Chapter 190
The flames from the explosion still danced high, painting the snow with orange and red.
Smoke curled and twisted in the cold air, casting a veil over the charred trees. From within that fiery chaos, a figure suddenly burst out—swift and nimble, cloak fluttering behind like a shadow slipping through the light.
Kael's eyes caught the movement immediately.
"There you are!" he roared, his voice slicing through the roar of fire. "You're not getting away!"
Mira didn't look back. She sprinted across the snow, her boots crunching and slipping over the icy ground. Her breath was ragged, but her steps were sure. She darted between trees, each stride powered by sheer desperation.
Smoke trailed off her cloak as she pushed herself forward. Taking the opportunity of the blast, which masked her presence, she had already fired a signal.
High above, a bright flare shot into the sky.
But before it could explode into a signal, a sharp whistle cut through the air—fwip! A single arrow, precise and silent, zipped from the shadows behind. It pierced the flare mid-air, and it shattered with a pop, the light dying before it could bloom.
Iris, hidden on the ridge behind, narrowed her eyes and lowered her bow. "Not today," she muttered.
Back below, Mira clicked her tongue in frustration, eyes flaring in anger. "Damn it…" she growled, her fingers curling around a small pouch on her hip.
She never expected the Ice Elves to move like this—to abandon their reserved nature and shed blood so fiercely. She cursed her fate. If only she had her crystal communicator, she could've called reinforcements. But no—she was alone.
Arrows suddenly rained down from above, hissing through the air.