least our special guest will stand out," he offered.

"See it as a statement," Ela said as her shoes clicked against the polished rock. "Flouorn doesn't own the color red."

Kage nodded skeptically. His features were serene, but his irises were clouded. Anyone who stopped to greet them as they strode up the few steps to the hall was met with a nod of the head, or perhaps a tight smile that was more threatening than anything else. It was clear Kage wasn't there to mingle. Then what is he here to do?

Before they stepped through the entrance, the prince halted. He grabbed Ela's shoulders and swirled her around so she was facing him. His eyes weren't scrutinizing anymore. Simply honest. "I want to trust you," he blurted out in a low whisper. "Now is your chance to make me. Try to look normal and innocent and don't do anything suspicious, please."

Before Ela could question whether he was well in the head, she was swivelled around and shoved inside the ballroom.

The girl's step almost faltered. When she raised her head, she couldn't keep the hinges of her jaw from loosening. She had been to the Ghara Hall once before, but she had never seen it so bright. The burnished marble floor squeaked as dancers dressed in glimmering fabrics spiralled around the room. The jewels they wore were nothing short of blinding, yet somehow they couldn't hope to compete with the silver and azure details carefully drawn on the towering dome above them. Perhaps what made it look as spectacular as it did were the dozens of candles dazzlingly illuminating every element of the mansion, giving the chilly colours a warm hue.

Although the colors varied, they all matched a certain color pallette; blue, black, silver, indigo and any related shades. Ela's gaze dropped down to her gown once more, and an erratic sigh rushed out of her lips. If the Flouornans don't notice me in this, they're not worth cooperating with.

As she wandered around the hall all by herself, she had to refuse countless offers for a dance, or perhaps for a dramatic retelling of her adventures. Some students from the Academy yapped excitedly at her, recalling all the times they interacted, while others glared at her with what she interpreted as envy. She turned down every drink, every conversation, and resorted to cruising around the room like some kind of prize goat people wanted to point at and gasp.

It didn't take long before her legs started aching. Running away from people without making it seem suspicious is hard. As she limped towards a cozy corner nobody had reserved yet, a weight suddenly crashed into her.

Ela yelped, shoving the mass away from her. Manners, she tried to remind herself, but her attempts proved fruitless. "Hey! Watch where you're waltzing!"

The figure quickly mumbled a muffled apology and dashed out of her reach before she could pounce on him.

With a shake of her head and a whispered curse, Ela dusted off her gown hastily. Before she could advance towards the spot she had marked before her, a pearly piece of confetti sunk to the floor. Ela frowned. There are no confetti in here. After a few seconds of contemplation, her eyes lit up and her forehead creased in sudden realization.

It's them. They're here.

She hurriedly bent down to snatch the piece of paper. Her hand was quivering, fearing someone would see her act suspiciously. Yet once she was clutching the little note, all she could think of was the words jotted down on it. Fountain, alone. Adrenaline pumped through her fatigued body after so many days of inactivity, giving her step a small bounce as she rushed to the back door of the room.

She could be going mad. Who would be excitedto possibly betray their own country? Yet the power pulsing inside her veins disagreed curtly. It wanted to be released. She wanted it to be released.

The garden of the mansion was void of any life. What a convenient setting, Ela noted as she stumbled out of the dance hall and hauled the doors shut behind her. Her glowing enthusiasm slowly faded as she regarded the empty patio with hesitation. The discreet ripples of the flourishing fountain sounded like cracks of thunder in the stillness of the evening, and the acceleration of her heartbeat could almost echo throughout the empty garden. Gulping down her doubts, she took a few reluctant steps forward.

Soon she was standing right before the fount. The tight corset embracing her torso suddenly seemed to suffocate her as her eyes scrutinized the bushes rustling in the light breeze, or the figures casting a shadow on the thin panels of the door.

An abrupt blast of air slashed her vision in half.

The girl shot back, almost tumbling over the railing of the fountain. What the hell?! Before she could spot the culprit, a roaring bolt struck the marble of the fountain right beside her head.

This time she tumbled to the ground. Her gown wasn't exactly suitable for agile movements. As she crawled on the cold stone, attempting desperately to get back up, Ela heard a pair of feet colliding with the ground with a loud thump. They're on my level now. Her heart banged against her ribcage like an imprisoned beast, yet her eyes couldn't bare to face whoever was confronting her. With a sharp exhale, she slapped her palm on the ground, praying to the gods her power hadn't yet abandoned her.

