A Rise of the Cursed [Epic Fantasy | Arthurian Myth | Destiny as Choice | Slow-Burn Stakes]

Shadows danced among the ancient trees, their gnarled branches twisting like skeletal fingers against a blood-red sunset. The air was thick, almost viscous, each breath Albion took feeling heavy in his lungs. He stood in a vast clearing, the ground beneath him pulsating with an unsettling energy that made his skin crawl.

Opposite him, Eleven—once known to Winston as Cindy—hovered just above the ground, her feet barely touching the earth. Her dark hair flowed around her like an ink spill in water, defying gravity, each strand moving with a life of its own. Her eyes glowed a haunting shade of blue, illuminated from within like twin sapphires aflame.

Albion's heart pounded in his chest. There was something profoundly unnatural about her, as if she were a tear in the fabric of reality itself. The air warped around her, bending light and sound, making it hard to focus on her form. It was as though the world was rejecting her presence, yet she commanded it with every subtle movement.

She smiled—a slow, predatory curve of the lips that revealed canines just a bit too sharp. It was a smile devoid of warmth, one that promised nothing but pain.

"Do you truly believe you can kill me, Winston?" she purred, her voice echoing unnaturally, layering over itself like a haunting chorus. "After all this time?"

"Still walking like you trained me to. Old habits die harder than I did."

Winston stood rigid beside Albion; his face carved from stone. His katana, Masamune, gleamed with an ethereal light, the blade humming softly as if sensing the tension. Muscles coiled beneath his skin, ready to spring. "You think I haven't thought about it every day?" he replied, his voice a low growl that barely concealed the storm within. "You're a mistake I need to correct."

A laugh escaped her—a chilling sound like wind chimes caught in a tempest. Her eyes flashed with delight. "You can't kill me, old man. You'll have to kill all of them first."

Albion's brow furrowed. "All of whom?"

Eleven's gaze slid to Albion, her eyes narrowing as she regarded him with a mixture of amusement and contempt. "Oh, that's right. You're still playing catch-up, aren't you, hero?" She spat the last word, her lips twisting into a sneer. "I'm not just one person anymore. I am eleven souls intertwined. My immortality is shared. Kill me, and you'll condemn them all."

Winston's jaw tightened, the lines on his face deepening. "That's the plan."

Her smile widened, a grotesque mimicry of joy. "Oh, Winston. So delightfully single-minded. Could you really bring yourself to kill them all? What about Sebastian? Marvin? Your old comrades-in-arms? They're still out there, you know. Sebastian lives."

Winston's breath caught. A flash—Charlevoix burning, the last time they saw each other.
He'd buried that memory. But if she was telling the truth…

Albion sensed the shock that rippled through Winston—a fleeting crack in his stoic facade. Sebastian—believed dead, now revealed to be alive? Albion recalled Mako's words, the certainty of Sebastian's demise. Questions swirled in his mind.

Winston's eyes hardened into steely resolve. "I'll deal with them. One by one."

Eleven threw back her head and laughed, the sound reverberating through the clearing and sending a flock of ravens skyward from the nearby trees. "I'd love to see you try."

Beside Albion, Adele stood with her eyes fixed on Eleven, irises swirling with symbols as she tapped into the deeper currents of magic. The air around her shimmered with a soft, golden light—a stark contrast to the darkness emanating from Eleven. Albion noticed the way Adele's hands trembled ever so slightly, the only hint of the immense effort she was expending.

"She's lying," Adele whispered, her voice barely audible over the thrumming energy that filled the air. "Not about the immortality—that part is true—but she's trying to provoke you."

Winston's grip on Masamune tightened, his knuckles white. "I don't need her games. If it means stopping her, I'll do what I must."

Adele's gaze didn't waver from Eleven. "There's more. She's not just connected to the others. She's siphoning the very essence of the forest—the life force of the Fae. If we don't stop her, everything here will wither and die."

Eleven's eyes flickered with something dark and insatiable. "What can I say? I'm hungry."She ran her tongue slowly over her lips, her gaze sliding languidly to Adele. "And you… you look positively delectable."

