Sir Aldric and Sir Jorvan stood side by side. Aldric's eye examined Jorvan. 'He's nervous... why?' Aldric felt something was off, but couldn't figure out just what it was.
He caught Jorvan's eyes, for a split second, gravitate towards the window. Aldric, curious as to what had shaken such a formidable knight, turned his head towards the window.
It all seemed normal
*CRASH!*
A rock had forced itself into the cathedral through the window.
Aldric's composure slipped for a heartbeat. 'Did he know?' Confusion clouded his judgment. 'No, how could he have known. It's all a coincidence' Aldric focused his attention on the little prince
Kaelen was shocked beyond measure. So much so... He hadn't realised the small rock that had landed by his feet. He tried to regain his senses.
But just then, an unidentifiable group entered the hall.
Sir Aldric rapidly clenched his sword and unsheathed it a bit.
*Thunk!*
Sir Jorvan had backhanded Aldric's nose. Sir Aldric dropped to one knee, vision blurred and confused on what brute force had just struck him, the sharp sting spreading across his face as he struggled to comprehend the sudden, violent betrayal.
Jorvan seized this opportunity to dash towards the king and pierce his back.
"Aaaaagh!" the king blurted as pain struck him. "This is for crawlar" Jorvan's whisper reached the king's ear as he slowly retracted his sword from his back.
"Capture them all!" a voice commanded. "Kill every Pyralis on sight", the sinister voice came from within the group of unidentified soldiers.
Astreavon soldiers rushed to defend the nobles and royal families. Within seconds, the breathtaking interior of the cathedral had turned into a bloody battle.
Kaelen stood frozen, heart hammering, as Sir Jorvan twisted his sword behind his back and swung it toward him.
"Kaeleeeeennnn!!!" his mother screamed, lunging toward him and pushing him aside. Kaelen hit the ground hard, rolling onto his back.
*Shwack!*
For a moment, Kaelen didn't comprehend what he was seeing—only that something warm had splattered his cheek. His mother's hand, the one that had pushed him out of the way, lingered for an extra beat longer than her body. Then it dropped, fingers grazing his arm as though still attempting to pull him close.
One swift strike, and Selene's head was severed from her body. Her lifeless body crumpled before Kaelen.
'Mom?'
'No—she pushed me—why—'
'Get up… get up… why won't I get up?'
He tried to push himself up, but his strength failed him, and he collapsed again, helpless and trembling.
Sir Aldric had just regained control over his body, only to be confronted by a scene of pure bloodshed and Sir Jorvan looming over Kaelen.
Without hesitation, Aldric lunged, closing the distance with a single step. Aldric swung his sword with all his strength. Jorvan, sensing the vast bloodthirst coming towards him, raised his own blade with lightning speed.
*Clang!*
Their swords collided, sparks flying, and Aldric's momentum sent Jorvan tumbling down the steps.
Sir Kaelus Pyralis had been shielding the princess when he spotted Sir Jorvan's treachery unfolding before him.
"You inglorious bastard, -son of filth!" Kaelus roared, charging toward the Kingsguard. Jorvan didn't so much as flinch; he was too preoccupied wiping the bloody gash across his cheek.
"Kaelus, no…!"The king, sprawled on the ground, lifted his head with the last of his strength. "Save… Ilyra…" he rasped—his final command.
Kaelus' clenched jaw showed his anger, but he respected his brother's wishes and turned to the princess.
The unidentified guards kept flooding into the cathedral. They weren't nearly as strong as the Astreavon soldiers, but soon they were greater in numbers. What was going on outside?
Prince Riven held an arm out protectively in front of Princess Ilyra. Though it was mostly Sir Theodore Macen who stood as the true shield between them and the approaching threat.
A group of soldiers approached Sir Theodore.
"We are not here to harm the Prince." A soldier stepped forward, "Hand us Princess Ilyra, and no unnecessary bloodshed will be needed"
Sir Theodore remained stoic, awaiting his master's judgment.
"No one will lay a finger on my wife", Prince Riven declared. Hearing this, Theodore angled his sword, ready to strike.
"Then you leave us no choice" Disappointment clouded the soldier's face. "Do not harm the Prince... kill the guard". The soldiers surged forward. Sir Theodore remained calm, sweeping his sword in a horizontal arc to keep them at bay.
