▪️A L A R I C▪️

The next day dawned with a sense of urgency.

Given what had happened the last time Golnar and I had patrolled the city, I made sure to have a contingent of guards accompany Golnar, Cedric, and myself as we ventured out to survey the aftermath of the recent attack on the eastern wall.

As we made our way through the rubble-filled streets, the outskirts of the city stretched out before us, merging seamlessly with the dense forests and murky marshes beyond. The landscape was cloaked in a shroud of mist, adding to the eerie atmosphere that hung over us like an ominous veil.

"We need to get things under control quickly," I remarked while surveying the desolate scene around us.

Golnar nodded in agreement, her brows creasing, "Indeed, the longer we wait, the greater the risk to our people and our kingdom."

Cedric chimed in with a note of determination as he suggested, "We'll need to mobilize our forces and fortify our defences even more. "His eyes scanned the area for any signs of movement while we continued to walk.

I acknowledged the wisdom in his words. "Agreed. We must act swiftly and decisively to ensure the safety of our realm," I affirmed, my voice ringing with resolve.

But even as we spoke, I could not shake the sense of unease that gnawed at the edges of my mind. The meeting with King Baldur loomed on the horizon, and with tensions already running high, the stakes had never been higher.

"We'll need to proceed with caution," I stated, casting a meaningful glance at Golnar and Cedric. "The outcome of our meeting with the orcs could determine the fate of the Fae Kingdom."

As we continued to walk the desolate streets, my senses remained on high alert, attuned to any sign of danger that lurked in the shadows. Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught my eye, a fleeting blur of motion that sent a chill racing down my spine.

Instinctively, I tensed, my hand automatically reaching for the hilt of my sword as I scanned the surroundings for any sign of the threat. Beside me, Golnar and Cedric mirrored my reaction, their expressions a mix of vigilance and apprehension.

"What was that?" Golnar whispered.

I shook my head, my gaze sweeping the area in search of the elusive figure that had caught my attention. "I'm not sure," I replied, my tone laced with unease. "But we should proceed with caution."

My hand remained on my hilt as we pressed forward through the desolate streets of the city, each step echoing off the silent buildings that loomed like immobile sentinels on either side. The once bustling thoroughfare now lay deserted, abandoned in the wake of the most recent calamity.

Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of wind, seemed to carry with it the potential for danger, heightening our senses to the eerie atmosphere that pervaded the air. The streets stretched out before us like a maze, their winding paths leading us further into the heart of uncertainty.

The recent breach in security had left us all on edge, our nerves frayed by the constant threat of attack. Shadows danced along the cracked pavement, their movements casting strange shapes against the walls of the surrounding buildings, adding to the sense of foreboding that hung heavy in the air.

Then, from the depths of the undergrowth, emerged the Thornfiends.

"Shit!" Golnar cursed.

Grotesque amalgamations of vines and thorns emerged from the shadows, their sinuous forms undulating with unnatural agility as they slithered forth with an eerie grace. Each step they took seemed to be guided by an otherworldly intelligence, their movements calculated and precise. Their twisted bodies were adorned with razor-sharp tendrils that writhed and thrashed, ready to strike with deadly accuracy at a moment's notice. The thorns that adorned their forms gleamed menacingly in the dim light, a stark contrast to the lush greenery that surrounded them.

Even as we prepared to face the Thornfiends, a new threat emerged from the darkness like spectres from the abyss. The Shadowstalkers, their forms shrouded in a palpable cloak of inky blackness, moved with an unearthly grace that sent shivers down my spine. It was as if they were born of the very shadows themselves, their movements fluid and seamless as they navigated through the darkness with lethal precision.

Their eyes burned with an unholy fire, casting an eerie glow that seemed to pierce through the veil of the night. It was a sight that filled me with a sense of dread, for I knew that these were no ordinary adversaries. They were creatures of darkness, born from the depths of the unknown, and their very presence heralded danger unlike anything we had faced before.

"It's a trap!" Cedric shouted.

