Sacri's anger at Ocutus for dragging him out of his confrontation with Feli soon was redirected into the war effort. Fortifying Sanas and strengthening his forces occupied most of his time and energy and gave him an avenue for his hatred and rage to funnel themselves into, and some of the manic intensity that could be seen in his eyes previous to the Battle of Tiber vanished. With Feli having openly declared war against Sacri, following their first battle, the energy he had channeled into finding his brother, energy that had festered within him while waiting for Ocutus to find him, now was directed into fighting and destroying Feli.

The Elves either in Sanas or in close proximity to the city were filled with fear and uncertainty. The actions of both their king and their prince left them unsure as to their own fates. As the Black Elves fortified Sanas and Feli struck and took several key towns, the hope they had of approaching freedom was daily wrecked by the measures implemented by Sacri to protect his throne.

But as Feli won more battles, and he became more outspoken about his goals, hope began to grow despite Sacri's fortifications and preparations. The Elves of Riko, Lunar and Solar alike, began to look forward to a reign by a half-caste king who was preserving their magic practices in the face of the corruption instigated by his brother.

As the months filled with blood and battle slipped by, the numbers of both Light Elf and Black Elf soldiers diminishing with each skirmish and then growing shortly after with new recruits, Sacri could feel the end approaching. He didn't know how, but an edge in the wind that would slap his face when standing in the watchtower looking out beyond Sanas, or a sudden tension in his Streaks, would make his heart pound, his breath come quick, and a chill mingle with his blood. He could tell the end of this whole conflict was coming. He could sense it.

This war between Sacri and Feli was going to end violently.

As Feli slowly worked his way closer to Sanas and as Sacri was slowly pushed back from his positions in the cities and towns near his capital, the tension that filled his Streaks whenever he reached out to them began to grow. It got to the point where he was able to count down the days to the final battle.

Five....

Feli and Sacri met in combat at the outlying town of Strata.

Four....

Sacri retreated back to Sanas.

Three....

Feli advanced toward Sanas.

Two....

Feli pitched his camp outside the walls of Sanas.

One....

Sacri readied his soldiers for battle.

Standing in his customary watchtower, staring down into the camp of the Light Elves, Sacri could feel his Streaks practically stretched taunt. He didn't know why he could feel so much through his magic. Perhaps it was their halfway degeneration from coils of gold to coils of ebony. Perhaps it was his status as Golden Force. Perhaps it was some reason he hadn't considered yet. But whatever it was, it was telling him that today was the day Riko's fate was decided.

"The soldiers are ready," Ocutus said, pulling himself onto the platform from the metal ladder bolted to the wall. His voice broke through Sacri's thoughts as he stepped over to the king's side, eyes gazing out over the assembling rows of the enemy. "They wait only for your word."

"I am ready," Sacri said.

"Good," Ocutus responded.

Sacri saw Feli move to take control over his forces, Cyren beside him. The Light Elves began to march towards the fortifications surrounding Sanas.

"Let us go," Sacri said, turning from his view. "Today, this war will end, one way or another."

Ocutus pivoted, looking at Sacri curiously. "How do you know that?"

"I can feel it," Sacri murmured. "I can feel it in the air, in my Streaks. I can feel it lurking in my blood, in my bones, in every breath I take. Today this all ends. Today we either triumph or fall. Today...I will win, or Feli will."

Ocutus stepped up to his king's side as Sacri continued. "There is a tension filling me, like that of a string stretched to its snapping point. This conflict will thumb that string, and it will snap. The reverberations of that snap will affect us all. No matter who wins, everything will change."

Sacri swung onto the ladder and began to climb down from the platform, Ocutus following. It was time to go to war.

It was time to snap the string.

It was time to change the world.