Students stumble all around, eyes wide as they stare up in horror at Typhon. He’s putting on such a display that it’s impossible not to see him. Not to notice what he is. Malakai, Serena, and some of their people saw his dragon form on Confluence Day. But he was diminished then. He's twice as large now. His foreleg is as tall as Malakai from toe to shoulder. His long, elegant neck and head tower high above everything, dwarfing the battle as he stands nearly thirty feet high. His wings spread three times as wide, casting shadows over all of us.

Mireen uses the moment of distraction to create a wave that knocks down several enemies at once, slamming some so hard into trees that their tokens flash blue, locking them in stasis.

Smoke, steam, and mist churn around the battle until it's impossible to make out detail. I feel the air displace as Typhon streaks past, a smaller elemental clenched between his teeth as it leaks green essence.

Malakai steps forward, water sword raised. "You're done, Thorne." He's grinning, as if he's already certain of his victory, circling me. "I stasis you and your dragon is done. Easy."

"I'm coming," Typhon growls.

"I can handle this. Keep everyone safe."

To my surprise, Typhon obeys, continuing to dart through the maelstrom high overhead.

Malakai rushes in, swinging overhead. I dodge to the side, then send a trickle of heat straight into his water blade. Steam hisses from it in a rush, blinding him for a moment, but he recovers before I can land a strike. He uses his free hand to blast my chest with water, knocking me aside and nearly catching me in the neck with his sword a split second later.

We fight viciously for several seconds that stretch like ages. Dodge. Block. Parry. Feint. Counterattack.

I use everything I've learned from Raith and some of my own improvisation and it still doesn't feel like enough. Malakai is bigger than me. Stronger. He's almost as good as Raith.

I'm losing ground, falling back with every blocked strike as my limbs grow heavier by the minute.

He keeps coming, seeming to get stronger as I grow weaker. I can feel Raith trying to fight his way back to us, but there are too many students and elementals blocking his path.

Typhon roars in victory as he splits a reptilian water elemental in two between his jaws. Malakai glances toward the sound, and I let instinct take over.

I pluck the stasis token from my clothes and toss it to the ground before he can notice.

When he rushes me, sword leveled low for a piercing strike, I don’t dodge.

I let the blade sink straight into me.

The pain is blinding. It's cold and biting, threatening to wash away all coherent thought as I let out a strained gasp, body curling around the sudden ice in my stomach.

"Nessa!" Raith roars.