Behind Prince Riven appeared Kaelus "Princess, we must leave" he grabbed Ilyra's wrist and pulled. "Hey! That's my wife," Riven protested. Kaelus shot him a hard look,
"ke... keep her safe", Riven muttered, immediately backing down.
Kaelus rushed toward one of the rear doorways, dragging Ilyra with him.
"W- Wait!" Ilyra dug her heels into the floor. "We have to save Kaelen!" Kaelus looked towards his dead brother on the ground, drowning in a puddle of his own blood. "No!" Kaelus said firmly, "Your father entrusted you to me. I must ensure your safety".
"No! No, no!" Ilyra pounded her fists weakly against Kaelus's chest plate.
He didn't move. Grabbed her arms. "The reason your father left you to me is that he trusts Sir Aldric's skills" he once again looked at his brother and then towards Sir Aldric "Sir Aldric will keep Kaelen safe", he assured Ilyra "We must go now".
Ilyra wiped her tears with her sleeve and followed her uncle out of the main hall. Just before they vanished, she cast one last, aching look at her brother. Then they disappeared through the doorway into a long corridor.
Ilyra gathered her courage "No!" She stopped again.
"Princess, we can't-".
"Go this way, it's safer", as she ran towards a massive painting on the wall and tried her best to push it to the side. The painting didn't budge until Kaelus used his arm to assist the Princess. The hanging painting revealed a small wooden door on the wall.
——
Sir Aldric glared down at Sir Jorvan as he used his sword as a crutch to help himself up. Astreavon soldiers stepped between the two knights, their spears warning Sir Jorvan.
"What's this?" Jorvan sneered, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "The once-great Sir Aldric, hiding behind a pack of soldiers?"
Aldric bit down on his lip, forcing himself to stay composed. He slid his sword back into its sheath, grabbed Kaelen—still frozen in terror—and hoisted the boy over his shoulder. Without another glance at Jorvan, Aldric turned toward the rear exit of the cathedral and sprinted.
Kaelen barely registered Aldric's hands on him; every sound and touch slipped past him like they belonged to some other world.
"Hey!... I'm not finished with the kid!" Jorvan roared at them as he regained his balance and lunged towards them.
"Protect the heir", shouted the soldiers as they lunged their spears at Jorvan.
Kaelen, slumped over Aldric's shoulder, lifted his head just in time to see Jorvan sweep his blade in a blurring arc—cleaving through the spearheads as if they were made of straw.
Sir Aldric crashed through the rear door of the cathedral and burst into the open streets. Chaos greeted them. Soldiers clashed in every direction. Civilians screamed. Infants wailed. Smoke choked the air.
'The west wall...' Sir Aldric made up his mind.
He ran as fast as his weakening strength allowed, weaving through battling soldiers and burning debris. Over his shoulder, Kaelen could do nothing but watch in horror as his people were slaughtered around him.
The screams and crackling fire blended into a distant hum, as though someone had pressed thick wool over his ears—homes engulfed in flames, bodies crumpled in the streets, and the city he barely knew, drowning in smoke and blood.
——
The sun was nearly set by the time Aldric reached the west wall. He noticed the gate stood unguarded and hurried through it, walking out of the city with Kaelen slung over his shoulder. Outside, he set the boy on his feet.
"This way", Aldric urged.
Kaelen said nothing. Silent and hollow-eyed, he obediently followed his tutor.
They soon reached the shore of Emberhold. Sand shifted beneath their boots, and the steady crash of waves echoed across the empty beach. In the distance, Aldric spotted a small fishing sailboat.
Kaelen and Sir Aldic rushed towards it. Their feet shovelling through the sand...
When they reached it, Sir Aldric spotted a man sleeping inside.
"Hey! Wake up! This is no time to be sleeping," Aldric barked, shaking the man by the shoulder.
"Huh?" the man cracked an eye open "Look, sir knight, I'm only resting", His words slurred as he blinked himself awake. The stench of alcohol clung to him like a second skin.
"I need you to take us away from here", Aldric demanded, grabbing the man by the collar. He hauled him upright. The drunk's gaze drifted toward Emberhold—and the sight of the city in flames jolted him sober in an instant.
"Whoa! Woah! Woah! Man, what happened here?" the man was astounded.
"Can you take us away from here or what!" Sir Aldric said impatiently as he shook the man.
When Aldric quit his shaking, the man finally managed to speak, "Look, Sir Knight… no offence, but even if I wanted to, I can't. There's a storm tonight. A bad one. If we go out to sea, we could die."