A familiar rush of energy warmed her body. A sliver of ice sprouted on the cobblestone, rapidly growing to a slippery skin of crystal. The girl hurriedly jumped to her feet, finally facing her attacker.

Before her stood a figure in black, struggling not to slip on the ice Ela had created. Its dark clothes clung to its curvy figure, betraying its gender; a girl, a young woman at most. Her face was shielded by a jet black cloth, and her rich mane was pulled back into a strict bun beneath her hood.

Ela didn't break eye contact. She knew very well that the first to hesitate, the first to doubt herself, would lose. So she looked into the woman's clear green eyes, searching for an opening to attack, a weak spot the figure might let slip up.

Then she noticed it. The woman was leaning slightly to the left, with most of her weight shifted on one side. Ela could hardly suppress a huff. They send a cripple to attacked me? With quick but confident movements, the young girl swung her fist to the right, creating a row of scorching fire that rushed swiftly towards the woman. She quickly lost her balance, and soon she was laying on the ice.

Ela took a few steady steps towards the figure struggling to stand on the ice, but inevitably toppling over once more. The girl rolled her eyes. Flouornans can't even afford to practice with some real Ascended powers. She approached the woman with her fist risen, the orange glow engulfing it a promise that the fight was over. "Checkmate," she declared, and the woman shoved the hood off her face irked.

The shadow hadn't done her justice. This woman couldn't be a fraud; she was clearly an Ascended. Her features were symmetrical, and behind the scowl that shaped them resided a hint of amusement, perhaps applause. "I don't like to lose," the Flouornan informed in fluent Seyali, dusting off the ice that had clasped onto her black clothes. When she held out her hand, Ela was reluctant to shake it, to say the least.

"Come on," the woman gibed, nodding towards her outstretched palm. "We're going to be partners from now on."

Ela's narrow glare wasn't mitigated by the woman's claims. "Who are you? Why did you attack me?"

"My name is Alzira," she said, finally dropping her hand. "I am a soldier from Flouorn."

"A spy," Ela corrected bitterly.

"Whatever you want to call it, your Highness. I attacked you because I was told to."

The vagueness of Alzira's words only made Ela more suspicious of the whole scene. "By whom?" she demanded.

Alzira raised her shoulders in a dismissive shrug. "You will only find that out if you decide to come with me."

"So I have a choice, now?"

The woman pursed her lips, regarding Ela's gown knowingly. "You always had a choice, my lady. Your being here only tells me your decision is in our favor?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"Now would be a good time."

Ela stared at the ground, chewing on her bottom lip. The Flouornans genuinely wanted to work with her. But why? Looking around, it didn't take long for her to figure it out. She wasn't just any dual bender. She was the prince's sister, and she would leave a yawning hole nobody could ever fill. She wouldn't be the difference in Seyal's win or loss, no. But Kage had proven he was easily distracted by new revelations; she would bet that when Ailyn first ran away, he had completely forgotten about finding the Kingfisher. Her disappearance wouldn't devastate him, but it would surely disorient him.

But why would you want him to be disoriented? She wasn't sure. Kage might have been cruel in the past, but he remained family. I want to trust you. The words were burnt into her memory, and the wound wasn't healing any time soon.

Ela inhaled a deep dose of chilly air. "I can't. I'm sorry. I will never betray my own blood for a war that doesn't concern me."

Alzira's lips slowly curved to a crooked smile. "Good," she said, pulling the hood back above her head. "We'll contact you in the next days."

What is she saying? "I don't think you heard me correctly. I won't--"

"You won't betray your brother, yes, I got that." Alzira picked at the loose threads of her coat as she sighed. "But war knows no family. The Council trusts you know, isn't that it? You can experience their atrocities in person. We'll contact you for a final answer after that."

And before Ela could argue any further or make up some excuse to fight the growing feeling in her gut that told her she was right, the agent was out of her sight.

***

Hello again! I'm so happy this is finally out, I kind of messed up the 'Resolve Version Conflict' thingy and saved a previous version that had saved almost none of my editing, so I had to do it all over again T-T

So since the finale is slowly approaching, there won't be an order in which POV every chapter has. I know Nora hasn't had a chapter in a while, but that's simply because everyone else's arcs are so packed. I feel it's redundant to list the order of the chapters (although I could do that if you would like!), but the next chapter is going to be Salo's and the one after that is going to be Nora's chapter.

As always, thank you so so much for reading! Please consider voting and commenting, it helps me a ton! ♥