Chapter 5

Alaric stormed into the woods, his hair whipping behind him as he moved with purpose. Eldric and Fiora followed closely, struggling to keep up. The dense forest blurred around them, moonlight filtering through the thick canopy in faint, ghostly beams.

Without warning, Alaric veered sharply off the path, navigating the rough terrain with astonishing ease. He leaped over gnarled roots and jagged rocks as though the obstacles didn’t exist. Eldric’s heart pounded in his chest, more from the sight of his father than the exertion. He had never seen Alaric move with such speed and precision before.

Pushing himself harder, Eldric closed the gap, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He managed to catch a glimpse of his father’s face—his eyes were wide, filled with an emotion Eldric rarely saw. Fear.

A faint noise reached Eldric’s ears, voices carried on the wind to their left. The words were indistinct, but the urgency was clear. Alaric’s head snapped toward the sound, his jaw tightening.

“We have to hurry!” Alaric barked, his voice sharp with terror. “There’s no time. We must beat them!”

“What’s going on?” Fiora shouted, her voice trembling as she struggled to keep pace.

“There’s no time to explain! Just keep up!” Alaric commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

For twenty agonizing minutes, they sprinted through the forest, weaving through trees and dodging roots that threatened to trip them. The faint voices behind them grew louder, closer, until the edge of the woods came into view.

Bright moonlight illuminated the grassy fields beyond, their silver glow offering a brief moment of clarity. Alaric surged forward, leading them into the tall grass. The village was visible in the distance.

Suddenly, Alaric skidded to a halt, raising his hand in a silent command. Eldric and Fiora stumbled to a stop behind him, their breaths heavy and uneven.

“Get down,” Alaric hissed, crouching low in the grass.

“Dad, what is going on?” Eldric asked, his voice strained with confusion.

“Shut up and get down!” Alaric snapped, his harsh tone silencing any further questions.

Eldric crouched next to Fiora, his eyes darting toward the forest edge. Shadows flickered between the trees, moving steadily closer. He strained to hear the voices again but could only make out faint murmurs.

“They’re closing in,” Eldric whispered, his tone urgent. He turned to Alaric. “There aren’t that many of them, but… I’ve never heard of outsiders coming to the village before.”

Alaric glanced over his shoulder, his face grim.

Eldric risked a quick peek above the grass, just enough to see the figures advancing toward them. He couldn’t make out details, but the shadows moved with unsettling precision. His stomach churned, and he ducked back down.

Alaric leaned toward Fiora, his voice low but firm. “Fiora, go find your father and tell him what’s happening. Run as fast as you can. We’ll distract them.”

Fiora’s eyes widened as she stared at him, the fear in his voice more alarming than his words. She nodded once, swallowing hard before preparing to run.

“Go!” Alaric urged, his tone edged with desperation.

Fiora froze, her eyes darting between Alaric and the shadowy figures in the distance. Disbelief clouded her face as fear gripped her.

Alaric grabbed her shoulders, his strong hands steadying her as he leaned in, his voice sharp and urgent. “I need you to do this. You must!” he snapped, giving her a slight shake to pull her from her daze.

Fiora blinked, swallowing hard. “Okay,” she said, her voice trembling. Her wide eyes betrayed her fear, but she turned and bolted toward the village, the tall grass swallowing her figure as she disappeared into the night.

Alaric watched her go for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he turned to Eldric, his voice lowering to a whisper. “We need to get a closer look and try to distract them.”

Eldric nodded, his heart pounding as he crouched low to follow his father. The two moved silently, inching through the tall grass like predators stalking prey. Each rustle of the blades felt deafening in the tense quiet.

As they approached, the shadowy figures became clearer. A group of men stood together, their movements deliberate. Each was clad in leather armor, built for agility rather than protection, and carried an assortment of weapons. Some gripped long swords, gleaming faintly in the moonlight, while others wielded spears with menacing tips.

Eldric’s stomach churned as he tried to count their numbers. He reached ten before his nerve failed him, and he ducked his head lower.

Alaric crept forward until they were close enough to hear the intruders’ voices. He held up a hand, signaling for Eldric to stop.

The distant howl of a wolf pierced the night, sending shivers down Eldric’s spine.

“That’s the signal,” came a voice, deep and commanding.

Eldric risked a glance, peering through the grass to see a tall, broad-shouldered man step forward. His leather armor clung tightly to his muscular frame, and his face was barely visible in the moonlight. A wicked smile spread across his lips as he addressed the group.