My heart raced as I realized the gravity of our situation.

We soon found ourselves outnumbered and outmatched, ensnared between two deadly adversaries with no avenue for escape.

In a swift exchange of glances with Golnar, I witnessed her expression harden with resolve, her hand efficiently drawing her weapon, ready to meet the impending threat head-on. Beside her, Cedric mirrored her determination as he too pulled out his weapon, his stance unwavering despite the encroaching danger.

"Protect the Queen!" I bellowed, my voice echoing through the chaos as the urgency of the situation became all too clear.

With a swift motion, the guards sprang into action, their movements practiced and precise as they encircled Golnar, forming a protective barrier around her. But beyond them, Cedric and I were quick to react as well. Our weapons were drawn and ready as we extended the defensive line, ensuring that any attackers would have to pass through us before reaching the guards.

As the first wave of attacks descended upon us, we met them with a ferocity born of desperation, our weapons flashing in the dim light as we fought to hold our ground.

My sword danced through the air, its blade alight with the crackling energy of magic as I struck down foe after foe with precision and skill. Each swing was a symphony of motion and power, guided by the ancient fae magic that coursed through my veins. Beside me, Cedric's axe cleaved through the enemy ranks with a force that seemed almost supernatural, his movements a blur of speed and power.

But as the battle raged on, the enemies grew bolder, their own dark magic intertwining with our efforts. Arcane bolts crackled through the air, seeking to find purchase in our defences, but we met them with counterspells and wards of our own. With a flick of my wrist, I summoned a shield of shimmering light to deflect the incoming onslaught, while Cedric used his own magic to bolster our strength and resilience.

Together, we were a formidable force, our weapons and magic working in tandem to repel the relentless assault. Each strike was a testament to our determination and skill, a defiant stand against the darkness that sought to consume us.

As the battle raged on, more creatures emerged from the shadows, their twisted forms converging upon us with an unrelenting fury. The Thornfiends slithered forth with unnatural agility, their razor-sharp tendrils lashing out with deadly precision, while the Shadowstalkers moved with eerie grace, their eyes burning with unholy fire as they struck swiftly and silently from the darkness. Despite our best efforts, the tide of enemies seemed endless, their relentless assault pushing us to the brink of exhaustion.

Amidst the chaos of battle, a moment of vulnerability emerged.

The guards, valiant in their defense of Golnar, fought with all their might, but the enemy's relentless assault proved too much to bear. One by one, they fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground in a grim testament to the ferocity of the onslaught.

As the last of the guards succumbed to the overwhelming force of our adversaries, a shadowy figure emerged from the fray, wreathed in black flames. With a chilling certainty, I knew that Golnar was their target.

Without hesitation, Golnar stepped forward, her weapon held aloft with a fierce determination in her eyes. She met the shadowy figure head-on, her movements fluid and precise as she parried its attacks with a skill that spoke of years of training.

My heart pounded in my chest as Cedric and I fought our way through the hordes of creatures that swarmed around us, their twisted forms converging upon me with relentless fury. Each step forward was a battle in itself, as I parried their attacks with my sword and called upon my Fae magic to ward off their dark assaults.

But with every passing moment, the distance between Golnar and me seemed to stretch impossibly far. The creatures pressed in from all sides, their numbers too great to overcome as they sought to keep me from reaching her.

Through the chaos of battle, I caught glimpses of Golnar as she fought valiantly against the shadowy figure, her movements graceful yet determined as she held her own against the onslaught. But it was clear that she was struggling, her defences weakening under the relentless assault of her adversary's dark magic.

Desperation surged through me as I redoubled my efforts to reach her, my sword flashing in the dim light as I carved a path through the throngs of enemies that barred my way. Each step forward was a struggle, but I refused to be deterred, driven by the singular purpose of reaching Golnar's side and protecting her at all costs.

As Golnar staggered under the relentless assault of dark magic, her movements growing sluggish with exhaustion, I felt a surge of panic grip my heart. With each blast of energy, she was pushed further back, her defences crumbling under the overwhelming force of her opponent's attack.

