Ellora watched as her sister, Lily, indifferently walked out of the living room of their modest home. The sound of Lily's light footsteps faded behind the door. For a moment, Ellora just sat there, fingers still resting on the thick book she had been reading. The air in the room felt cold, despite the sunlight streaming in through the window.

"What am I doing wrong?" she thought bitterly, placing the book down on the table. She knew Lily was going through her teenage rebellion—a phase marked by stubbornness and cynicism. But Ellora couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to it. She had tried speaking gently, giving patient advice, but nothing seemed to matter in Lily's eyes. Her younger sister always saw her as someone too tied to the past, while Lily lived in a new world, one that no longer cared about noble bloodlines.

Ellora let out a long sigh, confusion and frustration weighing on her. "What should I do? How can I make her understand?" she wondered, but no answers came. Only the silence of the room surrounded her. In that stillness, Ellora's mind drifted back to three years ago, to when all of this had started.

**Three Years Ago – The Kingdom of Evernoir**

In the grand royal laboratory filled with glowing crystals, Ellora had been lost in her own world. Before her were scrolls of ancient manuscripts, magical reagents in glass tubes, and complex spell diagrams carefully laid out across the table. As the eldest princess of the Evernoir Kingdom, Ellora had inherited extraordinary magical abilities from her family, and on that day, she was working on one of the most important projects of her life—developing a new type of magic that could surpass the known limits of that time.

Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "If I succeed," she had thought, "this magic could protect the kingdom from any attack."

Suddenly, a deafening noise echoed through the room. A loud crash followed by the blaring of emergency alarms filled the air. Startled, Ellora nearly dropped the magical crystal tube in her hand. The emergency alarm only sounded when the kingdom was under serious threat.

"What's happening?!" she shouted in panic.

The laboratory door burst open, and a royal mage-guard ran in, breathless and tense. "Your Highness, Princess Ellora, the kingdom is under attack! Giant robots from the enemy forces are attacking!" he yelled.

The blood drained from Ellora's face. "Attacked?!" Her heart pounded. She hurriedly set down her equipment and raced out, following the guard through the palace corridors.

When she stepped outside, Ellora saw the once-clear skies of the kingdom now shrouded in black smoke, with explosions thundering in the distance. From the palace's grand windows, she could see the terrifying silhouettes of the enormous robots, tearing down the kingdom's fortresses. Their mechanical bodies glowed with a blue light, each movement leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

"How is this possible?" Ellora whispered in disbelief.

The Evernoir Kingdom, long protected by its powerful magic, was now defenseless against the advanced military technology of an enemy that relied not on magic, but on machines. The invaders had brought anti-magic devices, technology capable of disabling Evernoir's mages. The giant robots marched forward relentlessly, obliterating everything in their path.

Ellora dashed down the stairs, her breath ragged, her eyes frantically searching for her family—her father and mother, the King and Queen of Evernoir. In the palace courtyard, she saw the royal army fighting back with every ounce of magic they could muster, but it was futile. Every spell they cast was blocked by the energy shields surrounding the robots. One by one, the kingdom's soldiers fell before Ellora's eyes.

Fear began to take hold of her heart. She had to find her family—her parents, her younger siblings, Lily and Arche.

"Father! Mother!" she shouted in desperation, her voice drowned out by the chaos of battle.

As she hurried toward the throne room, a sight stopped her dead in her tracks. Just outside the massive doors that led to the throne room, her parents lay motionless on the ground, their bodies soaked in blood, no longer moving. Standing over them was one of the giant enemy robots, its mechanical arm still dripping with blood.

"NO!" Ellora screamed, rushing to her parents' side. Her voice cracked, but no one responded. The King and Queen of Evernoir were gone, fallen in battle.

Ellora collapsed to her knees beside them, her hands trembling as she tried to wake them, but there was no sign of life. Her eyes filled with tears, and her mind began to shut down from the overwhelming shock.

"This can't be happening…," she whispered. "This can't be real… Father, Mother, please… wake up… please…"

A nearby explosion jolted Ellora back to the brutal reality. "I have to go… Lily and Arche!" she thought. She had to find her siblings before it was too late.

But before she could move any further, one of her guards grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back. "Your Highness, we have to go now! The secret passage is open!"

Ellora shook her head, angry, refusing to leave her parents behind. "I can't! I have to find my siblings! I have to save them!" she cried, her voice hoarse.

The guard, his face filled with guilt, forced her to move. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but if we don't leave now, it'll all be for nothing. Lily and Arche might already be evacuated. We have to go."

Ellora stood frozen in the long palace hallway, her heart still racing from the horrifying scene she had just witnessed. Before her lay the lifeless bodies of her parents, the King and Queen of Evernoir. Her tear-filled eyes met those of the guard, who pleaded with her to flee, to save herself from the destruction consuming the kingdom. But something more urgent than her own safety pulled at her heart.

"No," Ellora said, her voice steady yet heavy with emotion. "I have to find Lily and Arche! They must still be here!"