“It seems the others are ready to begin,” the man continued, his tone calm yet dripping with malice. He hefted a sword onto his shoulder, the motion casual. “Let’s do this quickly. Kill them all!”

The words hit Eldric like a blow.

The intruders broke into a sprint, their figures darting toward Valifield with terrifying speed. The sound of their boots pounding against the earth faded as they grew smaller in the distance.

Alaric remained motionless, his gaze shifting between the village, the retreating figures, and the open field around them. His chest rose and fell with deliberate breaths as he calmed himself, formulating a plan.

Finally, he closed his eyes, exhaled deeply, and turned to Eldric.

“Eldric,” he said, his tone steady but intense. “I need you to go to the house and find your mother. She’ll know what to do.”

Eldric’s eyes widened. “But—”

“No buts,” Alaric interrupted, locking eyes with his son. “Under no circumstances are you to fight anyone. Do you understand me?”

Eldric swallowed hard and nodded quickly.

“Good,” Alaric said, clapping a hand on his shoulder briefly before turning away. “Go now!”

Eldric hesitated for only a moment, then turned and ran. His father’s silhouette lingered behind him for a second before fading into the tall grass.

As he ran, Eldric’s mind raced. His legs moved on instinct, carrying him toward the house perched on the hill overlooking the village. The cool night air stung his face, and the blades of grass whipped against his legs.

He glanced at the light glowing in the windows of his home, a faint beacon in the darkness. It brought him a fleeting sense of hope. But when his gaze shifted back to the village below, the fear returned.

What’s happening? he thought, his breath hitching as he pushed himself harder.

In the distance, Eldric’s world shattered.

The horrors unfolding before his eyes were unlike anything he’d ever seen. People he’d known his entire life were being impaled on swords, their screams of agony piercing the night. Teenagers knelt over the bodies of their slain parents, their cries cut short as the attackers struck them down without hesitation.

Eldric froze. His heart pounded, a deafening drumbeat in his chest. His wide eyes refused to look away from the carnage, even as his mind screamed to move, to act, to do something.

His gaze caught on a familiar figure—Fiora’s father, Shaun. The man was locked in combat with three of the attackers, his movements precise and calculated. He sidestepped one strike, then pivoted smoothly to land his own, cutting down one of his foes. His sword danced in the moonlight as he blocked another blow and countered with a lethal strike.

Isn’t Fiora supposed to be with her dad?! Eldric thought in panic.

Shaun’s eyes met Eldric’s for the briefest moment. With a sharp jerk of his head, he motioned toward Eldric’s house. The unspoken command was clear: Go. Now.

Eldric nodded. He turned toward the house but faltered when he saw a figure sprinting up the hill toward it.

“Fiora!” he whispered hoarsely.

She was running, her voice carrying on the wind as she called out desperately for her mother. Eldric’s blood turned to ice. From the opposite direction, a pair of bandits emerged, moving toward the house with weapons drawn.

His fear surged, his heart hammering even faster. No, no, no!

“Fiora, wait!” Eldric hissed fiercely, “Get down!”

Without hesitation, she dove into the tall grass, her figure disappearing into the shadows. Eldric crouched low, his breath shallow as he watched the bandits approach the house. They hadn’t seen her.

Moving swiftly and silently, Eldric crawled through the tall grass, circling around to where Fiora lay hidden. He found her curled into herself, trembling violently, her breath coming in short gasps.

“It’s going to be okay,” he whispered, his voice as steady as he could make it. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder, trying to ground her. “We need to sneak up behind them. It’s the only way…”

Fiora didn’t respond, her fear locking her in place.

“Come on,” Eldric urged, shaking her gently. “We need to go now.”

Finally, she nodded, though her movements were hesitant. Together, they rose from the grass, their bodies low as they moved toward the house.

Eldric gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles white around the hilt. His mind raced with strategies, but his fear screamed louder than any coherent thought. As they neared the house, he readied his blade, his muscles coiling like springs.

Then, a sound cut through the air—a noise so chilling it froze him in his tracks.

Two high-pitched, blood-curdling screams tore through the night. The cries were cut off just as suddenly as they began, leaving only an oppressive, suffocating silence in their wake.

“Mom!” Fiora cried out, her voice breaking with desperation.

Eldric reacted instantly, clamping a hand over her mouth and pulling her down into the grass. “Quiet!” he hissed, his voice harsh but low.