Albion felt a surge of protective anger rise within him. This wasn't a mere confrontation; it was a battle for survival against a predator who reveled in the hunt.

Winston stepped forward; his voice edged with dangerous calm. "Still the same, Cindy. Consuming everything around you without a thought for the consequences."

Her facade cracked, a flicker of rage distorting her features. "Not Cindy," she hissed, shadows curling around her like serpents. "I am Eleven now. And you will not kill me."

Albion arched an eyebrow, forcing a smirk. "Fine. Eleven it is. Though, to be fair, 'Cindy' doesn't quite capture the whole 'immortal forest-devouring entity' vibe you've got going on."

She shot him a withering glance. "Your sarcasm won't save you, hero."

"Maybe not," he replied, summoning Excalibur from its sheath. The legendary blade caught the fading light, runes along its length igniting with a soft glow. "But it does make this a bit more entertaining."

Adele's voice cut through the tension, cold and resolute. "We can end this. Sever your ties, break your hold on the forest."

Eleven's smile vanished, replaced by a snarl. "Good luck with that."

Without warning, she moved—blurring into motion faster than the eye could follow. The ground beneath her feet cracked, and the air screamed in her wake. She lunged toward Adele, fingers elongated into claws of obsidian darkness, each tipped with razor-sharp talons that glinted malevolently.

Time seemed to slow. Albion's heart hammered in his chest as he watched the impending strike, too far away to intercept. But Winston was already there—a flash of shadow as Masamune met Eleven's claws with a resounding clash. The impact unleashed a shockwave that rippled outward, leaves torn from branches, the earth itself trembling.

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Eleven recoiled, hissing like a cornered serpent. "You can't protect them forever, Winston."

He stood between her and his companions, katana held at the ready. "I'm not protecting them from you. I'm protecting you from making your final mistake."

Her eyes narrowed to slits. "Arrogant as ever."

The sky above darkened, clouds swirling into a vortex. Lightning crackled within, illuminating the battlefield in stark flashes. The scent of ozone filled the air.

"Get ready!" Adele shouted, her hands weaving intricate patterns as she summoned protective wards around them. Symbols of ancient magic materialized, forming a translucent barrier that shimmered like glass.

The battle erupted into chaos. Eleven attacked with a ferocity that defied comprehension, her movements a blur as she struck from every angle. Winston met her blow for blow, the ring of steel against shadow echoing like thunder.

Albion moved with purpose, circling the fray, searching for an opening. Excalibur pulsed in his grip, resonating with the ambient magic. He could feel the sword's eagerness—a living thing yearning to fulfill its purpose.

"Adele, can you disrupt her connection to the forest?" he called out, dodging a stray bolt of dark energy that scorched the ground where he'd stood moments before.

"I'm trying!" she replied, sweat beading on her brow. "But her ties are deep—rooted in the very fabric of this place."

Albion clenched his jaw. They needed another plan.

Eleven let out a cry, a shockwave of dark energy emanating from her and shattering Adele's protective barrier. The force sent Albion and Adele sprawling backward, the wind knocked from their lungs.

Winston staggered but held his ground. "Albion! Now's our chance!"

Pushing himself up, Albion focused his will, channeling his energy into Excalibur. The runes along the blade flared brighter, illuminating the clearing with a radiant light that pushed back the encroaching darkness.

He charged toward Eleven, the sword humming with power. She turned to face him, eyes widening ever so slightly—a hint of surprise or perhaps fear.

"For the forest!" he shouted, swinging the blade in a wide arc.

She raised her arms to block, but Excalibur cleaved through her shadowy defenses, the light severing tendrils of darkness like a hot knife through ice. She screamed—a sound that tore at the soul—as the blade struck her.

Adele seized the moment, planting her staff into the ground. Golden vines sprouted from the earth, wrapping around Eleven's limbs, tightening with each struggle. "Now, Winston!"He nodded, leaping into the air with Masamune poised for the final strike. The blade gleamed, catching a bolt of lightning as it descended.

But Eleven wasn't finished. With a surge of raw power, she exploded outward, shadows erupting from her like a storm. The vines burned away, and Winston was thrown back, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.

