The air outside the tomb was heavy, the wind carrying a biting chill that swept across the barren expanse of the Wastes. Morganna emerged first, her aura blazing, and even the very ground seemed to ripple in response to the magic coursing through her veins. Lucian followed close behind, shielding his eyes against the sudden brightness. The Wastes, usually cloaked in eerie silence, seemed to hum, as if the earth itself recognized the power she now wielded.

Morganna paused, closing her eyes for a moment as she inhaled deeply. She could feel it—the world stretching out around her, every pulse of magic, every whisper of wind. The power of the Mage of Midnight was like a dark sea within her, its depths unknowable, and she was ready to shape the world with it. A dark smile tugged at her lips.

Lucian stepped forward, his eyes cautious. "What's our next move?" he asked, his voice subdued, as though afraid to break the spell of silence that had fallen over them.

Morganna's eyes opened, and the blazing gold within them made Lucian step back involuntarily. She turned her gaze towards the distant horizon, where the towering walls of Valenstone Empire lay far beyond the Wastes. "Our next move?" she repeated, her voice lilting with a dark excitement. "We make them understand that power belongs to those who dare to seize it. We'll bring Valenstone's mighty walls crumbling down."

She raised her hands, and the air around them seemed to crackle with electricity. The serpent at her feet coiled and lifted its head, flicking its tongue as if sensing something in the wind. Slowly, dark clouds began to form above them, swirling in unnatural patterns, crackling with energy. The sky, once an indifferent gray, turned into an ominous vortex.

Lucian stared, his eyes widening at the spectacle. He could feel it—the raw power Morganna wielded, enough to shake the foundations of the world. He had always known she was powerful, but now, standing beside her, he could only marvel at what she had become. Fear and awe battled in his chest, twisting his emotions until he found himself nearly paralyzed.

"What will you do?" he asked, voice tight, almost drowned out by the growing wind.

Morganna turned her gaze towards him, her eyes flashing with amusement. "I will show them what fear truly is," she said. "They will see the storm and know their time has come." She extended one arm, her fingers splayed wide, and a jagged bolt of lightning erupted from her palm, splitting the sky and striking the earth with a resounding crack that made Lucian's heart lurch.

The force of the bolt sent a shockwave across the barren landscape, dust and loose stones kicked into the air. Morganna watched it unfold, her lips curling with satisfaction. This was only a taste of what was to come, a promise of the destruction she intended to unleash. And when the world was on its knees, they would finally understand the price of betrayal.

"Valenstone is ruled by fear," she said, her voice louder now, cutting through the roar of the wind. "Its emperor is a man who would see his people broken, chained to his whims. But he forgets that fear is a blade that cuts both ways." She glanced back at Lucian, her eyes narrowing. "He will learn fear, Lucian. And we will be the ones to teach him."

Lucian's heart pounded in his chest. He had pledged himself to this—to Morganna, to her cause. And yet, as he looked upon the storm she was conjuring, he wondered if he was ready for the cost. The mage's warning echoed in his mind. Power is not without consequence. Was this truly the path to his revenge, or had he tied himself to something far darker than he had imagined?

Morganna lowered her arm, the lightning fading, leaving only the swirling storm above them. She stepped towards Lucian, her eyes still blazing. "You hesitate," she said, her voice softer, though no less commanding. "Are you afraid, Lucian? Have you lost your resolve?"

He looked into her eyes, the golden flames reflected in his own. "I haven't," he said, though there was a waver in his voice. He straightened, clenching his fists as he forced the doubt from his mind. "I'm with you, Morganna. Whatever it takes."

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, as if weighing his words. Then she nodded, satisfied. "Good. Because the time for hesitation is over. We move now, and we move quickly."

She turned, her eyes once more fixed on the horizon, where the walls of Valenstone stood like a distant, unbroken line. She could almost picture the city—its towers, its marketplaces, the grand palace at its heart. The emperor's face, his smug arrogance. She would wipe it all away. The thought filled her with a savage joy.

With a flick of her hand, the storm above them began to move, stretching out towards the horizon. "We will march on Valenstone, and we will bring it to ruin," she said, her voice carrying with it the promise of destruction. "And they will know that the Crimson Villainess has returned."

Lucian took a deep breath, steeling himself. He had made his choice, and there was no turning back. He followed as Morganna began to walk, her serpent moving beside her, her aura of power radiating outwards. The storm followed them, a shadow on the horizon, and as they moved, Lucian felt the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders.

The price of power was steep, but they would pay it. Together, they would watch the world burn, and from the ashes, they would claim their revenge.

And as they marched, the storm churned, a harbinger of the chaos yet to come.