The guard, desperate to convince her, urged once more, "Your Highness, it's too dangerous! We have to leave now!"

However, Ellora raised her hand, and the wind magic began to swirl around her. "I won't leave them! They are my family!" Her shout echoed through the ruined corridor. In an instant, her magic propelled her into the air, and she soared at full speed toward her siblings' room.

Dust and distant explosions still filled the air, but Ellora's focus was solely on one thing—saving her remaining family. Deep down, she hoped that Arche and Lily were safe, that they had managed to find shelter somewhere.

As she reached Arche's room, Ellora landed softly at the half-destroyed doorway. Her eyes scanned the space, but there was no sign of Arche. The room was empty, littered only with debris from small explosions.

"Arche?" Ellora called hoarsely, but there was no reply. Anxiety began to grip her, tightening her chest. She tried to calm herself, holding back the urge to panic.

Suddenly, a massive explosion echoed from Lily's room, shaking the entire palace and ringing in Ellora's ears. Without a second thought, she launched herself forward again, this time even faster, flying through the corridor toward her younger sister's room.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

When she arrived, a horrifying sight awaited her.

Lily's room was in shambles. A giant robot stood in the center of the room, its body gleaming with blue light. Two Evernoir mages, seemingly trying to protect Lily, lay lifeless at the feet of the monstrous machine. In the corner of the room, Ellora saw Lily curled up, trembling, her face streaked with tears and sheer terror.

"Lily!" Ellora shouted, fury boiling inside her as she saw her sister in such a state.

Hearing her sister's voice, Lily looked up, her expression a mixture of fear and relief. But before she could react further, the giant robot turned its glowing red eyes toward them.

Ellora could no longer contain her anger. "Get away from here!" she yelled at the robot, but it remained motionless, emitting a chilling hum. Without hesitation, Ellora chanted an air spell, her hands shimmering with powerful magical energy. The air around the room began to whirl at a high speed, forming a fierce vortex.

With a swift motion, Ellora sent a powerful wave of wind crashing toward the robot. The force struck its metallic body with enough strength to lift it off the ground. The sound of metal clashing and loud cracks filled the air as the giant robot was hurled out of the room, crashing through the wall and tumbling into the courtyard below, destroying everything in its path.

Lily, watching in wide-eyed shock, immediately ran to Ellora and hugged her tightly. The small girl trembled violently, her sobs echoing against Ellora's chest.

"Ellora... I'm scared... I'm so scared," Lily cried, her frail body shaking with fear.

Still trying to calm her racing heart from the adrenaline and anger, Ellora embraced her sister tightly. She crouched down to be at eye level with Lily, gently stroking her hair.

"Shhh, it's going to be okay. I'm here now, Lily. I won't let anyone hurt you," she whispered softly, attempting to soothe Lily's ongoing tears.

Lily looked up, her red, tear-streaked eyes filled with confusion. "What's happening, Ellora? Where are Father and Mother? They'll save us, right? I... I want to go home..." Her voice trembled with the fear and confusion of a child who didn't understand the chaos around her.

Ellora's heart shattered at those words. How could she tell Lily that their parents were gone? That they now had to face a world that had destroyed everything they loved?

But this wasn't the time to show her sadness. Ellora knew Lily needed her strength. So, with a calm yet determined voice, she said, "We will go home, Lily. I'll find a way. But right now, we have to get out of here. We have to survive. You just need to trust me, okay?"

Lily nodded slowly, though her sobs hadn't completely subsided. "But I'm scared…"

Ellora managed a small smile, hiding her own fears and anxieties. "I'm scared too, Lily. But together, we can get through this. We have to be strong, for Father and Mother. They want us to survive."

Lily clung to Ellora tighter, as if she were afraid to let go. Ellora kissed her sister's forehead, trying to instill a sense of calm in the midst of the chaos. Standing up while still holding Lily close, she began to move toward the door.

But just as they were about to exit, a loud boom resonated from the lower levels of the palace, shaking the entire building. Ellora paused for a moment, fear creeping back into her heart. Whatever was happening, they had to get out before it was too late.

Carefully yet swiftly, Ellora led Lily, running down the hallway now strewn with debris and the bodies of soldiers who had once protected them. One thing consumed her thoughts: getting Lily to safety, no matter what.

Ellora soared through the air, holding tightly to Lily's hand, her little sister's face still pale with fear. They flew swiftly over the ruins of the Evernoir Kingdom, the chaos below filled with explosions, smoke, and the looming shadows of robots that were destroying everything in their path. With every heartbeat, Ellora felt her responsibility grow heavier—she had to find Arche, their brother who was lost amidst the destruction.

"Hold on, Lily! We'll find Arche soon!" Ellora shouted, her voice trembling as she tried to reassure her younger sister, who was clinging to her tightly. The fierce wind whipped through her hair and cloak, but she kept flying, dodging the rubble and flames below.

Then, from a distance, a massive robot emerged. Its glowing red eyes stared them down, its body a moving fortress ready to obliterate anything in its path. The ground trembled beneath the thunderous steps, and the robot aimed its plasma weapon directly at Ellora and Lily.

