As the sun rose, a golden dragon bellowed to the sky. Flames shot into the air before they became red wisps that twirled away on the wind. His wings flared by his side, emphasising the fatal spikes he wore. Red eyes turned on her, a lethal promise within them that made her heart skip a beat.

Aila twirled the sword in her grasp, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Her power rumbled within her, her well on the cusp of being called upon. His words echoed in the back of her mind, reminding her that this wasn't the first time she was having to do this, that she had made all her mistakes already, that there were no more left to make.

Today, she would succeed.

Strike me with your blade. Draw blood.

Aila drew in a long breath, and then she charged the dragon. The sword in her hand was brandished before her, ready to fulfil it's task. As she neared the dragon, she cast a surge of water below her, guiding herself up rapidly on a fountain and landing on his back.

Before she could bring the blade down, he bucked and threw her off, sending her careening away. Aila caught herself on a cushion of air before the grass beneath her could break her fall.

Still lying down, she created an air shield around her as Ember tried to cover her in a blanket of fire. His searing onslaught didn't cease, forcing Aila to hold onto her shield and not crumble.

Though her well wasn't anywhere near empty, she knew that if they continued like this, she would surrender long before he did. She quickly turned the air into a water shield, thrusting her power out in an arc that cut through his fire and crashed into his face.

Aila rolled aside and leapt to her feet, grabbing her blade and advancing. In the second that Ember was shaking the water from his eyes, she conjured an earthball and sent it hurtling into the side of his face, making his head snap to the side. His red eyes focused on her again, an intensity burning within them as he tried to predict her next movement.

Aila conjured another earthball and tried her luck with a repeat of the same attack, but Ember merely knocked it aside with a lazy flick of his wing, his eyes never leaving hers.

Realising that she'd have more success if Ember couldn't see her, Aila studied the space beneath him. She pushed air at her heels, flying across the grass in the blink of an eye, before she stopped beside his legs and drove her sword up, aiming for the dragon's underside.

She groaned in frustration as her blade merely cut through air, and she glared at Ember, who was hovering in the air above her with his powerful wings keeping him aloft.

Aila channelled the air around her, casting it such that she was lifted from the ground: free-flying.

The sensation hadn't become any less incredible, but with her mind on the task at hand, she didn't allow herself time to marvel at her own ability to soar.

She flew around Ember, jabbing with her sword, trying to find an opening. He still didn't relent, batting her out of the way with his own air powers and even going so far as to flap his wings to propel her away.

Aila resisted, challenging his power with hers. She held her blade out before her, but when Ember swiped his tail her way and a spike crashed into her, Aila lost her grip on her well, and her grasp on her air powers loosened.

She slammed into the ground, groaning in pain at the harsh impact. The dragon, seizing the moment in which she was disoriented, conjured an earthball and sent it hurtling into her stomach. Aila wheezed as the breath was knocked from her lungs, and flicked an air shield up around her, cursing herself for having let her guard down.

Ember again pushed against her powers, battling against her shield the way he had done in the previous bid to break it. Aila however, focused, closing her eyes and attempting to regain her breath.

A memory of one of Ember's lessons came back to her, one in which he had told her that elements were bound to be used together. She had heeded that advice a week ago, and had come close to defeating him.

With a frown of concentration tugging at her brow, Aila braced her palms out in front of her, calling on the power that resumed coursing through her with renewed strength, like a hormone or drug.

She dropped her shield. Before Ember's volley could reach her, her own fire, earth, wind and water merged, creating a whirlwind with her at the centre. A mix of colours entrapping her in a bright glow.

Aila could feel Ember's own powers trying to smother hers, attempting to cut through her storm and strike her down before she could draw his blood. She was also aware of the fact that he couldn't make it through hers and that her own elemental torrent was so thick that it was a shield in itself.

With a yell, Aila slammed the power into the golden beast before her, watching as it crashed against his air shield, wearing it down until it eventually gave way. Ember absorbed the hit, lurching backwards by a mile and half. He slammed into the ground, and Aila winced at the impact, again pushing air at her own heels in order to speed to his side.

The dragon cracked open his eyes, appearing reluctant to do so. He attempted to launch to his feet, and managed it, but he teetered dangerously and promptly sat on his hind legs.

It was a sight Aila hadn't seen before, and she stifled a chuckle as she watched Ember's confusion.

In what appeared to be a last stand, he blew fire at her, and Aila doused it with a water shield, grinning as she directed it to splash on his face. Before the water cleared, she conjured the biggest earthball she could, and threw it at his face, watching as he again tilted to the side and landed with a deafening thud against the ground.

Aila flung herself forward, using his unfavorable position to her advantage. She drove her blade into his arm, tearing through scales and muscle, though aware to only push the sword in deep enough to draw blood, before she withdrew it. She watched in satisfaction as red stained the steel.

In a sudden flash, the beast no longer lay before her. Ember, now in his human form, winced as he sat up straight and regarded his bleeding arm. He casually placed his other arm above the wound, and Aila watched in relief as it began to close. His healing seemed to wash away all the pain clinging to his body, as when he next regarded her, he appeared to be re-energised. 

"That was phenomenal," he breathed, regarding Aila with profound respect and pride.

He offered a hand out to her, and she took it, sighing in relief as his healing power flowed through her, clearing her mind and body of both pain and fatigue.

"Thank you," she murmured gratefully. She sat down on the grass beside him, watching the way the horizon caught fire as the sun began to set. 

"You've come a long way Spark. There truly isn't much more I can teach you."

"It took me three months to complete that lesson," Aila protested with a grin. "And even then, it was hard."

"You were incredible," Ember repeated. "It was supposed to be hard. You grew more powerful and patient each time." He shook his head with a grin as he continued. "For the first month, you couldn't even stand the thought of hurting me."

Aila shoved him with a smile, shaking her head in denial.

"I would never pass on the opportunity to hurt you."

"Ah, but you did. Many times." Ember teased, before he spoke again with more seriousness. "In that way, your spirit has become tougher too."

Aila leaned against him, and a smile touched her lips as Ember slung an arm around her. He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.

With tiredness in the air between them, a peaceful silence fell as they both watched the sky turn golden above them, the promise of another day beckoning them forward.

Heloooo!

If you haven't already guessed, the 'beast' referred to in the chapter title is in fact our very own Aila.  :)

Fun fact: this is the last chapter I wrote in the whole book! I found it really hard to write and procrastinated for so long but it's here whoohooo. The ending was actually written long before the beginning lol! There are only three chapters left aaaahhh!

Here's how I imagine Ember and Aila at the end of this chapter!

*Hopes some of you guys watch this show so we can rant about how they keep rejecting each other to be with each other and how the reveal hasn't flipping happened yet*

~ MaddyWilson 💙