Two years had passed since Kaelen had rescued the little girl from the slave-seller's grip. Life in their home had settled into a rhythm—simple, yet full of love and change. The family had adjusted, and with each passing day, their bonds had grown stronger.
The little girl, now 5 years old, was named Elysia. She had flourished under the care of Kaelen and Aeris. Though she was now calm , her eyes no longer held fear. She was grateful for the warmth and safety of her new home, and she had come to love Kaelen and Aeris deeply. She called them "Mom" and "Dad," her voice soft but full of affection.
Pearline, now 6, was the most protective of her sister. She loved helping Elysia with anything she could—whether it was playing games or simply offering comfort. Pearline's natural curiosity and sensitivity made her the perfect companion for Elysia.
Evan and Liam, the twin brothers, were now 11. Their energy and laughter still filled the house, and they had become more responsible over the years, especially when it came to their little sisters.
one after noon the children were playing in the yard, their voices filled with energy and laughter. Pearline and Elysia were running around, while the twins, Evan and Liam, had their usual playful banter.
Liam, always looking for a way to get a rise out of his sister, grinned mischievously. "You know, Pearline, you were found in a dumpster. Father just picked you up off the street."
Pearline didn't flinch. She stopped for a moment, then turned her head slowly toward Liam, her expression calm.
"Yeah," she said, her tone even, "and when he saw you staring as I was being taken, but you weren't—he pitied you more. So, he took you in too."
Evan burst into laughter, his hands on his knees. "Ooooh" he teased, as Liam's face flushed slightly.
Kaelen, who had been sitting nearby, sipping water, suddenly choked and spluttered. He was laughing and coughing at the same time. "I didn't expect that one," he said between breaths.
Liam stood there for a moment, blinking, caught off guard. But after a beat, he shrugged and grinned. "Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender, though there was a small smile tugging at his lips.
Pearline simply smiled, turning back to Elysia, who was watching the whole exchange with wide eyes.
.
.
High above the valley where the village nestled peacefully, a lone figure stood atop the jagged ridge of a mountain. His cloak billowed in the wind, dark as pitch, his hood drawn low over his face. But his mouth... his mouth was smiling.
Below, the forest stretched wide and golden under the sun. Quiet. Harmless.
"Ugh..." he groaned softly, voice thick with amusement, "...I just want to crush everything. Burn it all down."
His fingers flexed slightly, and the shadows around his boots twisted unnaturally.
Then he laughed. Loud. Cruel. Unafraid.
"Hahahaha... oh, let them enjoy their little lives till evening," he muttered, wiping a fake tear from the corner of his eye. "After all..."
His voice dropped, teeth flashing beneath the hood.
"This is their last day."
He turned, disappearing into the gloom behind him—just as the first whisper of smoke began to drift on the wind.
.
.
That evening, Pearline and Elysia set off to the woods, baskets in hand, excited to pick some fresh berries for their mother. Aeris had been craving them lately, especially with the new baby on the way. The scent of pine and earth filled the air, and the golden light of the setting sun bathed the forest in a warm, peaceful glow.
As they walked, Pearline glanced over at her little sister, who was skipping along beside her. "So, what do you think?" Pearline asked, her voice light with curiosity. "Do you think it'll be a brother or a sister?"
Elysia, who had been eagerly peering around for the juiciest berries, stopped for a moment to think. "I'm hoping for a girl. Then there'll be three of us, what about you?"
"I don't care, as long as it doesn't cry all night." said Pearline.
They both broke into laughter.
By the time they gathered enough, they were both covered in tiny stains from the berries, their hands sticky but their faces full of happiness. As they made their way back, Pearline looked over at Elysia, a quiet thought passing through her mind.
They both loved their mother deeply, and this little gift, something as simple as berries, felt like it was just another way to show her how much she meant to them.
As Pearline and Elysia made their way back, their baskets swaying at their sides, half-full with bright red berries.
