The storm that followed Morganna and Lucian grew darker as they approached the gates of Valenstone. The distant city walls, tall and unyielding, rose before them like a great iron beast. Morganna watched the distant silhouettes of guards patrolling the walls, their torches flickering like tiny fireflies. Her smile was sharp, a flash of teeth beneath the hood of her crimson cloak.

"We'll be there by nightfall," Lucian muttered, his eyes shifting uneasily from the darkened sky above to Morganna's intense, unwavering gaze. He could feel the pressure of magic thickening in the air, as if the heavens themselves responded to her power.

The thought of returning to Valenstone made Lucian's stomach twist. He had once been part of that world—a noble with influence and a future. Now, he was an exile and a wanted man, branded by the same empire he had once called home. But, like a moth drawn to the flame, he found himself trailing behind Morganna, her presence a beacon of dangerous allure.

"Nightfall is the perfect time," Morganna replied, her voice dripping with excitement. "When shadows stretch long and fear lurks just beyond the edge of their vision. They'll see the storm and think it's merely nature's wrath."

She lifted her hand, and the storm above responded, the winds swirling faster, gathering dark clouds in a powerful spiral. A soft hum of thunder echoed across the desolate fields as the storm grew ever closer to Valenstone's borders.

"What exactly is the plan?" Lucian asked, his voice almost swallowed by the roar of the wind. His hands were clenched into fists, a mix of fear and anticipation coiling within him. He knew the answer would be nothing simple.

"The plan?" Morganna repeated, her eyes narrowing, a dangerous light behind them. "We're not sneaking into Valenstone, Lucian. I'm going to announce my presence to Emperor Darius himself, loud and clear. We're tearing down the very walls that have kept him safe for too long."

Lucian's eyes widened. "You mean—an open attack?"

She turned to look at him, her golden eyes sharp as a dagger. "What better way to announce my return than by shattering his precious walls? Darius has grown fat and complacent, hiding behind steel and soldiers. He believes himself untouchable."

She took another step forward, her serpent slithering at her side, its scales shimmering in the eerie light. Morganna's presence radiated power—a power she wielded without hesitation, fully aware of the destruction it could bring. She knew what she wanted, and she had no qualms about what must be done to get it.

"And what do you expect to find within those walls?" Lucian asked, struggling to keep pace with her determined stride. His voice carried a hint of desperation, as if hoping she might reconsider this dangerous path.

Morganna paused, her gaze shifting back to him, and for a moment, Lucian could see something beyond the wickedness—a deep, simmering hatred that lurked beneath her facade. "Revenge, Lucian. The men who betrayed my family are still there. The court that laughed as my family was torn apart. Darius, who called for their execution with that smug smile. They all believe they're safe within Valenstone's fortress."

Her lips curled into a vicious smile, and the storm rumbled louder, the wind lashing around them. "I will remind them that no walls can keep me out. I will remind them that power does not belong to cowards who hide from consequences."

Lucian could only nod, a knot forming in his throat. He knew Morganna's fury all too well. It was the same fire that had drawn him in—the same flame that threatened to consume them both. He had chosen this path, and he would see it through to whatever end awaited them.

As they reached the outer perimeter of Valenstone, Morganna paused, taking in the imposing iron gates that barred the way into the empire's heart. From a distance, the faint sounds of soldiers and the clamor of merchants echoed beyond the walls. The gates were covered in protective runes, etched deeply to ward off any dark magic. Morganna eyed them, her expression almost amused.

"Stay close," she said, her voice a low murmur as her hands rose, fingers splayed wide. Her eyes flared, and dark tendrils of energy began to swirl around her, twisting and writhing like a living entity. The magic she called upon was old, raw—a manifestation of her will to unravel everything the empire had worked so hard to build.

The runes on the gate began to flicker, the light within them struggling against her power. Morganna closed her eyes, her lips moving in a silent incantation, and the storm above began to gather its strength, the clouds swirling faster, tighter, like a spiraling abyss that hung over Valenstone's walls.

Lucian felt the pressure building, the air thickening with magic. He took a step back, his eyes wide as the iron began to groan, the protective enchantments cracking under Morganna's relentless power.

With a deafening crack, the gates of Valenstone shattered, iron splintering outward, shards flying like shrapnel. The soldiers patrolling the perimeter barely had time to react before the storm unleashed its fury—lightning arcing from the clouds, striking the stone ramparts with blinding flashes. The air was filled with the smell of ozone and the metallic tang of blood.

Chaos erupted as soldiers scrambled, shouting commands and rushing to the breached gate. Morganna stepped through the ruined entrance, her eyes gleaming as she surveyed the unfolding pandemonium. The guards who had dared to oppose her were flung aside, her magic sweeping through them like a gale, her serpent darting forward with deadly precision.

Lucian followed in her wake, his heart pounding as he struggled to keep up with her fury. The streets of Valenstone, once orderly and guarded, had descended into pure chaos. Morganna moved with purpose, her presence undeniable, her power an unstoppable force that shattered every semblance of control the empire had once held.

In the distance, Lucian could hear the bells tolling—alarms ringing out through the city, a desperate attempt to rally the defenders. But Lucian knew it was futile. Against Morganna, there would be no organized defense, no brave stand. There would only be ruin.

Morganna paused at the center of the courtyard, her gaze fixed on the grand palace that loomed ahead, its high towers and ornate spires reaching towards the sky. She raised her arms, and the storm above seemed to respond, the winds howling louder, the sky splitting with a blinding flash as bolts of lightning crashed down upon the palace gates.

"Darius!" she called, her voice cutting through the storm, amplified by her magic. Her laughter was dark, filled with the promise of retribution. "Did you think you could hide from me? Did you think I had forgotten?"

Lucian shivered, the raw power in her voice resonating through him. He could feel the fear in the air, the terror that Morganna's presence instilled in those around her. She was no mere sorceress. She was a force of nature, a harbinger of chaos, and as the walls of Valenstone trembled beneath her fury, Lucian knew that nothing would ever be the same.

"Come out, Emperor!" Morganna's voice echoed, her laughter mingling with the roar of thunder. "Face me, and let us settle old scores!"

The palace gates began to buckle under her magic, the iron groaning as it was torn apart, piece by piece. Morganna's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, her smile widening as she saw the panic in the faces of the soldiers who dared look upon her.

This was what she lived for—this chaos, this fear. The Symphony of Chaos she conducted, each note a cry, a scream, a plea for mercy that she would never grant.

And as the gates of the palace shattered, Morganna stepped forward, her laughter ringing out through the chaos. The Crimson Witch had returned, and Valenstone would know her wrath.