The Citadel Beckons

Location: Eastern Citadel, Tavara

Fog clung to the jagged cliffs where the ancient Eastern Citadel stood. Built into the mountains and protected by both arcane wards and military defense systems, it had once served as a holy site—now it waited like a slumbering giant.

Elara stood at the precipice, her long coat whipping in the cold wind, eyes fixed on the closed gates ahead.

"They said I'd never return here," she whispered.

Behind her, Marcus adjusted the satchel strapped across his chest. "You're not the same girl who was banished, Elara. You're the one they fear now."

She didn't respond. The wind howled louder as if warning her. And then—without hesitation—she stepped forward.

The moment her foot touched the stone path, the runes carved into the walls flared to life. Blue, crimson, and silver light twisted in arcs across the ancient surface.

A metallic voice echoed from the tower above:

"Blood of Kane detected. Lineage incomplete. Access… conditional."

Elara raised her hand, and a burst of red energy pulsed outward, illuminating the sigil etched into her palm—the mark of the forgotten child.

The gate trembled.

---

Location: Damien's Estate, Tavara

Damien stood before a wall of surveillance screens, each depicting a different location: The Eastern Citadel. The Omega Vault. The remnants of the fallen Virellon stronghold.

Nora entered quietly, arms crossed. "Althea is already in flight. And now Elara just breached the Citadel's threshold. You know what this means."

He nodded. "A convergence. One that hasn't happened in over 300 years."

A beat.

"She doesn't know what's waiting inside those walls," Nora murmured.

"She's about to," Damien said. "Because she just woke up the last of the Sovereign Sentinels."

---

Location: The Deep Vaults, Beneath the Citadel

As Elara descended into the bowels of the fortress, torchlights sparked to life. Stone steps gave way to a circular chamber filled with statues—each depicting a member of the Sovereign Order, protectors of the Kane prophecy.

A rumble shook the ground.

Marcus stepped back. "What the hell—?"

The largest statue, a silver-armored warrior with a serpent crest, cracked down the middle. Stone fell away as something ancient stirred beneath.

Elara stared, breath caught in her throat.

Then came the voice:

"Heir of shadow and flame… your reckoning begins."

The Sentinel emerged—its armor laced with living fire, its eyes burning with judgment.

And Elara… smiled.

---

Location: Military Watchtower, Tavara Border

Victor Kane received the alert.

"Sentinel activation?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at the screen.

His lieutenant nodded grimly. "And she didn't run. She stood her ground."

Victor closed the tablet and stood up.

"Then it's confirmed. Elara's not just a piece on the board anymore. She's a player. And Tavara's real war... starts now."