The Children's Cries

Standing before Hiyasmin's room, I let out a heavy sigh, feeling like a lost soul suspended in the silence, my gaze fixated on the emptiness before me.

In the past week, I had lost count of how many times I had visited Hiyasmin. The weight of Alexa's revelations lingered in my mind, casting a shadow over my thoughts. I couldn't shake off the sense of pity that enveloped me.

Reflecting on my own hardships—scarcity of food and Elizabeth's illness—I realized that others faced challenges far greater than ours. While they may have been wealthy and spared the indignity of scavenging for bread, their burdens were no less significant.

Yes, everyone had their own struggles, large and small. Regardless of one's station in life, each problem was valid and deserving of resolution.

As I contemplated Ludwig's tragic past, I couldn't help but draw parallels to my own. While my parents had perished in an accident when I was just seven years old, Ludwig's had been ruthlessly murdered. The circumstances surrounding his mother's death echoed the sinister shadow that had engulfed my own family's tragedy, albeit in different ways.

According to Alexa, it was common knowledge that those not of royal blood or destined to inherit the Ones would inevitably succumb to the power within a few years, often resulting in their demise. Yet, despite this known risk, Ludwig's mother had been entrusted with the Ones. Marrying into the royal family seemed akin to signing one's own death warrant, especially considering the fate that befell Ludwig's father at the hands of Amelia.

Reflecting on Ludwig's demeanor—his anger and moodiness—I couldn't help but wonder if his tumultuous past had shaped him into the person he was today. I had never realized the extent of his orphanhood, although our experiences of loss, while different in nature, shared a common thread of loneliness and grief.

Adding to the complexity of their plight was the betrayal inflicted by the very Council tasked with aiding them. I struggled to comprehend the unjust treatment meted out to Liam solely because of his mother's status as a former slave. The inherent prejudice and cruelty displayed by the Council toward him remained a baffling enigma.

In light of Hiyasmin's dire condition and the tumultuous state of affairs gripping the kingdom, I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief. The burden weighing upon Ludwig's shoulders seemed insurmountable. How he managed to bear it all alone was a testament to his strength and resilience, yet it also underscored the gravity of the challenges he faced.

As exhaustion settled over me like a heavy blanket, I couldn't ignore the weariness that seeped into my bones. A day spent toiling in the fields, tending to the plants until dusk painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, had taken its toll. Hours in the library, scouring through texts in search of answers to Hiyasmin's curse, yielded little fruit. Even the pages of ancient spell books offered no solace, their words failing to unveil a solution. It was perplexing, for according to the tomes I consulted, such a curse seemed nonexistent.

The weight of Amelia's power loomed over my thoughts like a dark cloud. Was she truly capable of weaving such a potent and irreversible curse upon another? The mere possibility sent shivers down my spine, leaving me with more questions than answers.

As I entered Hiyasmin's room, my gaze instinctively sought out her sleeping form, hoping for a sign of awakening, yet she remained serenely slumbering, her paleness even more pronounced than before, deepening my concern.

The room appeared frozen in time, untouched by the passage of days. Despite Hiyasmin's prolonged confinement to her bed, there was no trace of dust, as if the room was meticulously cleaned each day.

As I prepared to depart and allow Hiyasmin to continue her rest, a subtle movement caught my eye—the slight opening of a nearby cabinet. My curiosity piqued, I approached cautiously, wondering what lay concealed within its depths.

As I moved closer to close the cabinet, a glint of gold caught my eye at the foot of the furniture. Initially subtle, upon closer inspection, the fine dust became more apparent, shimmering like a silent invitation. Intrigued, I knelt down, my brow furrowed in confusion, and my gaze fixed on the mysterious particles.

But as my eyes adjusted to the light, a strange sensation washed over me, as if my vision transcended the physical barrier of the cabinet's door. Peering into its depths, I glimpsed something unexpected—a flower nestled within.

Confusion clouded my thoughts. Why would someone conceal a flower inside a cabinet, away from the nurturing rays of the sun? The anomaly sparked a flurry of questions, leaving me puzzled and intrigued in equal measure.

As the darkness enveloped me, a faint glimmer of light emerged from the depths, growing steadily until it engulfed me in a blinding brilliance. Shielding my eyes, I was consumed by warmth, the sensation washing over my face in waves.

