Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series-Chapter 51: Fire and Arrows [2]

The forest remained still, as if holding its breath. Aiden’s chest tightened as he stared at the arrow lodged in the flag. The cheers from the watching students outside the dome began to rise, faint but unmistakable. For a moment, it looked like Ivara had sealed her victory.

But the flag didn’t fall.

Instead, the arrow quivered where it was embedded, stuck fast in the fabric without dislodging it from its branch. The realization hit Aiden like a lightning bolt.

She hadn’t won.

Not yet.

Ivara’s eyes narrowed in frustration as she jumped down from the branch where she had perched. "Lucky," she muttered, her voice carrying an edge of irritation. "But that won’t happen again."

Aiden felt the pressure of the moment, his heart pounding in his chest.

He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. The flag was still within reach, and he wasn’t going to back down.

He raised his hands, summoning flames that licked at the edges of his fingers. "You’ll have to try harder than that," he shot back, his voice steadier than he felt.

Ivara didn’t respond. Instead, she raised her bow again, her movements as swift and precise as ever.

Aiden darted behind a tree as Ivara fired another arrow, the projectile embedding itself into the bark with a solid thud. He could feel the heat of the battle rising, his blood rushing in his ears.

He couldn’t rely on defense alone. If he stayed on the back foot, she’d outmaneuver him eventually.

Taking a deep breath, Aiden emerged from his cover, hurling a concentrated fireball in her direction. Ivara rolled to the side but the fireball exploded against the ground, forcing her to momentarily lose her balance.

He took advantage of the opening, charging forward. Flames erupted around him as he pushed himself harder, the forest coming alive with heat and light.

Ivara was quick to recover. She backflipped onto another branch, her bow already drawn. She loosed three arrows in quick succession, each one aimed with deadly accuracy.

Aiden managed to deflect the first two with a sweeping wave of fire, but the third came too fast. He twisted to avoid it, the arrow grazing his arm and tearing through his sleeve. Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth and kept moving.

"Getting tired?" Ivara called out, her voice taunting but calm.

"Not a chance," Aiden growled, flames flickering more fiercely around him.

He extended his hands toward the ground, sending a controlled wave of fire racing across the forest floor. The flames spread quickly, forcing Ivara to leap from branch to branch to avoid being caught in the blaze.

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For a moment, he thought he had her cornered. But Ivara was nothing if not resourceful.

She used her bow to fire a grappling arrow into a higher branch, swinging herself up and away from the flames with a level of grace that almost made Aiden jealous.

"You’re not bad," she admitted, her tone lighter now. "But you’ll need more than fire to beat me."

Aiden didn’t respond. He was too focused, his mind racing as he tried to anticipate her next move.

The fight dragged on, each of them trading blows in the form of fire and arrows.

Aiden could feel his energy waning. Using his fire so intensely was taking its toll, and Ivara didn’t seem to be slowing down.

He needed to end this.

His gaze flicked back to the flag, still perched on the branch. It wasn’t far, but Ivara was always one step ahead, her arrows keeping him at bay.

And then he had an idea.

It was risky, and it would take everything he had, but it was the only way.

He began to backpedal, creating distance between himself and Ivara. She frowned, clearly suspicious of his movements, but she didn’t hesitate to fire another arrow.

This time, Aiden didn’t deflect it.

Instead, he dropped to the ground, letting the arrow sail harmlessly over his head. The move left him exposed, and he could see Ivara already preparing her next shot, but he didn’t stop.

With a burst of energy, he launched himself toward a cluster of trees, using the trunks as cover. Flames erupted around him, creating a barrier that made it difficult for her to aim.

"What are you doing?" Ivara called, her voice edged with frustration.

Aiden didn’t answer. He was already moving again, weaving through the trees with a newfound determination.

He ran further into the trees, trying to find cover. He needed to get closer to the flag. But as he ducked behind a large oak, he felt it—an unsettling stillness in the air. He wasn’t alone.

Without warning, a flash of movement caught his eye.

Ivara, her body moving like a whisper in the wind, emerged from behind a thicket of bushes. She was holding her bow steady, her eyes locked onto him. There was no hesitation in her movements, no doubt in her aim. The arrow notched and drawn, she loosed it with a single, smooth motion.

Aiden barely had time to react. He raised his hand, summoning another wall of fire, but the arrow was too fast. It hit the edge of his shield, the impact vibrating through his arm as it exploded in a shower of sparks. The fire flickered, almost going out, but he fought to keep it steady, his magic roaring in defiance.

He gritted his teeth. He couldn’t let her push him like this. Ivara was patient—she knew how to take her time, how to wait for the perfect shot. She would wait for him to make a mistake, then take advantage of it.

And that’s exactly what she did.

Another arrow came hurtling toward him, but this time, he was ready. He summoned a burst of flame, launching it at the oncoming projectile, but he misjudged the distance. The arrow swerved just enough to avoid the fire, embedding itself in the trunk of the tree beside him.

A loud thud echoed through the clearing.

Aiden cursed under his breath. She was too good. He was too slow. If this kept up, he’d never get close enough to the flag.

His heart pounded in his chest as he ducked low, trying to keep his head below the line of fire. The pressure was mounting. He had to move.

He heard the twang of the bowstring again, this time from behind him. Aiden spun around, his feet skidding against the dirt, and summoned a wall of flame just in time. The arrow hit the shield with a force that sent a shockwave through his entire body, but he stood his ground.

Ivara was playing with him now. Every shot was designed to force him into a corner, to make him act out of desperation.

Aiden’s breath came faster. He couldn’t keep doing this. He had to be smarter. But the thought of losing, of letting Ivara win, twisted something inside him. He couldn’t give in. Not when he was so close. He had come too far to back down now.

"C’mon, Aiden," Ivara called from behind the trees. "Show me what you’ve got."

He clenched his fists, summoning more fire, more heat. The air around him thickened with the intensity of his magic. He couldn’t hold back any longer.

Then, in a burst of movement, he dashed forward, ignoring the burn of his legs and the pounding of his heart. He had no plan—no strategy. It was all instinct now.

His fire flared, lighting up the darkened forest around him as he ran toward the flag.

Ivara saw him coming. She raised her bow, already drawing her arrow, aiming for the heart of his approach. But Aiden was already too close—he could feel the warmth of the flag just ahead of him.

Everything felt like it was happening too fast. He was running headfirst into her trap, but he had no choice. The heat within him surged as he pushed through the trees, the flag within arm’s reach.

And then, just as his fingers brushed the fabric—

Twang.

The sound of the bowstring echoed through the clearing. Aiden’s eyes went wide.

The arrow was already in flight.

He had no time to react. No time to shield himself.

The world seemed to slow as the arrow neared its target—the flag, his flag.

But just as the arrow was about to strike—

A sharp crack rang out. Something shattered.

Aiden froze.

His fingers brushed against the flag.

"The winner is—"

The dome flickered, and the scene faded to black.