The Dance of Shadows and Water

At that moment, on the banks of another valley, both Celesia and Noria stood. Celesia looked around, thinking to herself, "She took me far away from the formation with one attack. It's good that water is near me, or I would have been in big trouble."

"You blocked my attack quickly; you're truly interesting, Crown Princess," said Noria, looking at Celesia with interest.

"I won't deny that your attack was surprising. You must be Noria, the Queen of the Shadow Kingdom," Celesia replied coldly, standing a distance away, warming up her joints and sword.

"That's surprising; I didn't know you already knew me. So, what's your name?" Noria asked curiously, gently waving her fan.

"Celesia Ryoger... this will be the last name you hear," Celesia said, her face marked by a frightening look as she took a ready stance.

Noria closed her fan, her face showing a mix of surprise and a sly smile. "So, you're a descendant of Elara Ryoger... I'll make sure you understand the meaning of pain." Scarlet breezes quietly stirred around Noria, forming an eerie aura.

Celesia stood firmly, her hair flying with the wind, droplets of water gathering around her, highlighting her blue aura. Inhaling deeply, she exhaled and rushed towards Noria, suddenly transforming into a wave before her.

Noria moved her fan in a circular motion, forming a whirlwind around her as a shield against Celesia's sudden attacks. Celesia appeared behind her, raising her hands to form sharp water spears aimed at the whirlwind, trying to penetrate it. But the wind redirected them, sending them in various directions. Celesia jumped back, trying to catch her breath.

The whirlwind gradually dissipated, releasing quick shots towards Celesia. She changed her movements, jumping here and there while blocking the shots.

"You're hopping like a rabbit," Noria mocked, watching Celesia's movements.

Celesia remained silent, trying to find a gap for attack while dodging Noria's assaults.

"There!" Celesia flipped in the air, transforming her sword into a water whip, moving it gracefully to deflect all incoming attacks until it reached Noria directly.

"Not so fast," Noria smiled, moving her fan to block the whip's attacks easily.

"That fan is not ordinary," Celesia said, standing back and returning the whip to its sword form.

With a light movement from Noria, the fan grew to the size of a sword. "I guess the fan surprised you. It's made from black metal, so it's as hard as a sword. I can also increase its size, allowing me to use it for combat. What do you say we test its strength on you?" Noria rushed towards Celesia with great speed. Celesia matched her speed, and they clashed with force. Their weapons collided, releasing sparks of energy, the sound of the clash ringing through the forest.

With a quick move, Celesia changed her attack rhythm, delivering a strike that hit Noria's left shoulder. Noria quickly moved away, pressing on the wound to stop the bleeding. She tore a piece of cloth from her attire and tied the wound with it.

"I'm tired of playing with you now," Noria said, opening her large fan and moving it with force, sending sharp arcs flying in various directions, all targeting Celesia simultaneously.

"I must evade them quickly, or I'll be killed," Celesia thought as the arcs approached her. "An arc in front of me, another behind, and two from the sides," she looked around, moving her sword in a circular motion to change the arcs' directions, lying flat on the ground and sliding away from them.

Noria directed the arcs to follow her. Celesia stood quickly, moving her sword with difficulty to deflect two arcs away while unable to change the direction of the other two. One arc grazed her left foot's tendons, while the other left a deep wound on her back. Celesia fell to the ground, leaning on her left knee, holding her sword and breathing heavily, blood pouring from her back.

"It seems your end is near," Noria said, redirecting the arcs towards Celesia. Celesia remained silent, trying to gather her energy. The arcs got closer, almost tearing her apart. At that moment, Celesia moved her hand, forming a water vortex around her, causing the arcs to dissipate.

"Amazing... it seems you can still fight in this condition," Noria said, watching Celesia from a distance with admiration.

The vortex gradually faded, Celesia's heart rate increasing with her rapid breathing. She knelt, trying to catch her breath.

"You might be strong, but it's time to end this fight," Noria said seriously, walking slowly towards her, opening her fan to reveal a small scarlet whirlwind mark under her right eye. "Goodbye, Celesia," Noria whispered, looking into Celesia's exhausted eyes. Celesia closed her eyes calmly, a small smile on her face.

Noria moved her fan, releasing crimson winds. "Crimson Shadow Art, Scarlet Whirlwind." A massive whirlwind surrounded Celesia from all sides. Noria watched it quietly from a distance as it burned everything in its path.

Moments passed, and a faint blue light shone from within the whirlwind. Noria watched in astonishment, "What is that light suddenly?"

The glow pierced through the whirlwind in an instant, heading towards Noria at light speed. Celesia was surrounded by a water shield, her eyes glowing with a frightening look.

"How?" Noria held her fan, blocking Celesia's sword. She noticed a blue diamond mark glowing on Celesia's forehead before quickly fading. "Did she awaken her Serrah suddenly?" she thought in amazement.

Celesia delivered a powerful kick to Noria's abdomen, sending her flying. Noria stopped after her feet forcefully skidded on the ground. She looked ahead in anger but didn't see Celesia. Celesia suddenly appeared behind her, stabbing her in the chest from behind.

"Khah..."Noria coughed blood, dropping her fan, the mark on her face disappearing along with the whirlwind. Celesia pulled her sword out, stepping back as Noria fell on her back, dying. "I'm glad... I fought a strong girl like you before dying... thank you," Noria smiled, speaking with difficulty. Celesia walked towards her slowly, saying angrily, "Why did you commit all those evil acts?"

"Hehe... we may be villains to you... but we're heroes in our stories," Noria replied hoarsely. Celesia turned slowly, walking back to the formation with difficulty.

Noria stared at the sky as the setting sun bathed the place in a golden orange hue. "This view reminds me of that day..."

"I'm sorry I couldn't complete my mission, but I had a satisfying end," Noria said, her final words tinged with regret and satisfaction. She closed her eyes peacefully, a smile on her face.

"Goodbye... world."