-Flashback-
"Oreon, Oreon, come on, wake up." A gentle voice whispered as a pair of light brown eyes, still heavy with sleep, blinked open. "Come on, if you don't get up," the voice continued, a feminine tone becoming more insistent. "If you don't get up, we won't stop by that honey cake stall that you like so much." The soft threat made a pair of bright eyes pop open. A young Oreon sat up straight, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Honey Cakes!" Little Oreon replies happily, throwing off his covers and hopping out of bed, the springs of the mattress squeaking beneath him. Leaping from bed, he saw a girl, tall, with a bright smile, and looking no older than eighteen, standing there. Her long black hair cascaded down to her spine. Her brown eyes sparkled with life, with a radiant smile. Clad in a brown tunic and white shorts, brown boots, and a white jacket, she looked comfortable yet stylish; the jacket provided a lovely contrast to the earth tones of the rest of her outfit.
"Come on, Oreon, the faster we get there, the faster we can get back and get to those honey cakes." She tells him, and he quickly nods his head in agreement, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
- "It started like every other day," Oreon spoke grimly. "My sister was getting me out of bed to take me to the Elven village."-
"Alice, wait up." The childlike Oreon's words tumbled out in a rush, a torrent of excited babble punctuated by the sounds of small buttons struggling against his tiny fingers and the soft rustle of his white shirt. He fumbled with his clothes, finally pulling on his brown shorts and black-brown shoes. "Don't leave without me." He called out to her.
"Well, you better hurry, then." She playfully pressed. "I could walk out the door any minute now." A giggle escaped her lips as she playfully teased him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Alice!" From upstairs came Oreon's high-pitched, childish whine, punctuated by the light sound of her laughter.
In moments, the young Oreon joined his older sister at the front door, the sound of his small feet padding softly against the floor. As Alice waited for him, leaning against the cool, smooth door, her arms were crossed tightly against her chest. "Ready to go, kiddo?" She asks him, and Oreon, with a confident nod and a reassured smile, gave her the assurance she needed.
"Alright then, first the Elven Village, and then Honey Cakes!" Alice declares, a light, joyful cheer bursting from Oreon's mouth.
"Are you two heading out again?" The sound of a question echoed through the kitchen. A middle-aged woman, defying her age with a youthful radiance, strolled through the doorway, a hand casually resting on her hip, a gentle smile illuminating her face as she watched her two children's departure preparations.
"Yeah, Mom, going to make a stop at the Eastern Elven village, and then we're getting Honey Cakes," Alice stated, the worn leather of her straw-woven bag creaking softly as she slung it over her shoulder.
"The Eastern Elven village huh?" The mother raised an eyebrow slightly. "You two have been spending quite a lot of time there lately." She stated smiling down at them. "Is there something my daughter is keeping from me? Has she found someone that she's expressing herself to?" Her mom teased.
"Mommm!" Alice whined. "It's not like that," She insisted. "Elder Lyraith says that I have natural talent for healing magic," Alice replied proudly adjusting her bag. "And Aura's been teaching me how to control my abilities."
"Well she did teach me. So, I say you have the best teacher a person could ask for." The mother's expression shifted, pride etching her face. "And I did pass down my gift to you, I wonder if I should be worried." She said softly, reaching out to touch Alice's cheek. "Just remember what I've always taught you--"
"Power without wisdom is dangerous," Alice finished with a smile. "I know, Mom. You don't have to keep reminding me."
The mother's eyes crinkled with amusement at Alice's teenage exasperation, but there was wisdom in her gaze that spoke of experiences far beyond their understanding.
"Indulge your mother," She said with a soft laugh. "One day you'll be repeating the same lessons to your own children." With that, she turned her attention to Oreon as she knelt down to his level, her golden eyes twinkling as she gently adjusted his collar.
"And you, my little adventurer? Are you learning anything exciting at the village?" She asked him as little Oreon quickly nodded his head in excitement.
"Elder Lyraith says I have potential! He said with a bit of training with Aura I could tap into my power and be strong like you and Alice!" Oreon exclaimed. "And Aura gave me cool daggers to train with, she said that they used to be yours when you and her fought together." He gazed up at her in excitement.
The mother's expression froze for a heartbeat, something ancient and guarded flickering behind her golden eyes. Her fingers stilled on Oreon's collar as memories seemed to wash over her memories of battles long past, of blades flashing in forgotten conflicts.
"Did she now?" Her voice was carefully measured, a forced lightness barely concealing deeper emotions. "Those daggers are...Very special. They've seen many battles."
She glanced up at Alice, a silent communication passing between them that Oreon was too young to interpret. When she looked back at her son, her smile had returned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Perhaps when you're older, I'll tell you the stories behind those blades, but for now my little knight don't stray out of your sister's sight and you listen to Aura and Elder Lyraith; ok. Don't cause them any trouble." She instructed.
"I won't mom." Little Oreon nodded his head happily as his mother turned her attention back towards Alice.
"Alice, keep any eye on your little brother and watch the eastern ridge path. The Patrols have been increasing as of late. If you see any Order soldiers...
"I know, we come straight home, no exceptions. We make sure we take the back road and get back safely." Alice finished.
Her mother's shoulders relaxed slightly, though a tension never fully left her posture. She stood, brushing invisible dust from her apron. A nervous habit developed over the years.
"Good girl. And remember, if anyone asks--"
"We're just village children gathering herbs for our sick grandmother," Alice winked as she recited with practiced ease, the lie familiar on her tongue.
"And if that doesn't work?" Their mother crossed her arms gently, slightly leaning on her back leg as she quizzed her children.
"We scream real loud and yell that their picking on children." Little Oreon responded causing a slight smirk to appear on his mother's face.
"Mom, we know the drill. We've been doing this for years." Alice spoke up again as her mother nodded, but her eyes remained serious as she reached into her pocket and pressed something small into Alice's palm-a polished stone with faint runes etched into its surface.
"Take this. if there's trouble...crush it. I'll know."
She pulled both children into a tight embrace, holding them perhaps a moment longer than usual,. When she released them, her smile had returned, though it carried the weight of unspoken fears.
"Now go on, don't keep your teachers waiting and don't forget to visit the their bakery before they sell out of those honey cakes. And Alice? Remember what I taught you about the shadows between the trees."
"Bye mom! We'll bring you back a cake too!" Alice screamed as she drug Oreon out the house before their mother worried any longer as she watched from the doorway as her children set off down the path, Alice's protective hand on Oreon's shoulder. The smile remained fixed on her face until they disappeared around the bend in the road. Only then did her expression change, the mask of motherly calm giving way to dep concern. With a swift, practiced movement, she closed the door and moved to a seemingly ordinary cabinet in the corner of the room. Her fingers traced a pattern on its surface, revealing a hidden compartment containing a wrapped bundle. Unwrapping it revealed twin curved blades, black and with gold trimming along the blades, their metal gleaming with an unnatural golden sheen despite years of disuse.
"So Aura gave him replicas...." She whispered to herself as a small smirk appeared on her face. "I told her that I wanted them to live normal lives." She sighed to herself as she closed the compartment. "What am I going to do with her?' She asked herself.
Down the road, the kids walked. Alice Oreon's older sister, and Little Oreon who walked beside her. The dirt path stretched before them, winding through the gentle countryside. Morning sunlight filtered through the canopy of ancient oaks, casting dappled shadows across their way. Alice walked with purpose, her stride confident and measured, while Oreon skipped alongside her, occasionally darting off to examine a colorful flower or interesting stone before rushing back to her side.
