Isabella’s room was dimly lit, the heavy velvet curtains drawn tight against the outside world. Lysandra lay motionless on the bed, her body twisted unnaturally. Her once vibrant eyes were black as voids, and her skin had grown pallid, revealing the stark outline of her bones beneath.

Jenna stood near the bed, her voice trembling. “Helena’s controlling her mind. She cursed her, Isabella. You have to do something!”

Isabella paced the room, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutched the edge of the desk. “Helena’s controlling me too, Aunt Jenna. She keeps showing me… a ritual. Titans being released. I don’t know why she wants me to see it.”

Jenna turned sharply, her voice rising. “Why would she want you to see that? There has to be a reason. Think, Isabella!”

Isabella’s eyes flashed with anger as she turned to face her. “Don’t act like you care, Aunt Jenna. You betrayed me. Or have you forgotten?”

Jenna flinched but held her ground. “I know I hurt you. But this isn’t about us. Lysandra doesn’t have time for your anger. She needs you.”

Isabella’s jaw tightened as she glanced at Lysandra, who let out a weak, rasping breath. She swallowed her frustration and walked to the bed. “Fine. But if Helena’s playing a game, I’ll figure it out. No one curses my best friend and walks away.”

Lysandra’s lips parted, and a faint, almost inaudible whisper escaped. “Is… Is…abella…”

Isabella gets closer to her and hold her hand "I'll protect you till my last breath, lys."

The place was unlike anything Isabella had ever seen—a swirling vortex of shadows and storms, pulsating with dark energy. It felt alive, breathing malice and hatred into the air. As she stepped closer, her boots echoed against the cold, jagged stone beneath her feet. The towering figures of Vorthak and Nerthys loomed near the massive, bone-carved throne. Helena sat atop it, regal and terrifying, her black dress flowing like liquid darkness. Veins ran up her pale face, her piercing eyes watching Isabella with both amusement and calculation.

Monsters surrounded the room—twisted, horrifying creatures of Helena's creation. And behind her stood the four members of her dark cabal, silent and menacing.

Isabella clenched her fists but kept her voice steady as she stepped forward. "Helena."

Helena smirked, leaning slightly forward on her throne. "Ah, the dragon witch herself. You’ve come sooner than I expected."

"I didn’t come here for games," Isabella snapped. "Release the curse on Lysandra. Stop controlling their minds. This ends now."

Helena chuckled, her laughter cold and sharp. "You think you’re in a position to demand anything, little dragon? Look around you. This is my domain. I decide who lives and who suffers."

Isabella’s voice cracked with desperation, but her resolve was firm. "What do you want? What will it take to break the curse?"

Helena tilted her head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Ah, so now you’re willing to listen. Interesting. You’ll do anything for your little friend, won’t you? How noble." She stood, the sheer power of her presence making the room feel colder. "What I want… is simple."

"Name it," Isabella said, her jaw tightening.

Helena took a step forward, her eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "The crown."

Confused, Isabella frowned. "What crown? I don’t have 12 elemental crown, I dont even see it."

"I know," Helena said, her voice smooth and taunting. "But there’s someone who does. A girl… Evelina. She holds what I desire. You’ll bring it to me."

Isabella’s heart sank. "Evelina? What does she have to do with this? Why her?"

Helena’s smirk deepened. "That’s none of your concern. All you need to know is that she possesses the crown, and I want it. Bring it to me, and I’ll lift the curse from your precious Lysandra. Fail, and… well, you’ll have to find a new best friend."

Isabella hesitated, torn between the impossible choice Helena had placed before her. "If I do this… if I bring you the crown, you swear you’ll break the curse? No tricks?"

Helena stepped closer, the power of her aura nearly suffocating. "On my throne, I swear it. Bring me the crown, and I’ll release her from my grasp. But how you get it… well, that’s entirely up to you."

"Where is she?" Isabella asked, her voice low but determined.

Helena’s smile widened, victory gleaming in her eyes. "Evelina… she’s not far. Let me give you her location." She raised a hand, and dark tendrils of smoke formed into a twisted map in the air. "Do whatever it takes, Isabella. Kill her if you must. But bring me the crown."

Isabella stared at the map, her mind racing with doubts and fears. Finally, she nodded, her voice steady but filled with regret. "Deal."

Helena’s laugh echoed through the chamber as the map disintegrated into Isabella’s hand. "Oh, this will be fun to watch."

