The forest was too quiet.
Zephyra's breath frosted in the morning air as she crouched low, scanning the treetops. Kael adjusted the strap on his pack, the stolen file secured tightly to his back.
"She's close," Kael whispered.
Zephyra nodded, eyes cold. "I feel her."
The Princess-General's magic always made the air feel heavier—like breathing through wet cloth. It was here now, creeping like a slow-moving storm.
Suddenly, the trees ahead exploded.
A burst of wind and magic tore through the clearing. A figure stepped out from the smoke.
The Princess-General.
"You run," she said, "but you never disappear."
Zephyra didn't wait. She lunged forward, blades ready—but the General's sword met hers with bone-crushing force. Sparks flew. Kael darted to the side, trying to avoid the clash—but the General was too fast. Her magic swept outward in a pulse.
Kael was flung against a tree.
"Stay down!" Zephyra shouted, twisting in midair as the General struck again and again. Every blow of her blade cracked the earth.
---
A Glimmer of Hope
Just when it seemed hopeless—a loud bang rang through the woods.
A glowing figure dropped from the canopy, slamming into the Princess-General with a burst of shockwave energy.
"Get away from my friends!"
Kael blinked in disbelief. "Riven?!"
Riven—Kael's old mentor, a rogue mercenary with a cybernetic arm and a mouth full of bad jokes—grinned down at them. "Told you I'd find you, kid."
Zephyra backed away, panting. "You picked a terrible time."
"That's what I do best," Riven said, stepping in front of them.
The Princess-General dusted her armor, unimpressed. "A failed knight and a broken rebel. What a pathetic reunion."
Riven cracked his neck. "Still got enough juice to ruin your whole week."
---
The Last Stand
The battle ignited.
Riven charged in with electric gauntlets sparking. Zephyra joined from the flank, slicing through a wave of summoned sentries. Kael tried to hack into her comms with a wrist device—but the signal jammed.
The Princess-General met them all with terrifying grace. She fought like a storm: fluid, unstoppable, merciless.
Riven landed a powerful blow—his gauntlet sparking against her shoulder armor—but she barely flinched. With a flick of her wrist, she sent him flying backward into a tree, where he collapsed, groaning and unmoving.
"Riven!" Kael shouted.
Zephyra tried to reach him, but the General blocked her path. "You won't make it out this time," she said.
Kael's mind raced. "Zephyra! Plan Delta!"
She looked at him like he was insane. "That plan is suicide!"
"Then it's perfect!"
---
The Escape
Kael sprinted toward the cliffside nearby. Zephyra followed, deflecting blasts as the General gave chase. Riven was down. The forest was burning. The rocks beneath their feet crumbled with every step.
They reached the edge.
Kael turned. "She's almost—"
BOOM!
The Princess-General blasted through the trees, glowing blade raised.
Kael grabbed Zephyra's hand. "Jump."
"What?!"
"No time!"
They jumped.
The world spun. The cliff vanished. They freefell through vines and fog—and landed hard in a rushing river below.
---
Later…
They washed up downstream, bruised and coughing, but alive.
Kael dragged himself onto the shore and pulled Zephyra beside him.
She coughed. "Riven…"
Kael stared up at the cliff. "He bought us just enough time."
They lay there in silence, hearts pounding, drenched and freezing.
"Now what?" she whispered.
Kael looked at the sky. "Now we vanish. No more running. No more hiding."
Zephyra turned to him. "Then what?"
He smiled faintly. "Then we make them regret ever letting us live."