Cybelline stood facing the young dryad who held his leader by the throat.

"Let him go." Cybelline said quietly, "I am much more powerful. And I promise you, I'll give you a much better fight."

Ganymede laughed, "You? How can you compare?"

Cybelline raised her hand, in her hand was were a hundred tiny balls of fire, dancing on her skin, blazing with the power of tiny suns.

Ganymede's eyes lit up, he threw Melas down, calling roots to secure the man to the earth. Looking at Cybelline, he raised his staff and spoke a spell, calling forth the the sickly green magic to form a net. Ganymede threw the net toward Cybelline.

Cybelline raised her hand and the fire met the net. The two met in mid-air and created a huge sound, Cybelline's eyes narrowed as she saw that her fire magic being eaten by the net. Quickly, she jumped out of the way of the net.

Ganymede laughed and called out in a sing-song voice, "Run girl, if my net touches you, then you'll be eaten as well, my magic needs a lot of power."

He turned to Melas, who lay injured on the ground and placed a foot on Melas's chest, "I can't wait to kill you."

Melas glared up at the boy, "Your magic is corrupted. Ganymede, what have you done?"

Ganymede's face was monstrous in the firelight, "What no one has dared. I made a deal with the Lady of Light. She gave me the additional power, and I promised her the ultimate weapon that would be worthy of a god." He patted the staff, "I'm almost done, it just need to absorbed the half-bloods."

He watched in slight irritation as Cybelline dodged the net once more, "If we are all destined to live hidden helpless lives, then at least I will find a way to live comfortably." He looked at the injured Melas with unbidden savagery, "You destroyed us first with the half-bloods, I'm only looking out for myself." He spun the staff, "You know, this is so good, I might keep it for myself."

He called out to Cybelline, "Give up. You can't defeat this magic." Ganymede raised his hand and the net came back to his hand, this time he spoke another spell and it created thick, grayish green vines that rose out of his hands, they grew a hundred fold in size. Slowly, they began to take form and became a giant man.

It was a wiggling mass of thick vines that gave off a putrid smell of rotting flesh, each one as thick as the trunk of a great tree. The vine man roared and the ground shook.

Cybelline was reminded of earthworms and snakes, her nose wrinkled in distaste.

"You are seeing a new power being born, too bad you won't be able to tell anyone about it." Ganymede said smugly.

"You know, you're just my type." Cybelline said with smile.

"What?" Ganymede blinked, "Your type?"

He smiled, "Is it because I am so powerful?"

From afar Killian, despite fighting three mages at once, studied the young dryad with scrutiny. Was it the hairstyle? The clothing? What did Cybelline mean? When he was finished her, he must take a closer look at the youth. He would not be beaten by such a youngling.

"How do you walk around with such a big head?" Cybelline rolled her eyes, "In my other line of work, before I came here, the only aspect I enjoyed was taking down people who were pure and utter filth. The kind that their own parents wanted to get rid of. You are exactly the type I look forward to turning into powder." She looked at Melas, "You won't mind if I destroyed him, right?"

Melas shook his head, he was still wheezing from the pain, "Please, be my guest."

Cybelline smiled, she now knew this magic, even if she did not know its name. This was just like the magic of that had imprisoned Leonmithas, except his was ancient. This was even more potent.

Cybelline closed her eyes and called upon her spark, her original magic. Darkness covered her hands like gloves, and within her hands was a sword made of night. It grew long and deadly, a longsword that seemed welded to her hand.

The giant raised its hand at her, intending to smash her to the ground like a bug.

The first bit of grey-green root came for her. Cybelline swung suddenly and sliced the wiggling wormlike vine in half.

Perspiration dotted her forehead as she swung again, this the hand came off.

"Impossible!" Ganymede gasped as he looked at the dark weapon, he screamed in disbelief. "What is that?"

"You know, if this was a game of rock, paper, scissors..." Cybelline smiled, she clapped her hands and the one sword became two. One in each hand. She threw it up into the air and it multiplied by the hundreds. Soon, a swarm of dark swords rose above her head. Cybelline's face became paler as she wielded the magic, but still she smiled, "You should have chosen rock."

