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***Leilatha***

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One of the lead wind runners kept an eye on the people in the forest as he turned his head to the side, "I'll go investigate."

The other wind runners stood guard and blocked Leilatha from view to shield her from any direct attacks. Their eyes kept darting from one blindspot to another as they watched and listened to everything around them. The tension in the air was thicker than the mist. Time was running short, they could hear Viram's clone getting closer and the number of his victims increased by the second. He would reach the city gate before long.

The wind runner had gotten close enough to see the people hiding in the forest more clearly yet far enough away that he would be able to dodge attacks if needed. "Identify yourselves!"

One of the shadows stepped forward, "I represent elder Devdan Urifir. The elders Taleasin Qinam and Ryul Falar have also joined us with their family guard."

The wind runner's back straightened upon hearing the names. These elders were already old when they first followed Leilatha to found a new kingdom. They weren't suited to the rigors of military life but retained exceptional power none the less. None of them were as powerful as Leilatha and preferred life away from the busy cities.

"I am a wind runner scout out of Falram and we must pass. Why have you blockaded the forest?" The wind runner scout moved forward until he could see their faces to confirm they were their brethren.

"We wait to counter-attack and act as the rear guard for our fellow citizens. As you can see, we are blocked from entering the city as the people flee."

The screams of people burning alive were getting louder and more numerous. The already stampeding citizens became frenzied and were even climbing over one another in their attempt to get away.

Elder Urifir's representative watched on with a troubled grief-stricken expression and restless rustling could be heard from those just within the forest's boundaries as the storm raged overhead.

The wind runner carrying Leilatha yelled out, "We have no time! We must move! Let us pass now!" All the wind runners moved forward until they caught up with their comrade.

The elder's representative finally saw who they were escorting, "Isn't that the Lady Leilatha!? What has happened?"

Even among the agonized cries on the other side of the gate, the wind runners could hear murmurs rippling along the shadows ahead of them.

"Make way for Lady Leilatha!" A wizened yet commanding old voice resounded from deeper in the forest. "Let them pass and prepare to set the plan in motion immediately!"

"You should know, we are pursued by a powerful fiend of fire! Lord Perin and a cohort of home guard were no match for it!" The wind runner carrying Leilatha yelled as they proceeded into the path opened up for them.

"Lord Perin?"

"No-"

Distraught murmurs could be heard from the soldiers nearby.

"I'll go report on the situation. You guys take Leilatha further away from here." The wind runner from Falram said before darting off in the direction of the elder's voice.

Before they got much further, a mighty flame erupted from the other side of the gate, cooking all those nearby. Those far enough away to only get half cooked yelled out in pain and terror. The wind runners didn't look back as they ran, they already knew what they'd see.

The mist glowed in shades of orange and blood red. Viram's clone showed no mercy, he could have turned his victims into ash but he chose to let them linger on as the flames fed on their flesh.

"Begin!" The commanding voice ordered and water spells bombarded or exploded over the inferno at the gate. The steam from evaporating water scalded the already burned victims and further obscured the field of battle.

There were no more civilians trying to escape out of this gate and those that were nearby, did their best to flee as far away as they could as quickly as they could. The injured and trampled lay everywhere, already dead or dying. In the middle of the steam, an orange glow grew in brightness as hot vapor began to swirl around it.

"Focus!" Many elves couldn't help but take a moment to gawk at the scene in front of them as power built within the cyclone. "Don't lose your focus! Concentrate on the elders and give them your strengt-"

Turbid jets of steam engulfed the front lines choking the officer, making it harder for those around to see and breathe.

"My eyes!"

"Aaagh!"

The soldiers in the front lines fared the worst as the superheated steam gushed through their ranks. It flowed past their shields, into their helmets and seeped into their armor, cooking them where they stood. Some tried to run but couldn't see anything around them. The fortunate ones ran along the edge of the forest while others cooked faster as they ran headlong into their doom.

Then, three commanding voices rang out, "Lafta!" and a massive waterfall descended over the malevolent glow.

The elders hadn't been idle as they watched their swarming countrymen exit the gate. They had seen the fires and heard reports on the nature of their enemies and had been preparing. Leilatha's storm had given them a fine weapon. Though the flood was a double-edged sword that harmed many of her people, the elders gathered much of the water that flowed their way and stored it up in the stormy clouds raging just above the top of the forest. The elders were proficient in borrowing the power from others after a lifetime of experience commanding their brethren.

*Gushing whistles*

The mass of water churned around Viram's clone making horrendous noise as superheated steam forced its way through the deluge. Not even the elders could see what was actually going on but they could direct their continued attack toward the malevolent energies well enough to hit their target.

"F-c-s! Ke-p -oc-s-!" Officers rallied and did their best to be heard over the cacophony. Their duty was to keep the men focused on supporting the elders no matter what was happening around them.

...

"Not good, we need to give the steam a path to vent or it could all explode." Elder Falar told the others.

"Leave it to me. You two keep it coming." Said Elder Urifir.

"I'll focus on reinforcing the water so the fiend can't burn through or push it around." Elder Qinam was straining as he spoke. It had been a long time since he'd last left the comfort of his villa. He was in poor shape to be fighting after all his years of seclusion.

They had left their homeland to follow Leilatha due to overcrowding and unfavorable politics. They helped her establish a fine kingdom where they could grow older and retire with ease but now they found that none of them could sit around as their young folk died and their country burned. When they were finally old enough, they would cease to be elven and become a part of the forest. Their promised future was being lost.

Their kin in the mortal realms can become enraged when outsiders defile their forests but not many would truly know the significance of the trees to an old elven god.

*HMMMMMM*

"This is not good!" Urifir tried to keep panic from coloring his voice. "The fiend is compressing our water!"

"I'll harden the water closest to us. Get ready to puuush." Qinam gasped. His body was already failing as his soul prepared for its promised transformation.

The ground rumbled and trees started bending backward as the churning flurry followed Viram's clone as it advanced closer and closer. The storm raging overhead couldn't even be heard over the din. The walls of the cyclone became stained scarlet as corpses were dragged in and shredded.

"Push it away! Push it away already!" Falar yelled out.

With a mighty effort, all three of the elders sent a massive pulse of power roiling through the water. The hardened water collided with Viram's clone and despite the fiend's best efforts, it was blown away and up into the storm.

*BOOM!*

Exhausted soldiers didn't even have time to fall to the ground before Viram's clone collided with and passed through the city wall.

*Wheeze* "Do you think that did it?" Qinam was hunched over grabbing both of his knees as he tried to catch his breath. It can be hard for tired old men to keep their dignity, but they weren't the only ones in such a state. Sweat dripped from everyone's face so much that the surrounding mist looked dry in comparison.