The cave walls shimmered faintly with blue algae, pulsing like the heartbeat of the forest. For two days, Seraphinnea and Elden remained hidden inside, surrounded by thick vines and misty silence. Elden rarely slept — instead, he paced, peering through the overgrowth toward the market path, ears tuned for the clang of Water Kingdom guards. Seraphinnea sat in quiet thought most of the time, sharpening her coral-bladed arrows or humming lullabies from her childhood that sounded like rivers moving through reeds.

  Neither of them spoke about what came next. Escape, maybe. War, maybe. Neither wanted to speak it aloud.

  But fate never waits for plans.

  Far away, in the northern borders of the Ice Kingdom, the waters had grown still. The magic that once protected the land from fire had flickered, leaving cracks where cold used to reign. Sensing danger — and a strange pull neither could name — Roy, the exiled Fire Prince, and Lyriaana, the mute yet fierce Ice Princess, knew they had to move.

  They followed the streams southward, knowing the Water Kingdom was their only passage between fire and frost. The kingdom’s borders shimmered like wet glass — beautiful, but dangerous. Still, they pressed on.

  By dusk, Roy spotted the faint curve of a moss-covered cavern just beyond the misted edge of the central district. He grabbed Lyriaana’s arm and pointed. She nodded silently.

  As they approached the cave, Roy paused. A figure was standing just outside, half-hidden by a wall of ivy — someone with messy brown hair and sharp eyes, scanning the distance with nervous precision.

  Elden.

  The two ducked behind a broken wall. Lyriaana, cautious, pulled her frost-silver blade from her back and motioned to enter carefully. Roy mirrored her, fire sparking softly from his palms.

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  But before they could take a step—

  “Don’t move,” came a voice from within.

  In a blur, Seraphinnea stepped from the shadows, bow raised, a glowing aqua-tipped arrow locked and aimed at their hearts. Her eyes were hard and sure, though her voice remained calm.

  Roy froze, palms open. Lyriaana darted sideways, preparing to strike — but in a heartbeat, vines burst from the floor, snatching both their legs and pulling them to the ground.

  Elden, now crouched just behind Seraphinnea, tossed a small egg-shaped capsule to the earth. As it cracked, roots erupted and wrapped tightly around the intruders, leaving only their arms and faces free.

  “Whoa,” Seraphinnea said, lowering her bow only slightly, glancing sideways at Elden. “Looks like you really are the Earth controller.”

  Elden let out a breath and gave her a dry look. “And you? That bow’s dangerous. You could have killed someone.”

  “It was just for protection,” Seraphinnea replied, her voice teasing. “If I wanted to kill, I wouldn’t have missed.”

  Roy struggled against the vines but stopped when Seraphinnea’s arrow shifted just an inch closer to his chest. “We’re not enemies!” he called out. “Please. Let us explain.”

  Lyriaana’s eyes flicked to Roy, then to Seraphinnea. She opened her mouth — but no sound came. Instead, she turned to Roy again and gave him a nod filled with insistence.

  He understood.

  “She can’t speak,” Roy said. “But she’s not a threat. Neither of us is. My name is Roy — I’m the Fire Prince. And this is Lyriaana, Princess of the Ice Kingdom.”

  Seraphinnea’s aim wavered slightly. Elden’s brows drew together.

  “You’re from opposite kingdoms,” Elden said cautiously. “How do we know you’re not here to finish what the Fire King started?”

  Roy shook his head. “I left my father’s court long ago. I don’t stand with him. And neither does she. We met during the frost-hunts near the edge of the Ice Waters — back when our kingdoms still pretended to tolerate each other. We’ve been allies ever since.”

  Lyriaana gave a small, respectful nod. Her hands, though still bound by the vines, slowly lifted in a fluid gesture — a silent symbol of peace.

  Seraphinnea, her eyes narrowed, studied them both carefully.

  After a long pause, she lowered her bow.

  Elden raised a hand, and the vines uncurled, slithering back into the earth like obedient snakes.

  “Alright,” Seraphinnea said softly. “But if you betray us, I won’t hesitate next time.”

  Roy nodded. “Understood.”

  Lyriaana stepped forward, her gaze meeting Seraphinnea’s. No words passed — but something did. A silent understanding, woman to woman, survivor to survivor.

  And just like that, four royalty — from fire, ice, water, and earth — stood together in the same cavern, not as enemies, but as fugitives with nowhere left to run… and nothing to lose.