The Ravencall border forest felt eerily quiet. It was almost too quiet as they made their way through it.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of damp earth and something sharper—a tension hanging in the air. Among the towering trees, four figures moved cautiously.
Draven walked in front, his eyes sharply scanning the surroundings. Behind him, Lyra held Nyxara’s hand, while Elion walked on the other side. He was calm, aloof, yet alert.
Draven turned toward Elion, then gave a small smile. Lyra glanced at him. 
“Is something funny?” Lyra asked curiously.
Draven pointed at Elion. “That kid looks just like me.”
“Were you really as indifferent as Elion when you were little?” Lyra could hardly believe it.
“His behavior is like mine, but his face and hair are so much like yours. Different from Nyxara,” said Draven, his heart full of joy.
Nyxara took Elion’s hand. Then, they ran joyfully, chasing butterflies. 
“Nyxara, be careful!” Draven warned. He knew Nyxara’s instincts were sharper than Elion’s.
“I smell a fawn around here,” Nyxara whispered in Elion’s ear. 
“We’re just hunting here,” Draven said quietly. “But don’t let your guard down. Do you understand?”
“I understand, Father,” Elion replied.
Nyxara gave a slight nod, though her eyes kept darting about, as if sensing something she couldn’t explain.
Elion glanced at her briefly. “Do you feel it too?”
Nyxara looked at him, then nodded slowly. The bond was growing stronger.
They weren’t alone there. From behind the shadows of the trees, other footsteps could be heard. Heavier and colder.
When the two groups finally faced each other, the world seemed to stop for a moment. Time itself began to slow.
Kael Blackthorn, Selene, and among them stood Noir Valtheris.
There were no greetings. No small talk. Only meaningful stares. Full of history, and full of threats.
Unlike the children. They didn’t fully understand the hatred felt by their respective parents.
Nyxara stepped forward slightly, her eyes fixed on Noir. “You’ve come here again,” she said softly.
Noir gave a faint smirk. "You too.”
They stared at each other. There was no fear. Only a strange sense of curiosity.
“You’ve gotten stronger now,” said Noir.
Nyxara shrugged slightly. “I have to be strong.”
However, before the conversation could develop further, another voice cut in.
“Don’t get near her!” Elion ordered.
Nyxara and Noir turned their gaze to Elion. 
Elion stepped forward, standing in front of Nyxara, his body forming a barrier. His gaze was sharp, unlike before.
Noir raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because you’re nobody to her.” Elion’s words sounded very cold. Firm.
Noir chuckled. “And who are you, exactly?”
Elion didn’t answer. However, the aura around him began to change. A faint light appeared in the palm of his hand.
Noir narrowed his eyes. “Ah, so you’re that twin brother of hers.”
He stepped closer, looking Elion up and down.
“Funny,” he muttered sarcastically. “You two don’t look like twins.”
Those words were enough to make Nyxara tense up. “What did you say? Don’t mock my brother!”
Elion froze for a moment, then something inside him snapped.
“Don’t talk about us as if you know anything!”
Elion struck first. He was enraged by Noir’s taunt.
The Moonborn light shot out swiftly, so bright, so sharp, and aimed directly at Noir.
Noir managed to dodge, but not entirely. The flash of light struck his shoulder. He jerked backward. In an instant, everything changed.
“NOIR!”
Selene screamed, her eyes widening at the sight of blood beginning to flow. But before she could move, darkness appeared.
Nyxara sprang into action. Her small body trembled, her eyes shifted, and the Umbra aura erupted uncontrollably.
“Don’t mock my brother!” her voice changed, deeper and colder. 
Shadows crept across the ground, moving swiftly toward Noir.
Draven immediately stepped forward. “Nyxara, stop!”
But it was too late. The attack would have struck Noir had Selene not moved faster to parry the deadly blow.
Selene pulled Noir away, then in one swift motion, dragged Nyxara toward her.
“No!” Lyra and Draven prepared to protect her. Meanwhile, Kael remained on guard against the attack.
“You!” Selene’s hand shot up, ready to strike. But before she could, a burst of light erupted.
“Elion!” Lyra turned to Draven. 
Draven was quick to react and immediately understood. He ran toward Elion.
The Moonborn light enveloping Elion’s small body tried to protect Nyxara. The pressure was strong enough to send Selene flying back several steps.
The air trembled. Two forces collided. Light and darkness.
“Enough! Stop!” Draven’s voice echoed.
In an instant, Draven was standing in front of his two children, his dark aura pressing down on the surroundings.
On the other side, Kael stepped forward, his face cold, his eyes fixed on the wounded Noir.
That gaze shifted. It wasn’t concern, but deep anger.
“Your children,” he said softly to Draven, “have hurt my son.”
Draven didn’t back down. “And your son taunted mine first.”
The tension peaked once more.
Selene stood, holding Noir with one arm, while her gaze fixed on Nyxara, filled with hatred she could no longer hide.
“She’s the source of the problem,” Selene hissed. “Noir wouldn’t have been hurt if she weren’t here.”
Lyra immediately pulled Nyxara into her arms. 
“Don’t touch my children, Selene!” Lyra warned Luna Nightfall. 
There was a moment of silence, then the world seemed to crack.
Selene smiled bitterly. She couldn’t accept being treated that way. She felt her grudge against Lyra growing stronger, all because of her children’s actions.
“Get out! Next time you hunt in the Ravencall border forest, you’ll face the consequences yourselves,” Draven ordered.
“Damn it!” Kael muttered, holding back his anger. 
With no other choice, Kael took his wife and son and left the border forest.
That day was more than just a meeting. It was the beginning of something bigger.
***
At Moonborn Palace, Seraphina stood in the center of the hall, surrounded by the Moonborn. Her face was calm enough. However, her gaze was heavy with burden.
“Their powers have clashed,” she said softly.
No one asked who. They all knew who Seraphina was referring to. Including Aeril, who remained silent, not responding.
“War will happen again,” someone whispered.
Seraphina closed her eyes for a moment.
“It can no longer be avoided.”
In Ravencall, Draven stood atop the fortress, gazing far toward the border.
“Step up security,” he ordered. “I don’t want a single loophole.”
The troops began to move. Weapons were readied. For the first time, Ravencall was preparing for an even greater war.
In Nightfall, Kael stood in the shadows. Beside him, Selene gazed in the same direction.
“Let’s begin,” Kael said coldly.
Selene smiled faintly.
“This time,” she whispered, “nothing will stop us.”
Three powers.
Three goals.
One shared destiny.
The sky above that world begins to crack.
Auras of power collide, creating waves that reverberate to the very core of the earth.
Amidst it all, Seraphina slowly opens her eyes.
“When they meet again,” she whispers, “this world will never be the same.”