The plan was set, but the tension in the small stone house was palpable. Everyone was on edge — not just because of Kairo's looming execution but because every move had to be precise. One mistake, and Dune would have both Kairo's life and their own in his grasp.
Glacius leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a faint, satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. "Infiltrating a heavily guarded fortress sounds like a challenge," he mused. "I like it."
Peggy rolled her eyes. "Of course you do."
Arson, who had been pacing in the corner, suddenly stopped, his jaw clenching. "And what am I supposed to do? Just stand there outside, hooded and useless?"
Sylvia sighed, keeping her calm. "You're not useless, Arson. You're the strongest one here."
He blinked. "Then let me infiltrate with Glacius and—"
"No," Sylvia cut him off firmly. "If Dune gets suspicious of me or senses something's wrong, he might rush to the fortress himself. I can't hold him off alone."
Arson's flames flared faintly at his fingertips. "So, what? I'm just backup?"
Sylvia met his gaze, her voice soft but steady. "No. You're my strength."
For a split second, Arson's flames flickered out entirely. His face — usually sharp and brimming with confidence — turned a soft shade of pink. "Tch... fine," he muttered, looking away, though the heat rising to his ears betrayed his flustered state.
Glacius chuckled under his breath. "Looks like someone's finally been tamed."
Arson shot him a glare. "Shut up, icicle."
Peggy, barely holding back her laughter, clapped her hands. "Alright, lovebirds, let's focus."
Sylvia ignored the teasing and turned serious again. "We move at dawn. Arson and I will approach the main fortress openly. I'll request an urgent meeting with Dune under the pretense of discussing Nature tribe matters."
She looked at Arson. "You'll be by my side, hooded. If Dune suspects anything or if he finds out about the infiltration, we'll have to fight him to buy time."
Arson, now back to his usual self, nodded. "Consider it done."
Sylvia shifted her gaze to Glacius and Peggy. "Once we have Dune distracted, you two will slip into the fortress. Yuki goes with you."
Glacius gave a slight nod, the frost at his fingertips crackling faintly. "We get Kairo, and we get out."
Peggy grinned. "Easy."
Yuki, her hands still trembling slightly but her resolve strong, spoke softly. "We'll save him."
Sylvia took a deep breath. "Tomorrow, we end this."
As the night wore on, each of them prepared in their own way — testing their powers, and running over the plan again and again in their minds.
And as the first hint of dawn crept across the horizon, the group set out, knowing that by the next sunset, Kairo would either be free... or lost forever.
_ _ _
The sun crept over the sand dunes, casting long shadows across the Sand district. The wind howled softly, a constant reminder of the unforgiving desert — and the danger that awaited them.
Sylvia adjusted the hood over Arson's head, making sure his face was well-hidden. "Don't speak unless necessary," she whispered. "Your voice is recognizable."
Arson smirked under the shadow of the hood. "What, afraid Dune will fall for my looks?"
Sylvia gave him a sharp look, but the corners of her lips twitched. "Just stay quiet."
Behind them, Glacius and Peggy were ready, Yuki standing between them. She clutched Glacius' arm lightly — not out of fear, but to stay close. Her face was calm, but the subtle trembling of her fingers betrayed her anxiety.
Glacius bent down slightly to speak to her. "We stick together. If something goes wrong, you run. Don't argue."
Yuki shook her head. "I'm not leaving without Kairo."
Peggy let out a small sigh but smiled. "She's stubborn."
"Let's move," Sylvia said, taking Arson's hand briefly before leading him toward the main Sand fortress.
The plan unfolded like clockwork — at first.
Sylvia approached the entrance, where Dune's soldiers immediately recognized her. "Princess Sylvia," one guard said, giving a slight bow. His eyes flicked to Arson, who remained hooded and silent, a looming figure at Sylvia's side. "And... your companion?"
"A trusted guard of the Nature tribe," Sylvia answered smoothly. "I need to speak with Lord Dune about urgent matters concerning our territories."
The soldiers exchanged a glance but ultimately nodded. "Follow us."
As Sylvia and Arson were led inside, Glacius, Peggy, and Yuki crept around the fortress, keeping to the shadows.
The walls were high, but Peggy used her wings to soar over unnoticed carrying Yuki. Glacius, using his ice powers with subtle precision, created a thin, almost invisible layer of frost along the wall, getting enough grip to scale it silently.
Once inside the perimeter, they found themselves in the outer courtyard — a maze of guards and pathways.
Yuki's fingers tightened around Glacius' arm. "The cells... they're on the lower levels," she whispered, her voice shaking slightly.
Peggy nodded. "We get there fast and quiet."
But before they could move, a voice echoed from above.
"Where do you think you're going?"
A squad of Sand soldiers stood on a balcony overlooking them.
Back in Dune's chamber, Sylvia was doing her best to keep Dune distracted.
"Lord Dune," she began, "there's been... unrest near the border of the Nature and Sand territories. I believe certain factions are trying to stir trouble."
Dune leaned back in his chair, his gaze like a blade. "And you came all this way just to tell me that?"
Sylvia forced a smile. "I thought it best to speak face-to-face. These matters require delicate handling."
Arson, still silent, felt his fingers twitch beneath his cloak. He didn't like this — didn't like how Dune's eyes flicked to him every so often, like he was trying to see past the hood.
Then, a faint shout echoed from somewhere deeper in the fortress.
Dune's eyes narrowed.
Arson tensed.
Sylvia's heart pounded.
And in that moment, she knew — the plan was falling apart.
"Stay here," Dune ordered, his voice cold as stone. "I'll handle this myself."
But before he could take another step, Arson lowered his hood.
"Going somewhere, Lord Dune?"
The flames at his fingertips flared to life.
Dune's eyes widened in surprise — and then in rage.
"You," Dune growled. "The Magma prince."
Sylvia moved in front of Arson, her heart racing. "Dune, listen—"
But it was too late.
The battle had begun.
And in the outer courtyard of the fortress, as Glacius and Peggy readied themselves and the Sand soldiers closed in, Yuki clutched her chest, whispering only one name:
"Kairo..."
Dune's eyes blazed with a mixture of shock and fury as he took in the sight before him — Sylvia standing firm beside Arson, the Magma Prince. Flames licked at Arson's fingertips, and a fierce heat radiated from him, distorting the air between them.
"Sylvia," Dune said slowly, his voice a low growl. "I expected better from you."
Sylvia met his glare head-on. "I'm here for peace, Dune. But if you harm Kairo, you leave me no choice but to stand against you."
Dune's jaw tightened. "Peace?" His gaze flicked to Arson. "You speak of peace, yet you align yourself with the very conqueror you were meant to restrain. Have you forgotten your purpose — or has he twisted your mind like he's twisted the lands he's scorched?"
Arson smirked, his usual arrogance returning despite the tension. "Careful with your words, Sand Lord. I'm right here."
Dune's soldiers shifted uneasily, the heat from Arson's flames making the stone walls sweat. But Dune remained still, his fury bubbling just beneath the surface.
"You're a disgrace, Sylvia," Dune hissed. "Just like Kairo — abandoning your duty for foolish sentiment."
Before Sylvia could respond, a distant clamor echoed through the fortress. The sound of clashing weapons.
Dune's eyes narrowed. "What have you done?"
Arson grinned. "Oh, just a little distraction."