Upside Down

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS VIOLENCE AND EMOTIONAL TORTURE. READ AT YOUR DISCRETION!

Muttered Vidra with a dazed look on his face while one of the so-called humans turned his head towards him and looked into his eyes.

"Now, who do we have here? Why don't you come a little closer, elf boy? I'll explain the situation. Trust me, your worries are unfounded."

Said the human in a sarcastic tone. Frozen in place by the sight, Vidra focused on the blood that the human casually flicked off his sword with a swing. Every time the human took a step forward, Vandra retreated. His mind was reeling from the meaning behind the blood.

He knew it, felt it inside. His stomach churned as he saw pictures of what could have happened to the other villagers, his parents, and his friends, Eileen and Runo. He wanted to find out what happened with them. 

The peaceful life that he led in Inaka was over. What was about to happen was unknown. However, slowly but surely, Vidra took a grip on himself. It took him a few minutes, but the initial shock faded away.

"I have to find them."

Muttered Vidra to himself as he took off towards the forest where he came from with Eileen and Runo. He planned to circle the village and enter from the other side. His pursuers didn't even bother to chase him as they knew that the village was surrounded at this point. 

Vidra spotted the gate a few seconds later, but it was futile. The humans sealed the gate with a portable wooden fence. Escaping the village was impossible for him. Thus, knowing that there was nowhere to go, he decided to surrender.

His eyes lost their shine as he saw the humans approach him from both sides. Yet again, the helplessness he felt when Eileen and Runo ran away started gnawing at him. He wanted to run. He wanted to try outmaneuvering the humans. However, what if they swung their swords? Would he be able to avoid it? That was a gamble he was scared to take.

Vidra raised his hands as the humans finally caught up to him. He remembered to do this as described in one of the old books.

'When humans surrender, they raise their hands, or a white flag.'

"You finally decided to stop running, brat. God, don't make me feel bad." 

The human lifted the small Vidra by the collar and tossed him on his shoulder. He was about to start walking back when a punch landed on his face. The human shook, and Vidra was free.

"Don't touch my son with your bloody hands."

Vidra looked up from the ground as the familiar voice rang in his ears. It was his father. The chief of the village and the one who taught him almost everything. Vidra's tears started flowing as Lung quickly embraced him.

He was exhausted, and from the sweet scent of his body, Vidra knew that his father used magic. 

"Father, where is Mother?"

Vidra asked out of sheer panic. He wanted answers. His only solace in this situation was finding out about the status of those who were close to him.

"Don't worry about it, Vidra, everything will be fine. Close your eyes, and let your father take care of everything, okay? I'll teach you magic once this whole thing is over. I promise."

Vidra didn't receive a direct answer. He knew that his father didn't know what happened to his mother, or was scared to tell him. Whatever the answer was, he was also scared to know. That is why, when Lung asked him to close his eyes, he nodded and decided to concentrate on good memories.

Hoping that this nightmare would end by the time he opened his eyes. Meanwhile, the human who got knocked down slowly stood up and unsheathed his sword. The blood was still dripping from its edge. 

"Hah, do you think that helped you? You're just an exhausted elf. Everything will proceed as Lord Gord wills it."

"Whatever happens today, I will not let you lay a single hand on this child."

Lung took an unusual stance. He crouched so low that his forehead almost touched the ground. His intense, green eyes concentrated on the enemy while his pupils shrank to impossible sizes. 

A fraction of a second later, he disappeared. The human who unsheathed his sword was shocked to see his sword explode into countless tiny pieces. Another fraction of a second later. Three of his ribs cracked, leaving behind horrifying green, blue marks under the chainmail armor.

"haAarhhaaarHaar"

The human warrior tried to breathe, but no air entered his lungs. The shards of the three shattered ribs pierced through many of his organs, including his heart. Lung appeared behind him as he collapsed, breathing heavily. This movement took its toll, and he was about to fall to his knees.

Other warriors, alerted by the commotion, surrounded him. One of them was carrying a dead woman by her neck. It was Serina. Her lifeless eyes looked at Lung from a short distance. Lung froze. The countless memories and happy moments they experienced together flooded his mind.

"SERINAA!"

His scream, mixed with the blood in his mouth, sounded just like a war cry of a beast. It was capable of invoking a primal fear inside those who heard it. Some of the humans flinched, realizing what they had done. 

Some amongst them would ultimately end their own life at a later date, marred by the guilt that nothing could wash away. 

Lung, crouching low, was about to launch himself for a second time when a giant sword suddenly pierced him from behind. It exited from his stomach just beside Vidra. The young boy looked at the sword as it slowly got pulled out of his father. 

Lung, knowing well that his life was about to end, looked at Vidra with the sincere smile that he always showed him. His life, albeit ending in tragedy, was the happiest one he could imagine.

"I'm sorry, and thank you for everything."