The swords rushed at the giant mass of wriggling vines, it sounded as if the sky was filled with firework. The magic burned and fought with each other, the swords slicing through the vines and the vines crushing the dark swords.

Cybelline rushed through the magic, dodging the vines and swords as she jumped and weaved through the battlefield.

There was a hint of panic as Ganymede saw his death rush at him. He hurriedly grabbed a bound child to add power to his staff, but then screamed in pain as a knife cut through his wrist tendons.

The child fell to the earth. Ganymede raised his staff when Cybelline rush forward and gripped the staff as well.

Power hit her like a wave, raw and unfiltered. Violent and vicious. It was like the power of the World's tree, when she had first inherited the the Source. She must destroy this staff.

Ganymede held onto the staff as well, "Foolish woman, it'll eat you."

He began to mutter a spell, his eyes glowing with the grayish magic and it once again attacked Cybelline.

She found its claws everywhere in her magic, Cybelline called forth the dark magic to push the power back. It was like trying to run without oxygen underwater, yet she persisted. She must beat back the power. Her body seemed to pulse with magic as she forced the thing back.

Cybelline pushed herself to the limits. She dared not use any of the Source, the grey magic treated that as food. With a roar, she pushed the grey magic until was completely forced back into the staff. Yet it continued to be a struggle as her Dark Magic and the grey matter warred for control. She was glued to the spot.

Ganymede was thrown to the ground as Cybelline's power had pushed the grey magic out of her system, he sat up as he watched Cybelline struggle with the magic of the staff. It cracked under her hands, slowly breaking into bits.

He gasped and scrambled up, what she was doing was not possible. He must stop it. He pulled out a knife made of grayish material, on it, the tendrils of grey magic swirled ominously.

Killian was fighting the final mage when he saw Ganymede pull out the knife. He grunted as the remaining mage took advantage of the moment and slashed him on the arm. In that moment, Killian forgot to defend, only attack.

He ignored the repeated magical attacks that left deep wounds on his body, instead, he approached like a charging lion. Blood dripped into his eyes and seemed to turn the world red.

In one slash, he ended the dyrad's life, the mage's blood splashing onto his face and mixing with his own. He saw Ganymede raise the grey knife towards Cybelline and he nearly flew toward the mage.

Time seemed to stop as Killian suddenly appeared in front of Cybelline. The knife that was meant for Cybelline was now deeply imbedded in Killian's Chest.

Killian looked down at the knife the grayish matter now flowing into the wound. Ganymede's smile seemed to be frozen once he looked into Killian's inhumane face and a pair of eyes straight out of the depths of hell. Killian did not fall, nor did he scream in pain. Instead a change seemed to take over him.

He had been cold before, he had been ruthless before. But this was different. In that moment, he did not seem human, he was a cold, unfeeling god.

Slowly, coldly, Killian took the knife out of his chest. He looked at Ganymede as if he was a dead thing already, the red blood blossomed onto his shirt, but Killian took no notice.

Ganymede backed away, "Even without the staff, I am powerful. I am still connected to the magic!" He said, his lips trembling a little.

He raised a hand and the giant, putrid roots shot up out of the ground once more. Ganymede breathe a sigh of relief, as long as the staff remained, he was could still wield the magic.

"You tried to kill her." Killian's voice seemed demonic, "You can die now."

He raised a hand and snapped his fingers. The roots that had came up suddenly splintered and turned towards Ganymede. He opened his mouth to scream but it was over too quickly. The vines ripped his body apart until nothing was left.

Once the deed was done, the monstrous magic slithered on the ground and groveled before Killian, as if he was its master. He looked down at it, and without a word, it creeped back into the ground.

Killian walked towards Cybelline, who was still rooted to the spot, her mind still battling the magic within.