-And just like every other day, we would set out for the Elven Village. But little did we know, this is the day when everything would change.-
"Alice?" Oreon asked, looking up at his sister with wide, curious eyes. "Why does Mom always get that funny look when we talk about the Elves? The one where she looks happy and sad at the same time?
Alice's pace slowed slightly, her expression thoughtful as she considered how to answer. She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear, a habit she'd inherited from their mother. "It's complicated, little brother," She finally said, her voice soft.
"Mom has history with the elves. Good memories and...some not so good ones." Oreon's brow furrowed as he processed this, kicking at a pebble in their path.
"Is that why she doesn't come with us anymore?" Oreon asked as he looked up at Alice. "She used to get excited when we go see Aura and the rest of the Elves....Does she not want to see them anymore?" He asked her, his innocence showing.
"No, that's not the case; but the memories are part of it." Alice admitted, adjusting the strap of her bag. "But its really because she needs to be careful. The Order doesn't like people like us--people with gifts-and they especially don't like the elves."
Oreon frowned, his small face suddenly serious beyond his years. "Because we're different?"
Alice nodded, her voice dropping to a near whisper despite the empty road. "Yes," She sighed. "And because they fear what they don't understand."
"But why? Aren't we all the same?" Oreon asked.
"The elves are different Oreon, and so are we, in our way." Alice answered as Oreon's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Listen Oreon The Holy Order are a group of people--powerful people--who are afraid of magic they don't control. They believe that only their magic is righteous, and anyone else who has abilities is...." She hesitated, searching for words a child could understand. "Dangerous."
The path narrowed as they entered the forest, sunlight filtering through the trees. Alice instinctively guided Oreon toward the shadows between the trees, just as their mother had taught them.
"That's stupid," Oreon declared with the simple certainty of childhood. "We're not dangerous."
"Mom and Aura had their share of run ins with them a few times, kiddo. That's why we have to be careful because mom doesn't want anything to happen us." She smiled down at him, gently placing her hand on his head as they walked.
Silence seemed to take over for a moment, the only sounds being birdsong and the crunch of gravel beneath their feet. The path began to slope upward, leading toward the hills where the Eastern Elven village lay hidden from human settlements.
"Will I ever be as strong as you and Mom?" Oreon asked suddenly, his voice carrying a hint of sadness.
Alice smiled down at him, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Maybe even stronger, kiddo. But remember what Mom always says--"
"Power without wisdom is dangerous," they both recited together, breaking into giggles afterward.
"Come on," Alice said, pointing to where the path forked ahead. "Let's take the hidden trail. Race you to the big oak tree!"
Without hesitation, Oreon's face lit up with competitive joy. He bolted forward with the boundless energy only children possess, his small legs pumping furiously as he darted between patches of sunlight and shadow.
"I'm gonna win this time! Alice!" he called back over his shoulder, his voice bright with determination. Alice laughed, giving him a few seconds head start before she took off after him. The hidden trail was barely visible to untrained eyes-a narrow path that would between thick bushes and under low-hanging branches. It was a route known only to those the elves trusted, marked by subtle signs carved into tree bark and arrangements of stones that looked natural to the casual observer.
As they ran, the forest around them seemed to come alive. Birds called warnings of their approach, and occasionally Alice caught glimpses of small creatures watching from the underbrush-not all of them entirely natural. The boundary between the human lands and elven territory was more than just geographic; it was where the mundane world began to blend with the magical.
Oreon laughed childishly as he continued to run. "Oreon slowly down, wait up!" Alice called from behind him a few short laughs carrying from her voice as well until her eyes looked up, widening in realization as she saw smoke in the sky. She quickly looked straight ahead as she saw Oreon had stopped at the edge of the clearing, his body still as his eyes reflected the heavy flames in front of him, his body now shaking with fear.
Alice's heart plummeted as she reached Oreon, her hand instinctively grabbing his shoulder to pull him back into the shelter of the trees. The village-their sanctuary, their second home, was engulfed in flames. The elegant structures that had stood for centuries were now blackened husks, their graceful arches collapsing in showers of sparks. The air was thick with smoke and the something worse, the metallic tang of blood.
"No," She whispered, her voice breaking as her eyes frantically scanned the burning settlement. "No, no, no...."
Oreon trembled beneath her grip, his small body rigid with shock. "Alice," he choked out. "Where's Aura? Where's Elder Lyraith?"
Before she could answer, movement caught her eye-armored figures moving methodically through the village, their polished breastplates emblazoned with the sun-and-sword emblem of the Holy Order. They moved with military precision, checking buildings, ensuring nothing was left standing. Alice pulled Oreon deeper into the shadows, crouching behind a fallen log as she covered his mouth with her hand.
"Shh," She breathed against his ear, her voice barely audible. "Don't make a sound."
Oreon's eyes were wide with terror, tears streaming silently down his face as he nodded against her palm. Through gaps in the foliage, they watched as a group of soldiers dragged several elves into the village center-some wounded, others seemingly unharmed but bound with strange glowing shackles that pulsed with an eerie light.
Alice quickly turned Oreon around to face her, crouching down to his level. Her hands gripping his shoulders firmly as she looked into his terrified eyes. "Oreon, listen to me very carefully. "She whispered urgently, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins. "We need to go back home right now. We can't let them see us."
Oreon's bottom lip trembled as tears spilled down his cheeks. "But what about the Elves? What about Aura? We have to help them!"
Oreon's words made Alice's heart twist painfully, but she shook her head, forcing herself to be the voice of reason their mother would expect her to be.
"The Order soldiers are there. If they find us..." She swallowed hard, not needing to finish the thought. "Mom will know what to do. We need to tell her what's happened."
A sudden crash from the village made them both flinch. Through the trees, they could see a tall elven structure collapsing in a shower of sparks. A cheer went up from the armored men, a sound so incongruously joyful amid such destruction that it made Alice's stomach turn. She could feel Oreon's small body shaking with silent sobs.
"We need to go," She whispered, gently turning him away from the horrific scene. "Now." As soon as they turned their backs from the scene, something flew past Alice's face, leaving a light scratch against her cheek, causing her to stop in her tracks as she watched as a small rock crashed into the tree obliterating it completely. Her body frozen stiff at how close death was to her.
"And what do we we have here?" A chilling voice ran down Alice's spine as her mouth hung open as her ears picked up in a female voice coming from the flames of the Elven village. "Two little mice scurrying away from the fire." She stated as Alice's slowly turned her head to glance behind her. Her eyes catching the female culprit in sight.
A woman, adorned in the attire of the Holy Order, possessed an impeccably sculpted figure and tanned skin. Her sleeveless arms moved gracefully beside her as her pink tongue licked slowly across her lips. Her violet eyes falling upon the two children, who stood frozen with fear in front of her.
"In...Inquisitor Cassian..."Alice barely mouthed in fear.
The woman's lips curled into a predatory smile, her violet eyes gleaming with a hunger that had nothing to do with physical appetite. She moved with unnatural grace, each step deliberate as she approached them through the smoke and embers. The insignia on her armor-more ornate than the common solders, marked her as one of the Order's elite: an Inquisitor, hunter of heretics and wilders of unsanctioned magic.
'I'm flattered that you remember who I am, Alice." She purred, her voice dripping with malice. "Tell me, how's your mother doing?"
Alice's heart raced as she pushed Oreon behind her, standing protectively in front of him. Fear etched on her face, but trying to mask it as best as she could.