Tears streamed down Fiora’s face as she struggled against him, her muffled cries heartbreaking. Eldric held her firmly, his eyes fixed on the house.

The front door slammed open, crashing against the wall. Two men stepped out, their laughter cold and cruel as they congratulated each other.

“Did you see her face?” one of them sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “Priceless.”

“Easy work,” the other replied, patting the first man on the back. “Come on, let’s finish up here and regroup.”

They descended the porch, their boots crunching on the gravel path as they moved away from the house.

Eldric didn’t dare breathe. His grip on Fiora remained firm, though his own hands trembled. The rage and fear swirling within him threatened to consume him, but he forced himself to stay still.

“Just stay down,” he whispered to Fiora, his voice barely audible. “Wait until they’re gone.”

“Here,” the second man said, his voice dripping with malice as he handed a torch to his companion. “You can have the honor of finishing the job.”

Eldric watched in frozen terror as the first man grinned wickedly and hurled the torch onto the roof of his home. The flames spread rapidly, licking hungrily at the wood and climbing higher with each passing second.

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“Well, that’s one part of the mission done,” the man said with grim satisfaction, his face illuminated by the flickering firelight. “Now to find those kids.”

Eldric tore his gaze away, his stomach churning. Around him, the village was a scene of pure devastation. Flames consumed buildings, their collapsing structures sending sparks into the night sky. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, lifeless and bloodied. A few villagers still fought valiantly, but one by one, they fell beneath the attackers’ relentless assault.

He turned back toward his burning house, his chest tightening painfully. “Mom, no,” he whispered, his voice barely audible but carrying enough to betray his hiding spot.

The men on the hill froze and turned toward the sound.

“Well, that makes things easier,” one of them said, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Eldric in the tall grass. Drawing his sword, he began descending the hill with a sinister smile.

Eldric couldn’t move. Fear rooted him to the ground as the man approached, his blade glinting in the firelight. The sword rose high above the man’s head, poised to strike. Eldric stared, paralyzed, as the blade began its deadly descent.

Just before the sword connected, a sudden blur of motion appeared behind the man. The attacker stiffened, his expression shifting from triumph to shock as a blade burst through his back.

Fiora wrenched her sword free, her face set with grim determination. She shoved the dying man aside and tackled Eldric to the ground, the two of them tumbling down the hill together.

When they came to a stop, Fiora scrambled to her feet, grabbing Eldric by the arm. “Get up!” she yelled, her voice fierce and urgent. “We have to move! We have to find our dads!”

“But our moms—” Eldric protested, his voice breaking.

“We can think about that later!” Fiora snapped, her own composure cracking as a single tear slid down her cheek. “Now is not the time for this. We have to go!”

Eldric swallowed the lump in his throat, nodding reluctantly. He pushed himself up, following Fiora as she led the way toward where they’d last seen Shaun.

As they crested another hill, Eldric spotted his father. Alaric had joined Shaun, and the two stood in the middle of a field surrounded by over twenty attackers.

Fiora came to an abrupt halt, her breath catching as she watched the two men fight.

Alaric and Shaun moved like a well-oiled machine, their swords flashing in perfect unison. Every strike, every block, every pivot was precise, with no motion wasted. Their combined skill and sheer ferocity were almost mesmerizing.

The bandits fell one by one, unable to withstand the onslaught. Ten bodies littered the ground before the two men stopped, standing back-to-back with their swords raised.

Alaric’s voice rang out, defiant and commanding. “Well, what now? Are you scared? Come and get it!”

Shaun chuckled, his tone sharp and mocking. “This is too easy!”

Fiora clenched her fists, her body trembling with urgency. “Come on, we have to help!” she demanded, her voice shaking.

Eldric hesitated, torn between the chaos around them and Fiora’s insistence. He tightened his grip on his sword, his pulse pounding in his ears.

“Okay, I’ll go to th—” Eldric’s words were abruptly cut off as two men seized him from behind. Before he could react, his arms were wrenched back, a pair of rough hands locking him in place.

Fiora let out a startled cry as two more men grabbed her. She twisted and kicked, but their grip was ironclad. The attackers dragged them toward the battlefield where their fathers stood, weapons raised and surrounded by enemies.

“You will put down your swords,” one of the captors sneered, pressing a blade against Fiora’s neck. His counterpart released her and stepped back with a menacing grin. “Or we’ll kill them.”

“Fiora! Get them!” Alaric bellowed, his voice sharp and commanding.

