As the helicopter finally hovered above the gathering, the side doors slid open—
The rotor blades of the helicopter slowed as it landed, sending gusts of wind through the stunned crowd. As the dust settled, four figures stepped out, each one carrying an undeniable presence.
Soren.
The Dragon Prince himself.
Arhan, Zara, and Hiroshi followed behind him, but all eyes were locked on Soren—the man who had become a living legend, feared and respected in equal measure.
The crowd fell into silence, a collective breath held in disbelief.
Even among the most powerful, few had ever seen him in person. His name carried weight—the brutal hero, the one who had shattered enemies without hesitation, a force of unmatched destruction.
And yet, as powerful as he was, he had once been someone else.
Iffah's eyes narrowed. She knew this wasn't a social visit.
Before anyone could even greet him, Soren's golden eyes locked onto one person.
Hakan.
His expression was cold—and then, in an instant—
He lunged.
A fist, reinforced with raw power, cut through the air.
Hakan reacted just in time, raising his arms to block the blow—
But the sheer force sent both of them flying.
The two brothers were hurled backward, their bodies crashing through trees as they disappeared deep into the forest.
Chaos Breaks Loose
Gasps rang through the gathered guilds. Weapons were drawn. Abilities ignited.
Kaede stepped forward, lightning crackling at her fingertips. "What the hell just happened?!"
Raiden's gaze was like stone, fists clenched. "Explain. Now."
All eyes turned to the White Dragons, expecting an answer—but even they looked stunned.
Arhan raised his hands, shaking his head. "We weren't told about a fight! We were just told we needed to meet someone!"
Tension hung in the air, but before anyone could take action—
Iffah stepped forward.
Her voice was firm, commanding. "Stand down."
The guild leaders hesitated, but her unwavering gaze left no room for argument.
"This isn't our battle. This is between them."
"And they need to settle it—once and for all."
The forest erupted into chaos as Soren and Hakan's bodies crashed through the thick trees, the impact shaking the ground. Birds fled the canopy, and the sound of splintering wood echoed like thunder.
Soren rose first, his eyes burning with golden fire as black flames began to lick at his hands. His movements were deliberate, his rage palpable.
"You dare stand here," he spat, his voice low and venomous, "after all this time? After what you did?"
Hakan stood slowly, brushing the dirt from his tattered clothes. His expression was calm, almost detached, but his eyes betrayed the storm within.
"I never asked for forgiveness, Soren," Hakan said, his voice steady. "I only ask that you listen."
"Listen?" Soren's laugh was bitter, cutting through the air like a blade. "Listen to the man who abandoned his family? To the brother who left us to suffer?"
Hakan's jaw tightened. "You think I abandoned you? You think I had a choice?"
"You always had a choice!" Soren roared, his black flames exploding outward, igniting the ground beneath him. "And you chose to disappear while I was left to pick up the pieces!"
Hakan's calm façade cracked, his fists clenching. "I didn't leave to escape my responsibilities. I left to protect you—to protect all of you!"
The words hung in the air, but Soren wasn't ready to hear them. With a roar, he charged again, his black flames spiraling around his fists as he struck at Hakan.
Hakan dodged the first blow, but the second grazed his side, sending him skidding backward. He recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing as he prepared himself.
"Soren," he said, his voice laced with regret, "if this is what it takes to make you understand—then so be it."
He lunged forward, meeting Soren head-on.
The clash of their powers was cataclysmic.
Soren's black flames collided with Hakan's brute strength, sending shockwaves rippling through the forest. Trees were uprooted, the ground shattered, and the air itself seemed to burn with the intensity of their battle.
At the Edge of the Forest
Back at the clearing, the gathered guilds watched in stunned silence. Even the White Dragons, known for their composure, seemed shaken.
Zara took a hesitant step forward. "We need to stop this. They'll kill each other!"
Arham placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression grim. "No. This isn't our fight. This is something they need to resolve themselves."
"But Soren—" Zara began, her voice filled with concern.
Arham's voice hardened. "Soren doesn't lose. And if Hakan is who I think he is, he won't either."
Raiden crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the forest. "This isn't just a fight between brothers. This is a reckoning."
