We immediately turn away from the lifeless bodies of the adults and flee as quickly as possible. At the same time, we must not act rashly and have to conserve our strength. Therefore, we use only as much magic as necessary to strengthen our bodies so that we can move swiftly through the forest. It would be fatal if they catch up to us or if other groups of adults block our path while we have already used up all our energy. Nevertheless, we move through the greenery at superhuman speed, and many birds flee into the sky, startled. Other wild animals also escape in fear. A more secretive approach would be too slow, as it will probably be easy for the Organization to track us down as long as we haven't gained enough distance.

But even for us, it's not easy to move so quickly through this untouched wilderness. A wilderness so untouched that it perfectly reflects how hidden the Organization's location is. And how rarely the exit we took is used. Usually, only the teleporters inside the cave system are used. An exit for absolute emergencies. Basically, my sister and I are lucky that it exists at all. I wouldn't have been surprised if the Organization had relied exclusively on teleporters. But I've never been able to understand the Organization's goals and methods. I never had to understand them. We just had to obey them. But that has come to an end today.

We hurry on and on, and I shake off these thoughts that are useless for our escape. Slowly, exhaustion sets in, but our surroundings haven't changed a bit. There is nothing to see but endless green. We don't know where we're going. We don't even know where we are. But that doesn't matter. We just have to get away. Away from the Organization. Away from the adults. Further and further away. Nevertheless, we can't help but slowly start looking around for something to eat so we don't lose too much energy. Even though we've learned to go without food for days, that doesn't mean our bodies can perform miracles when they're malnourished. At least, thanks to my sister, we don't have to look for water, which would have made it easier for the Organization to catch up with us. It's easy for her to turn her magical ice into drinkable water, and she doesn't need much magical energy to do it.

A few minutes later, I roast a bird that my sister has killed with an ice arrow while using remote hands formed out of ice to gather roots and berries. Even if there is something poisonous among them, the poison should have no effect on us. Besides, we have neither the time nor the choice to pay close attention. I also heat the roots, and then we set about eating as many bites as possible while on the move. Taste doesn't matter. It's purely about survival and getting the energy we need. For this reason, we also take great care not to eat too much. Just enough to satisfy our hunger, but not so much that it could become a burden.

We have just finished our special meal when we suddenly feel a concentration of magical energy above us and dive to the side. Not a moment later, a woman stands between us who is more than three times our size and has a very interesting physique. Viewed from the front, she almost looks like a drop of water approaching the ground at high speed. It's as if her entire body is designed to create as little air resistance as possible. It quickly becomes apparent that not only her appearance but also her abilities are geared towards speed, as she suddenly appears right in front of me. However, I was already expecting such an attack, and my flames greedily devour her while I am able to dodge her blow because of my counterattack. No cry of pain escapes her lips. Instead, her lips twist into a grin of mad ecstasy before she whispers her last words.

"Caught you." 

We immediately try to gain even more distance. But a second later, a blue beam of magic emanates from the woman's burnt remains, spreading out above us like a net and then falling to the ground at breakneck speed. Finally, we find ourselves in the center of a bluish shimmering dome that holds us captive. It would be easy for us to break through it, were it not for the army standing between us and the edges of our prison. They must have deliberately sent the woman ahead with her speed to lure us into the trap and use her corpse as coordinates for the teleportation of their troops. The trees prevent us from seeing all of our enemies, but we can sense the presence of hundreds of members of the Organization. Among them are several with extremely strong energy. Probably more godslayers or other high-ranking adults.

"Fire Cat, Ice Cat, surrender to your fate. You have served the Organization well. You were extremely sharp blades that brought our enemies the death they deserved. But even the best blade cannot defy time. And now your time has come. Do the Organization that has cared for you all your life one last loyal service and surrender," a voice rings out from somewhere.

But even with our superhuman hearing, we cannot tell exactly where it is coming from. My sister and I look at each other. Of course, we will not give up, and the adults will not expect us to.

"One last time, we give you the chance to be remembered gloriously and forever as the Organization's exalted blades. Obey us and surrender."

Since we didn't respond to the previous request, the voice is dripping with rage. At the same time, the armed forces that have arrived in the meantime are gathering enormous amounts of magic on all sides and directing it at us. The number of our opponents continues to grow. How many more adults do they want to teleport here?

My sister and I clasp our hands together. We take a deep breath and then lean our foreheads against each other. We only have two chances to escape this encirclement. Either we unleash the powers that the Organization has violently crammed into us and risk losing ourselves in tremendous suffering. Or we can resort to the ability that only the two of us together are capable of and that requires only partial use of this cursed power. But even that can lead to unpredictable results, especially with this absurd accumulation of magic in this place. Too much high-level magic that could sweep everything away uncontrollably. Finally, we make our decision without saying a word.

"Whatever happens..."

"...we won't let ourselves be caught again."

"Whatever happens..."

"...we will be free."

"Whatever happens..."

"...we will be together."  

Together, we begin to circulate our magic. My sister's freezing cold ice runs through my body, while my hot blazing fire runs through hers. Finally, our energies come together and form a balance that could not otherwise exist in nature. Our secret weapon. And probably the reason why the Organization wants to eliminate us. Ice so hot that the slightest touch leaves nothing but ash behind. Fire so cold that just looking at it freezes the blood in your veins. Our ice fire, which combines both properties. Hot and cold at the same time. It blazes between us, and even the ground beneath our feet shows signs of both burning and freezing from the affected air.

Of course, the adults have also noticed that we are not just standing around doing nothing. As if a waterfall were breaking free after being blocked for a long time, they fire all their accumulated magic at us. But before the fastest magical projectile hits us, our ice fire spreads explosively. Nothing can be seen except this element that combines blazing ice and freezing fire. I feel it colliding with our attackers and their magic, all magical energies mixing and being wrested from our control, whether ours or the adults'. I hold my sister's hands tightly and concentrate on the touch of our foreheads. It's the only thing that gives me stability in this world that has been torn apart by these incredibly powerful forces. The ice fire continues to devour everything inside the dome that the adults have built, which still arches over us all. And a little later, it too falls prey to our element. It continues to consume everything in its path, and we have no way of stopping it.

Suddenly, I feel the chaotic energies tugging at me and my sister. It's as if they're trying to tear us away from reality. We hold on to each other more tightly, but in the end, it is futile. My sister's hands. Gone. The warm touch of her forehead. Lost. So suddenly that it appears as if we had never held on to each other. Desperately, I reach out, but there is nothing there but magic.

Only after an agonizingly long time do I find myself back on the cold ground. My body feels terrible. I feel pain everywhere, but I can't tell exactly where it's coming from. Am I really injured? Or is this just the aftereffects of the collision of magical energies? Is that also the reason why I hardly have any magic left myself? I just have enough to ensure my initial survival. Because I don't know where I've ended up. Apparently, I've been teleported somewhere. To a place that's completely foreign to me, and since I can't sense any traces of the magical chaos, it seems to be far away from where we fought the Organization and from the cave where my sister and I spent so much of our lives. Even during my missions, I never ended up here.

Even though I can barely move, I can make out that there is practically nothing here. But that's not the most worrying thing. The only thing I can think about is that I've lost my sister. I know she's still out there somewhere. Alive. I'm sure of it. I can feel it. But that's all I know. I don't know where she is. I don't know how she is doing. Why? Why? Why? After all this time? After we finally won our freedom? With all my remaining strength, I let out a desperate cry as a tear runs down my cheek and seeps into the cold, hard earth.