Without hesitation, Fiora sprang into action. She spun on her heel, ducking beneath her captor’s arm as she twisted free of his grip. In one swift motion, she dropped to the ground and swept her legs under him, knocking him off balance.

The man crashed to the ground with a startled grunt. The commotion caught the attention of the remaining attackers, who charged toward Alaric and Shaun. Eldric’s captors tightened their hold on him, keeping him immobilized as chaos erupted around them.

Fiora wasted no time. She sprang to her feet, her sharp eyes locking onto the man who had threatened her. Like a hawk diving for its prey, she swooped down on him, grabbing his arm and wrenching it behind his back. A sickening crack echoed through the night as his arm snapped, followed by a thunderous cry of pain as it fell limp at his side.

Before he could recover, Fiora snatched the knife from his belt. With a determined glare, she hurled it at her second captor. The man dodged just in time, the blade missing his throat by inches, and lunged at her with a snarl.

“Come here!” he roared, swiping at her.

Fiora reached back, gripping the hilt of her sword. She sidestepped his charge with catlike grace, her movements fluid and precise. The man stumbled past her, his footing lost, giving Fiora the perfect opening.

She struck swiftly, her blade slicing through the air. The attacker crumpled, clutching his side as he fell.

But there was no time to rest. One of the men holding Eldric released him and charged at Fiora, his sword raised high. She barely had time to react, instinctively leaning back and bringing her blade up to meet his in a loud clash of steel.

The force of the attack sent her sprawling to the ground, the breath knocked from her lungs.

“Fiora!” Eldric cried out, struggling against his captors.

But she wasn’t finished. Fiora rolled to her feet in one fluid motion, her breathing heavy as she steadied her blade and prepared for another strike. Her eyes burned with determination, every muscle in her body coiled like a spring.

When did she learn to do that? Eldric thought, astonished at her skill and ferocity.

“Eldric!” Alaric’s voice cut through his thoughts. His father had just felled another enemy and was now searching for his son.

Eldric’s pulse raced as he took stock of his surroundings. The man holding him was distracted, watching the fight unfold. Seizing the moment, Eldric drove his elbow into the man’s gut with all his strength. The attacker grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for Eldric to slip free.

He scrambled away, his heart pounding as he drew his sword.

The man barely had time to react before Eldric swung his blade in a wide arc. The steel bit into the attacker’s stomach, and he collapsed with a guttural cry.

Eldric looked up just in time to see Fiora driving her sword through her remaining opponent. She twisted the blade, her movements swift and practiced, before pulling it free. The man fell at her feet, his lifeless body crumpling to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Fiora glanced at Eldric. Their eyes met, and without a word, they turned to face their fathers, their swords still gripped tightly in their hands.

For a moment, the chaos around them seemed to freeze.

Every eye turned to Eldric and Fiora, stunned by what had just unfolded. The crackling of flames grew louder, the heat pressing against their skin, almost suffocating. The fires surrounding the battlefield roared with new intensity, casting long shadows and making the air thick with smoke.

Fiora, her energy spent, collapsed to her knees, struggling to catch her breath. Eldric rushed to her side, his heart pounding. Around them, the gathering of bandits had swelled to nearly thirty men, their weapons gleaming in the firelight.

Alaric’s voice tore through the stillness like thunder. “Come on, you cowards!” he bellowed, unleashing a battle cry so fierce it made several of the bandits hesitate. He swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing a few of the men to step back.

But the horde wasn’t deterred for long. “Get her!” one of them yelled, pointing toward Fiora.

Several bandits broke away from the group, their sights set on the defenseless girl.

Eldric didn’t hesitate. He jumped in front of her, his sword raised, his body a shield. “Stay behind me!” he shouted, ready to face them.

“Watch out!” Fiora screamed, her voice filled with terror.

Before Eldric could react, a powerful blow struck the back of his head. Pain exploded through his skull, and he crumpled to the ground, his vision fading to black.

For a moment, there was nothing—just an endless void. Slowly, the world began to bleed back into focus. The heat of the fires, the distant clamor of steel, and then—Fiora’s screams.

A loud THUD rang in his ears. Eldric turned his head weakly, his heart sinking as he saw Fiora collapse to the ground beside him, motionless.

Shaun, her father, appeared out of nowhere, charging toward them. His sword flashed as he cut through two of the men, his eyes blazing with fury. He reached his daughter’s side, kneeling down to shield her.