Iffah stood at the edge of the clearing, her heart pounding. She could barely make out the flashes of fire and the sound of blows in the distance.
Iffah's jaw tightened. She wanted to intervene, to throw herself into the fray—but deep down, she knew this was inevitable.
"They have to do this,," Iffah said, her voice trembling. "They've carried this for too long. If they don't settle it now, they never will."
Hakan's strength was unrelenting. He dodged, weaved, and countered Soren's attacks with precision, his movements calculated and deliberate.
But Soren's flames were a force of nature. The black fire consumed everything it touched, leaving scorched earth in its wake.
"You've gotten stronger," Soren admitted, his voice low and dangerous. "But it won't be enough."
Hakan's eyes narrowed. "I don't need to defeat you. I just need to make you see the truth."
Soren didn't answer. He struck again, this time unleashing a massive wave of black fire. Hakan braced himself, the flames engulfing him—but as the smoke cleared, he stood unharmed.
"What—" Soren froze, his eyes widening.
Hakan exhaled, his fists glowing faintly. "You're not the only one who's changed, Soren. You're not the only one who's suffered."
Soren's rage flared again, but his movements became less certain, his strikes more erratic.
"Why?" he demanded, his voice breaking. "Why didn't you come back? Why didn't you tell us you were alive?"
Hakan's face softened, and for the first time, he lowered his guard.
"Because if I did," he said quietly, "you would've been dragged into the same hell I've been living in. And I couldn't let that happen."
The words hit Soren like a blow to the chest. His flames faltered, the black fire flickering as doubt crept in.
Hakan took a step forward. "You think I left because I didn't care? I left because I do care. I left to protect you, to protect Iffah, to protect Ammi and Abba from the disgrace of having a weak Son,Husband and a brother."
Soren's fists trembled. "Then why didn't you trust me? Why didn't you let me help you?"
Hakan's eyes filled with regret. "Because you were just a boy, Soren. And I needed you to grow into the man you are now. The man who can stand here and fight me."
The two brothers stood in silence, their breaths heavy, the forest around them reduced to ashes.
Soren's flames extinguished completely.
And for the first time in years, he looked at his brother—not as an enemy, but as the sibling he had lost.
"I'm still angry," Soren admitted, his voice shaking. "But I'll listen."
Hakan smiled faintly, his shoulders relaxing. "That's all I ask."
The forest trembled as Soren and Hakan clashed once more. This time, their attacks carried the full weight of their emotions—years of anger, guilt, and unspoken pain.
Hakan launched forward, his fist glowing with a raw, unrefined energy. Soren responded in kind, his black flames surging to meet the strike.
The moment their attacks collided, the impact created a shockwave so powerful that the earth beneath them cracked. Trees were uprooted, debris was flung into the air, and the very air seemed to ripple with the force of their fury.
Both brothers were thrown backward, their bodies skidding across the scorched ground. Hakan slammed into a tree, the trunk splintering under the force. Soren tumbled through the dirt, landing hard on his back.
For a moment, there was only silence, save for the faint crackling of flames.
Soren staggered to his feet, his chest heaving. His hands trembled, not from exhaustion but from the storm raging inside him. His golden eyes, usually so fierce, now glistened with unshed tears.
"Why?" he choked out, his voice breaking.
Hakan, still leaning against the broken tree, looked up at him, his expression unreadable.
"Why did you leave me?" Soren shouted, his voice rising with every word. His hands clawed at his chest as if trying to tear away the pain that was suffocating him. "Why didn't you take me with you? Why did you leave me to face this alone?"
Tears streamed down his face now, mingling with the dirt and sweat. He took a shaky step forward, his flames flickering weakly around him.
"You were my brother, Hakan," he continued, his voice trembling. "You were supposed to be there for me—for us. I needed you, and you weren't there!"
Hakan's own breath hitched at the raw anguish in Soren's voice. He pushed himself to his feet, his movements slow and deliberate.
"I know," he said quietly, his voice thick with regret. "I know I wasn't there. And I will carry that guilt for the rest of my life."
"Then why?" Soren demanded, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Why didn't you trust me? Why didn't you believe that I could handle it?"
Hakan took a step forward, his own emotions finally breaking through his stoic exterior.
