Timeline Two
The palace meeting room was thick with tension. At its centre lay a vast map of Wonderveil, marked with small figures of soldiers, horses, and fortresses placed precisely where each force stood. Candles all around cast a warm glow over the table; two cups of tea sat half‑drunk, left untouched for so long they had grown cold.
Elowen stood before the map, holding a wooden pointer. Celestia sat opposite her, studying every route and marking closely.
"According to Charles's reports," Elowen said, tapping the tip of her pointer against a spot marked in red, "Alice is still hiding in this abandoned mansion. If we mean to end this for good, we must strike before she can grow any stronger."
Celestia frowned at the map. "It is only Alice. Do we truly need to bring the entire knightly host against one witch?"
Elowen nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely. I have no doubt Alice will not fight alone. One like her will surely have an army of magic‑made servants."
Celestia fell quiet for a moment. "If that is so… would not attacking her stronghold be incredibly dangerous?"
Elowen gave a faint, sharp smile. "That is exactly what I intend. I want her to fight where we choose. If we let her march on the palace, countless innocent lives will be lost."
Celestia nodded slowly. "You are right." She clasped her hands together. "Elowen… I am ready. I will stand and fight beside you."
Elowen looked at her younger sister with quiet pride. "I know you are. But this war will not be easy — and I fear it will come when winter's snow falls."
Celestia sighed softly. "What of the people?"
Elowen shifted the small figures on the map. "Ashveil and Charles will lead the evacuation. They will guide every soul to the great shelter halls in the north. Food, firewood, and medicine have already been prepared. Knights will stand guard, and the nobles will help oversee supplies and care."
Celestia let out a breath of relief. "Thank the stars. At least the people will not have to see this battle."
"That is the whole point," Elowen said firmly. "We will end it all at that mansion."
Celestia smiled at her sister. "Sister… I am glad I finally get to fight beside you."
Elowen returned her smile. "And I you. I pray this second chance you have given us will rewrite our fate. And this time… Alice will fall."
Celestia nodded, her eyes bright with unshakable resolve.
Several days later…
All of Wonderveil stirred with purpose. Knights marched in and out of the palace without rest. Horses were saddled and readied; swords were honed until they shone like mirrors; armour was checked and polished piece by piece.
Civilians were guided toward the great shelter halls. Children, elders, and women were taken first. Ashveil and Charles led the effort, ensuring every family received food, thick blankets, and enough firewood to last through the cold. Knights stood watch outside the halls to ward off any approaching monsters, while nobles worked alongside common folk to distribute supplies.
Though war drew ever nearer, no one panicked. They trusted their royal family to keep them safe.
A week later…
Winter arrived at last. Snow fell endlessly, wrapping the land in a blanket of pure white. At the palace gates, hundreds of knights stood assembled. Each wore gleaming silver plate, holding shield and sword ready.
At the very front rode Elowen upon a white steed. She wore white armour etched with gold patterns, her sword resting at her hip. Her face was calm, even as the hour of battle drew near.
Behind the ranks, Celestia stood clad in a simple white gown, her hands covered by soft white gloves. She carried no blade — for she herself was Wonderveil's greatest weapon. The light magic within her was the kingdom's last hope.
According to their plan, Celestia would not reveal herself at first. She would hide from sight, waiting only until the right moment to strike.
The army of Wonderveil set out. They left the palace behind, marching toward the abandoned mansion five kilometres away. The journey was silent and solemn.
The closer they drew to their destination, the more the land withered. Living trees turned to gnarled dead trunks; their branches clawed at the air like bony hands. The sky darkened, heavy with storm clouds. Crows cried out endlessly, and the air grew thick with an over‑sweet, sickening scent that made more than one knight feel faint.
At last, they stood before the mansion. The crumbling building rose like a tomb amidst the dead woods. Windows were shattered, walls draped in tangled vines. The silence there was heavy, terrifying.
Standing before the great doors was a girl, smiling. Her blonde hair caught the wind; her dress rippled gently around her. Alice looked straight at Elowen.
"I never thought… you would come straight to my lair yourself." She laughed softly. "Have you grown tired of living?"
Elowen met her gaze without an ounce of fear. "I think… it is you who will die today."
Alice laughed louder, the sound echoing through the trees and sending shivers down every knight's spine. She clenched her fists.
"Then come — I will kill you first. And after you… your little sister next."
Elowen dismounted her horse and drew her sword. The blade glinted cold and sharp in the dim light. Behind her, every knight drew their weapon too.
Suddenly — a gale howled through the clearing. The ground shook. The dead trees around the mansion began to move, their roots tearing free from the earth. Trunks twisted and rose, branches shifting into clawed hands. In moments, dozens of tree‑monsters stood surrounding them.
The knights formed shields and spears, taking up defensive stances. Elowen gripped her sword tight. Alice smiled, satisfied.
"Let me see… just how strong the Princess Elowen truly is."
Before Alice could move — a brilliant beam of pure white light shot down from the sky. BOOM! It struck Alice square in the shoulder.
"AAARGH!" She stumbled back several paces, her shoulder burning as if touched by holy fire. She looked upward — and saw Celestia floating above, bathed in blinding radiance. Her hair flowed like silver silk; her eyes glowed like molten gold.
Alice grinned, even through the pain. "So… the little Princess Celestia has finally learned to wield her light." She laughed again. "This war… just became so much more interesting."
Celestia landed gently beside Elowen, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on their enemy. "Yes. This time… my sister and I will end it all."