"You...It's...It's You..." She breathed, sweat dripping down her face as she took a step back with Oreon behind her. "How a demon like you ever became an inquisitor is beyond me, but you stay the hell away from us." Alice stated, keeping Oreon behind her.
"Demon?" Cassian tilted her head, her violet eyes sparkling with intrigue. "I see, your mother must have been telling you stories about my....Latest escapades." Her tongue slithered out of her mouth once again.
"Damn your escapades, demon..." Alice growled, keeping Oreon closed to her.
Cassian's laughter rang through the burning forest, a sound both beautiful and terrible. She moved closer, the air around her seeming to distort slightly, as if reality itself recoiled from her presence.
"Such language from a child," She tutted, mock disappointment in her tone. "Leona should have taught you to have better manners." She sighed dramatically. "But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Leona always did have a...soft spot for creatures that should have been put down." Her gaze flicked meaningfully toward the burning elven village. "Just like her previous elves."
Alice's blood ran cold at the mention of her mother's name. The casual way Cassian spoke it, as if they were old friends rather than mortal enemies, made the threat all the more terrifying. Behind her, Oreon clutched at her shirt, his small fingers digging into the fabric.
"Don't you dare speak her name." She hissed, her voice trembling despite her attempt at bravery. "You know nothing about her!"
Cassian's smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed just slightly too sharp to be entirely human. She took another step forward, the grass withering beneath her boots. "Oh, but I do know her, little one. I know her very well actually. Leona, the Merciful, Leona, the prodigy, Leona the Holy knight. The Order's brightest star before she...became a sympathizer. a defective piece in the Order's ranks...A damn witch." Her violet eyes flickered to Oreon, then back to Alice.
"But enough about that. How about you both be good little children and come with me. Your mother and I have unfinished business, and you two will make such perfect bait.
Alice's mind raced frantically. The stone, she needed to crush it, to alert her mother. But doing so would require letting go of Oreon, even for just a moment and something told her that a moment was all Cassian would need.
"We're not going anywhere with you." Alice said, her voice steadier than she felt, backing away slowly with Oreon. Her hand inched toward her pocket, fingers seeking the warning stone that her mother had given her. "My mother told me what you really are. What you did to those villages in the north."
Cassian's beautiful face twisted into something inhuman for just a split second, a glimpse of what lurked beneath the surface-before her pleasant mask slipped back into place.
"Did she now? How fascinating. And here I thought Leona had buried those memories when she abandoned the Order. My, those was thrilling times though. Did she tell you what part she played in it? How the elves in that village ran to her for safety and she couldn't do a thing about it? The false hope she had given to so many only for their lives to be squashed under my heel." Cassian snickered as she regained control of herself, her eyes landing back on the two children in front of her.
She let out a short breath. "Though, Leona is powerful, I can see why the purifier fell for her." She placed a hand on her hip. "But I wonder..." her smirk widened. "Considering the circumstances, has your powers manifested yet, little one? Your Mother's bloodline was always....exceptional."
Alice felt Oreon trembling against her back. She needed to distract Cassian, just long enough to activate the stone.
"Leave us alone!" She shouted, summoning every ounce of courage she possessed. "The Order will know what you've done here. This wasn't sanctioned-even they wouldn't approve of massacring an entire village!"
"Oh, sweet child, such an innocent way of thinking. Right and wrong, black and white, good or bad." Cassian spoke. "but you understand so little about the world you live in." Her smile widened, revealing her slightly sharp teeth again. "The Order doesn't care about methods, only results. And these elves harbored forbidden magic users. That makes them complicit." She gestured casually toward the burning village, where screams still echoed through the smoke.
"Besides, this isn't a massacre-it's a cleansing. The world is being purified, one abomination at a time."
Alice's fingers finally closed around the stone in her pocket. She needed just a moment, just one distraction. Beside her, Oreon suddenly stepped forward, his small face contorted with rage and grief.
"You're the monster! Not them!" He shouted, his voice breaking. "They never hurt anyone! You're just a big bully! A big meanie with no heart!" He screamed as tears streamed down his face. "The Elves never hurt anyone and you came and burned down their home!" He gritted his teeth as the salty tears touched his lips as he balled his tiny fist. "I HATE YOU! I WISHED YOU'D GO AWAY!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, but all it did was shift Cassian's attention to him. Her eyes narrowing with cruel amusement.
"And the little mouse has teeth. How adorable." She leaned over to get a better look at him, almost like a girl admiring a puppy before she rose back up to her normal height as she towered over the kids in front of her. "However," She said as she stepped up forward, and in a blink of an eye appeared in front of both of the children. Alice barely had time to gasp before the Inquisitor's hand shot out and back handed her against another tree trunk, the wind knocked out of her as she gasped in pain and fell to the ground causing her hand to release the stone. Meanwhile, Cassian grabbed Oreon by the front of his shirt and lifted him effortlessly off the ground.
"I've never been particularly fond of children who don't know their place." Oreon kicked and struggled in Cassian's grip, his small hands thrashing and clawing at her armored wrist as she dangled him effortlessly before her. His face reddened with effort and fear, tears flowing down his cheeks.
"Let him go!" Alice gasped, struggling to her feet despite the pain radiating through her body from the impact. Blood trickled from a cut on her forehead, running into her eye.
Cassian regarded Oreon with clinical detachment, as if examining an insect pinned to a board. Her violet eyes narrowed slightly, head tilting in curiosity.
"Interesting." she murmured, bringing him closer to her face. "I can sense it in you, child. Raw, untapped potential. Your mother's blood runs strong in your veins...I wonder.." With her free hand, she traced a symbol in the air, her fingertip leaving a trail of sickly purple light. The rune hung suspended between them for a moment before she pressed it against Oreon's chest.
The boy hollered-a sound of pure agony that cut through Alice like a knife. His small body convulsed as veins of dark energy spread across his skin from the point of contact, pulsing with an unnatural glow. His eyes rolled back, showing only whites as his screams turned to choked gasps.
"Stop it!" Alice Shrieked, lunging forward despite her injuries." You're killing him!"
Cassian's expression remained unchanged, almost bored, as she continued the magical probing. The air around them grew heavy, charged with power that made Alice's skin crawl.
"Fascinating," Cassian spoke again. "The potential is there, but dormant. Not like you, girl." Her gaze shifted to Alice, suddenly intense and hungry. "Yours is already awakening. I can taste it." Without warning, she tossed Oreon aside like discarded trash. The boy's small body hit the ground with a sickening thud, where he lay motionless except for the shallow rise and fall of his chest.
"Perhaps I've been focusing on the wrong sibling." Cassian purred again, turning her full attention to Alice. "Let's see what you're capable of, daughter of Leona." Cassian smiled wildly as she reached her hand out toward the terrified teenager, who eyes only widening in terror as she looked up at the female monster before her.
But before the hand could get any closer, The side of Cassian's face caved in as a female fist collided with her jaw, sending her body shooting like a bullet through the tree in line, crashing into a few burning elven buildings, causing Alice to look on in shock as a female figure stood in front of her. Her black Hair flowing down her back. A plain white top, short enough to show her midriff, and black shorts made up her attire. Her feet were clad in black and green boots, while her wrists were decorated with delicate silver ornaments.
Alice couldn't help but feel the weight of the world lift off her shoulders as her eyes fell upon her savior. "Au...Aura."