The sun had started to dip when Pearline noticed the strange haze rising above the trees. It wasn't mist.
"Smoke," she said, stopping short.
Elysia paused beside her, small fingers tightening around her basket. "Is it... the hearth?"
Pearline shook her head slowly. "No. That's too much."
They dropped their berries and ran.
The path home was usually peaceful, but now the scent of burning wood choked the air. The closer they got, the louder it became—crackling flames, distant yelling, chaos. When they broke past the tree line, Pearline skidded to a stop.
Their home... was on fire.
Not just the house. The entire village.
Roofs had collapsed. Fields glowed with embers. Shadows moved between the smoke—twisting, unnatural things with no shape, only hunger.
Pearline's heart slammed in her chest as she spotted them—Aeris, her mother, collapsed on the porch steps, unmoving. The twins lay nearby, too still. Too silent.
And Kaelen—her father—stood in the middle of it all, chest rising and falling fast, his blade glowing faintly in one hand, the other lit with a shimmer of magic.
"Dad!" Pearline cried, stumbling forward.
But before she could reach him, a dark, writhing shadow lunged at her from the side.
She didn't even have time to scream.
Kaelen turned with a sharp snap of his wrist, hurling a blast of golden light that struck the creature mid-leap. It screeched but didn't fall—two more surged from behind it, circling fast.
Then—
A scream ripped through the fire.
Elysia.
Pearline's head snapped back. Elysia had fallen to her knees, clutching her side. Blood bloomed across the fabric near her stomach. Her eyes were wide, scared.
Kaelen turned, panic flashing in his expression. "No!"
He ran toward her but hesitated, seeing Pearline frozen in place between the monsters and her sister.
His voice was sharp, cracked with something deeper than fear.
"Pearline—go! Take her and run!"
"But—!"
"Run!" he shouted, raising both hands as magic surged around him.
Pearline didn't move at first—she couldn't. Her heart slammed in her chest, everything around her burning, twisting. But then—her father's voice cut through it all.
"I don't want to lose you girls," Kaelen said, eyes locked on hers, his voice rough with love and fire. "Please... live. And remember—I will always, always love you, I am glad I got to be your father."
Then the ground lit gold as he unleashed his magic, hurling it into the advancing shadows. They shrieked, stumbling back—but not for long.
Pearline spun on her heel and ran for Elysia.
The little elf girl was curled on her side, eyes wide and wet, a blooming patch of blood across her tunic. She whimpered when Pearline knelt beside her.
"I've got you," Pearline breathed, already pulling her close.
She crouched low, hooked her arms under Elysia's legs and back, and shifted her gently onto her back. Elysia's small arms clung around her shoulders, her face buried against Pearline's neck.
Behind them, Kaelen roared, the air pulsing with raw magic.
Pearline stood—staggered once, then ran.
The smoke swallowed them as she pushed through the trees, heart hammering, eyes stinging. She didn't dare look back.
.
.
As flames devoured the village and smoke swallowed the sky, a figure stood watching from the far ridge—his black cloak fluttering like a torn flag in the wind.
The man in shadow narrowed his eyes as a sudden shift pulsed through the air. A crackle. A low hum of power that didn't come from him.
"Tch." He clicked his tongue in irritation, arms crossing. "Why do those Laventhren keep getting in my way?"
He spat the name like it tasted of ash.
From deep in the woods, bursts of light flared—sharp purple. The elements stirred, answering to their wielders. Someone had arrived. Not just anyone. Them.
The man let out a low growl.
"I guess," he muttered, "I'll retreat. For today."
His grin returned—vile and gleaming beneath the hood.
"But not for long."
He turned, letting the shadows twist around him like smoke.
"I'll be back. Amira~" he whispered with a mocking lilt. "Hahahaha..."
His laughter echoed across the charred valley, even as he vanished into the dark—leaving behind nothing but ruin... and a promise.