Elowen raised her sword high. Celestia lifted her right hand, wreathed in glowing light. Side by side, the two princesses stood as one — ready to face the foe who had once burned Wonderveil to ash.
Alice lifted both hands slowly. Her lips began to chant in an ancient tongue no one there understood. Thick black aura swirled around her body, gathering at her fingertips.
"Umbra… Ex Mortis…"
Several sharp arrows of darkness formed in the air. Without giving her opponents a moment to react, Alice swept her hands forward.
Dozens of black bolts shot straight toward Elowen.
"Elowen!" the knights cried out.
Elowen threw herself sideways, rolling across the snow. The dark bolts passed only inches from her body.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The stray shots struck one of Alice's own creations, blowing the monster apart into shards of blackened flesh.
Alice scoffed. "Useless things…"
Before she could attack again, Celestia surged forward. Both hands blazed with ever‑brightening white light.
"Holy Light!"
Fist‑sized orbs of radiance raced toward Alice.
Alice raised one hand at once. A wave of roiling darkness surged out to meet Celestia's magic.
BOOM!
A massive explosion shook the ground. Snow billowed into the air; dead trees swayed violently from the shockwave. Knights nearby were thrown stumbling back several paces.
Alice stared hard at Celestia, her eyes wide with disbelief. "How could you hide such power all this time?"
Before Celestia could answer, Alice lunged, sending a flurry of black magic blades flying.
But — CLANG!
Elowen stepped between them in an instant. Her sword parried every strike so fast that sparks lit up the air.
Celestia gave a small smile. "It was a secret. I trained in secret all this time."
Alice turned her gaze to Elowen. "Elowen… did you know your sister held such light?"
Elowen smiled with quiet certainty. "Of course. I have known since she was small. We simply chose to keep it hidden."
Alice's expression shifted. For the first time, she realised their plans had never unfolded as she had expected.
Suddenly — a colossal monster loomed up behind Celestia, raising claws to strike.
"Celestia!"
Elowen dashed toward it in a heartbeat. With one sweeping swing — SLASH!
The creature's head rolled free across the snow, and its massive body crashed down with a heavy thud.
Celestia let out a breath of relief. "Thank you for protecting me."
Elowen smiled back. "Stay focused. Watch your surroundings."
Celestia nodded.
Alice watched them and laughed softly. "How sweet… how precious your bond is. I had thought you were at odds."
Celestia looked straight at her. "Elowen and I have never been enemies. Even though we were raised differently… we are still sisters. We have always trusted each other."
As the words left her lips, Celestia raised both hands. Dozens of glowing orbs bloomed around her like stars.
"Holy Light!"
The orbs streaked toward Alice all at once. Alice leaped back — but several still grazed her shoulders.
HISS!
Her skin burned where the light touched; wispy smoke rose from the wounds. Alice gritted her teeth. "You little wretch!"
She threw both hands toward the sky. Far greater darkness gathered overhead. Dozens of black blades rained down like a storm. Celestia raised a wall of pure light to meet them — but Alice's assault was too great. Several blades sliced through her defence.
"Argh!"
One cut across her arm; another grazed her left cheek. Bright red blood began to flow.
Alice smiled in triumph — but before she could strike again, Elowen was already there. Her sword blazed as she moved in a blur. With a few swift strikes, every black blade was sheared in two before it could touch Celestia. The dark magic shattered like broken glass.
"I am here…" Elowen said firmly, "…to protect my sister."
Alice bit her lip. "One light‑wielder… and one swordswoman. I will not let either of you live."
Thick black aura erupted from her body. The sky turned pitch black; storm clouds swirled into a great vortex. The wind howled, whipping snow into the air. The ground trembled; cracks spiderwebbed across the earth around the mansion. Shadowy hands clawed up from below. Moments later, dozens of monsters — far larger than those before — rose from the soil. They roared in unison, shaking the whole battlefield.
Some knights gasped. "What… what kind of creatures are these?"
Alice laughed in delight. "These are my true army."
Elowen gave a faint, steady smile. "Oh… you didn't think I prepared nothing to meet them?"
Alice frowned. "What do you mean?"
Suddenly — a great shadow fell across the sky. A gale swept over the clearing. The thunderous beat of giant wings echoed far and wide.
ROARRRRR!!
A dragon's cry shook the very earth. All heads turned upward. A colossal white dragon landed with a deafening crash, sending snow flying in every direction. Even the fighting paused for a moment.
"A dragon…"
Vaelrith looked down at Elowen and Celestia. "Fear not, Princess Elowen. Princess Celestia. Leave these beasts to me."
Alice smirked at the dragon. "Elowen… are you so sure I won't strike your precious beast down?"
Elowen answered calmly. "First — Vaelrith does not fight you. Second — this dragon belongs to no one but himself. And third… Vaelrith is the true guardian of Wonderveil."
Vaelrith lifted his head high and roared with all his might. The sound made every monster freeze for a heartbeat. With one sweep of his wings, he soared toward the largest beast. He bit deep into its neck, then hurled it down into the earth.
BOOM! The ground shuddered violently. The battle of giants had begun.
Alice could only grind her teeth. Her plans were no longer as simple as she had hoped.
Elowen stepped forward, gripping her sword tight. Beside her, Celestia gathered blinding white light once more in both hands.
"So then, Alice…" Elowen pointed her blade straight at her. "Let Vaelrith handle his foes. My sister and I… will defeat you right here."
Celestia nodded. Pure light wrapped around her like armour. Side by side, the two princesses stood ready to end the war that had once broken Wonderveil apart.