Chapter 18: Obstacle

The streets of Aralis had fallen into chaos. The once-bustling city had become a battleground as assassins emerged from the shadows, their weapons gleaming in the dim light of the setting sun. Prince Belin stood tall, sword in hand, his heart pounding but his mind focused. Beside him, Varek, his most trusted guard, was already in motion, his blade flashing as he cut through the first wave of attackers.

The attack had been sudden, and there had been no time for hesitation. Princess Liria, Banrik, and Tia were already on their way out of the capital, racing through the winding streets in the royal carriage. They had escaped, and it was now up to Belin and his guards to ensure their safety.

Belin's sword met the first assassin's with a clash that echoed in the streets. The assassin was swift, but Belin was faster. With a calculated strike, he disarmed the attacker and sent them sprawling to the ground. But before he could catch his breath, another assassin lunged from the side, aiming for his throat.

Varek was already there, his shield raised to intercept the blow. The assassin's sword scraped against the metal, but Varek didn't flinch. He pushed forward, forcing the attacker back with a swift strike. The combat was fierce, and it was clear that these assassins were no ordinary foes. Their movements were fluid, almost unnatural, and they fought with a precision that made Belin's blood run cold.

"Stay sharp!" Belin shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Don't let them get too close."

Varek nodded, his eyes locked on the assassins. They were surrounded, but the guards had formed a tight circle around the prince, each one ready to defend him with their life. Yet, no matter how skilled they were, the assassins were relentless. One after another, they attacked, and with each strike, Belin could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him.

"Stay together!" Belin barked, his chest heaving as he fought to keep his footing. He parried another strike, but his energy was beginning to wane. The assassins didn't seem to tire—they were like shadows, always moving, always attacking.

He glanced over at Varek, who was still holding his own despite the wound on his side. Blood seeped through his armor, but the guard didn't falter. He was a veteran, and the prince knew he could count on him.

"We need to end this quickly!" Belin said, his voice tight with frustration. He couldn't let these attackers keep them here any longer. His sister, Liria, was already on her way to safety, but the longer they fought, the greater the risk that something could go wrong.

But just as he spoke, an assassin emerged from the alleyway. He came out all of a sudden, moving with an eerie precision that set Belin's nerves on edge.

With a shout, the assassins closed in, and the battle became a blur of steel and blood. Belin's sword moved faster than his thoughts, cutting through the air in a deadly arc. He struck down one assassin, only to be forced to block another's blow moments later. The clash of metal was deafening, but he fought on, fueled by the need to protect his sister.

Each time they took one down, another appeared in their place. The guards were strong, but they couldn't fight forever. Belin's breath came in ragged gasps, and he could see the exhaustion in Varek's eyes, though his friend never slowed.

A particularly agile assassin lunged at Belin from behind, but Varek's shield caught the blow, knocking the attacker aside. The guard was panting heavily, his movements growing slower, but his resolve was unshaken.

"Get ready!" Varek shouted. "We need to break through!"

Belin nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. He looked around, trying to gauge their position. They were trapped. There was no way out unless they fought their way through.

"Form a line!" Belin commanded. "We'll push through them!"

The guards quickly obeyed, forming a defensive line, each one ready to take down anyone who dared to come too close. But even as they stood their ground, Belin could feel the weight of the fight beginning to take its toll. His body ached, his sword felt heavier with each swing, and his thoughts kept drifting back to his sister. Was she safe? Had they truly gotten far enough from Aralis?

But there was no time to think about that now. Another assassin charged at him, and Belin barely had time to react. The assassin's blade slashed across his arm, drawing a deep cut, but Belin gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. He swung his sword in retaliation, and the assassin's head flew from their shoulders, the body collapsing to the ground in a bloody heap.

"Varek, we need to finish this!" Belin shouted, his voice urgent. The city felt like it was closing in on them, the walls of Aralis pressing tighter with attackers.

Varek nodded, his face pale, but there was a fire in his eyes that couldn't be extinguished. Together, they charged, cutting through the assassins with brutal precision. Finally, after what felt like hours, the last of the assassins fell, their bodies littering the streets around them.

Breathing heavily, Belin wiped the sweat from his brow, his body aching with exhaustion. But they had won. For now.

"Is everyone all right?" he asked, his voice hoarse. He turned to his guards, who were bruised, bloodied, but alive. Varek was leaning on his shield, his face a mask of pain, but still standing.

"We're good, My Prince," one of the guards said, though his voice lacked the usual confidence.

Belin nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He turned to Varek, his expression hardening.

"We've lost too much time," Belin muttered. "We need to leave now."

Belin and two of his guards mounted their horses and left Aralis.

It's been hours of riding, but as he glanced around, he realized something that made his blood run cold. The streets had become unfamiliar. He had been so focused on the war inside his head that he hadn't paid attention to their path. The roads had twisted and turned, and now they were completely lost.

"Damn it," Belin cursed under his breath. "We took the wrong road."

The reality hit him hard. He had been so focused on the battle that he had lost track of the most important thing—his sister. Her carriage had taken a different route, and now they were separated.

Varek's face twisted with concern. "We'll find them, Your Highness. We have to move quickly."

Belin nodded, but deep down, he knew it might be too late. They had been split, and now the distance between him and his sister felt like an insurmountable gap.

They turned to leave, pushing through the streets with urgency, but the sense of dread gnawed at Belin's insides. As they moved through the winding alleyways, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadow of danger still loomed, and no matter how fast they moved, it felt as though something—or someone—was closing in on them.