When I dared to open my eyes once more, I found myself transported to the heart of a dense forest. Towering trees loomed overhead, their branches reaching toward the night sky. The foliage surrounding me thrived in abundance, casting intricate shadows upon the forest floor. The full moon hung low, its pale glow suffusing the landscape with an eerie yellowish hue.

Despite the absence of stars, the darkness held an otherworldly beauty, shrouding the forest in a cloak of mystery. I couldn't help but wonder why the blinding light that had transported me here had dissipated, leaving me to navigate the unfamiliar terrain alone.

The chilling cold gnawed at my bones as I wrapped my arms around myself, each step forward guided by an inexplicable sense of purpose. It felt as though my feet moved of their own accord, leading me deeper into the heart of the forest, though I couldn't fathom why.

"Help!" Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the silence, reverberating through the trees with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "Please don't!" The cries echoed around me like thunderous drumbeats, each word laced with desperation and terror. "Mercy!"

More voices joined the chorus, pleading for mercy in tones laden with despair and fear. I strained to listen amidst the cacophony, but the subsequent screams were drowned out by anguished sobs and heart-wrenching cries. My heart clenched in agony, overwhelmed by the weight of their suffering echoing through the darkness.

My feet propelled me forward with urgency, drawn inexorably toward a flickering glow in the midst of the darkness. As I approached, the anguished cries of the children grew louder, urging me onward. My heart pounded in my chest as I stumbled upon a scene of devastation—a small house engulfed in flames, the air thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning wood.

My breath caught in my throat as I beheld the source of the screams—the Emberocks, sinister creatures with bodies of lava molded into human form. Despite my horror, recognition dawned upon me. These malevolent beings were notorious for their cruelty and penchant for destruction.

Unlike in my previous dream, there was no sign of Liam or the soldiers. Instead, the Emberocks were relentless in their pursuit, dragging terrified children away from the inferno and toward a menacing black carriage forged of steel. Surrounding the carriage were larger Emberocks, their towering forms casting ominous shadows in the flickering firelight.

The air was thick with screams and shouts, the cacophony of terror igniting the surrounding darkness with a renewed intensity. Bruised and battered, the children bore the marks of their ordeal, their eyes wide with fear and tears streaming down their cheeks.

Amidst the chaos, a thin, piercing scream pierced through the clamor—a trio of children, their frail forms being mercilessly dragged by the monstrous Emberocks. With each struggle, the creatures responded with brute force, flinging the resisting child aside with callous disregard.

Driven by instinct, I propelled myself forward, my limbs moving with urgency as I sprinted toward the children. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached the fallen child, his left arm charred and unconsciousness gripping him tightly.

A surge of anger coursed through me, fierce and unyielding. No, this couldn't be happening. He couldn't be allowed to die, not like this. With determination fueling my actions, I knelt beside the injured child, determined to do whatever it took to ensure his survival.

Desperation clawed at my chest as I attempted to reach out and assess the child's condition, but my efforts were met with an inexplicable barrier. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make contact, my hands passing through his form as if he were nothing but a specter.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I struggled to comprehend the cruel reality before me. The child lay motionless, his young life hanging in the balance, and yet I was powerless to offer any assistance. Anguish and frustration surged within me, threatening to overwhelm my senses.

With trembling hands, I reached out once more, willing myself to make contact, to feel the reassuring beat of his pulse beneath my fingertips. But no matter how much I strained, the barrier remained, leaving me trapped in a world of helplessness and despair.

As the child's blood flowed like a torrential waterfall, its warmth searing through my senses, I was consumed by a profound sense of helplessness. I could feel the anguish rising within me, a primal scream echoing in the depths of my chest, yearning for release.

Everywhere around me, the ferocious flames raged unchecked, devouring everything in their path and reducing it to ash. The children's cries of agony pierced the air, mingling with the sounds of destruction and despair. They were pleading for salvation, their bodies marred by wounds and blood, yet I remained powerless to offer them solace.

My heart throbbed with agony, as if it were being squeezed in a vice, each beat echoing the pain and suffering that surrounded me. And then, a blinding light enveloped me, shrouding me in deafening silence. I was engulfed in darkness, unable to see or hear anything, until a sudden explosion shattered the stillness, ripping through the void with an intensity that left me reeling.