But in his haste, he made a fatal mistake.

One of the bandits, hidden in the shadows, surged forward. The glint of a blade caught Eldric’s eye just as it plunged into Shaun’s chest.

“No!” Eldric croaked, his voice barely audible.

Shaun staggered, the blade withdrawing as quickly as it had struck. He fell to his hands and knees, blood dripping onto the scorched earth. His gaze lingered on Fiora, his face twisted with pain and regret.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice faint. “I should have been able to…” His words trailed off as his strength gave out, and he collapsed beside her.

Eldric, barely conscious, fought to stay alert. His body screamed in protest, but he forced his head to turn, searching for his father.

Through the haze of smoke and flame, he spotted Alaric standing tall, his sword still gripped tightly in his hands.

A figure emerged from the chaos, stepping over Eldric without so much as a glance.

“You,” Alaric growled, his voice low and filled with venom. His eyes burned with hatred as he fixed his gaze on the man approaching him.

The bandits surrounding them began to retreat, their mutterings hushed. The battlefield seemed to shrink, leaving Alaric and his opponent alone in the center of the chaos.

Alaric took a deep breath, his knuckles whitening as he tightened his grip on his sword. The blade began to glow, a brilliant blue light emanating from it and casting sharp shadows across his face.

The stranger, dressed differently from the others, walked forward with deliberate steps. Her presence was commanding, her movements calm, as though she relished the challenge ahead.

Eldric tried to sit up, desperate to see what was happening, but a sharp pain shot through his stomach, forcing him back down. He groaned, rolling onto his side as his vision blurred.

Eldric’s eyes fluttered open. His body felt heavy, and his head throbbed in time with his heartbeat. The acrid smell of smoke filled his nostrils, and the distant crackle of fires reached his ears.

He blinked rapidly, trying to focus. The once-deafening sounds of battle were gone. There were no screams, no clash of steel, no triumphant shouts. Only an eerie, oppressive silence remained.

As he sat up, a sharp pain lanced through his stomach, forcing him to clutch his side and grit his teeth.

As Eldric’s vision cleared, his heart sank. His father’s lifeless body lay stiff on the ground, his sword discarded a few feet away. The scene seemed surreal, like a nightmare he couldn’t wake from.

“Dad!” Eldric gasped, scrambling to his feet and rushing to Alaric’s side. His hands trembled as he rolled his father over, revealing the gaping wound that slashed across his torso.

Eldric’s breath hitched, his chest tightening painfully as he stared at the gruesome injury. Blood soaked Alaric’s clothes and pooled beneath him, staining the dirt a dark crimson. His father’s face was pale, his eyes closed, his expression unnervingly serene.

“No, no, no,” Eldric whispered, his voice breaking. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision. “Dad, please…”

A faint sound broke through his grief—a soft, heartbreaking whimper. Eldric turned toward the noise,.

Fiora was slumped over her father’s body, her shoulders shaking as muffled sobs escaped her. Shaun’s body lay motionless beneath her, his weapon still clutched loosely in his hand.

Fiora wiped at her face, standing on unsteady legs. Her tear-streaked cheeks glistened in the firelight, but her expression hardened as she looked at Eldric.

“Come on! Get up,” she said firmly, though her voice cracked with emotion. “There’s nothing for us here. We have to go!”

“What’s the point?” Eldric muttered, his voice hollow. His gaze remained fixed on his father’s face. “They’re gone… He’s gone.”

Fiora stepped closer, her fists clenching at her sides. “We can’t stay here!” she pleaded. “We have to find the people who did this and make them pay!”

Eldric shook his head slowly, his voice barely audible. “How are we supposed to do that? How are we supposed to fight them? I… I can’t believe our parents are dead.”

Tears threatened to spill again, but Fiora wouldn’t let him give in. She grabbed him by the shoulders, her grip firm, and shook him hard enough to jolt him out of his haze.

“Eldric, look at me!” she demanded.

He met her eyes, his own filled with despair. “What are we supposed to do?” he asked, his voice cracking.

Fiora opened her mouth, preparing to yell at him, but a new voice cut through the heated exchange.

“Get up!”

The voice was cold, sharp, and commanding.

Eldric turned his head toward the sound. A young woman, likely in her early thirties, strode toward them, the firelight flickering against her leather armor. Her long black hair whipped around her face in the gusts of wind fueled by the inferno.