"Enough!" she roared, her voice layered with multiple tones—male, female, young, old—all speaking in unison. The ground split open, geysers of dark energy spiraling upward.

Albion struggled to stand; his vision blurred. Adele was on her knees, drained from the exertion. Winston lay motionless against the tree.

Desperation clawed at Albion's heart. They were outmatched. But then, a faint glow caught his eye—the runes on Excalibur were still lit, pulsing steadily.

A thought sparked. The sword drew power not just from him but from the very essence of heroism—the will to protect, to sacrifice.

"Adele!" he shouted hoarsely. "Lend me your strength!"

She looked up, understanding dawning in her eyes. Summoning the last reserves of her power, she extended a trembling hand toward him. Threads of golden light flowed from her fingertips, intertwining with the aura around Excalibur.

Albion felt a surge of energy flood his veins, the fatigue washing away. He met Eleven's gaze, her eyes now flickering with uncertainty.

"This ends now," he declared.

He drove Excalibur into the ground, the blade sinking deep. A shockwave of light erupted, racing along the fissures in the earth and converging beneath Eleven. The ground beneath her glowed with an intense white light.

"No!" she screamed, attempting to escape, but the light held her fast.

Winston stirred, lifting his head to witness the culmination of their efforts. "Do it, Albion!"

With a final shout, Albion channeled every ounce of will into the sword. The ground beneath Eleven collapsed into a vortex of light, pulling her down. Her form disintegrated into particles of shadow, consumed by the radiance. The vortex sealed shut, and the light faded. Silence descended upon the clearing, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder. Where she had stood, nothing remained but scorched earth and the lingering scent of burnt pine. Albion wasn't sure if he'd won—or just delayed the inevitable.

Albion collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. Adele slumped beside him; exhaustion etched into her features.

Winston approached slowly, favoring one side. "Is it over?"

A soft glow illuminated the clearing as Queen Titania emerged from the shadows, her ethereal wings casting prisms of light. She surveyed the scene with a mixture of sorrow and relief.

"You have done well," she said, her voice like the rustling of leaves. "The forest is safe—for now."

Albion looked up at her, weariness in his eyes. "What will happen to her?"

Titania's gaze was distant. "She is bound within the heart of the forest, her power neutralized. But as long as her connections remain, she is not truly gone."

Winston's expression hardened. "We held up our end of the bargain."

The queen nodded gracefully. "And I shall uphold mine. She will live, contained but unharmed, until the threads that bind her are severed."

Adele pushed herself to her feet. "We need to find the others—the ones she's connected to."

Titania's eyes flickered with ancient wisdom. "Yes. Only then can the cycle be broken."

Albion stood, steadied by Adele's hand on his arm. "We'll do it. We'll stop them."

Titania offered a serene smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I believe you will. But beware—the path ahead is fraught with peril, and not all is as it seems."

She gestured gracefully, and a shimmering portal materialized—a gateway woven from moonlight and mist. "This will return you to the edge of our realm. Beyond that, your fate is your own."

Winston inclined his head in a gesture of respect. "Thank you."

As they moved toward the portal, Albion hesitated, glancing back at Titania. "Can we trust you?"

The queen met his gaze, an inscrutable expression on her face. "Trust is for mortals. But know this—I desire balance. See that you restore it."

With that, they stepped through the portal, the world dissolving around them in a cascade of light.

They emerged into a world washed clean by recent rain, the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves filling their lungs. The oppressive weight of the Fae realm was lifted, replaced by the familiar sights and sounds of the mortal forest. Albion took a deep breath, the cool air revitalizing. "We're back."

Winston scanned the horizon, his eyes distant. "But the real journey starts now."

Adele adjusted her cloak, her expression thoughtful. "We need to act quickly. The longer the other Vanguards are out there, the greater the risk."

Albion nodded. "Sebastian's alive. We need to find him."

Winston's face was a mask of conflicting emotions. "He was like a brother to me. If he's truly part of this…"

"We'll face it together," Adele said firmly. "But we need information—a plan."

Albion looked between them. "Then let's get started. The stakes are higher than ever." The three of them stood at the threshold of an uncertain future, bound by a shared purpose. The path ahead was shrouded in shadows, but they would face it—together.