Chapter 76 Duel

(Iris)

I had to follow Elias. Jasper, Naomi, Alice and even Seraphina had decided to stay with the rest of our group, tending to the wounded. But I had to follow Elias.

As the first light of dawn began to stretch across the horizon, I could see the tension in the clearing before me. The duel between Elias and Caden was about to begin, and I felt every heartbeat echoing through my chest. The stakes were impossibly high, and despite my best efforts to focus on the plan, the anxiety I felt was nearly overwhelming.

Jasper, Naomi, and Alice had decided to stay hidden with the rest of our small group, but I couldn’t stay away. I needed to see Elias with my own eyes, to witness the battle that would determine not just his fate, but all of ours. I crept through the underbrush, my heart pounding as the sounds of the duel grew louder.

The clearing came into view, and my breath caught in my throat. Elias stood in the center, his posture fierce and determined. Caden, a towering figure of ar