Aura stood protectively in front of Alice, her tall, lithe form radiating power and fury. The Elf's obsidian hair whipped around her face as if caught in an invisible wind, her emerald eyes blazing with an inner light that spoke of ancient magic awakened by rage. The silver ornaments on her wrists glowed with runes that pulsed in time with her heartbeat.
Alice slowly sat up, her wounds now magically gone as Oreon did the same thing as they both realized that Aura was healing them without facing them.
"Alice, listen to me and do exactly as I say." Aura stated calmly, but anger evident in her voice. "Take your brother and run home, do not look back; no matter what you hear." She instructed. "Tell your mother that the day we both feared is here....The cleansing has begun."
Alice stared up at Aura's back, mesmerized by the faint shimmer of protective magic emanating from the elf's form. The healing energy tingled through her body, mending her injuries and restoring her strength. Beside her, Oreon stirred, his eyes fluttering open as color returned to his ashen face.
"But Aura," Alice protested, her voice trembling. "She's an Inquisitor-she's too strong! You can't face her alone!"
In the distance, rubble shifted and crashed as Cassian began to emerge from the wreckage. The air grew heavy with malevolent energy, and the flames around them seemed to bend unnaturally, as if drawn toward the rising Inquisitor.
Aura's shoulders tensed, but she didn't turn. Her voice remained steady, though Alice could hear the underlying strain.
"This isn't a debate, child. I've sworn to protect you both, and that means ensuring you reach safety. So please, be good girl as your mother asked of you and listen to me." Aura said as she turned her head to glance back at the two kids, only to see Oreon running towards her, hugging her leg.
Her expression softened momentarily as she looked down at Oreon clinging to her leg. She gently placed her hand on his head, her fingers briefly tangling in his hair with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with the tension in her body for just a heartbeat, vulnerability flickered across her face- the weight of what was to come evident in her eyes.
"Brave little one," her elven accent more pronounced with emotion. "Now is not the time from crying," She stated gently as she knelt down, meeting his tear-filled eyes. With practiced movements, she removed one of the silver cuffs from her wrist and clasped it around Oreon's small arm, where it immediately shrank to fit him perfectly. "This will shield you from her sight until you reach home, now be strong, my brave little warrior, for your sister, your mother...and for me." She rubbed his head gently as he looked up at her and nodded his head, wiping the tears from his face as Aura turned her attention to Alice.
"Alice," Her tone changing slightly. "I know what's happening now is a lot and I'm sorry that I didn't get to train you more for something like this." Aura stood up and walked took a few steps towards her. She placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It may be scary at first, but it's time to embrace who you are; the real power lying dormant in you. The time may come where you may take a life to save the one's you care about. But don't be afraid. Me and your mother are here with every step of the way. Now, go; run home and warn your mother. I'll hold them off here.
Alice stared into Aura's eyes, seeing in them a depth of knowledge and power that had always been there, but somehow seemed more profound now. The elf's hand on her shoulder felt warm, almost burning with magical energy that seemed to flow between them. For a brief moment, Alice felt something stir within her, a sensation like water beginning to ripple beneath ice.
"I-I understand," She whispered, her voice steadier than before. She reached out and took Oreon's hand, pulling him gently away from Aura. "But you have to promise me you won't lose to her." She gritted her teeth. "Promise me!" Alice exclaimed as Aura gave her a gentle smile.
"I've been challenged by better." Aura said to her as Alice and Oreon gave her a weak smile, which was returned by Aura as they quickly turned their backs to her, making their way back the way they came.
"I think I've been more than patient, Elven witch." Cassian stated, slowly walking towards Aura, who sighed as she turned her attention back to Cassian and stood to her full height, which was slightly taller than the Inquisitor. "Watching an Elf and her human pets makes me sick. I should have known Leona would keep one of your kind as a guard dog."
"Inquisitor Cassian," Aura's voice turning cold and threatening. "Although, I do appreciate your patience, I'm afraid I'm going to have to return that gesture with unbridled violence. After all, not only did you destroy my village, but you attacked two precious kids that I hold dear to me and for that, a knight of the Order's round table has to die today.
Cassian's eyes narrowed, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing her face before it was replaced by cruel amusement. She brushed debris from her shoulder with exaggerated casualness.
"An elf threatening a Inquisitor of the Order? How...quaint?" Her violet eyes gleamed with malice as she materialize a black and purple javelin in her hand. It's metal glowing with unnatural runes. "I've slaughtered dozens of your kind. What makes you think you'll fare any better than the last elves that fell at my feet?"
Aura's posture shifted subtly, her body coiling like a predator about to strike. The air around her shimmered with barely contained power as she extended her arm, palm facing outward.
"Because unlike them," Aura replied, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I've been preparing for a moment such as this for a very long time. I'm not like the Elves that were unfortunate enough to meet your gaze, Cassian. I've been around for a very long time and someone with your technique and movements couldn't dare come close to having me break a sweat. "She taunted. "You, like every other high ranking soldier will fall all the same...To an Elf." Green energy now forming around her hands.
"You think you know me?" Cassian laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "My techniques and movements? Fall to an Elf?" She continued to laugh. "Have you been studying us or something? You think studying the Order's greatest talent is enough to get you by? You foolish elves, always overestimating your abilities." She giggled, before it stopped as she stared at Aura.
"You're nothing but a relic, elf. A dying breed clinging to old magics that have no place in the new world we're building."
Aura's eyes flashed dangerously, the green energy in her palm intensifying. "I know enough, Cassian." She replied. "I know you were once human before the Order's experiments. I know what price you paid for that power. And I know exactly how to send you back to the void that spawned you."
Cassian's beautiful face contorted with rage, her glamour slipping to reveal something inhuman beneath.
"You....You DARE!" She snarled, lunging forward with supernatural speed, her javelin leaving trails of darkness in its wake.
Aura met her charge unflinchingly, green magic erupting from her hands as the two collided in an explosion of light and darkness that shook the earth beneath them.
The loud explosion could be heard for miles as both Alice and Oreon continued to keep their word to Aura. Their footsteps hitting the dirt followed by exasperated breathing as they continued to run with everything that they have. Alice clutched Oreon's hand tightly as they sprinted through the forest, the sounds of catastrophic magical combat echoing behind them. Each explosion sent tremors through the ground, making the children stumble as ancient trees groaned and swayed. The silver cuff of Oreon's wrist pulsed with protective magic, casting a faint blue glow over his tear-streaked face.
"Keep running!" Alice gasped, pulling her brother forward when he began to slow. "We can't stop, not even for a second!" Oreon's small legs pumped desperately to keep pace, his breath coming in ragged sobs.
"But Aura...She's....She's all alone! What if the bad lady hurts her?"
Another deafening crash echoed through the forest, following by an unearthly howl that made both children flinch. The sky above the burning elven village had turned an unnatural purple, storm clouds swirling in patterns that defied nature.
"Aura knows what she's doing," Alice insisted, "She's stronger, stronger than we both know. We have to trust her, trust that she'll keep her word!" Alice breathed as they continued to run. They crested a small hill, and Alice paused for just a moment allowing Oreon to catch his breath. From this vantage point, they could see the devastation spreading through the Elven settlement-buildings collapsing in showers of magical fire, trees withering as if centuries were passing in seconds, in the center of it all, two figures moved with impossible speed, colliding in bursts of green and violet energy.
'Look!" Oreon pointed, his voice filled with awe despite his fear." Aura's winning!"
