Clarity will be your weapon as the blinded falter and die

«Obdormis sine dolore!» Stoyan roared, raising his colossal sword above his head. He brought it down in a brutal arc—I barely managed to dodge before the impact struck the ground, unleashing a shockwave that slammed into me like a truck hitting me square in the chest, shards of ice and frost exploded, carrying me with them, I crashed face-first a step away from Laila, the world spinning around me as I tried to push myself up on my elbows, I coughed up a few drops of blood, the metallic taste filling my mouth. When I lifted my gaze, I saw the general advancing with slow, deliberate steps, dragging his sword across the floor.

«Laila… please, answer me,» I whispered with a strangled voice, but she seemed entranced, her eyes locked on the ring. “What the hell…” I thought, forcing myself up, using the sword like a crutch. “Laila’s under a spell, Nadia can’t help… my chest hurts so bad it won’t even let me pass out in peace… Wait—the pain!” I planted the blade into the ground again to steady myself.

«I was expecting something more exciting. You’re already at your limit?» Radomir mocked, his tone dripping with disdain. «Shame. Stoyan even gave you a chance by deliberately missing that strike.» “What?! He missed me on purpose?” «You really didn’t realize it? How did someone like you kill a smert jesera and escape from a loutky? Don’t tell me you let these two poor girls do all the work. Pathetic.»

My head lowered, my legs buckling for a moment. “He’s right. I am pathetic. What the hell am I even doing here? I should’ve stayed home, rotting away quietly. At least then I wouldn’t be on the verge of dying, I wouldn’t have let Nadia be captured, I wouldn’t have caused all those deaths. This is all my fault…”

«Radomir. Enough.» I looked up at Stoyan, who had leveled his weapon at his own companion. «Don’t stain a duel between men with your filthy words.»

«As you wish,» Radomir said with a mocking bow.

«That goes for you too, Vuk. Stay out of this.» The general emerged from my shadow, the darkness dripping like viscous tar. He leaned back against a column, silent.

Stoyan’s face turned stoic as his eyes locked on me. Suddenly, a black, spiked halo appeared between his horns. The ice around us cracked, and an arena of flames, twice his height, erupted, encircling us. «Here, there is no past, no future—only us, and our blades.»

I sheathed the dagger and gripped my sword with both hands, pointing it at him, he raised his massive blade again, “The same attack as before!” this time, I lunged to the left, the shockwave shoving me forward, I grabbed Laila and held her tight as we were hurled beyond the wall of fire,m y hoodie caught flame—I tore it off, the burning fabric searing me as I ripped an arrow free and stabbed it near her collarbone, «Ow! You idiot!» she screamed, shoving me away, «What the hell is wrong with you?!»

I yanked the hoodie off and threw it aside, Stoyan stepped through the wall of flames, his footsteps echoing through the hall, “Shit!” «I want to get out of here!» I cried.

«No!» shouted Goran. Time itself seemed to stop—no, it had stopped. I looked around: he and the three generals were frozen mid-motion, blades piercing me only at their tips. “It hurts, but as long as I don’t move, I won’t bleed… right? Right?! I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fiiiiine.”

«Stop gawing and let’s go.» Laila said, waving her hand. With a flick, she pushed everything aside, and from the ice, an elevator emerged. She stepped in, one foot inside. «Come on, hurry. A wish doesn’t last forever.»

«R-right.» I turned to Nadia, who looked just as confused, her eyes darting around. Slowly, with my head spinning harder and harder, I reached out my hand. “I’m not bleeding, I’m not bleeding.” «Come on, Nadia. Let’s do as Laila says.»

She looked at me through tears. «Mh…» She took my hand, and together we stopped in front of the elevator.

«Thank you, Laila.»

«No, thank you for shaking me awake.»

«Since when do you say thank you?»

«Don’t get used to it.»

Nadia tugged on my arm. «What is it?» I asked. She pointed to her finger. «What? I don’t understand.»

«We can’t take the ring now,» Laila said softly, then looked up, turning toward the elevator. «We’d better leave before he strikes again.»

Nadia and I turned—and towering before us stood the massive figure of the king, his face twisted with fury. “How is he moving?! Wasn’t time frozen?!” I grabbed the girl’s arm and yanked her with me into the elevator. Laila slammed the doors shut and pressed the single, oversized button—the one labeled ‘Button!’ The doors sealed with a jolt, and a storm of turbulence rattled the cage. I clutched Nadia close against me while holding onto the rail with my other hand. «What’s happening?!» I asked, panicked.

«Goran must’ve managed to damage the elevator… but don’t worry. Wishes always get fulfilled. The only problem is… now I have no idea where we’ll end up.»