As they approached Avaloria Castle, they encountered a group of armed soldiers standing at the gate. A guard questioned their purpose and King Philip recognized Liam. "Let them in," he ordered. With Midiette by his side, they entered the castle only to find themselves surrounded by guards ready to attack. "Where is the ruby?" King Philip asked angrily.
Liam replied, "A war is approaching.
King Philip repeated his question, "Where is the ruby?"
Suddenly, the sky turned red and a wall of fire surrounded the kingdom, leaving them trapped. King Edward muttered, "She's coming."
Confused, King Philip asked, "Who's coming?"
"Annabelle has the ruby. We need the amulet around your neck to find my mother," Liam explained. A plume of smoke rose in the distance as the sounds of armies approaching for war grew louder.
"We must attack!" King Philip declared.
"But you stand no chance against her power," King Edward cautioned. "If you give us the amulet, we can track Astra."
Before King Edward could finish, King Philip yelled, "Charge!" His army, driven by loyalty and bravery, headed for war. However, they were quickly defeated, suffering heavy losses in just minutes. The battle was brutal, and King Philip ordered a retreat. They rushed back to the castle walls, transforming it into a fortress to protect themselves.
"We must find Astra," King Philip said, handing the amulet to Liam. Concentrating, Liam held the amulet and saw a faint image of a woman locked in an underground cell on the border of a town locked far into the woods .
"We have to leave," Liam said, pulling King Philip's hand.
"I can't abandon my kingdom," King Philip responded.
"If we stay here, she will kill everyone to get to us. We must leave now," Edward urged. They mounted their horses and headed towards the fire wall. As they approached, Liam cast a spell:
"Through the inferno, I shall stride,
With courage, I'll face the fiery tide,
A shield of protection, cool and serene,
To defy the flames, my path redeemed."
They rode through the wall unharmed, and King Philip asked, "Where are we going?"
"Moonlight Groves," Liam replied.
(to understand what comes next read MAGIC AND VAMPS and see how the stories are entwined)