The sound of the battering rams hammering the gate made the soldiers of Solva?l tremble, waiting in fear for what might burst forth at any moment.

  A soldier slipped between them, quickly approaching Eldran.

  “Captain, we managed to evacuate some villagers, but… many refused to leave.

  Even though we explained it to them, they refuse to believe the army will turn on them,” he explained.

  “That’s unbelievable, as if we needed this right now.

  Are there still children?

  You must evacuate them at all costs, even if you have to tear them from their parents,” Eldran ordered.

  “Yes, Captain, children are still present.

  I will pass on the order,” the soldier replied.

  He hurried away as the cracking of wood rang out, the sound of spears striking the ground echoing like a drum.

  A final impact thundered, the gate finally giving way as the ram’s head withdrew from the debris.

  Before them, a line of soldiers raising their shields stretched endlessly.

  “Zephyra, go help with the evacuation.

  You are too weak to continue, help them and leave with them,” Eldran said as he put on his helmet.

  “I’ll make them evacuate, but don’t expect me to leave without you, idiot.

  Don’t think I’m going to let you face all this alone,” she replied coldly.

  She rose with difficulty and headed toward the village, Eldran drawing his sword and lifting it into the air to order his soldiers to stand ready.

  “Soldiers, I do not force you to fight.

  If you choose to flee, know that I would understand.

  But if you stay, honor the oath you swore and protect the villagers as much as possible,” Eldran shouted in a clear, calm voice.

  A horn sounded once more, the enemy soldiers raising their shields and advancing in groups into the courtyard.

  Eldran turned one last time toward his own soldiers, offering them a smile before vanishing in a flash.

  His blade pierced one of the enemy soldiers, Eldran’s speed leaving him no time to react.

  He pulled his sword from the man’s chest, cutting through the air before splitting another’s helmet, his eyes rolling lifelessly as he left behind an empty shell.

  The soldiers of Solva?l finally reacted at the sight of Eldran attacking, drawing their swords and charging in turn.

  The clash of metal rang out, smothering every other sound.

  On her side, Zephyra crossed the village courtyard where the market stood.

  Embers carried by the wind settled on various houses already ablaze, the remaining villagers forced out beneath the thick smoke that had filled the interiors.

  “What are you still doing here?

  Do you think they are fighting for pleasure?

  Leave immediately, you poor fools, war is not a game that will spare you because you pray,” Zephyra shouted.

  The villagers gathered in the streets looked at her with sadness, some finally understanding that they had to leave while others did not move.

  As she moved toward one of the families kneeling and begging the gods for help, Zephyra saw an old man trying to drive his animals out to take them with him.

  “What are you doing?

  This is no time to worry about animals, open the pen and let them run free,” Zephyra shouted at the man.

  But he did not answer, continuing to tie the cows with leather straps.

  Zephyra stepped closer, grabbing his arm to stop what he was doing.

  “Let go of me, filthy witch, I will not let my beasts die because you ask it,” the man replied harshly.

  “Witch?

  Do you hear those sounds over there?

  Time is no longer a luxury you can afford, old fool, so stop believing life belongs to you and leave.

  Death will not spare you because you are older,” Zephyra said coldly.

  “Help the children evacuate instead, if you want to save someone.”

  But the man suddenly lurched, forcing Zephyra to release him.

  She rolled her eyes and abandoned the idea of changing his mind, heading toward a family frozen in the middle of the street.

  But the exhaustion from her spell caught up with her, her steps growing unsteady as she struggled not to fall.

  “Don’t give up now, it’s too soon.

  We have to get the people out of here,” she murmured to steel herself.

  But as she approached the family, one of the guards came toward her, panting.

  “They… they… broke through the walls.

  They’re entering the village.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  We won’t be able to get everyone out in time,” he explained, out of breath.

  “Shit, fate has decided to hound us, it seems.

  Evacuate as many people as you can, I’ll go see what I can do to buy you some time,” she said.

  “Where did they breach the wall?”

  She headed in the direction the man pointed out, clenching her fists to keep from thinking about her fatigue.

  But as she turned into a street, laughter drew her attention.

  Before her stood five enemy soldiers and a family facing them, the father savagely beaten, lying lifeless on the ground.

  Beside him was a child crying hot tears, begging his father to get up, while the guards lifted the woman and shoved her into the house.

  “Shut that fucking brat up.

  How are we supposed to have fun with her if he doesn’t stop bawling like that,” one of the soldiers ordered.

  One of the men came back out of the house and walked toward the child, Zephyra leaning against the wall to keep her footing and stay upright.

  She focused mana into her right hand, but no sensation came.

  “Not now, don’t do this to me when I need you.

  Come on, answer, please,” she stammered.

  The man who had reached the child then drew his sword, Zephyra forcing herself, knowing she could not run to help him.