"Because I didn't want you to end up like me!" he shouted, his voice raw. "I didn't want you to carry the same burden, to make the same mistakes. I left because I thought I was protecting you!"
Soren's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his head hanging low. His shoulders shook as sobs wracked his body.
"You weren't protecting me," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You were leaving me. You were leaving us."
Hakan approached slowly, his own tears spilling over. He knelt in front of Soren, his hand hovering hesitantly before finally resting on his brother's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Soren," he said, his voice breaking. "I thought I was doing the right thing, but I see now that I was wrong. I should've been there. For you, for Iffah, for everyone. I failed you."
Soren looked up, his golden eyes meeting Hakan's for the first time without anger. They were filled with pain, but also something else—a longing for the bond they had lost.
"I needed you," Soren said again, his voice trembling. "I still do."
Hakan's hand tightened on Soren's shoulder, his own tears falling freely now. "And I'm here now. I'm not leaving again. Not ever."
The two brothers stayed there, kneeling in the ashes of their battle, their shared pain finally laid bare. The world around them seemed to pause, as if holding its breath.
In that moment, it wasn't about the war, or the guilds, or the battles they had fought.
It was just two brothers, trying to find their way back to each other.
As the dust settled and the forest grew quiet, the tension in the air became palpable. The crowd of onlookers—guild members, heroes, and even those from rival factions—stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the tree line where the battle had raged moments ago.
At first, there was only silence. Then, faint footsteps echoed through the clearing.
Two figures emerged from the darkness, their forms illuminated by the pale moonlight.
It was Hakan and Soren.
Their once-bloodied appearances were now marked only by faint bruises and scuffed clothing. The brothers walked side by side, their postures relaxed, as if they hadn't just unleashed a battle that had shaken the earth.
But what truly stunned the onlookers wasn't their survival—it was Soren.
For the first time, the unshakable Dragon Prince, feared and revered across continents, wore a smile.
Not a smirk of confidence or a sneer of intimidation, but a genuine, radiant smile.
Arhan's jaw dropped. Zara blinked in disbelief. Hiroshi, the ever-serious strategist of the White Dragons, rubbed his eyes as if they were deceiving him.
"Soren's… smiling?" Zara whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Arhan chuckled nervously. "I think the world just shifted on its axis."
The Black Dragons, standing near Iffah, were equally taken aback. Maris nudged Ezekiel, who stared slack-jawed at the sight. Even Aria, usually unflappable, allowed a small, surprised grin to tug at her lips.
But none were as affected as Iffah.
Her heart soared as she watched the two brothers approach, their shoulders bumping as they exchanged words. Hakan said something that made Soren throw his head back and laugh—a deep, genuine laugh that reverberated through the clearing.
Iffah felt tears welling up in her eyes, but this time, they were tears of joy. The man she loved, and the brother who had always been a mystery to her, were finally together.
"They're… talking," Ezekiel murmured, his voice filled with disbelief. "And laughing. Soren's laughing."
Hakan and Soren stepped into the clearing, their casual demeanor in stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind. Their eyes swept over the crowd, and both brothers grinned.
"What?" Hakan called out, his voice carrying a playful edge. "Didn't think we'd make it?"
Soren smirked, the warmth in his expression unfamiliar but welcome. "You're all staring like you've seen a ghost."
Kaede, standing among the White Dragons, crossed her arms with an exaggerated huff. "You're one to talk, Soren. When was the last time you smiled like that? Ever?"
The crowd erupted into relieved laughter, the tension melting away. Even Raiden, who rarely let his guard down, allowed himself a small smile.
As the two brothers approached their respective guilds, Soren paused, glancing back at Hakan. "You're still terrible at blocking, by the way," he said, his tone teasing.
Hakan rolled his eyes, grinning. "And you still rely too much on those flames. Ever heard of a basic punch?"
Their banter drew more laughter, the mood transforming from tense to jubilant.
Iffah stepped forward, unable to contain herself any longer. "Hakan! Soren!"
Both brothers turned to her, their expressions softening.
Hakan's grin widened as he held out his arms. "Iffah."
She ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck as tears streamed down her face. "You idiot," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You really had me worried."