"We will die if we stay here!" Aldric shot back, but his logic seemed to slide straight past the man.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," the man muttered, then glancing at Kaelen. "Why don't you just take the kid and hide somewhere?"
"There they are! Get them!"
A group of soldiers burst through the western gate, sprinting down the beach toward the boat.
"Tch. We are running out of time here" Sir Aldric unseathed his sword in one sharp motion and cut the rope that held the boat ashore.
"Hey, man! What's your problem!" the man yelped
'Change of plans' Aldric decided
"As the personal guard of Kaelen Pyralis, heir to Astraevon," Aldric barked, "I order you to set sail this instant!"
Aldric knew the soldiers would be on them any moment now, and he was becoming impatient.
"Th-the royal heir!?" The colour drained from the man's face. His life flashed before his eyes as he dropped to his knees. "Forgive me for not recognising you, Your Highness!"
"What the hell are you doing? Ready the sail!" Aldric roared.
Shivers shot through the man's spine "Y-yes, Sir".
Aldric studied the soldiers closing in. He counted fifteen.
"Okay..." Aldric knelt and rested his hand on Kaelen's shoulder "We don't have much time, so listen closely" Kaelen's lifeless eyes stared through him.
"I'm sending you to Elyndor-"
"Elyndor!?" interrupted the man.
Aldric shot him a murderous glare. The man immediately shut up and continued his frantic preparations.
"What do you mean by you?" Kaelen whispered, finally breaking his silence. "Are you not coming, Gramps?"
"I can't," Aldric said, his voice low but firm. "I have to stay and distract the soldiers. That's why you must listen to me… now."
Kaelen's lips trembled.
"You need to become stronger," Aldric continued. "Gather loyal allies. Make plans to retake what is rightfully yours." His jaw tightened; he bit his lip to hold himself together. "I wish I could stay by your side, young prince."
He rose, lifted Kaelen, and set him inside the boat.
The soldiers' shouts grew louder.
Kaelen's chest tightened with every breath, a slow, growing squeeze that told him something inside was breaking even if his mind refused to look at it.
"It won't be easy to earn the Elyndor king's attention, but you will find a way," Aldric said quickly. "Stay low, don't draw attention to yourself, and remember—they will send men after you."
Sir Aldric removed his small sword from his waist and pressed it against Kaelen's chest.
"Take this! Let it remind you of your purpose,"
Aldric gave him one final smile—then exchanged a look with the sailor. With a hard kick, he shoved the boat off the shore.
"Sir Aldric-!" Kaelen reached out, his arm trembling, as the distance between them widened.
"Master Kaelen!" Aldric called after him, laughter cracking through the tension. "The next time we meet… I'll be addressing you as king!"
He was likely trying to lift the boy's spirits—just for a moment.
'And now—'
Aldric's thought shattered as he twisted aside, narrowly dodging a spear that lunged for his chest.
He caught the spear with one hand and used it as a lever to pull the soldier closer. Using the momentum he had just created, he punched him in the face with his free hand. The soldier hit the sand hard, clutching his mouth—several teeth now missing.
"Don't let the Prince escape", another soldier shouted, sprinting into the shallow water.
"Not on my watch", Aldric hurled the spear like a javelin. It struck the soldier square in the back.
"Aaaaggghhh!"
The force was so powerful that the spear fully passed through the soldier's body and disappeared in the water.
—
Throughout all this, Kaelen once again felt powerless as he watched others bleed and fight on his behalf.
He looked down at the sword he held in his hands, drew it from its sheath… and the moment he saw his reflection in the blade-
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
A scream tore out of him, raw and broken, as if the entirety of the wedding, the massacre, the betrayal, the death—everything—had finally crashed into him in a single heartbeat.
The soldiers—and even Aldric—paused, their battle momentarily stilled by the young prince's outcry.
Kaelen's face twisted with fury. All the emotions he'd tried to bury surged through him like a violent storm. With a vengeful glare, he shouted:
"I'll kill you all! You hear me?! I swear on my name—I will return and kill every single one of you!"
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their throats tightening at the sight of the enraged boy.
"Yes!" Aldric called out, seizing the moment."That's the spirit! Come back and rescue us!"
While the soldiers stood distracted, Aldric drew his sword and lunged at them with a roar.
On the drifting boat, Kaelen—only ten years old, and freshly orphaned—finally let his tears fall. He sobbed openly as he watched his city burn… as his home sank into smoke and flame before him.