Isabella turned, her resolve hardening as she stepped away. The weight of her decision pressed heavily on her shoulders. Evelina’s fate, Lysandra’s life, and the looming threat of Helena—everything now rested in her hands.

Evelina stood in the shadow of towering cliffs, her eyes scanning the endless blackened expanse before her. For weeks, she had wandered through dark forests, barren lands, and shadowy caves in search of the legendary Eclipse Fortress, a place shrouded in eternal night and home to the Stone of Darkness. Every lead had brought her to dead ends, but something about this place felt right.

“This has to be it,” Evelina whispered to herself, gripping the glowing crown tightly. The other five elemental stones shimmered faintly, their light dimmed by the oppressive darkness around her.

She pressed forward, her boots crunching on the ashen ground. The wind howled, carrying faint whispers—voices, almost—taunting her. She ignored them, focusing on the faint flicker of intuition guiding her steps.

Hours passed, and Evelina was on the verge of giving up when she noticed an unnatural shadow ahead. It wasn't cast by anything she could see, and it seemed to ripple like water. She approached cautiously, and as she did, the shadow parted, revealing the towering gates of the Eclipse Fortress.

“Finally,” Evelina breathed, her heart pounding.

The gates creaked open as if welcoming her, and she stepped inside. The fortress was vast and empty, its walls made of black obsidian. A chill ran down her spine as the air grew heavier with each step.

At the heart of the fortress, she found it: the Stone of Darkness, floating above a pedestal of twisted black roots. Its aura was cold and unyielding, and the room itself seemed to pulse with dark energy.

But as Evelina reached for the stone, shadows gathered around her, forming humanoid shapes with glowing red eyes.

“Guardians,” she muttered, preparing herself.

The dark souls lunged at her, their movements swift and chaotic. Evelina raised her hands, summoning her light magic. A radiant burst of energy erupted from her palms, illuminating the room and driving the shadows back.

“Stay back!” she yelled, her voice echoing.

The shadows faltered, and Evelina seized the moment to grab the Stone of Darkness. As her fingers closed around it, the stone's energy surged through her, cold and unforgiving. She gasped but held firm, placing the stone into the crown.

The crown shimmered, its power growing stronger. Evelina smiled in triumph.

She turned to leave, the dark souls retreating as if acknowledging her victory. Stepping out of the fortress, she felt the cold air hit her face, a welcome relief after the suffocating darkness inside.

But her relief was short-lived. Standing in the clearing ahead was a young woman with silver-platinum hair, her presence commanding and calm. Evelina instinctively clutched the crown tighter.

“you..you look like them, the dragon blooded witches?” Evelina whispers.

The woman stepped forward, her piercing eyes locking onto Evelina's. “Yes, I'm the last blood of valaria. My name is Isabella. I’ve been searching for that crown.”

Evelina stiffened. “This crown belongs to me. My mother gave it to me, it’s my destiny to complete it.”

Isabella shook her head, her expression soft but resolute. “Your mother may have given it to you, but this crown is tied to me and my family. My mother sacrificed her life for it. It’s my destiny not yours. I need it to save my friend, my only human friend. Without it, Helena will destroy everything.”

Evelina hesitated, her grip on the crown loosening slightly. She could see the pain in Isabella’s eyes, the desperation that mirrored her own.

“I’ve sacrificed so much for this,” Evelina said quietly, her voice trembling. “I’ve fought and bled for it. I was ready to use it to protect mecatopia, protect me. But… you would do the same for your friend, wouldn’t you?”

Isabella nodded. “I would.”

Evelina closed her eyes, pressing the crown against her chest. Memories of her mother flashed through her mind, but so did the look of pure love she saw in Isabella’s eyes. With a deep breath, she stepped forward and held the crown out to Isabella.

“Take it,” Evelina said, her voice breaking. “But take me with you. If Helena is the enemy, then I’ll fight by your side. My mother gave this to me, but maybe I was just meant to deliver it to you.”

Isabella stared at Evelina, her expression unreadable, before she gently took the crown. “Thank you. And yes, I would be honored to have you by my side.”

The two women exchanged a small, understanding smile. Evelina felt a sense of peace wash over her, even as the weight of what she’d given up settled in her chest.

Together, they turned toward the horizon, ready to face Helena and the battles ahead. The darkness of the Eclipse Fortress loomed behind them, but they carried the light of hope forward.