Blessing of Embers

Chapter 2: Hubris

“The Castle is Under Attacked!”

Screams filled the castle halls. Everyone was running to safety.

“It’s not just the Castle!” Gregory pointed out the window, “It’s the whole region.”

Massive Caster’s circles with purple hues filled the sky for as far as the eye could see. “What is that?” I don’t know why I asked because no one knows.

“Let’s go to the throne room that’s probably where the knights are.” Gregory says as he draws his sword.

“Found the girl!” an unknown voice calls out. Three men come around the corner. “Gwen Run!” Gregory Shouts as he grabs my hand and we run the other direction. Bodies and blood of Familiar faces the hallways. ‘Why’ kept running as we passed the bodies.

“WHY ARE YOU RUNNING? FIGHT!” A Voice boomed so loud and painful leaving me to trip onto the ground. “Gwen!? We can’t stop we have to get to the -.”

The clash of metal interrupted Gregory. “End of the road Thornes!” a man yelled as Gregory parries another blow from him. I looked to fight as well however a familiar face catches my eye. Miss Marin’s dead stare gazed at me blood soaking her gown.

“No..” escapes my mouth. “FIGHT GWENIVERE!” the voice boomed, “USE MY POWER AND FIGHT!”

I can feel a surge of magic flare. I can feel it change me. My vision heightens, my hearing heightens, smells heightens. My nails turn black and grow into points. “FIGHT”

I stand and face Gregory and the assailant. I summon a ball of fire in my hand and a projection caster’s circle in front of me. The two other men showed up. “ELIMINATE THEM,” Command the voice. On cue, I launched the ball of fire through the Caster’s Circle toward the enemy.

The man couldn’t react in time and seared a hole directly through him. As the second assailant reacted I sent another ball of fire toward him, searing another hole through him.

“What the-.”

“Don’t look away from your opponent!” Gregory Yelled as he side stepped behind him and cut the back of his knees. The knight screamed in pain as he fell to his knees. We approached the wounded knight. In a desperate attempt the knight lunged for his sword, Gregory summoned a pulse of air to knock him back. I stepped on the sword and focus my heat toward my foot. The sword slowly started to warp and melt.

“You Thornes were always too good,” The man chuckled. “Shut up,” Gregory commanded as he place the tip of his blade at his throat, “Why are you here?”

“To destroy the Fiery Realm,” and he looked at me, “To meet the blessed girl of fire.”

“Why?” Gregory persisted, “Why are trying to destroy our land?”

“This is going to be where Ruldryrrid will fall and The Dark King shall rise,”

“Who is the-.”

“Bahamut ..” I answer. The Dark King Dragon is Bahamut.

“Yes, Blessed Girl. Bahamut will rise once again to reclaim this land once more as the High King starting with the betrayer and leader of the rebellion, Ruldryrrid,” The man stated as a smile creped across his face. “He’s going to make you suffer blessed girl. He’s going to make Ruldryrrid feel the pain he felt when he betrayed him.” A laugh crawled out of his throat “Prepar-.” Blood spat out of his mouth as his eyes shut. 

“Crazy piece of sh#t.” Gregory mattered as he pulled his sword out from the man’s neck. He turned to look at me. “Wow Gwen didn’t know you could change your whole look,” He stated. “What are you talking about?” I asked him as I looked into a mirror that lined the hallways.

My once hazel brown eyes had been replaced with deep ruby slits, the whites were pitch black, and my ears had been pointed. As fast as these changes came, they were replaced with my original appearance “Wow, well whatever happened we need to get moving and find our parents,” Gregory said readying his sword. “Hold one second Greg,” I asked as I approached Miss Marin’s Lifeless body. I knelt down and closed her eyes. “May your spirit find the flame,” I prayed trying to not let the tears escape my eyes. “Goodbye Miss Marin.”

As we entered the throne room, they had the rest of the doors barricaded. They were bringing the wounded knights and treating them and were coming up with a plan but no sign of my father. “Hold that door!” Knight Commander Christophe’s voice boomed as we approached him. Relief filled his eyes when he saw us.

“My lord and lady, thank the seven you’re still alive.”

“Christophe, These are fanatics that worship the Dark King Dragon. According to them there going to destroy the whole realm if we don’t stop them!” Gregory explained. Horror spread across Christophe’s face. “How’d you get this information?”

“My stunning looks but mostly torture.” Gregory quipped.

“My lord this is not a time to make jokes but if these claims are true, where is there banner and king?” Christophe asked. Gregory just shrugged.

“Well whatever we’re up against is big they’re covered the whole sky in Magic circles. We need to find our father, where is he?” I stated. Before Christophe could talk a group of our knights came into the room one of which being James. “Knight Commander, it’s not looking good out there.” James reported. “It seems they ravaged through the town like a storm there’s no survivors.”  

“By the Seven, what is happening?” Christophe called out. He ran his hand through his hair. “James escort Gwenivere and Gregory to the king and help them escape.”

“Father!”

“James, that’s an order,” Christophe said with sadness in his voice, “there’s no turning back from this. Uphold your duty Sir James and protect the Duke.” James wanted to fight back however he knew he was right. A knight has sworn to give life and limb to the crown. James gathered his men and turned to leave.

“May your spirit find the flame, Father.” James uttered as we left to find the Duke.

Blood danced around the halls of the castle. More explosion would shake the castle however it wasn’t until we heard the screams we knew they broken into the Throne Room. “We have to hurry and find them,” I warned. “The Duke must be I the war room being protected by the Archmage,” James stated. His voice was quivering as he tried to keep a strong front. As we approached the War room we were too late.

“FATHER!” I screamed out as I ran to his side. “Gwen you must leave now!”

“No, I can heal you please,” I begged him. His eyes looked past my shoulder to the table. I turned only to see my mother’s lifeless body. This isn’t happening, this cannot be happening, I kept thinking as tears escaped my eyes.

“Gwen you and your brother need to leave.” He struggled to say clutching his stomach.

“My lord enemies are approaching,” One of the knights said. “We’ll hold back as best as we can to cover for your escape,” James stated. Gregory’s eyes widen but James didn’t look back.

Father rose his hand to cast a pair of teleportation rings. “sendu mig til Sentara,” Father invoked the rings intertwined faster and faster until a dark alley way appeared through the rings. “Go and take care of each other! Know your mother and I loved you,” He said with tears in his eyes.

“May your spirit find the flame,” Gregory stated as he grasped my arm. “Gregory what are you doing? We can take him with us.”

“Gwen we can’t we need to leave now!”

“No we can sa-.”

A sudden pain jabbed my neck and the world went black.

“I’m sorry Gwen.”