"No!" Ellora screamed, twisting her body to dodge. Quickly, she cast a wind spell, sending her soaring through the air just as a plasma explosion erupted near them. The blast shattered several buildings below, debris flying everywhere.

"Big sister, I'm scared!" Lily cried in her ear, her voice trembling with fear, pushing Ellora further into panic.

"Stay calm, Lily! I'll protect you!" Ellora tried to keep her voice steady, though a deep fear gripped her heart. Her hands began to warm with magical energy as she prepared a counterattack. She unleashed a powerful gust of wind toward the robot, causing it to stagger back a few steps.

But that only attracted more robots. Three massive machines emerged from the smoke, armed with heavy weapons and ready to strike. Ellora fought back with all her magical strength, launching blasts of wind that smashed into the robots in front of her. They shattered and burned, but each destroyed robot was quickly replaced by another, as if their numbers were endless.

Just when Ellora thought she could handle it, one of the massive robots in front of them revealed a strange crystal on its back. The crystal shone brightly and suddenly emitted a high-frequency wave—an anti-magic device.

In an instant, all the magic around Ellora vanished. The wind spell that had kept them aloft disappeared, and they began to plummet toward the ground.

"Lily!" Ellora shouted in panic as she tried to reach for her sister, desperately attempting to halt their fall. But without magic, they could only drift helplessly. They hit the ground hard, and Ellora felt as if she had been struck by a massive boulder.

Lily tumbled several meters away from where Ellora landed. She gasped for breath, though it sounded weak. Ellora quickly scrambled to her sister, despite the searing pain in her body.

"Lily! Are you okay?" Ellora crawled toward her, checking for any serious injuries. Thankfully, despite looking terrified, Lily was unharmed.

Before Ellora could breathe a sigh of relief, the sound of heavy metal footsteps approached. A giant robot armed with a laser weapon advanced toward them, its mechanical growl echoing ominously as the red beam from its weapon pointed directly at Ellora and Lily.

Several loyal Evernoir mages rushed forward, ready to protect the princess and her sister. "Your Highness, run! We'll hold them off!" shouted one of the approaching mages, positioning themselves between Ellora and the towering robot.

"No! Don't!" Ellora shouted, but she knew there was no time. The massive laser fired, piercing through the bodies of the two mages standing in front of them. Their lifeless forms fell instantly, leaving only Ellora and Lily as the next targets.

Ellora shut her eyes as the laser shot toward them, hoping to shield Lily with her body. But then, something unexpected happened.

Everything suddenly stopped.

Time seemed to freeze, the air around her solidified, and the cacophony of the battlefield fell silent. Ellora slowly opened her eyes, gazing around in astonishment. The robots, explosions, and even the swirling dust particles in the air had all come to a standstill. Lily, who was close by, still had her eyes closed, her face etched with deep fear, but she didn't move, as if trapped in a moment frozen in time.

"What is happening...?" Ellora murmured to herself, her eyes sweeping across the strange and bewildering scene.

Suddenly, a gentle voice whispered in her mind, like a warm breath from afar. "Ellora…" The voice was soft yet commanding.

Startled, Ellora's eyes darted around, searching for the source, but there was no one in sight. Just emptiness, and time that stood still.

"Who are you?" she asked, trying to suppress the fear creeping in.

The voice spoke again, "Ellora, you must go. Go to the Kingdom of Aurelius. There you will be safe."

Ellora paused, swallowing her apprehension. The voice sounded familiar and soothing, but something troubled her thoughts. "Who are you? Why should I go to Aurelius? I... I can't leave my siblings!" Tears welled in her eyes. "I have to save them. I have to find Arche!"

The voice responded with certainty, "Arche will be safe. Leave him to me. You have another task, Ellora. A greater task. Trust me. I will protect your brother."

Hearing this, Ellora gasped. The voice... it was not that of an ordinary human. There was something extraordinary in its gentle yet powerful tone. She knew who the voice belonged to. "Goddess... Oriana?" Ellora asked, her voice trembling with awe and fear.

"Yes, Ellora. It is I. I will take care of Arche. But now, you must survive and make your way to Aurelius. There, you will find the answers and strength you need."

Ellora took a deep breath, her eyes misty. Her heart was filled with fear, but also with a newfound hope. "I... I trust you, Goddess. But what about Lily? I can't leave her..."

"Lily will be with you. You both will be safe, but you must leave quickly before time resumes."

Ellora realized she had no other choice. This was the only way to save Lily and ensure they had a future. Though her heart ached at the thought of leaving Arche behind, her faith in Goddess Oriana spurred her into action.

"Alright, Goddess... I will go to Aurelius. I will protect Lily."

With those words, Ellora felt the wind of magic begin to swirl around her again. She knew time would soon start moving again, and the robot would fire its laser once more. Quickly, she lifted Lily, who still sat frozen in fear, and prepared to flee.

"Thank you, Goddess Oriana..." she whispered softly before time began to flow once more.

***