For a brief moment, they could see Aura clearly- her form wreathed in emerald light, hands weaving complex patterns that sent Cascades of nature magic crashing into Cassian. The Inquisitor was on the defensive, her perfect features contorted with rage as she erected barriers that shattered under Aura's onslaught.
While they caught a glimpse of the battle, Alice felt a surge of hope, quickly followed by dread as dozens of armored figures emerged from the forest's edge, more soldiers of the Order, converging on the battle.
Wide eyed, Alice grasped Oreon's hand again. 'We have to go." She whispered, tugging Oreon away from the sight. "We have to get to mom!"
The two ran once again, down the other side of the hill. Sliding down before coming to the bottom, Alice pulling Oreon into another sprint as the two ran to the small village that they lived, they saw their mother standing outside.
Leona stood at the edge of their small village, her tall figure silhouetted against the setting sun. Her long auburn hair was pulled back in a tight braid, and she wore simple leather armor-not the elaborate battledress of her past, but practical gear for someone who lived in constant readiness.
Even from the distance, Alice could see the tension in her mother's stance, the way her eyes remained fixed on the horizon where smoke billowed from the elven settlement. Other villagers had gathered as well, faces drawn with concern as they whispered among themselves, pointing at the unnatural storm clouds gathering.
"Mom!" Alice called out, her voice cracking with exhaustion and fear as she and Oreon stumbled the final distance.
Leona's head snapped toward them, her expression transforming from grim vigilance to momentary relief, then back to alarm as she took in their disheveled state.
"Alice! Oreon!" She rushed forward, dropping to one knee to gather them both in a fierce embrace. "Thank the gods you're safe." Her eyes darted past them, scanning the tree with growing concern. "I can feel Aura's energy." She said as she looked back down at her children. "Alice, what happened?" She asked her, as Alice clung to her mother, the brave facade she'd maintained for Oreon's sake finally crumbling as tears spilled down her cheeks.
"The...The Order came, they attacked the Elven village." She sobbed, causing Leona's eyes to widen slightly in disbelief. "They...They were killing everyone. The Inquisitor Cassian found us-she hurt Oreon, tried to do something to him with magic."
Leona's face hardened at those words, her fingers tightening imperceptibly on her children's shoulders as she examined the silver cuff on Oreon's wrist. Her eyes widened slightly in recognition.
"Aura saved us," Oreon interjected, his small voice trembling. "She hit the scary lady really hard and told us to run home to you."
Leona stared at children before nodding slowly, "She's in battle then. Defeating Cassian isn't a small feat."
Alice nodded her head as well before continuing. "She said to tell you that the day you both feared is here. The cleansing has begun." Alice finished as the color drained from Leona's face. Around them, the villagers had fallen silent, watching the exchange with growing unease. In the distance, another explosion lit up the darkening sky, followed by an unnatural silence that seemed more terrifying than the chaos that had preceded it.
Leona's expression hardened as she rose to her feet, she turned to the gathered villagers, her voice carrying the unmistakable tone of command that Alice had only heard glimpses of before.
"Everyone, gather only what you can carry. We evacuate in ten minutes." Her words cut through the murmurs of the crowd." This is not a drill. The Order will not stop at the elven settlement."
An Older man stepped forward, his face creased with concern. "Leona, surely they wouldn't attack humans? We've done nothing....."
"They will come," She interrupted, her voice leaving no room for argument. "And they will show no mercy to any village that has harbored elves or those with elven blood." Her eyes flickered briefly to her children. "I've seen this before, the Order shows no mercy and they will wipe anything out of existence that doesn't align with their way of thinking; their righteous calling.
Suddenly the sounds of footsteps could be heard as armored soldiers made their way out of the forest, numbers that resembled a small army as slowly made their way towards the edge of the village, but stopped before stepping foot in it.
The villagers gasped in terrified surprise as Leona's kids ran behind her as she stood up to face the soldiers, her hardened expression remaining.
-Things were already bad, the elves being attacked, slaughtered, and captured, and now the order had pursued us all the way home, and now my mother purposely made herself a target…For him-
"Righteous calling?" A masculine voice spoke as the soldiers in the middle of the group stepped to the side to reveal a man clad in Black and Silver Armor adorned with golden Holy Order insignias on his armor. "Leona," His rugged voice called out to her. "Do you still choose not to answer your calling? My loving wife." The man stood in front of the small army. His short Black hair swaying in the chaotic breeze as his cold blue eyes gazed up at her.
"Alaric..." Leona gritted her teeth in response, her fist balling for a second before she took a deep breath. "Or is it the Alaric the Purifier now?" She questioned him. "Being on the Order's leash long enough for them to give you a title." She spat lowly. "How far you've fallen Alaric," She ended.
Alaric's cold blue eyes narrowed at Leona's words, but his lips curved into a smile that held no warmth. The golden insignias on his armor seemed to pulse with an inner light as he took a measured step forward, his armored boots pressing into the soil of the village boundary.
"Still as sharp-tongued as ever," he remarked, his gaze drifting past her to the children huddled behind her. "And still clinging to misguided principles. The Order doesn't put me on a leash, Leona--It gave me purpose when you abandoned yours."
The soldier's behind him remained perfectly still, their faces hidden behind helmets adorned with the same golden insignias. The setting sun glinted off their armor, casting Long shadows across the village green.
"You speak of how far I've fallen," Alaric continued, his voice carrying to the frightened villagers. "Yet look at what you've become-hiding in this backwater town, consorting with elves, raising our children among..."he gestured dismissively at the villagers."...Commoners, ignorant of their heritage, their destiny."
"Their destiny is to live a normal life Alaric, not be forced into some convoluted construct created by your Order." Leona struck back. "Cleansing races, Humans, Beastkin, Elves; Where are your principles Alaric? Even now you stand before us covered in darkness, falsifying a holy light with that wretched symbol you flaunt around believing you been touched by divine light." She seethed. "But it's not the divine light that has touched you, is it Alaric. I can tell;" She continued her eyes locking on to her former husbands. "I can see it in your eyes, you're nothing but a shell of your former self, your humanity sacrificed to the void, it must eat you up inside to know that no matter what you do you'll always be been turned away by the gods."
Alaric's composed facade cracked momentarily, a flash of pure rage contorting his handsome features before he mastered himself again. The air around him seemed to darken, the golden insignias on his armor flickering like dying embers before blazing brighter than before-a display that made several villagers step back in fear.
"You dare speak to me of the divine?" He hissed, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that somehow carried across the distance between them. "You, who turned your back on everything we built?"
"WE did not build this Alaric!" Leona's eyes flashing for a moment. "I've told you before the moment the Order was created that they did not see our values and you blindly, along with the others walked into their arms, trading your souls for power and now you hunt down innocent lives, prey on those who can't defend themselves! The god you pray to is nothing but a false deity, demanding more souls for power, you simple fool."
A ripple of unease passed through the ranks of soldiers as Leona's words echoed across the village. Alaric's expression darkened further, the temperature around him seeming to drop as shadows gathered at his feet, writing like living things despite the fading daylight.
"Innocent?" he snarled, taking another step forward. "There are no innocents in this war, Leona. Only the pure and the tainted." His gaze shifted to Alice and Oreon, his eyes lingering on them with an unsettling intensity. "You even corrupted our children with that wayward mindset of peace, causing them to become corrupted by the Elves and these insects you surround yourself with." He sighed heavily, his cold eyes returning to meet Leona's. "Fine then, I've always warned you that your misguided compassion will be your downfall."
