After the feast with Aric’s family, Kael decided to journey to his village. Maybe they were unable to come because of the long distance, he thought. The journey from Englor to Blossom Valley would take about three hours, and with night already falling, the road would be dark and uncertain.

Aric, noticing Kael’s determination, suggested, “You should sleep in Englor for the night. It’s safer, and you can leave at dawn.”

But Kael shook his head, his resolve firm. “I appreciate the offer, but I need to see my family. It’s been too long. They might be waiting for me.”

After much persuasion, Aric finally relented, though he looked concerned. “Alright, but at least take this lantern,” he said, handing Kael a small oil lamp. “It’ll help light your way.”

Aric also gave him a horse, a sturdy chestnut mare named Ember. “She’s a good traveler,” Aric assured him. “You’ll get to Blossom Valley much faster this way.”

Kael’s face lit up with gratitude. “Thank you, Aric! This will make the journey so much easier.”

After mounting Ember, he felt a rush of exhilaration. The mare shifted beneath him, eager to be on the move. “I’ll take good care of her,” Kael promised, giving Aric a reassuring nod. The horse galloped into the distance, the landscape rapidly transforming from a civilized village to a deep, thick forest. The sounds of beasts roaring and the chirping of birds filled the air as Kael rode deeper into the woods. The thick canopy covered his sight, but the flickering light of the lantern illuminated the path ahead, casting long shadows that danced between the trees. Kael felt a mix of excitement and trepidation; the thrill of the journey surged through him, but the encroaching darkness brought with it a sense of vulnerability.

As Ember maneuvered gracefully over the uneven terrain, Kael’s thoughts drifted to his family. He envisioned his mother’s warm embrace and his sister’s eager chatter. The thought of seeing them again fueled his determination, pushing aside any lingering doubts.

The deeper he ventured into the forest, the more the sounds shifted. The chirping of birds gave way to an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. Kael’s heart raced as he scanned the shadows, feeling the weight of the night pressing in around him.

Suddenly, a distant howl echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down his spine. Kael tightened his grip on the reins, urging Ember to move faster. “It’s just the wind,” he muttered to himself, but the unease settled heavily in his chest.

He urged the horse to move faster, the woods flashing by in a blur. The deeper he went, the less forest he could see; he was sure he was close to the village. He could now see the moon above him, with the lantern clutched in one hand and the reins in the other. Kael's heart raced with excitement and nervousness.

After hours of navigating his way through the woods, he saw a stone wall ahead of him, and a smile crossed his lips. He imagined a busy village lit with colorful lanterns and filled with the sounds of music. The whole kingdom was already celebrating their victory over Eldrador; he knew his hometown well, how they loved celebration and merriment.

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But as he got closer to the village, he heard nothing—no birds, no livestock, and no music. He halted his horse for a moment to listen, but his keen ears failed to detect a sound. His heart ached. Why is it so quiet? A sense of dread began to creep into his mind.

Kael dismounted Ember, the ground cool beneath his feet as he approached the stone wall. He peered over, searching for any signs of life. The village was shrouded in an unsettling stillness, the vibrant energy he had imagined now replaced by an ominous silence.

“Hello?” he called out, his voice echoing against the stone. “Is anyone there?”

No response came, only the whisper of the wind through the trees. Kael’s heart raced as he climbed onto the wall, straining to see into the village. The streets were empty, the lanterns unlit, and the houses stood dark and silent. It was as if the village had been abandoned overnight.

Panic surged within him. “This can’t be right,” he muttered, jumping down and leading Ember through a small gate that had been left ajar. He stepped cautiously onto the cobblestone path, his senses heightened. Every shadow seemed to loom larger, and every creak of wood felt amplified.

As he ventured further into the heart of Blossom Valley, he noticed signs of struggle—broken crates, overturned chairs, and a few scattered personal belongings. Kael’s stomach twisted with fear. “Where is everyone?” he whispered, dread pooling in his gut.

He called out again, louder this time. “Mom! Dad! It’s Kael! I’m home!”

Silence answered him, thick and suffocating. He felt a chill run down his spine. The village he had longed to see was now a ghost town, and the celebration he had envisioned felt like a cruel joke.

Determined to find answers, Kael moved toward his family’s home, a modest cottage at the end of the main street. With each step, his heart pounded louder in his chest. He tied the horse to a pole before reaching the door and knocked, the sound echoing hollowly in the night. “Please, someone answer!”

After a moment, he pushed the door open, the creak of the hinges breaking the silence. The interior was dark, but the faint smell of smoke lingered in the air. He stepped inside, lantern raised, illuminating the empty living room.

“Mom? Dad?” Kael’s voice trembled as he called out again.

He moved through the house, checking each room. The kitchen was untouched, the table still set as if they had just finished dinner. But there was no sign of his family. Panic clawed at his throat.

He scanned the room in search of any trace that would lead him to them, and then his eyes fell on the door that led to the backyard. “Mom? Dad?” He opened the door forcefully, hoping to see his parents, but what he saw made his eyes widen in terror.

Limbs and body parts lay aimlessly in a pool of blood; no military training had prepared him for this. He ducked behind the door and discharged all that he had eaten from his stomach.

“How could someone be so ruthless?” Kael whispered, his voice trembling as he cleaned himself and stood. He had to be sure—he had to know if they were his parents. But deep down, a part of him desperately hoped it couldn't be true.

As he stepped closer, tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision. The sight before him felt unreal, a nightmare he couldn’t wake from. His father's head lay decapitated, the lifeless eyes staring into nothingness. A wave of anguish crashed over him, and he clenched his fists tightly, nails digging into his palms as if to anchor himself in reality.

“No! Not you!” he cried out, his sorrow echoing through the empty house. The sound was raw and heart-wrenching, a desperate plea against the cruel silence that surrounded him. Pain surged through his chest like a dagger, and he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by grief. The world around him faded as he let the tears flow freely, each drop a testament to the love he had lost, the warmth that would never return.

In that moment, the weight of his loss settled heavily on his shoulders, and he felt utterly alone in a world that had turned dark and unforgiving.