The plains of Southern Relornia were strikingly beautiful. Small trees with delicate purple flowers dominated the landscape. Light frost covered everything and sparkled as the warm-colored morning sun peeked over the Lindistra Mountains to the east. As morning light spread across the plane, the yells of men disrupted the serenity.

The clamorous noise of metal striking metal echoed throughout the peaceful valley. Small animals and birds fled to the foothills as the men threw themselves against one another.

Fire filled the air as archers sent volleys of flaming arrows into the rear flanks of silver armored soldiers. As men fell, their bodies lay scattered and uneven, ensuring a clumsy retreat. A return volley cut into the air, arcing into the ranks of black armored soldiers, but with less effect. The front lines were flashing steel and bloody chaos, like the jaws of the great shark gnashing and tearing. Soldiers clashed and fell, replaced by the next in line. As men were injured or killed, the ranks broke up into scattered skirmishes across the battlefield.

Archers from both sides picked off targets until the chances of hitting their own became too great and then they turned upon one another.

The battle lasted until mid-morning. One thousand men were reduced to barely more than a hundred in less than an hour. The wounded and dying, from both sides, lay in bloody mud, enemies no more.

Thunderous noise slammed the battlefield, knocking frost from the small trees and shrubs, sending birds into startled flight.

Alessandro uncrossed his arms as the energy Weiss had hurled at him dissipated. He collected himself and pulled his will in for defense. Weiss picked up a large boulder and crushed it into shards with his will. With the motion of his hand, he flung the shards that Alessandro.

Alessandro drew in the ambient heat from the air. Thick Ice formed on the ground around him as he drained the warmth into himself. He focused ahead at the flying shards, and clapped his hands together ahead of him. A sharp wall of heat formed. He poured his will into it and the rock shards melted as they struck it. Weiss focused on a large piece and drew the heat from it, keeping it solid. He pushed his will into it speeding it up. Alessandro saw it happening, but too late.

The chunk of rock slammed through Alessandro’s heat wall and into his armor knocking him to the ground. He lost control, and the heat flooded back into the environment, melting the ice.

Alessandro struggled to regain his will as Weiss drew in heat around himself. Weiss plucked another head sized boulder from the ground and poured the heat into it. It melted into red-hot liquid, which floated, perfectly spherical, in front of him.

"You have to stop this," Weiss said. Alessandro swung his arms up. The earth beneath Weiss’ feet erupted stone shards. Large chunks clipped his legs, and he fell back with a grunt. With effort, Weiss maintained his concentration on the red-hot lava. "I cannot allow you to bring this evil into the world!"

"You cannot stop me brother," Alessandro said. "I will possess the power of the ancients."

"That power destroyed them and broke the world!" Weiss screamed.

"I have learned the secret to the Ahn. I will become a God!"

Weiss yelled and pushed the ball of lava, but Alessandro had recovered. He snatched a keg of Bane Fire from a nearby wagon and flung it at Weiss.

It glanced from the sphere of molten rock and exploded. Blue and orange flames saturated Weiss’ right side. His skin melted. His clothes burned beneath his armor. The pain caused him to lose his focus and the molten stone splashed to the ground. He stumbled backwards, screaming, and fell into a large icy puddle. Steam rose as the Bane Fire continued to burn as Weiss struggled against the pain.

Alessandro got to his feet and ran to his brother. He fell to his knees at the edge of the puddle. He drew in the immense heat until the flames went out. He discharged it into the ground. Steam rose from the melting ice, and the earth cracked. He reached in and pulled Weiss’ smoking body from the freezing water. Weiss was alive, but shivering violently from shock.

"I cannot bring myself to kill you, brother." Alessandro said. "I hope you regain your senses and join me as family once again."

Alessandro poured his will into Weiss, and focused on burns. The crisp, blackened skin turned pink as it healed. Weiss would be horribly disfigured, but alive. Alessandro continued until Weiss’ breathing eased and the shaking stopped. Weiss opened his eyes. His face grew angry as he struggled against Alessandro’s grip. Weiss reached for his brother with his undamaged hand. Immense pain clouded his vision. The sounds of Weiss’ men came from behind them, beyond the overturned wagon of Bane Fire.

"Remember the promise," Alessandro whispered.

The sound of soldiers drew closer. Alessandro pulled Weiss farther from the puddle.

Alessandro stood and ran to a stand of tall brush where the horse that had pulled the cart retreated. The animal was well-trained, and had only fled far enough to be out of harm’s way. He mounted the animal and rode fast from the clearing.

Ten soldiers rushed into the clearing. Weiss was getting to his feet and looking around frantically. The men stopped suddenly at the sight of his melted right hand and face.

"Regroup the men," Weiss barked in a rough voice. "Make ready to leave for Uriel."

The harsh oily smoke still coated his mouth. The scent of cooked flesh and the acrid sickly-sweet fragrance of Bane Fire lingered in the smoky haze that hung in the clearing. His men left to carry out their orders. He looked around a moment more before following them back to the field of flowers and bodies.