What we think to be our greatest weakness can sometimes be our biggest strength.

Sarah J. Maas

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The Avallons had no idea what Varelor did. As soon as they finished their chants, he suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of where he might be.

Several days of peace and prosperity had passed by, and because of that, everyone just ignored what Varelor said. Little did they know that it was just the beginning...

Having a unique ability, Varelor could control other elves' minds and see visions from the future.

Knowing that the banishing will happen, Varelor kidnapped a Serebian, which was one of the tribes in Everdaile, and used his power to control the elf's mind. Having the ability to shapeshift, the elf turned himself into a figure that looked exactly like Varelor.

It was all planned. The Serebian and the other prisoners they caught were the ones banished toward the Mortal Realm, whereas the real Varelor trained his real army.

He had the chance to see the battle while it was being held. He was the one to control the Serebian's speech, especially when he saw Alfira that time through the images projected by his ice blue ring. That was the reason why the curse was real.

With the newly discovered artifact beside him, he gained the ability to leverage his abilities towards his full potential. One by one, he gathered his crew from every part of the Immortal Realm who, like him, strived for revenge and yearned for a better rule. Most of them just chose to follow him out of dread.

Varelor's enchanting words poisoned the minds of the Enchantrians, pushing the number of his army enough to bring the Immortals to bow down before him, the new Emperor of all lands.

"Be with my army, and I'll bring you the justice you all have been searching for! Be with my army and make the Immortal Realm the most powerful domain in the whole Enchantria!" he articulated towards the Enchantrians.

One day, the Elder Committee consulted the Avallons, the wizards, and each of the rulers of the six lands with fear in their eyes and shivering voices as they spoke.

"Another war!" one of the wizards spoke. "Another war will soon end the five!"

Hearing those words, everyone was thrilled. It was written in the scrolls, and it was shown in a vision by the Avallon Tree. They were certain that it would surely transpire.

"This is the beginning of the end!" the Blue Wizard, Nerus, added.

A tremble came down from the spines of everyone who heard the prophecy. Their minds were filled with terror from what they knew was inevitable to happen.

"What is it? What does it mean?" Livian asked the four wizards.

However, before they could even open their lips, a huge bang coming from the outside part of the Avallons' citadel interrupted them.

"The city's under attack!!!" The lookout shouted as loud as he could.

"But with whom?" asked Livian in his startled voice.

Thinking quickly, the Avallons ran outside to catch sight of what happened. They immediately transformed their rings into their esoteric weapons and then headed towards the scene with the use of a teleportation gem.

When they arrived at the city, they were greeted by the sounds of whines and sobs together with the scene of fallen debris scattered around every corner.

The city of Sepphora was known for the buildings built with crystal gems. It was also one of the largest cities in the Immortal Realm. But now, all that was left was shattered crystal pieces lying on the ground.

"Who did these so easily?" the Fire Avallon asked.

"According to the information I heard, these crystals can't be easily destroyed," the Water Avallon added.

The four Avallons' minds were suddenly blown out by multiple questions. All of a sudden, they heard loud laughter coming from behind them.

They slowly turned around, and they saw the person that they thought they had already gotten rid of.

"Varelor?!" Livian spoke, stunned by what he saw. "Bu-But..."

"Do you think you can all get rid of me that easily," Varelor spoke, "friend?"

Wrath, amazement, and sadness drifted out of Livian's mind. The same thing happened to the other Avallons as well.

"Then... Who's the one we sent towards the Mortal Realm?" he asked, bewildered.

Varelor turned to him and smiled. "Just a useless Serebian who thought I can help his ill mother," Varelor answered.

" Y- You coward!!!"

"Livian, I am so proud that you are now an Emperor. Do you still remember when we were still kids training with each other?" Varelor spoke as he strode around the four without raising any alarm that at any second they could attack him. "Back then, we were asking ourselves what might come to pass if we became rulers of an empire or a kingdom. But now you know what will happen."