  But nothing happened, the fatigue and the earlier spell having completely drained her.

  A wet sound echoed in her ears, as the child’s screams stopped instantly.

  Zephyra wanted to scream at the sight, to stop him from committing that act.

  But no sound came from her mouth, and she slumped into the corner of the wall, falling seated as her hands covered her face.

  “Why?

  Why now, why am I so weak when I need it most,” she raged.

  She stayed there for several minutes, while the woman’s screams grew louder inside the house.

  But she could no longer move, as if all will had abandoned her.

  “I… I have to go find Eldran, he’s the only one who can help me.

  I need him,” she said in a low voice.

  She rose with difficulty, while in various places screams and laughter burst out everywhere.

  She crossed a street and stopped before a patrol that had surrounded one of the village guards, the man throwing his weapon to the ground and dropping to his knees.

  “Don’t hurt me, I’m not with them.

  I serve my Kingdom, I won’t trouble you, I want to help you,” the man on the ground said.

  Zephyra recognized him then, the man who had spoken harshly to her and wanted to hand her over before everything began.

  “With us?

  Help us?

  Hahahaha, I think you didn’t understand.

  We’re not here to subdue you, we’re here to annihilate you.

  You talk about joining us while betraying your own village?

  You’re just a mutt who licks whoever suits him.

  We don’t need traitors in our ranks,” one of the men replied coldly.

  Before the guard could respond, a blade went through his throat, and with a clean motion, the man cut him down with a laugh.

  The guard’s head rolled to the ground, mouth wide open, eyes now staring into nothing.

  “Come on, let’s keep going.

  Have fun, it’s not often we get to savor it like this, lads,” the man said coldly.

  Zephyra stayed hidden until the soldiers continued on their way, then resumed her path toward the main entrance.

  But as she moved forward, her vision began to blur and her steps grew heavier.

  Added to that the screams and the smell of blood filling the air, her head began to spin.

  In the distance she heard other pleas, mixed with sobs and laughter gnawing at her mind.

  “Mom, wake up please.

  Why aren’t you moving anymore, Mom, the men are going to come back,” cried a child not far from Zephyra.

  “Hey lads, I found an older one.

  I’m bringing her to you,” shouted a man.

  “No no, let go of me.

  Mom, Mom help me please,” the girl screamed.

  Zephyra covered her ears, no longer able to endure all those cries, and kept moving forward as nausea overtook her.

  Her path seemed miraculously clear, crossing no one, as if they were all busy elsewhere.

  She finally reached the ramparts and followed them toward the great gate, but something troubled her deeply.

  Silence filled the air, the clash of metal no longer echoing.

  She quickened her pace despite her body’s protests and finally reached the village entrance, hundreds of bodies strewn across the ground.

  The stench rising from the area drove her to her knees, retching in disgust at what she saw.

  She lifted her head and wiped her mouth, the bitter taste making her saliva hard to swallow.

  She then cast her gaze over the plain, darkened by the smoke that covered every patch of sky, while the flames lit the landscape in a macabre glow.

  That was when she saw Eldran a little farther on, still standing alone, hundreds of soldiers facing him.

  Though she was not at his side, she felt his exhaustion.

  Eldran leaned on his sword, moving with difficulty, while all around him, they laughed.

  The King approached him, keeping a certain distance, smiling broadly as he looked at him.

  “You got what you wanted, look at what your foolishness has done.

  I gave you the choice, now look at what you’ve done,” he said coldly.

  “The choice?

  If I had accepted, you would have massacred them anyway.

  Coming with such an army, from the beginning you intended to do this,” Eldran replied, panting.

  “ENOUGH, I’ve had more than enough of your defiance.

  But I think words are no longer useful, I see we’ve found the one we were looking for,” the King went on, turning his gaze behind Eldran.

  Eldran turned his head, seeing Zephyra trying to crawl toward him, stumbling over bodies and blood lying on the ground.

  He reached out a hand toward her, but his strength was at its lowest.

  “Lock those two up, it’s time to finish this now,” the King ordered.

  One of the soldiers stepped toward Eldran, seized his sword and smashed the pommel against his temple.

  Under the fatigue of the fighting, his vision blurred instantly and he lost consciousness, collapsing to the ground.

  Only his ragged breathing proved that he was still alive.

  “NO, ELDRAN,” Zephyra cried in despair.

  But as she reached toward him in a last hope, a sharp pain struck her in the stomach, cutting off her breath.

  One of the King’s soldiers had come close, his foot striking her without restraint.

  He then stepped toward her, a spear in his hand.

  “I’m sorry, Nerya, I won’t be able to keep my promise.

  Be happy, my daughter, live and be proud of who you are,” she said in a low voice.

  Her mind finally gave way, darkness closing in as everything faded.

  The silence at last eased her mind of all that scene.