Page 61 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

“Come out from behind that shield and fight me, you cowards!” Obsidia taunted us. “I’ll be sure to reunite you with your Ice Prince in death!”

She would pay for what she’d done. With a loud cry, I thrust forward and unleashed a barrage of scorching fireballs that successfully drove Obsidia back, if only for a moment.

Brontes, Gwyneira, and I stood, rooted like ancient trees to the violet platform beneath our feet, ready to face her once more. The cosmic void swirled around us, uncertainty hanging heavy in the air as we prepared for what might be our final stand. The three of us—storm, ice, and fire—were all that stood between Obsidia and the destruction of everything we held dear.

Obsidia’s sinister laughter echoed through the emptiness of space.

“Let’s end this,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Are you ready?” Brontes asked.

“Ready,” Gwyneira replied firmly.

Our gazes locked, and our hearts pounded in sync as we grasped each other’s hands. I closed my eyes and reached for the fire within me, the familiar warmth pulsing like a second heartbeat. Beside me, Brontes’s power roared to life, electricity crackling in the void. Gwyneira’s ice spread beneath our feet, cool and unwavering like her quiet strength.

But as we tried to manifest our secondary powers, something felt amiss. The connection between us wavered, unsteady as a newborn fawn. My brow furrowed as I realized that Gwyneira’s hands easily swirled with voltage, but it was Brontes and I who were struggling. Both of our ice abilities refused to manifest at will.

“Come on!” I hissed, frustration mounting.

“Dammit,” Brontes cursed.

But the more I tried, the more doubt crept into my mind. My mind whispered words of failure and inadequacy, reminding me again that I barely just used ice for the first time.Can you even do this, Helena?

The dissonance between us grew, threatening to sever our bond entirely.

“Helena, Brontes,” Gwyneira declared softly. “We can do this. We’ve fought too hard to give up now.”

Her words washed over me like a balm, soothing the doubts that gnawed at my heart. I nodded, my resolve renewed, and once again reached for my powers.

My left hand ignited with orange and yellow flames, while a chill ran up my right arm, wisps of frost floating into space. Across from me, sparks of electricity danced between Brontes’ fingers, and ice crystals glittered around him.

This time, though, Obsidia’sbrassyeyes narrowed as she recognized our plan. “Arrogant children,” she sneered, her voice dripping with malice. “You have no idea who you are up against.”

With a flick of her wrist, our surroundings warped and twisted as her powers took hold. The headmaster’s shield was failing. Thick inky smoke billowed forth, obscuring our vision and filling my lungs with a choking heaviness. Vivid phantoms swirled at the edges of my vision—nightmarish shadows come to life. They couldn’t be real . . . could they?

“Don’t lose focus!” Brontes bellowed. “Be strong for Fannar and our kingdoms.”

With a shout, he summoned a gale that tore through the smoke and dispelled the illusions. The shadows retreated, their taunts fading into whispers.

Our wills intertwined, weaving into a rope of resolve as our combined might vibrated through the vastness. I tightened my grip on their hands and that invisible thread connecting us, its power pulsing around us like a cyclone.

“Love, trust,” I murmured.

“Unity,” Brontes said.

“Balance,” Gwyneira said.

Our bodies began to glow with bright auras: fiery red for me, icy blue for Gwyneira, and electric yellow for Brontes. They began to blend seamlessly, melding into a kaleidoscope of color.

The boundaries between us evaporated, three becoming one, creating a symbiotic tapestry of strength that stirred the very fabric of space around us. Our elements wove together in a whirlwind of unseen forces.

“Whoa,” I breathed, watching the celestial tableau take form before us.

A Storm of Fire and Ice.

It was an angry vortex of razor-sharp shards of ice, filled with deafening bolts of lightning, and streams of fire shooting from its core. Vibrant colors streaked through the abyss as space itself seemed to tremble, charged with our Combined Enchanted elements.

“Are you guys feeling this?” I asked.

---