Not able to hold her temper, Celebrin, the Fire Avallon, lighted up her blazing lash with her magic and whipped it towards Varelor.

As soon as it hit him, a thick smoke suddenly came. Assuming that his friend successfully hit Varelor, Livian used his wind magic to revoke the smoke.

However, they were greeted by a different scene...

"Didn't you know that ice can beat fire if it is stronger?" Varelor spoke. Celebrin's blazing whip had lost its flame.

"How did you -"

Varelor raised his hand and showed his ring to the other Avallons.

"You are the -"

" Yes, Livian," interrupted Varelor," I am one of the Avallons."

"But that's impossible!" Theodren, the Earth Avallon, spoke," There is no such thing as a fifth ring!"

"But there is now, and you are seeing this in front of you," Varelor answered.

Hearing those words, a memory flashed out before Livian's mind.

Another war! Another war will soon end the five! This is the beginning of the end!

"The end of the five," he whispered.

Varelor heard every word that came out from Livian's lips. He grabbed his neck and looked at him with his innocent hazel eyes.

"End of the five, eh?" Varelor spoke, "Or maybe the rest of you and the other Avallons together with your mentor?"

While Varelor was busy speaking out words to him, Livian stretched his arms towards the last teleportation gem hidden in his pocket without wasting any time. He then gestured to the other Avallons to hold each other's hands, and finally, he pictured their secret citadel inside his mind.

Soon afterward, he spoke, "Ethlen Medure!" It was an elven enchantment that means 'Bring us towards the citadel.'

Livian and the four Avallons immediately vanished into thin air, leaving Varelor behind.

His army, who was hiding all over the place, was stunned by what happened. "My Emperor, should I order my men to search for them?" one of his soldiers asked.

"No," answered Varelor calmly. "Let them spread the terror towards their master and all of Immortal Realm. For now, we continue our plan!"

Meanwhile, the Avallons arose in front of their mentor. "Varelor's alive, Master!" Celebrin spoke in her shivering voice.

"That is what I feared. I taught many great things to Varelor because I thought he would be a protector, too. But then I began to fear that he might not be worthy of that title," their master remarked.

"What should we do now? He already destroyed the city of Sepphora easily," uttered Dreia, the Water Avallon. "I also got reports about Mhydrillians taking over the other Immortal Realm cities!"

"And worse, he discovered another magical ring," Theodren added.

"I- I should be the one to face Varelor. I know he will soon come here, and I have to fight him," their master spoke, letting out a worried sigh. "If this doesn't end, the whole Enchantria might be in great danger."

"No, he's too powerful, Master. Besides, as guardians, it is our task to do," Livian spoke.

The Avallons continued to force him to stay away, but their master already knew what might happen. The wizards already told him, and he doesn't want that to happen.

"Your task is to evacuate all the elves towards the other land," their master insisted.

"No, master. We can't leave you here," Celebrin spoke, teary-eyed.

"Go towards the kingdom of the fairies in Guevaria. It is the safest place I can think of," he added, pushing the four towards the door.

"We can't leave you here!!!" Livian shouted, making their master halt. "I am the Emperor of Everdaile, and I should be the one to give orders here, and I demand you to come with us!"

The old man looked at them with tears falling down his eyes. "As your master, I order you to go, and your task is to save the lives of your subjects," he said. "I know my title is not as great as yours, but you swore that you will listen to the things I say to you."

Feeling regretful and worried, the four had nothing to do but do what was entrusted to them. Their master chose to be left alone in their fortress and was certain that Varelor would surely come to take his vengeance on him.

He waited under the silence of the room as he watched the setting of the blood-red sun.

Finally, at the first light of the two moons aligning with each other, a shadow appeared in front of the door with the sound of laughter all over the place.

"Varelor," the old man spoke as he faced the door. Both of his hands were holding his weapons to be ready for what might occur.

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