For the Fallen, I Rise

As the dust from the first round settled, the atmosphere in the arena shifted, the crowd’s murmurs growing louder in anticipation for the second round of battles. Hecate, standing at the center with her commanding presence, called out the pairings with a flick of her hand. "The second round will begin shortly. The pairings are as follows: Tabitha versus Magnus, Elara versus Dion, and Amon versus Valkyrie."

I felt a pang of tension in my chest as I looked at the other contestants. Tabitha and Magnus, Elara and Dion... and me facing Amon once again. The stakes were higher, the pressure mounting. I knew this round would be tougher. It wasn’t just about power—it was about survival.

The first battle to unfold was between Tabitha and Magnus. The crowd watched with bated breath as the two powerful contestants stepped onto the field. Magnus, with his flawless control over lightning, had already shown his terrifying potential in the first round. Tabitha, on the other hand, had an innate fire within her—both her magic and her spirit. But I knew it wouldn't be enough.

“Begin!” Hecate’s voice echoed through the arena.

As the battle began, Magnus was relentless. Lightning shot from his hands like spears of the gods, each strike precise and devastating. Tabitha danced around the attacks with her usual speed and agility, firing back with bursts of fire, but it quickly became apparent that her flame magic was no match for Magnus’s storm.

With every strike, the air around her grew more charged with energy. She couldn’t keep up. I saw her form stagger as she barely dodged another lightning bolt, her fire flickering out of existence under the pressure. Magnus wasn’t playing around this time. His eyes glinted with something colder than mere competitiveness—he was determined to win at any cost.

It didn’t take long before Tabitha was on the defensive, her magic faltering under the constant barrage of lightning. She tried to fight back, summoning a massive fireball, but Magnus intercepted it with a thunderclap that shook the arena. The explosion sent Tabitha flying, and she collapsed to the ground, her magic flickering out.

The crowd was silent for a moment before erupting in applause for Magnus’s swift victory. I felt a knot in my stomach for Tabitha. She had given it everything, but against Magnus’s power, it hadn’t been enough.

"Magnus advances!" Hecate’s voice rang out, cutting through the heavy silence.

***

The next battle came, Elara versus Dion. Dion’s water affinity had always been strong, but Elara’s control over Celestial magic was almost unmatched. I watched as the two took their positions, both calm but ready.

Dion opened the battle with his water magic, summoning waves that crashed toward Elara. She responded with a wave of her hand, summoning ethereal, glowing beings that seemed to shimmer like the stars themselves. They flickered in and out of existence, their attacks like beams of light slicing through the air.

Dion created a barrier of water, deflecting some of the celestial strikes, but it became clear that he couldn’t keep up with the sheer brilliance and force of Elara’s magic. Every time he tried to form a new defensive wall, one of the celestial beings broke through, dealing damage, pushing him back.

The battle became a desperate game of defense for Dion. He tried to summon a massive tidal wave to flood the arena, but Elara’s celestial guardians easily dispersed it, their combined energy overwhelming his magic. Dion, usually so composed, finally faltered, his energy drained from trying to counter attack after attack. With one final burst of celestial light, Elara overwhelmed him, sending him to the ground.

The crowd cheered as Elara stood victorious. Dion was helped to his feet, though his expression was a mix of admiration for Elara’s power and frustration at his own defeat.

Hecate’s voice echoed through the arena, breaking the silence. “Elara advances!” she announced, her tone clear and decisive.

The crowd erupted in applause, cheering for the celestial witch who had secured her place in the next round. Elara stood motionless, her expression calm and serene as ever, her victory marking yet another step toward the ultimate prize.

Dion stood by her side, his shoulders slumped in defeat, but his eyes glinting with a quiet determination. “Next time,” he muttered under his breath. “Next time, I’ll be ready.”

***

The weight of the battles hung heavy in the air as I watched Dion and Tabitha, both of them breathing heavily from their respective losses. There was a quiet sadness in their eyes, but beneath that, I could see the flicker of determination that made me believe they wouldn’t give up easily. Still, the reality of seeing them defeated—especially when they fought so fiercely—stung. It stung more than I cared to admit.

I stepped forward without thinking, my heart pushing me toward them. The crowd’s cheers, Hecate’s voice, and the lingering tension of the arena felt distant as I closed the gap between us. I didn’t know what else to say, but words weren’t what I needed to offer them. I just needed to show them that I was there—that I believed in them, in us.

Without hesitation, I pulled both of them into a hug, holding them tight. They looked up in surprise, but I could see the understanding in their eyes, and that made me feel a little stronger, a little more grounded.

“I got it!” I said, my voice firm despite the emotional weight I carried. “I’ll win. For both of you. For us.”

There was a long, quiet moment before Tabitha, with her usual grace, broke the silence. Her voice was soft, but carried with it a refined calm that only she could command. “We believe in you, Valkyrie. You’ve always had the strength to see this through.”

Dion, though still a little weary, gave a small nod in agreement. “Don’t let Amon get to you.”

I felt the fire inside me ignite, fueled by their belief in me. I couldn’t fail them. Not after everything.

With a determined nod, I let go of them, my steps already moving toward the arena’s edge. Amon stood at the far side, his fiery presence still lingering in the air, exuding the arrogance of a man who believed victory was already his. His smirk was as sharp as ever, but it only made me more determined to prove him wrong.

“I’m coming for you, Amon,” I muttered under my breath, stepping forward. “And this time, you won’t win.”