A warm noon sun bathed Carosso’s central courtyard, where humans and elves gathered in a momentous celebration of their hard-won victory. Emperor Ethan stood before the assembled crowd with Celestia at his side. Around them were their loyal companions—Nina, Eileen, Seraphina, Israya, Lyssandra—and the high elf envoys Lucianna, Tyriel, Aetherlyn, and others from the hidden forests. Every face in the courtyard, whether human or elf, shone with cautious hope.“Today,” Ethan announced, his voice carrying proudly over the murmuring throng, “we stand as one united family, having fought together under the banner of justice to save the people of Avelline. Let this victory—and our unity—be a beacon for the future.” He turned to the foremost high elves, who were now rested and bandaged from their ordeals. For the first time in centuries, the reclusive High Elves

Seraphina’s instincts kicked in a heartbeat before Theros’s dark spell could pierce her. She threw up both hands and a dome of shimmering golden light flared around her body. Theros’s fingers, crackling with malevolent energy, struck the holy barrier instead of her flesh. There was a crack like thunder. Seraphina staggered under the impact, her boots skidding on the rocky ground as her barrier trembled.Theros’s form flickered, and for an instant his eyes glowed a hellish blackish-purple in the dark. He pressed against her barrier, face contorting with effort and glee. “Ah, a lively one,” he hissed. “Your soul shines so brightly, little saint... it will make the perfect offering to the dark god of the Black Market.”Seraphina’s heart pounded. The pressure of his attack was unlike anything she had felt—

For a heartbeat, the chamber fell silent. Ethan and his companions stared in shock and relief at the dozens of elven captives they had freed from the living root-cages. Frail elf women and girls huddled together, their silver eyes blinking in the unfamiliar torchlight of the subterranean lair. Some wept with joy, clutching the hands of their rescuers through broken cage bars; others simply sank to the ground, overcome and trembling.Celestia immediately moved among them, her draconic senses on high alert even as she offered gentle reassurance. “You’re safe now,” she promised softly to a young elf girl, wrapping a soft cloak around the child’s thin shoulders. The girl looked up at Celestia’s silver hair and warm crimson eyes, and managed a timid smile.Nearby, Nina guided an elderly elf woman out of a splintered cage, supporting the