Killian gently touched her face and gripped the wooden staff as well. He closed his eyes and added his magic to her fight. This time, the wood could not endure the onslaught of their combined power.

The staff broke and shattered into a million pieces, as did the roots that held the people prison. Killian stared at Cybelline's face with relief as his knees buckled.

When Cybelline opened her eyes, she felt a hand on hers. In the golden glitter of stars, she looked down into a pair of eyes soaked by blood and a face that was forever fixed on hers.

The smell of blood hit her nose as she saw the full extent of his injuries. There was not a part of him that was not covered in deep gashes.

Killian was dying, and both he and Cybelline knew it.

Cybelline knelt down by the lord of war. Her hands shook has she supported his body, "where are your healing stones? We have to get you help as soon as possible."

Killian only smiled and shook his head, "It's too late." . Cybelline's eyes widened, "No, I'll find Evans, he must have kept some." She was about to get up when Killian squeezed her hand, "Stay with me."

Killian stared at her, "If this is our last moment, then I want to be with you."

"Don't. Don't say that." Cybelline felt her throat tighten, "I can save you. I have to save you."

She turned to Melas, "Go, please find those people who were with us earlier, tell them that their lord is in mortal danger. Tell them to get help, however possible."

Melas bowed and rushed away. In a moment he came back, "They said they have sounded the alarm, help is on the way."

"Please, hold on." Cybelline whispered, she held onto him tightly, scared that if she loosed even for a second, he would leave her.

Killian held onto her hand, "This is all I wanted. I wanted to be by your side. Be it for a day or an eternity. This is all I desired. I am happy."

Cybelline felt a prick at her eyes, the face in front of her seemed to be a little blurry. She held onto him tightly, "No. That is not what you said all those years ago. Don't you remember? I do. Killian I remember it all. You promised that you would be with me when I went off on adventures and fought dragons. You promised."

Her tears dripped onto his face, as she held onto him, "You promised that you would be my wife. You can't go back on that promise. I won't let you."

Killian's grin was brilliant. His breathing became more and more labored. Cybelline pressed her hand to his wounds to try and stop the bleeding. She hated how helpless she felt at that moment.

She didn't know how much he mattered to her until this moment. Ever since the memories had flooded back, she had been at war with herself. Doubting that this man and the boy she met all those years ago would have remained at the same. Doubting that he would keep his promise. They were too different, fated to be on the different sides of that battlefield. She would have never admitted it until now, but she had been afraid that the moment she started trusting him would be her last. She did not realize until too late that she had already started to care for him.

Just in that instant, a bright light flashed in the sky.

Cybelline looked up to see Solara stepping through a portal made of light. She looked around in panic and she spied Cybelline.

She ran over, "Child you must come with me. The Lady of Light is coming. Hurry, my magic will not last!"

Solara looked down and blanched, "Gods help us." She gripped Cybelline's shoulder, "If you killed the God of War, then we must leave immediately. She will kill you without question."

"Can you save him? Solara, please, I can't let him die." Cybelline said, not paying attention to what Solara had said, her attention only on Killian.

Solara watched the horizon and knew that the Lady of Light would arrive any minute. She looked down and saw the stubborn look in Cybelline's eyes. Then, she sighed and nodded, "Yes. I can heal him."

She waited until Cybelline's attention was turned back to Killian before she made her move. With a swift punch, she knocked Cybelline out. Gently removing Cybelline's arms from Killian's body, she turned to Melas, "If you want to live, I suggest you and your people leave this area as soon as possible, come find us in the northern border. The Lady of Light will be here in another minute."

Melas bowed, he whistled and the remaining Dryads gathered to run for their lives.

Solara sighed as she carried Cybelline through the portal, "Forgive me Cybelline, but you are more important. The gods will punish me for interfering, but you are our hope."

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Author's note

Phew! This was a long chapter. Thank you for reading. I've been waiting to reveal this plot twist for a while, thought I think some of you have guessed that Cybelline already remembered Killian. I left a few morsels in earlier chapters but hopefully nothing too obvious. Thank you for reading!