Soldiers behind him began to spread out in a practiced formation, their movements synchronized with chilling precision. Several villagers began backing away, mothers clutching children to their sides, men reaching for whatever makeshift weapons lay nearby.
"I've offered you redemption once," Alaric continued, his voice softening to an almost tender tone that somehow felt more threatening than his anger. "I offered to cleanse you, to welcome you back into the light. But, you chose corruption instead."
Alaric pointed his gauntlet hand towards the children hiding behind Leona. "Bring the children to me," Alaric instructed as a soldier stepped forward, not bothering to go against his order as he made his way towards them. Alice and Oreon held on tight to each other as the soldier made his way closer to them.
"You'd send a lowly pawn to do your bidding..."Leona growled lowly as the soldier's hand came within reach of her children only for Leona, who's eyes never left Alaric's quickly flash gold and suddenly a golden light appeared vertically down the middle of the soldier, cutting him in half as his body split apart and fell to the ground.
A collective gasp rose from the villagers as the soldier's bisected body crumpled to the ground, blood pooling in the dirt. For a moment, absolute silence fell over the scene-even the wind seemed to still. Alaric's expression remained unchanged, but something flickered in his eyes-recognition, perhaps even a hint of satisfaction.
"So," He said softly, his voice carrying despite its quietness," The Lioness still has her claws,"
The soldier's behind him tensed, hands moving to weapons, but Alaric raised a hand to halt them. The golden light that had manifested from Leona's eyes slowly faded, but the aura of power now surrounded her-the carefully maintained facade of a simple village mother completely dissolved.
"Mom?" Alice whispered, her voice trembling as she stared at the dead soldier, then back at Leona's face, which now bore an expression the children had never seen before.
"Stay behind me," Leona commanded. "No matter what happens, do not move."
Alaric smiled, a cold expression that never reached his eyes. "You think that that will be enough to keep them from me." he stated coldly as he snapped his fingers and two mage like soldiers quickly stood in front of Alaric. Pressing their hands into the ground, the children felt the earth give way as a dark portal opened, tendrils snaking up to pull them down into darkness, reappearing in their arms, while Alaric smirked at Leona, his soldiers holding an crying Oreon and a screaming Alice.
Leona's eyes shot up wide in shock, but her expression quickly turned to anger.
"Don't you move, Leona!" Alaric ordered, stopping her as she was about to launch herself towards him. "If you move so much as a muscle, then I'll execute them here and now." He told her as the guards who held her kids captive pulled their swords out to prove their point.
Leona froze mid-step, her body rigid with barely contained fury. The golden light in her eyes flared brighter, casting harsh shadows across her face as she stared at her children struggling in the soldiers' grasp. The air around her crackled with energy, small stones and debris rising slightly from the ground before falling back down.
"Let them go, Alaric!" She commanded, her voice unnaturally calm despite the power radiating from her. "This is between you and me. They're innocent children."
Alice continued to struggle against her captor, kicking and clawing while tears formed out of desperation. Oreon had gone still, his small body trembling with silent sobs, the silver cuff on his wrist pulsing erratically with blue light before it faded completely, drowned out by the darkness by being so close to his father.
"Innocent? No. But salvageable...Perhaps." He turned his cold gaze back to Leona. "The boy especially I can feel it--his potential. He would make a fine addition amongst the ranks.
Alaric moved his hand to Alice's face, gripping her chin roughly when she tried to turn away. His eyes narrowed as he studied her. "This one, however...She has too much of you in her. That defiance. That...Misplaced loyalty." He released Alice's chin with a dismissive gesture. "Still, I'm sure I can find some use for her."
Leona's hands trembled at her sides, the golden light continuing to pulse around her fingers. The villagers had begun to retreat further, some fleeing into their homes, others watching in horrified fascination as power radiated from the woman they'd known only as a quiet neighbor.
"They are your children, Alaric," Leona said, her voice breaking slightly despite her effort to remain composed. "Your flesh and blood. How can you speak of them as if they're merely tools for your Order?"
Alaric's expression hardened, something ancient and cold flickering behind his eyes. "Because that is what we all are, Leona. Tools in the service to a greater purpose!"
"Mom!" Oreon screamed, now trying his best to get away from the soldier that held on to him. "Mom! Mom!" Oreon reached out for her, but was held back.
Leona's heart thumped as she heard her son's cries. "I'm sorry, Mom," Alice continued to cry silently as the Order soldier held his arm around her neck, restraining her from moving. "I'm so sorry." Alice continued to apologize as the soldier held her in place from breaking away from as well.
"It's ok, Alice. "Leona gestured gently. "Don't worry, we're going to get out of this. Just stay strong for me." Leona assured her.
Oreon continued to reach for her, his small fingers grasping at the air between them, summoning Alaric's attention as he looked at the soldier who held him and nodded his head as the soldier quickly understood and released Oreon and kicked him to the ground.
"Oreon!" Both Leona and Alice shouted as the soldier raised his blade.
"Alaric what are you doing!" Leona yelled at him.
"Disciplining" Alaric responded as the soldier loomed over him, blade gleaming in the fading light, its edge catching the unnatural purple hue from the distant magical storm. The boy looked with terror-filled eyes, scrambling backward in the dirt.
"Stop this!" Leona's voice cracked with desperation, the golden light around her hands flaring brighter. "He's just a child-Your child!"
Alaric watched impassively, his cold blue eyes revealing nothing as he gestured for the soldier to continue. The armored man raised his blade higher, positioning it above the covering boy.
"This is mercy, Leona," Alaric said softly. "Better he learn obedience now than suffer later. The Order's training is...Thorough."
Alice eyes now narrowing into hatred as she watched as the soldier stood over her little brother's body, she trashed violently against her captor, tears streaming down her face. "Leave him alone! He didn't do anything wrong!" She continued to resist as her eyes began to flicker a golden hue just like her mother.
"Huh?" The soldier mouthed as he notice he was beginning to lose his grip as Alice continued to struggle.
"Let me go!" She continued to thrash about. "Let me go, Let me go, Let me go!" She fought harder. Her movements becoming more desperate as she watched as the sword slowly made its way down towards her little brother, who quickly tried to turn away and run but the edge of the blade caught his back as a loud childish scream was heard and time seemed to stop as both Leona and Alice's eyes shot up in shock.
Alice's body now growing still, her struggling ceased as her widened eyes seemed vacant and the only sound she could hear was her own heartbeat and her brother's cries. Suddenly the words from Aura came flashing back into her mind before they left her to fight Cassian.
-Flashback-
"Alice," Her tone changing slightly. "I know what's happening now is a lot and I'm sorry that I didn't get to train you more for something like this." Aura stood up and walked took a few steps towards her. She placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It may be scary at first, but it's time to embrace who you are; the real power lying dormant in you. The time may come where you may take a life to save the one's you care about. Don't be afraid. Me and your mother are here with every step of the way. Now, go; run home and warn your mother. I'll hold them off here.
Alice stared into Aura's eyes, seeing in them a depth of knowledge and power that had always been there, but somehow seemed more profound now. The elf's hand on her shoulder felt warm, almost burning with magical energy that seemed to flow between them. For a brief moment, Alice felt something stir within her, a sensation like water beginning to ripple beneath ice.
"I-I understand," She whispered, her voice steadier than before.
-End of Flashback-
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Alice screamed loudly as her eyes turning completely gold as flames erupted around her in a fire cocoon, completely incinerating the soldier that was holding her before it completely dissipated revealing Alice standing there staring coldly at the soldier who swiped at her little brother with the same golden pupils as her mother.