Dread clawed at my insides as I watched the shadowy figure move in for the kill, its dark intent clear in its every movement.

"No!" I shouted.

Without hesitation, I surged forward, my sword raised in a desperate bid to intercept the attacker. But before I could reach her, Cedric leaped into action, his movements a blur of speed and determination as he threw himself between Golnar and the looming threat.

Time seemed to stand still as Cedric took the hit, his form crumpling to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Horror washed over me as I watched helplessly, my every instinct screaming for me to intervene, to somehow undo what had just transpired.

But it was too late. Cedric lay there, motionless on the ground, his blood staining the ground beneath him.

With a primal roar of anguish and fury, a surge of raw magic erupted from within me, coursing through my veins like wildfire. In that moment of unbridled rage and grief, I unleashed the full force of my power upon our assailants.

The creatures surrounding us stood no chance against the unleashed fury of my magic. Arcane energy crackled through the air, tearing through their ranks with unstoppable force. Their twisted forms were rent asunder, their dark essence scattering like ashes in the wind as my magic consumed them in a blinding inferno of light.

But amidst the chaos of destruction, one thing remained untouched by the devastating power of my magic: Golnar. With every fibre of my being, I focused my energy on shielding her from harm, ensuring that not even a single stray bolt of magic would dare to touch her.

As the surge of magic erupted from within me, I also extended my protective barrier around my brother. With every ounce of my strength, I wove a cocoon of shimmering energy around him, shielding his body from any further harm.

Though grief threatened to overwhelm me, I remained steadfast in my resolve to protect both Golnar and Cedric at all costs. They were my family, and I would not allow any further harm to befall them on my watch.

As the last of our enemies fell before the overwhelming might of my magic, a heavy silence descended upon the battlefield, broken only by the ragged sound of my own laboured breaths. Using such magic was dangerous, but I would deal with the consequences later. The air was thick with the scent of burnt flesh and charred earth, a grim reminder of the price we had paid for victory.

I rushed to Golnar's side. With a heart heavy with both anguish and relief, I enveloped her in a tight embrace, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Are you alright?" I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

Golnar nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."

Together, we turned our attention to Cedric, his motionless form a stark reminder of the toll the battle had taken. With a shared sense of purpose, we knelt beside him, our hands trembling as we gently inspected his injuries.

"I can't believe he would sacrifice himself like that for me," she murmured, her voice tinged with awe and disbelief.

"He would do anything to protect you," I replied softly, my own emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

"Why? I thought he hated orcs."

"It doesn't matter, he saved you because he knows how important you are to me," I said while looking over his injuries.

My gaze lingered over his torso, my heart sinking at the sight of the damage inflicted upon him. His once pristine clothes were now tattered and stained with blood, torn open to reveal the raw, wounded flesh beneath.

A deep gash marred his chest, the result of a devastating magic blast that had torn through him with ruthless precision. Blood seeped from the wound, staining his skin crimson as it trickled down his side in a macabre testament to the violence of the attack. The flesh around the wound was mangled and torn, jagged edges of torn muscle and sinew exposed to the air. It was a gruesome sight, one that made my stomach churn with nausea and dread.

Even though Cedric was unconscious, I could see the strain etched into the lines of his face, the slight tremor in his hands betraying the toll that the ordeal had taken on him.

Looking up at Golnar, I said, "My brother may come off as cold-hearted sometimes, but he's a good person at heart. His loyalty to me knows no bounds."

"Will he be alright?"

"Hopefully, but we need to get him back to the castle immediately!"

Without hesitation, Golnar and I set off, our steps swift and purposeful as we navigated through the debris-strewn streets. The air was heavy with the scent of burnt flesh and charred earth, a grim reminder of the price we had paid for victory.

Each moment felt like an eternity as we raced against time, every passing second amplifying the gravity of Cedric's condition.

——————————

A/N: Damn... 😔