'A Battle Short-lived'

The clash of steel and the crackle of magic erupted all at once.

The knights surged forward, weapons gleaming under the flickering light of mana stones embedded in their hilts and armor. Blades clashed, sparks flying as steel met steel, and the acrid scent of blood mixed with the smoke already thick in the air. The rogues, cloaked figures with their own enchanted weapons, struck back with brutal efficiency, some wielding magic that sent bolts of fire and jagged ice slicing through the battlefield.

Florian barely had time to react before another explosion rocked the earth. The princesses screamed as dust and debris showered over them, their terrified sobs lost in the chaos. Cashew clung to Florian, his small frame trembling violently, fingers twisted in the fabric of his sleeve. "Y-Your Highness! I-I don't want to die!"