The air roared with raw power, a deafening crackle of energy that vibrated through Alice's bones as she stood amid the smoldering remains of her captor, golden flames licking at her fingertips, their heat intense on her skin. Her hair floated around her face as if suspended in water, the golden light in her eyes illuminating her features with an otherworldly glow. The remaining soldiers took involuntary steps backward, their training momentarily forgotten in the face of such unexpected power.
"Alice..." Leona whispered, a mixture of pride and astonishment in her voice.
Alaric's composure faltered for the first time, his eyes widening as he stared at his daughter. The cold calculation in his gaze gave way to something else- a hunger, an interest that seemed more dangerous than his previous indifference.
"Magic...Forbidden....Magic," He murmured, studying Alice with renewed intensity. "So the bloodline runs strong in her after all."
The soldier standing over Oreon hesitated, his blade still wet with the boy's blood. In that moment of distraction, Alice moved with impossible speed, appearing before the man in a blur of golden light. Her teenage hand shot out gripping his wrist with strength that defied her size.
"Don't. Touch. My. Brother." Each word emerged as a growl. The soldier's eyes bulged as he felt his bones creak under the pressure of her grip. With a sickening crack, Alice snapped his wrist and sent him sprawling to the ground with a kick that would have made even Sylvanie proud.
Alaric stared at the scene before him. "That cursive Magic." A low growl rumbled in his chest as Alice, eyes blazing with protective fury, ran towards her little brother, her body already shimmering with nascent fire magic. "Kill them!" he ordered. "They all side with the Elves, purify their souls in the Order's name!" With a sharp cry, Alaric pointed towards them, the smell of Alice's burning magic filling the air as her hands ignited.
The soldiers surged forward as one, their weapons drawn and glinting in the light of Alice's flames. The Villagers scattered in terror, some fleeing into the forest while others barricaded themselves in their homes. The air filled with screams and the metallic ring of swords being unsheathed.
Alice crouched protectively over Oreon, her golden flames forming a barrier around them both. Her brother's blood stained the ground beneath them, his small face pale with shock and pain. "Stay with me, Oreon." She whispered, her voice trembling despite the power coursing through her veins. "I won't let them hurt you anymore." She said, determination in her eyes as the soldier's made their way towards them.
Leona's restraint finally shattered. With a primal roar that seemed to shake the very earth, she unleashed her power in a blinding wave of golden light that sent the nearest soldiers flying backward. Her war cry echoed throughout the battlefield as she charged, a blur of motion as she slashed with furious abandon, soldier's falling before her onslaught as she charged towards Alaric. "You won't lay a hand on my children again!" She screamed as the air filled with a clash of steel and the screams of dying men.
"You damn wretch!" Alaric's blade met Leona's, a clang echoing through the clearing as he strained against her force, their eyes locked, her brown eyes blazing a fierce gold. "You sympathizers always resist!" Alaric lunged, trying to push her off balance, the clang of steel echoing as Leona deftly parried his blow with a swift movement of her blade.
The clash of their weapons sent sparks flying, illuminating their faces in brief flashes of light. Leona moved with fluid grace, her body remembering the combat training she had hidden away for years. Each strike and parry revealed more of the warrior she had once been-not just a mother, but a formidable fighter whose skills had merely been dormant, not forgotten.
"You call it sympathy," She hissed, ducking under a vicious swing and countering with a thrust that Alaric barely deflected. "I call it humanity-something you surrendered long ago!" she exclaimed as a swift whistle of her sword slicing through the air as it tore across Alaric's chest. His scream echoed, a sharp counterpoint to the thud of her boot connecting with his chest, sending him crashing into the cold, gray brick wall.
Meanwhile, Alice guarded Oreon, her wrist flicking as fire erupted from the ground in a dazzling display, her eyes flashing gold as she watched the charging soldiers ignite. "I'm going to make you pay." The air burned with the intensity of her fire magic; her gold eyes hard and unforgiving, as she gritted her teeth and continued her relentless attack with another flick of her wrist. "I'm going to make every one of you pay!" Her scream echoed through the air, mixing with the haunting sounds of soldiers being subdued.
As Alice continued her assault, her little brother watched. His face was a mask of horror and fascination as his sister, a whirlwind of fire and fury, incinerated any soldier who dared approach.
The soldiers charged from behind, a cacophony of metallic shrieks accompanying their advance. One grabbed Oreon's shirt, only to be met with Alice's powerful fist, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thud. With practiced ease, she scooped Oreon into her arms, her body moving at an unnatural speed as she dodged the flashing blades.
With her little brother clutched to her chest, she narrowly avoided the soldier's downward swing, countering with a blazing backflip kick that sent him soaring into the air. Sidestepping another attack with unnatural grace, she flicked her wrist, the air shimmering with heat, before the soldier burst into golden flames, her eyes unwavering. The next soldier lunged at her and her brother; she tossed her brother into the air, narrowly avoiding the soldier's sweeping blow. She spun, disarmed him, and sliced him in two with his blade, catching her brother before he hit the ground.
"Hey, you, ok?" She smiled as she held him. Oreon could only nod, his jaw slack with shock as he watched his sister fiercely defend him, her movements a blur of motion. "Just hang tight, there's only a few more to go." Alice told him as she sat him down. "Your big sister is going to protect you ok, no matter what?" She smiled at him. Her glowing gold eyes, now softer and less intense.
Oreon stared up at Alice, his small face a mixture of awe and terror. The golden light in his sister's iris's. His wound still bled, but the pain seemed distant now, overshadowed by the spectacle of power unfolding around him.
"You're like Mom," He whispered, his voice barely audible above the chaos. "Your eyes...They're the same."
Alice's expression softened once again as she brushed a strand of hair from his face, leaving a smudge of ash on his forehead. The tenderness of the gesture stood in stark contrast to the devastation she had just unleashed. "I guess they are...huh?" She knelt down, her eyes locking on to his eyes. "Oreon, I need you to go hide and stay out of sight." Alice instructed. "When me and mom are done with this, I'll come and get you ok?"
"But what about..." Oreon was about to protest, but his sister pressed a finger to his lips to shush him.
Alice slowly shook her head. "Listen to me, Oreon. It'll be safer for you to go hide so you won't get in the way. Please, just listen to your big sister and let me and mom take care of this." She instructed as she gently rubbed her little brother's head, who only nodded in response, as she stood and watched him disappear into the concealing green of the bushes, a smile playing on her lips. "Good enough." As she scraped her foot across the earth, a trail of fire blazed where it passed, born from her spell.
"No one will get close to you." She turned her head back towards the soldiers who made their way towards her. "Not while I'm still alive." Her golden eyes, cold and hard, returned to their heartless expression as she walked towards them, flames beginning to form in her open palm.
On the other side of the battlefield, Leona and Alaric clashed with one another. He tried to block one of her attacks, but her golden eyes, like burning coals, glared at him as her powerful swipe sent him skidding backward across the rough stone, the impact jarring his bones.
Alaric breathed heavily as he looked up at Leona, who slowly made her way towards him, her blade ready. "You're a damn monster," Alaric stated, his breath ragged, as he pushed himself up from the ground. "There's no way you should have power like this, challenging the Order with your blasphemous existence."
Leona advanced with predatory grace, her golden eyes burning with righteous fury. The sword in her hand gleamed with an ethereal light, as if responding to her awakened power. Around them, the village that had been their home for years now lay in partial ruins, smoke rising from buildings set ablaze during the chaos.
