The silence fell as suddenly as the tower had collapsed. The light of dawn reflected off the debris and ruins of the fortress, casting a soft, warm glow over the ex-prisoners.

Their gazes were focused on the one who stood above the ruins, panting and relieved that it was finally over. The city was beginning to awaken, and this event would undoubtedly leave its mark forever.

He looked down at the crowd of prisoners with relief, but noticed Bojan's condition, requiring a treatment as soon as possible. Just as he was about to descend to join them, a trumpet sounded to the west, getting closer and closer. The guard was about to arrive.

The prisoners turned towards the echo of the trumpets and began to panic, refusing to be captured again after having tried so hard to regain their freedom. Armand, still perched above the ruins, watched them with a touch of bitterness. He knew that some of them were probably criminals who deserved to be locked up. His only goal was to destroy this fortress, a symbol of slavery and oppression.

"The guard ! They're coming !" someone shouted, running away.

"We have to get out of here ! They'll capture us again if we just stand here!" shouted another.

Armand looked down at his fists. He still had enough energy left to create a few indigo portals. He turned his gaze to the west, and from his elevated position, he saw a crowd of guards approaching. He estimated that they would be here in less than five minutes. Taking a deep breath, he pointed to the ground and cast a sphere of indigo magic, which exploded, opening a smoking rift. Then he aimed further away, not knowing exactly where the second rift had landed, but he had an idea in mind.

"Listen to me ! Calm down ! Calm down ! I won't be able to maintain these rifts for long. I'll need several to help you escape! Don't waste time and leave Auroria !" he shouted at them.

The prisoners hesitated, some throwing themselves into the rift without hesitation, while others stayed back. But the sound of the guard's horn drew ever closer, and those who hesitated eventually rushed into the slowly narrowing rift.

He created another rift for himself and, as he was about to leave, took one last look to make sure no one was left behind. Surprisingly, he saw two prisoners next to Carolina, who was crying, while Bojan was still lying on the ground, unable to get up.

"Please, let us carry you out of the city! You're one of our saviours, we can't just abandon you. We'll find a way to treat you!" begged one of the two prisoners.

"Leave me here. I'll just be a useless burden for you."

"Bojan, no... don't say that, I'd never leave you here," Carolina replied, trembling as she held his arm.

The man was covered in blood, his body riddled with deep wounds. He no longer had the strength to move even a toe. His vision was gradually blurring, but he fixed his gaze on the only person he could still see.

"Carolina, I wouldn't blame you, I never would. Leave me here and take that chance. Regain it, this freedom that was taken from you simply because you were born..." He spat blood before continuing, while she clutched his hand unable to contain her tears.

"I would have loved so much to see you happy and free. I also regret... not being able to see my son one last time... Is he still alive? How much has he grown ?..."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Stop... I beg you... save your strength and..."

"That boy," he whispered, looking up at the sky. "That hope and those dreams you'd lost... that little hero you admired so much..."

"Huh? What are you talking about ?"

"I see... he didn't tell you," he murmured, smiling despite the pain, before looking at her again. " When you can, ask him who he really is. I'm sure you won't believe him at first. I hid my doubts from him myself, but now... I'm sure of it. They're back."

She didn't understand what he meant, too preoccupied by his condition and the approaching danger. The echo of trumpets and the clash of armour grew louder and louder.

"Shit, we've to get out of here ! They're nearly here !" shouted one of the men, who was beginning to lose patience.

"Bojan... I can't leave you. It's impossible," she said, her voice trembling as she clutched the arm of the man she had always considered as her father.

The man, who always wore a smile on his face to comfort her, used the last of his strength to raise his arm as best he could and place his large, wounded hand on her cheek.

"I know, and that's why I have to go. I can't explain it but... I'm sure that the future that awaits you will be fantastic. You've proved you can overcome your fears. Could it be a paternal instinct ? Maybe..." he murmured with a faint laugh, before being seized by a painful cough.

"Don't let this second chance get away and, become the brightest star in the sky... Carolina."

Bojan couldn't say another word. He had reached his limit. His eyes closed tenderly, dedicating his last gaze to Carolina, before fading away, at the gates of the ruins of the prison where he had been held for so many years, a peaceful smile forming on his lips.

The young girl, unable to contain her tears, shouted his name and shook him by the shoulders in the hope that he would wake up, refusing to accept reality.

The two men beside her were also touched, feeling guilty that their freedom had cost the life of such a brave man. Unfortunately, this moment of sadness could not last forever. The guard was approaching, and the soldiers were already entering the courtyard of the fortress where they were standing.

"I'm really sorry, but we've to go now and quickly ! Let's not ruin his sacrifice !" shouted one of the two men. They grabbed the young girl by the shoulders to drag her through the rift, which was about to close.

"Halt there !" ordered a second lieutenant of the guard who was galloping towards them on horseback.

She struggled, trying to free herself to stay with Bojan, but their grip was too firm. In a desperate gesture, she stretched out her arm towards Bojan's body as she rushed through the gate, which sealed itself as soon as her hand passed through it.

The guard dived off his horse too late, and his head hit the ground as he tried to follow them into the rift.

"Damn it !" he shouted, slamming his fist into the sandy ground, before rising to his feet to order his men to capture as many escapees as possible.

From the top of the ruins, Armand, having seen the whole scene, whispered a final farewell to Bojan. No one could catch a glimpse of his devastated eyes, or feel the guilt that consumed him for not having been able to protect him. He then disappeared into his own rift, which closed instantly, without anyone having noticed him.

Meanwhile, Carolina and the other two escapees appeared from a rift further away. She fell to the ground, so confused that she couldn't stand up.

"Hang on, we mustn't get caught!" one of the men shouted, helping her to her feet.

They continued to run, making their way as best they could towards the next rift that awaited them. Behind them, the guard was now scattered across the north and east of the city. Each time they crossed a rift, they moved forward a little further, making their way to the edge of the city. However, Armand couldn't keep the rifts open, given their numbers and the distance between them.

They continued to advance, rift after rift, and finally the outer ramparts of the city appeared far away. There was only one rift left to cross before the exit, but it was already very weak and threatened to close any minute.

Suddenly, Carolina's vision blurred from the excessive effort put into her body. She stumbled over a paving stone sticking out of the ground, crashing into it again. The two men had already crossed the rift, and before they realised that she was no longer following them, the rift closed. Leaving her behind, alone.

End of chapter 23.