Chapter 1

High above the valley, a small village rested peacefully. At a distance, a lone figure stood on the sharp ridge of a mountain looking in the direction of the village. His black cloak flapped in the wind, and his hood was pulled low over his face.

"Ugh..." he groaned in disgust and irritation. "I just want to crush everything and burn it all down to ashes."

His fingers twitched, and the shadows around his boots moved strangely.

He tilted his head back a little and laughed.

"Hahaha... let them enjoy their happy little lives until evening," he said, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. "Because after all..."

His voice dropped lower, and he smiled beneath the hood.

"This is their last day."

He then disappeared into the dark smoke behind him—just then a spark was lit on the same spot he was standing and with wind it lit more.

. 

.

That evening, Pearline and Elysia set off toward the woods with baskets in their hand, they were excited to pick fresh berries for their mother. Aeris had been craving them lately, especially with the new baby coming soon. The forest smelled like pine and the smell of earth was refreshing, with the golden light of the sunset it made everything feel warm and peaceful.

As they walked, Pearline looked over at her little sister.

"Elysia~ so, what do you think?" Pearline asked, smiling. "Will it be a brother or a sister?"

Elysia, who had been busy looking for the biggest berries, stopped and thought. "I hope it's a girl! Then there'll be three of us! What about you?"

"I don't care," Pearline said, laughing. "As long as it doesn't cry all night~"

They both giggled.

By the time their baskets were full, they were covered in berry stains, their hands were sticky, but their faces were shining with happiness.

They loved their mother very much, and this small gift felt like a way to show it.

As Pearline and Elysia made their way back, their baskets swinging at their sides, Pearline noticed something strange.

A thin haze was rising above the trees.

"Smoke," she said, stopping quickly.

Elysia froze too, her fingers gripping her basket tighter. "what is that?"

They first looked at each other with confused looks and started running to see what exactly it was.

The path home was usually quiet and safe, but today the air smelled heavy with burning wood. The closer they got, the louder everything became—crackling flames, shouting, and screams.

When they broke through the trees, Pearline stopped in shock.

The village... was burning.

Roofs had fallen. Fields were lit with small fires. Shadow-like monsters were exhaling fire and when they moved between the smoke it was difficult to recognize them as they hid in the smoke so well.

But they both ran to find their own house which was at a distance. 

Pearline's heart raced as she spotted her family—Aeris, their mother, lying on the ground, not moving at all. The twins lay nearby, still as stones.

And Kaelen—her father—stood in the middle of it all, breathing hard, his sword shining faintly in his hands.

"Dad!" Pearline cried, running forward.

But before she could reach him, a shadow leaped at her from the side.

She didn't even have time to scream.

Kaelen turned fast, throwing a wave of golden light from his hand. It hit the creature mid-air. It screeched but didn't fall. Two more small shadow-like monsters rushed towards them from behind.

Then—

A scream tore through the noise.

Pearline's head snapped back. Elysia had fallen to the ground, holding her side. Red blood stained her clothes. Her eyes were wide with fear.

Kaelen turned sharply, panic flashing in his eyes.

"No!" he shouted.

His voice broke with pain.

He then sliced through those too-small shadow monsters. He then turned and looked at Pearline,

"Pearline—go! Take her and run!"

"But—!"

"Run!" he yelled, raising one hand as magic flared around his sword.

Pearline stood frozen—but Kaelen's words broke through.

"I don't want to lose my daughters," he said, locking eyes with her. "Please... live. Remember, I will always love you. I'm glad I got to be your father."

Then the ground lit up with gold as he jumped in the direction to attack the big shadow with his sword.

Pearline turned and ran toward Elysia.

The small elf girl was curled up, whimpering. Blood covered her clothes. Pearline knelt quickly beside her and cast a spell that created a thin glass-like layer around the wound to stop the further flow of blood.

"I've got you," Pearline said, her voice shaking with fear.

She slid her arms under Elysia's small body and lifted her. Elysia's arms wrapped weakly around her neck.

Behind them, Kaelen roared, sending blasts of magic into the shadows.

Pearline stood up—staggered a little—then ran.

Smoke and fire swallowed them as they fled into the woods.

She didn't dare to look back.

. . .

Far away, standing on the ridge, the cloaked man watched the village burn. His black cloak flapped in the strong wind.

He narrowed his eyes, sensing a sudden wave of power that wasn't his.

"Tch," he clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Why do those Laventhren keep getting in my way?"

He said the name like it was poison.

From deep in the woods, purple lights flashed—magic being used.

The man let out a low growl.

"I guess," he said, "I'll leave for today."

But then his grin returned.

"Not for long."

He turned, the shadows wrapping around him like smoke.

"I'll be back... Amira~" he said, his voice mocking.

He laughed loudly as he vanished into the night—leaving behind only ruins... and a dark promise.