The mountain range further north from the Court had long since been abandoned by ordinary travelers since it didn’t lead to anywhere much. The establishment of the Aether train and the lack of beasts had made it a useless place. But it was still good enough for training. Especially between powerful people.

The sky was clear. Fresh snow covered the peaks. Cold winds swept across the rocky landscape.

Atheline stood on a wide stone plateau overlooking miles of frozen wilderness.

The location was perfect, far from anything important. If things went wrong, the only casualties would be unfortunate mountains.

Lilith stood several dozen meters away, dark hair moving gently in the wind with a single dagger resting in her hand. She looked as nonchalant as anyone going into a fight they were sure they’ll win could be.

Atheline didn’t even have the heart to complain, he was the complete opposite of her. He was carrying considerably more equipment. He had a bow resting across his back, a sword hung at his waist and several arrows sat inside a quiver.

Lilith looked at him calmly. He rolled his shoulders then smiled.

"You know, I didn’t think we’d be doing this so early in the morning," he jokingly said.

She rolled her eyes." We have a meeting right after."

He chuckled and shook his head.

"Before we begin, I have something to say."

She raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

He took a breath then pointed at her.

"I’m fighting seriously with everything I’ve got... No holding back," he firmly said.

She looked toward the surrounding mountains then back toward him.

"You do realize you’ll lose."

He immediately pointed again.

"That isn’t the point. You’re supposed to cheer for your husband you know, some encouragement would be appreciated."

"Oh, it’ll take at least fifty years before you can do that. Keep fighting husband."

"You’re something else entirely."

Lilith folded her arms. Atheline grinned.

"You’ve beaten me every time."

"Yes."

"But I’ve gotten stronger now."

"You have, I can see that."

"So today I’m fighting with everything," he emphasised as though she hadn’t heard the first time.

She considered him quietly. For a moment neither spoke. Cold wind swept across the plateau as snow drifted between them. Eventually, she nodded.

"Fine."

He immediately smiled but she continued.

"But don’t complain afterward."

Atheline drew his sword. Silver steel emerged from the scabbard with a metallic whisper. It still felt new and heavy in his hand but he’d trained enough to get used to it again during his training seasons.

While the dagger was helpful a sword would be better since he needed to maintain a little bit of a distance from her and she was extremely proficient with the dagger.

His grin widened.

"Deal."

She lowered her arms. The dagger rotated lazily between her fingers. Then the atmosphere instantly changed.

The playful conversation vanished, the mountain plateau grew silent and the air itself seemed heavier.

Atheline felt it immediately, pressure coming from her. She wasn’t releasing her full power, not even close. Yet the difference was obvious.

This was the woman who ruled a kingdom, reduced kingdoms to obedience, and could walk into diplomatic meetings and terrify rulers.

Atheline’s smile slowly faded and excitement replaced it. A familiar feeling he had missed, the same feeling he experienced before every serious battle.

Lilith watched him, waiting. Atheline took a deep breath. Lightning cracked around him then he vanished. His body appeared dozens of meters away instantly, too fast for the naked eye to track.

At the same moment, he drew his bow. Three arrows materialized between his fingers formed from lightning, fire, and ice.

The arrows launched simultaneously. A second later, the mountain exploded with sound. Three streaks of destruction crossed the battlefield.

The fire arrow transformed into a blazing comet, the lightning arrow split into dozens of crackling branches while the ice arrow froze the air itself.

Lilith only moved a single step, nothing more. Darkness erupted around her. The shadows beneath her feet expanded outward like a living ocean. The three arrows vanished into it, swallowed completely.

Atheline’s eyes widened.

Then the shadows spat them back out. The arrows shot toward him, faster than before.

Athelune disappeared and the returning attacks struck the mountain behind him.

BOOM.

Fire erupted, ice exploded and lightning shattered stone. The entire cliff face collapsed instantly.

Atheline reappeared in midair, invisible winds surrounding him, keeping him afloat. His bow was already drawn again. This time ten arrows appeared simultaneously.

Lilith looked upward. Atheline released the string immediately after.

The sky vanished beneath destruction. Ten arrows transformed into an elemental storm. Flames, ice, water, lightning, and earth released at full attack. The attacks descended together.

She finally moved properly. Darkness exploded from her position and the shadows rose like an army. Hundreds of shadow constructs erupted from the ground, each one intercepting an arrow.

The explosions shook the mountain and the snow disappeared. Shockwaves rolled across nearby peaks breaking stone and ground.

He landed on a distant ridge then immediately frowned. Lilith hadn’t moved even an inch. Every attack and explosion had been stopped within that small radius.

Atheline laughed.

"You’re ridiculous."

Lilith tilted her head a small smile gracing her lips.

"You already knew that."

He didn’t have a comeback for that. Atheline raised his bow again, this time converted Aether surged through his body, far more than before.

Lilith instantly noticed.

The air changed around them. His elemental affinities awakened together. Fire gathered around one hand, lightning danced across his arms, water spiraled through the air, ice formed beneath his feet, earth covered his arrows, and wind circled his body.

All elements were collected on one archer. She finally looked interested. He grinned then released.

The mountain range disappeared beneath elemental destruction. Flames stretched across the sky, frozen spears erupted from below, lightning shattered the heavens, water dragons surged through the air, and beams of concentrated light pierced everything in their path. The attacks converged simultaneously.

Lilith stood at the center of the chaos, untouched, then she raised her dagger. Darkness swallowed the battlefield.

Atheline lost sight of everything. The sky, mountains, and even sound seemed to have vanished, only shadows remained.

Atheline’s instincts screamed that this was real danger. He vanished instantly. Space folded around him and a black blade passed through the location where his neck had been.