He held her tightly, his own eyes glistening. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "But I'm here now. I promise."
Soren watched the reunion silently, his smile fading into something more thoughtful. Arhan and Zara approached him cautiously.
"Soren," Zara began hesitantly, "are you… okay?"
He glanced at her, then at the rest of his guild. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, he nodded, his voice softer than they had ever heard it.
"I'm better than I've been in a long time," he said simply.
Arhan grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "Good. Because we're not letting you go soft on us now."
The laughter that followed was full of relief and camaraderie. For the first time in what felt like ages, the weight of the world seemed just a little lighter.
The battle was far from over, but for now, there was peace.
And as Hakan and Soren stood side by side, their bond renewed, the gathered guilds couldn't help but feel that the tides had truly begun to turn.
The celebration resumed, though now imbued with an entirely new spirit. This wasn't just a victory—it was a rebirth.
As the festivities drew to a close, the crowd began to thin. Aria approached Hakan and Iffah to bid her farewell. Her confident stride faltered slightly as she noticed Iffah standing beside Hakan, her golden eyes sharp and unwavering.
"Thank you for everything, Hakan," Aria began, her voice steady but tinged with respect. "It's good to see you standing tall, as always."
Before Hakan could respond, Iffah—who had been quietly observing—looped both her arms possessively around Hakan's arm. She leaned closer to him, her expression a mix of innocence and something far more territorial.
"Goodbye, Aria," Iffah said, her tone polite but firm. Her golden eyes locked onto Aria's, conveying a message that needed no words.
Aria paused, her lips twitching into a knowing smile. "Goodbye, Iffah. Hakan. Take care of each other."
As Aria turned to leave, Soren's voice rang out.
"Wait."
The crowd hushed slightly, their attention drawn back to the Dragon Prince.
Soren's piercing golden eyes were fixed on Aria. "Your arm," he said bluntly, his gaze flickering to the empty sleeve. "What happened?"
Aria froze, then slowly turned back to face him. She hesitated, glancing at Hakan and Iffah, who had stepped forward.
"It's nothing I couldn't survive," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the visible pain in her eyes. "I lost it during the war. A sacrifice I was willing to make."
Soren studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he said something that made everyone stop.
"It doesn't have to stay that way."
The silence that followed was thick with disbelief.
Aria frowned. "What do you mean?"
Hakan crossed his arms, raising a brow at his brother. "You're not just talking to talk, are you?"
Soren smirked, a rare flicker of amusement in his eyes. "When have I ever done that?"
He turned back to Aria, his tone softening. "There's someone who can help you. Someone who can restore what you've lost."
Aria blinked, her breath catching. "Who?"
"Our sister," Soren replied simply.
The name sent ripples of surprise through the gathered crowd—except for Iffah, who smiled knowingly.
Hakan looked at her, his brow furrowing slightly. "You're not surprised?"
Iffah tightened her grip on his arm, her golden eyes gleaming with warmth. "Of course I'm not. Do you think I wouldn't know about Mahira?"
Soren chuckled at Hakan's confusion. "She's your fiancée, brother. Of course, she knows about our sister."
Hakan exhaled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Fair enough."
Aria, still stunned, glanced at Soren. "Do you really think she can…?"
"She will," Soren said with certainty. "Mahira has always been gifted—an unparalleled healer. She has a way of mending not just the body, but the soul."
Hakan placed a reassuring hand on Aria's shoulder. "Looks like you're coming with us. We'll head to Mahira together."
Aria swallowed hard, emotions swirling in her chest. She nodded, her voice quiet but resolute. "Thank you."
As the night deepened, the groups began to disperse, but the energy of the gathering remained vibrant. Soren and Hakan shared a glance, their bond stronger than ever.
"Looks like we're going home," Hakan said with a grin.
Soren nodded. "About time."
Iffah, still holding onto Hakan's arm, smiled warmly. "I can't wait to see Mahira again."
The group began making their plans, their next journey already taking shape. For the first time in a long while, the future seemed bright—not just for Hakan and Soren, but for everyone whose lives they touched.
And as they prepared to set out on this new chapter, the bonds they had forged became their greatest strength, lighting the path ahead.