Prologue

The silver moon hung low, casting its cold light over the ancient city. Atop the towering clocktower, the night was eerily quiet. The stone beneath Flame's feet was cold, worn smooth by centuries of time. He gripped the

handle of his katana, the steel shimmering faintly in the moonlight. Beside him, his companions stood ready, cloaked in darkness.

The wind stirred, and the girl with silver cyan hair, Elysia, whispered into the night, her voice barely a breath:

"So, it has begun…"

Without hesitation, they leapt from the tower, black cloaks billowing like shadows cast from the moon. Their descent was swift, silent, like falling stars streaking toward the earth. Below, the grim figures of Sudipto and his ten bandit subordinates gathered, unaware of the danger hurtling toward them.

As their boots hit the ground, the fight exploded into action.

Sudipto sneered, his greasy face illuminated by the flickering torches held by his lackeys. His massive frame jiggled as he barked orders, confident in his superiority.

"You lot think you can take me?"

His laughter was as foul as his appearance. His subordinates, armed with a variety of crude weapons and basic magic, surrounded him in a loose formation, waiting for their moment to strike.

Flame was the first to move, disappearing in a flash of wind, his katana singing through the air as it met the first bandit. The clash of steel was sharp, the force of his strike sending sparks into the air. His lightning magic crackled along the blade, sending jolts of energy through his opponent's body, immobilising him before Flame cut him down with ease.

Elysia moved with fluid grace, her water magic swirling around her like a living entity. She danced between the bandits, her sword flashing in quick arcs as she slashed through the air. A torrent of water erupted from her hands, slamming into two enemies and knocking them off balance. Before they could recover, her blade found its mark, swift and deadly.

From a distance, Alexia stood firm, her ice magic building with each breath she took. She raised her hand, and spears of ice shot forth, piercing through the air like arrows. Two bandits dropped instantly, frozen in place, their bodies encased in jagged shards of ice.

Rash, lurking in the shadows, raised his hands, and dark tendrils of energy coiled around him. His dark magic snaked toward a group of bandits, enveloping them in shadow. Their eyes widened in terror as their vision was consumed by the darkness, and their bodies trembled as the magic drained their strength. With a single motion, Rash crushed the remaining life from them.

Lessie held the line, her earth magic rumbling beneath her feet. As the ground trembled, a jagged wall of stone erupted from the earth, separating the remaining bandits from the rest of the group. One bandit, trying to charge her, found himself tripping over shifting rocks, and in an instant, Lessie slammed her fist into the ground, sending a wave of earth smashing into him.

As Flame and his team made quick work of the bandits, Sudipto stepped forward, a twisted grin spreading across his face. His massive hand held a crude mace, and despite his size, there was a dark energy radiating from him.

"You’ve made a mistake coming here,"

Sudipto growled, his voice thick with malice. He raised his hand, and dark flames erupted around him, crackling with unnatural heat. His ten subordinates, although weak individually, had served their purpose—now it was his turn to fight.

Sudipto charged at Flame, his massive mace swinging with devastating power. Flame parried the blow, but the force of it reverberated through his body. Lightning surged through his blade as he struck back, sparks flying as the two clashed. The bandit leader’s strength was monstrous, but Flame’s speed and magic allowed him to evade the worst of the blows.

Seeing Flame engaged, Elysia and Alexia moved in unison. Elysia summoned a wave of water that surged toward Sudipto, aiming to slow him down. At the same time, Alexia unleashed a barrage of ice spears, aiming to freeze the bandit leader in place.

Sudipto bellowed in rage, his dark flames evaporating the water and shattering the ice before they could touch him. But the coordinated attack gave Rash and Lessie the opening they needed.

With a flick of his wrist, Rash sent a wave of shadow magic curling around Sudipto’s feet, rooting him in place as Lessie slammed her fist into the ground, sending a wave of stone spikes crashing toward him. Sudipto roared in frustration, swinging his mace wildly as he tried to break free.

This was the moment Flame had been waiting for.

He gathered all his energy, lightning sparking violently around him, and with a single, blindingly fast movement, he struck. His katana, infused with the power of wind and lightning, cut through the air, aiming straight for Sudipto’s heart.

The sound of steel meeting flesh echoed through the battlefield, and Sudipto’s body collapsed with a heavy thud. The dark flames around him flickered and died as his life slipped away.

The bandits were no more. The night fell silent once again, save for the gentle rustling of the wind and the distant call of an owl.

Flame stood tall, his blade gleaming in the moonlight, and Elysia’s words echoed in his mind.

"So, it has begun…"