Lyra felt at peace on the hill watching her family below. Her thoughts drifted to the night before and the conversation with her brother-in-law. She pulled out her necklace hidden in her shirt and squeezed it.

Calling out to the night sky, she said, “Did I make the right choice leaving my village? I know larger settlements are prone to attacks. It's the reason I left in the first place, but I can’t help but have my doubts.”

A pang of sorrow gripped her chest at the thought of that night. The reason she abandoned her people. Losing her father and the betrayal hurt, but the feeling of helplessness after what happened later broke her spirit.

Because of her choices, Airdan would never get the chance to be around kids his age. Would he forgive or grow to resent her? Lyra shook her head, letting the doubts slip away as she placed her necklace back under her shirt.

Energy swirled within and throughout her limbs, empowering them until near bursting. Wind spiraled from her palms, down her legs, and into the earth, creating a vortex. Breathing in, Lyra initiated a series of flat-handed chops sending wind-blade strikes out at imaginary foes. Foot pressed firmly into the ground; Lyra leaped into the air, kicking out in quick succession before landing on a cushion of air.

Hand sinking into the ground, Lyra expelled the excess energy while drawing out the moisture. She formed two short blades, freezing them instantly. Ryo and Airdan came into view from down below, lifting her spirits and her blades into a frenzy of motion until they were nothing but a blur. Deep into the rhythm of her training, a lost conversation with her father surfaced at the edge of her mind.

“Doubt is a troublesome creature, my child. Patient in its task wiggling deeper as it corrupts sound judgment. Any elf facing the darkness of this world must act resolutely in the face of doubt. I could spend five years and train competent swordsman but put them up against a magical beast, killing their loved ones right in front of their eyes, and they would falter.”

He went to his knee and placed a hand on Lyra’s shoulder. “I understand that you have your doubts about entering the training program next year. Being my daughter has placed a heavy burden of expectation on your shoulders. Instead of letting that doubt bring you down, use the next five decades to train and crush it under your heel. When the time comes and you have your own family who needs protection, act. Do not let doubt find a purchase.”

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Lyra stood stiffly, staring into her father’s eyes with determination and conviction. She never put words to the oath, but that was the day she vowed to be the best and prove her worth in the face of doubt.

A blast of negative energy pulsed in Lyra’s mental senses, pulling her out of the memory. A motion from the tree line behind the house caught her attention right before a giant magical beast burst forward, charging for the house. Her house.

“No!”

Lyra poured every ounce of strength into racing down the hill. She felt like her feet were sinking in mud. No matter how fast Lyra ran, she would never make it in time to save them. Tears of despair raced down her cheeks, yet those were no match for the speed of the beast charging toward her son and husband.

Ryo felt the disturbance and instinct kicked in when he turned to face death in the face. He grabbed his sword resting against the house and stepped in front, deflecting the claws that swiped at his face. Ryo’s follow-up strike threw him off balance as the beast vanished, only to reappear behind him and slam Ryo against the home, forcing Airdan back, helpless and terrified.

Mouth open in a silent scream, Ryo coughed up blood onto the beast before it sunk its claws into his chest. Airdan screamed at the sight of his father being lifted into the air and slammed into the wall of their home repeatedly until Lyra could hear a crack. Was it the wall or her husband’s back? She couldn’t tell.

Despite watching the love of her life slump lifeless hanging from the monster's claws, she yelled, “Airdan sweety, run to mommy!”

The beast noticed the boy's frantic scramble, tossed Ryo’s body to the side, and teleported behind the boy. Its mouth fell over the boy, swallowing Airdan in one bite before teleporting back toward the tree line away from Lyra.

No matter how fast she moved, it was never enough. By the time she reached the forest, the magical beast had vanished, leaving her alone with a broken heart. Airdan vanished inside the monster’s maw and Ryo now lays lifeless and broken on the ground.

Where did that leave Lyra? The home they built. The freedom from the pain and sorrow that she ran away from and promised to defend against. And what became of all her plans? Only death, sorrow, and despair. Would she ever be free from this world and the darkness that permeates it?

Lyra made her way back to Ryo, fell to her knees, laid her head on his chest, and cried. Numb from the pain of her loss, covered in his blood, she picked him up and laid him in their bed. After grabbing her essentials for traveling, she stepped out of her home and gathered the surrounding mana. In a moment of rage, she thrust out her hands and screamed as torrents of flames burst from her palms. The intensity of the heat burned away the protection spell Ryo placed over their home, setting it on fire.

There was nothing left for her here.

Lyra turned her back to the flames and walked away.