Her armor was tight and functional, hugging her figure, with extra metal plating on the chest for added protection. Small metal rivets lined the seams, giving it a rugged, battle-tested look. In her hands, she carried a spear, its sharp tip gleaming ominously in the firelight.

As she came to a stop, her bright blue eyes locked onto Eldric, and he felt the weight of her gaze. Her expression was hard, unyielding, and filled with a hatred that seemed to burn as intensely as the fires around them.

“This is no time for a mental breakdown,” she said curtly, her voice devoid of sympathy.

Eldric staggered to his feet, his legs shaky beneath him. He glanced at Fiora, who stood silent and tense, her eyes locked on the woman as though trying to analyze her every move.

Fiora broke the silence, her voice as cold as the woman’s. “Can you help us, or are you just here for the show?”

The woman’s lips curled into a faint, almost cruel smile.

The woman’s piercing gaze shifted to Eldric, her cold demeanor unwavering. “You need to come with me,” she said firmly. “I can help.”

Fiora continued to stare at the stranger, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Something about the woman felt off, but Fiora couldn’t put her finger on it. She hesitated, her instincts warring with her exhaustion and fear.

The woman’s expression changed abruptly, her focus drawn to something in the distance. Her body tensed, and her grip on her spear tightened. “We have to go. Now!” she cried, grabbing Eldric’s hand with an urgency that brooked no argument.

She quickly moved to Fiora, tugging her arm. “It’s not safe here. Come on!”

Eldric stumbled forward, barely able to keep his footing. His legs felt like lead, and his body screamed for rest. Yet his exhaustion faded momentarily as he noticed Fiora had stopped moving.

Fiora stood frozen, her wide eyes locked on something beyond the flames.

Eldric followed her line of sight and felt his blood run cold. Emerging from the smoke and wreckage were two cloaked figures, one dressed in black and the other in white. They moved with an eerie calm, their steps deliberate. Their heads turned slowly, scanning the devastation as though searching for something—or someone.

“Who… are they?” Eldric whispered, but before he could process the sight, Fiora’s expression transformed.

Her face twisted with an emotion he’d never seen from her before. Her brow furrowed, her lips curled into a snarl, and her eyes burned with unrestrained fury. It was a rage so visceral, so consuming, that it sent chills down Eldric’s spine.

“Fiora?” he asked, his voice barely audible.

Fiora stepped forward, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her voice erupted, raw and venomous. “This is your fault! This is all your fault! Get away from us! You can’t have him! Go back to hell, where you belong!”

Her outburst echoed across the battlefield, cutting through the crackling flames.

Before she could do anything else, the stranger seized her arm, yanking her back. “Enough!” the woman barked, her tone commanding. “We have to leave. Now!”

Eldric felt himself being pulled along, the woman gripping both him and Fiora as she led them away from the burning village.

Fiora turned her head back, her enraged eyes still fixed on the cloaked figures. But they had stopped in their tracks, their faces obscured by the shadows of their hoods. Without warning, they vanished, disappearing behind the dancing flames.

“Fiora! What are you yelling about?” Eldric demanded, his confusion growing by the second.

“They… they want to take you away,” Fiora stammered, her anger fading into uncertainty. She clutched her head, her voice trembling. “It’s their fault this happened… I think…”

A sharp cry escaped her lips as she winced in pain, clutching her temples.

The sun’s first rays broke over the horizon as the three of them slipped into the forest, leaving the smoldering ruins of Valifield behind. The trees swallowed them whole, their shadows offering a fleeting sense of safety.

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Back in the village, silence reigned. The once-thriving settlement now lay in ashes, its homes reduced to rubble and its streets littered with bodies. Among the devastation, the two cloaked figures stood amidst the ruins of Eldric’s home.

The woman in black broke the silence, her voice low and foreboding. “It has begun.”

Her companion in white nodded, her movements slow and deliberate. “Yes, it has. But how will it unfold from here? I wonder…”

She reached up and lowered her hood, revealing pale skin and striking red hair that swayed in the gentle breeze. Her face was serene, yet her eyes betrayed a deep sadness as she looked out over the remains of Valifield.

“I wish there had been another way,” she murmured, her voice tinged with regret.

“This was necessary,” the woman in black replied, her tone firm and resolute. She, too, pulled back her hood, revealing sharp features and long black hair that gleamed in the firelight. Her expression was unyielding as she surveyed the wreckage.

Without another word, the pair turned toward the forest. Their figures moved with purpose as they disappeared into the shadows, leaving the ruins of Valifield.