The tension in the air was suffocating as [[Ellette|Ellette]] and Nissa’s argument exploded into a cacophony of screams. “You _killed him_ and ran!” Nissa’s voice cracked with rage, her eyes wild. “No! It’s not like that!” [[Ellette|Ellette]] shouted back, her voice filled with desperation. The sisters’ heated exchange left the rest of the party frozen, unsure of how to intervene. But the verbal sparring quickly dissolved into another clash of blades as Nissa lunged at [[Ellette|Ellette]] with the Moonblade. “_Don’t hurt her!_” [[Ellette|Ellette]] roared to the others, blocking an overhead strike and shoving Nissa back. The battle resumed, chaotic and personal. [[Ellette|Ellette]] and [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] worked together, their movements coordinated but reluctant, eventually pinning Nissa. For a moment, it seemed they might have subdued her. Everyone involved in this current battle of attrition is worn down, tired and bloodied. Not much more left they can give But Nissa, defiant and resourceful, bit down hard on her lip until blood ran, her voice chanting something low and guttural. With a flash of determination, she severed her own arm with a brutal slice, freeing herself. “What the hell—?” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] gasped as Nissa dove toward [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]], her blade aimed to kill. [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]’s reflexes took over. He unleashed a desperate _thunder wave_, the raw power erupting at point-blank range. “_NO!_” [[Ellette|Ellette]]’s scream echoed through the keep as the energy struck Nissa full force. The elf’s body shuddered as the force of the spell shattered her resolve—and her life. For a breathless moment, Nissa stood, her blue eyes wide and unblinking. Then she collapsed, lifeless, onto the stone floor. The room fell into an unbearable silence. [[Ellette|Ellette]] approached her sister’s still body, her hands trembling as she lifted Nissa into her arms, along with the severed arm. Her voice was quiet, but every word carried the weight of a promise: “Meet me in the war room. Now.” The party gathered around the table, the air thick with unease. [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] shifted nervously, his hands trembling as he tried to explain. “It was... instinct,” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] stammered. “I—I didn’t have a choice. She was going to kill me.” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] folded his arms, his expression unreadable. “You’re saying the right things, but it’s [[Ellette|Ellette]] you need to convince.” The distant echo of [[Ellette|Ellette]]’s footsteps cut through the tension like a blade. She entered the room, the _Moonblade_ gleaming in her hand, her entire presence transformed. Her usually cool blue skin had taken on an amber hue, and her hair flickered like living flames, casting shadows that danced across the walls. She didn’t wait for pleasantries or excuses, pointing the _Moonblade_ directly at [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]. “_You killed her,_” [[Ellette|Ellette]] seethed, her voice trembling with restrained rage. “I told you not to hurt her, and you did it anyway. She was my _sister_, [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]!” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]], visibly shaken, stammered in defence. “She was going to kill me! I didn’t want to, [[Ellette|Ellette]]! I....” “You think that excuses it? You panicked, and now she’s dead. You stole any chance I had to _fix things with her_!” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] faltered. “I... I didn’t know what else to do.” [[Ellette|Ellette]] slammed her fist against the table, her eyes blazing. “You didn’t _try_! You didn’t listen. You don’t deserve to stand here and pretend you cared!” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]’s words became a jumbled mess of apologies, justifications, and self-loathing, but [[Ellette|Ellette]] was too furious to hear him. Her grip on the _Moonblade_ tightened, and the room felt as if it might ignite from her sheer presence. In a flash of movement, she raised the weapon high, then swung it down with enough force to send a resounding crack through the room as the blade embedded itself into the table just inches from [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]’s head. Seeing the situation spiralling out of control, [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] stepped forward, placing himself between [[Ellette|Ellette]] and [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]. “Enough!” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]]’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. He turned to [[Ellette|Ellette]], his tone firm but understanding. “[[Ellette|Ellette]], look at me. I know you’re angry. You have every right to be. But killing [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] isn’t going to bring Nissa back.” She wrenched the blade from the table and [[Ellette|Ellette]]’s eyes flicked to [[Qwimby|Qwimby]], her grip on the blade unwavering. “He took her from me, [[Qwimby|Qwimby]]. He doesn’t deserve to live after what he’s done.” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] raised his hands in a placating gesture. “You’re right. He messed up. Big time. But if we’re going to fix this, if we’re going to _try_ to bring Nissa back, we’re going to need him. We need all of us.” [[Ellette|Ellette]]’s jaw clenched, her fiery appearance flickering slightly as [[Qwimby|Qwimby]]’s words sank in. “You think I can just _forgive_ this?” she spat. “No,” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] admitted. “And I wouldn’t ask you to. But you don’t have to forgive him to use him. He’s a wizard, [[Ellette|Ellette]]. A damn good one, even if he’s an idiot sometimes. Let him help us fix this.” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]], still shaken, took a hesitant step forward. “I’ll do anything, [[Ellette|Ellette]]. I swear it. Whatever it takes to bring her back, to _make this right_,I’ll do it. I don’t care what it costs me.” [[Ellette|Ellette]]’s gaze turned icy. “Don’t think for a second that this erases what you’ve done. You’re a coward, [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]], and nothing will change that.” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] bowed his head in silence, accepting her judgment. After a long, tense silence, [[Ellette|Ellette]] lowered the _Moonblade_. “You’re right, [[Qwimby|Qwimby]]. Killing him won’t bring her back. But if he fails me again... I _will_ make him pay.” She turned her burning eyes to [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]], her voice low and dangerous. “You are marked in my eyes, [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]. You’ll spend the rest of your days proving that you’re worth keeping alive. If you fail in this, you’ll _wish_ I had killed you.” She stepped back, the fire in her appearance dimming slightly as her fury subsided just enough to allow her to leave the room. “Get some rest,” she said coldly. “Tomorrow, we’re going to Alexandria to find someone who can fix your mess.” With that, [[Ellette|Ellette]] stormed out, the door slamming behind her. The room was heavy with unspoken words as [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] and [[Zara Blackwood|Zara]] exchanged a glance. “You’re lucky I talked her down,” [[Qwimby|Qwimby]] muttered to [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]. “She wasn’t kidding about killing you.” “I know,” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] whispered, his voice hollow. “And she’s right. I deserve every bit of this.” [[Zara Blackwood|Zara]] placed a tentative hand on [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]’s shoulder. “You’ll have to work thrice as hard to earn her trust back if you ever can. For now, focus on helping Nissa. It’s the only thing that matters.” The party dispersed, each member carrying their own heavy burden of guilt and grief as the long night stretched on. [[Chapter 38. A new Challenge]]