Chapter 16: Lady Aria death
The retreat was a chaotic scramble—Thornvale warriors breaking formation, abandoning their positions, fleeing toward the dense tree line. Blood-soaked earth churned beneath desperate boots as Elena's forces withdrew into the waiting darkness of their homeland forest.
Elysia watched, sword still dripping with enemy blood, as Elena's massive form disappeared among the trees. Something about the Earthborn Queen's posture—the lack of panic, the controlled withdrawal—sent ice through her veins. Just before the forest swallowed her, Elena turned, and across the battlefield, their eyes met.
She smiled.
'This isn't right,' Elysia thought, the hairs on her neck rising. 'She's not running. She's leading.'
But the momentum of victory swept through Moonlight's ranks. Warriors raised blood-streaked weapons, cries of triumph piercing the night air. The enemy was breaking, retreating to the shadows like wounded animals. The battle was won.
"Press forward!" Sorrel shouted, her water-crafted spear gleaming in the moonlight. "Don't let them regroup!"
Lyra's cavalry regrouped, horses snorting plumes of steam into the cool night. "We have them on the run," she called, her war axe balanced casually across her armored shoulders. "Let's finish this tonight."
Only Lady Aria hesitated, silver hair whipping in wind of her own creation. "The forest is their domain," she warned, eyes narrowed. "We should secure the field and advance at dawn."
Elysia felt the weight of command heavy upon her shoulders. Caution whispered one path, momentum demanded another.