"A monster?" She echoed, her voice carrying as she spoke. "Is that what you a call a mother protecting her children? Then what does that make you, Alaric? What name do we give to a father who orders his son's blood spilled?
Alaric spat blood onto the ground, his hand gripping his sword tighter as he circled her warily. Despite his injuries, his eyes burned with conviction. "What you call me doesn't matter." He answered, readying himself once again. "I answer to a higher purpose. The Order's mission transcends blood ties-something you could never understand with your corrupted mind.
Leona's eyes flashed dangerously. The ground beneath her feet cracked slightly, small fissures spreading outward like a spider's web. "Corrupted?" She snarled, advancing another step. "I welcomed you into my home. I bore your children. I loved you, Alaric-even when I sensed the darkness growing in you. I tried to save you from what you were becoming." She raised her blade, its edge catching the light of her power. "But you were already lost. The Order didn't corrupt you-it simply gave shape to the cruelty that was already there."
Across the village square, Alice moved like a vengeful spirit through the ranks of soldiers. Her movements became increasingly fluid and lethal, each gesture unleashing waves of golden flame that consumed everything they touched. The soldier's armor-designed to withstand conventional weapons-offered no protection against her magical onslaught. Metal blackened and warped, flesh blistered and charred, yet Alice showed no sign of tiring or remorse.
"Is this what you wanted?" she called out, her voice eerily calm as she danced through their formation, leaving destruction in her wake. "To hurt children? To destroy families? To pick on Elves? How righteous do you feel now?"
A commander attempted to rally his men, raising his sword high." Stand fast! She's just a child- a witch's-child! Remember your training!" He roared.
Alice's eyes narrowed at his words. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a concentrated steam of fire directly at him. The man had just enough time to widen his eyes in horror before the flames engulfed him, reducing him to ash in seconds. "I'm not just a child," She whispered, as she turned to face the rest of the remaining soldiers. "I'm my mother's daughter."
The remaining soldiers fathered, their formation breaking as they witnessed their commander's swift demise. Fear replaced discipline in their eyes as they beheld this girl-child wreathed in golden flames, her power seemingly limitless. Some began to retreat, backing away with trembling hands still clutching their weapons.
"Fall back!" one of them shouted, his voice cracking. "We need reinforcements!"
Alice advanced relentlessly, her feet leaving scorched footprints in the earth. "There's nowhere to run," She said, raising her right hand as flames danced between her fingers. "You chose this path when you threatened my family, attacked the elves." She said as she extended her right hand, the glowing of her power magnifying before she shot a large burst of flames towards the remaining soldiers, incinerating them in an instant.
Across the village, Leona and Alaric continued their clash. Their battle had escalated, moving beyond mere swordplay as Leona's magic manifested more fully with each passing moment.
"You were never worthy of them," Leona growled, driving Alaric back with a powerful thrust." Not of me, nor our children."
Alaric stumbled backward, his face contorted with rage. "You've hidden this power all these years, the truth from the world!" He hissed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Living among us like a wolf in sheep's clothing. The Order was right about your kind."
Leona's eyes flashed as she advanced, her sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. "My Kind?" She repeated, her voice dangerously soft. "My kind loved you, Alaric. My kind gave you a family. My kind tried to show you there was more to this world than your Order's hatred."
She lunged forward, her blade slicing across his arm, drawing a pained cry from his lips." And now you see what my kind does when threatened." She continued, her words punctuated by another strike that sent him reeling backwards once again. "We protect what is ours."
Alaric continued to glare at her, gritting his teeth as he let out a brief sigh before calming down back to his cold gaze. "You're just as Naïve as the day that I met you."
"Enlighten me." Leona's words were clipped, sharp as the sword still extended before her, its point aimed at him.
"Why bother wasting my breath?" Alaric started swinging his sword as he slapped Leona's weapon out of the way. "When your answer will always be the same!" He charged, eyes blazing with a furious red glow, catching Leona off guard. The clang of steel echoed as their swords met, sending Leona reeling back into a series of stone walls.
"Mom!" Alice screamed as she saw her mom emerge from the rubble, as Alaric slowly made his way towards them.
"This little game of ours has gone on long enough," Alaric stated, looking at the two women in front of him. "The purification of the Elves will begin, and those who encounter them will be purified as well, but you…" He pointed his blade. "Will be purified for a different reason." He finished, a sharp snap of his fingers echoing through the air, and a larger army of soldiers materialized behind them.
'What the…What the hell is this?" Alice spoke, her golden eyes showing fear as she watched the soldiers stand behind Alaric. "How is there this many of them?" She questioned.
Leona quickly stood by her daughter, blade ready, as she watched on as well. "Alaric, what sorcery is this? You couldn't have summoned this army alone."
"Think of it as a gift from the Order," Alaric remarked as he calmly swiped his sword left, aiming towards the hiding spot Oreon was in.
"NO!" Alice screamed. "Oreon!"
A massive wave of corrupt magic clashed with the magic fire wall that Alice created to protect Oreon as they battled, shattering it completely.
Alaric looked over at the bushes that Oreon was hiding in, before slowly turning his head back towards to the two women. "Bring him to me." He said simply, the rhythmic thud of boots on earth a steady counterpoint to the soldiers' almost mechanical march toward the bushes.
"No! I won't let you!" Alice charged forward, attacking the large group.
"Alice wait!" Leona reached out but quickly was forced to defend herself as Alaric appeared in front of her and swung his blade downward, causing Leona to block his attack, the sheer pain from the task causing her arms to shake. "What kind of…Power is this." She gritted her teeth.
While that was happening. Alice charged towards the bushes, the leaves brushing against her as she reached Oreon's hiding spot, where she stood ready to defend him. Flames shot out towards the Holy Order soldiers with a flick of her wrist, but the intensity felt diminished, the crackle and roar noticeably muted. Surrounded by a swirling red aura, matching the one Alaric possessed, they walked through her flames, unharmed.
"What the hell is happening here!" Alice exclaimed as she kept trying to burn her opposition to ground, but with no such luck.
As she tried to fight them off, the soldiers closed in, their heavy boots thudding on the ground, their faces grim. She kicked and punched, a flurry of desperate blows, but the blades still found their mark, slicing through her defenses. Despite her weakening body, her fierce will kept her fighting, the clash of steel ringing in his ears as he hid among the bushes, heartbroken as he saw his sister's strength wane until she kneeled before the opening, the ground stained with blood.
"Alice…." He whimpered as she caught his gaze with her own.
"Hey kiddo," Alice said, a sad smile on her face as her golden eyes slowly began to fade back into their natural color. "You know you can't stay there forever; get away from here, ok?" She barely managed to speak.
"But…But you have to come with me?" Oreon choked, seeing blood trickle down her cheek. "You and Mom have to come with me. I can't go alone." He was about to step out of the bushes when a sword plunged into Alice's back, making Oreon's eyes bulge with terror and a deafening scream escaping his lips.
"ALICE!" Oreon shot out of the bushes, running up to the first soldier he saw as he tried to attack him with his small hands, but was kicked to the ground with little effort.
"Oreon…." The Color in Alice's eyes began to fade away. "You have…" Another sword pierced her. "To…. Run." Gasping, she managed to get her last word out as the third sword pierced through her back, sending her sprawling to the ground, the impact muffled by the soft earth.
"ALICE!" Oreon screamed. He crawled toward his sister, calling out "ALICE!", his voice choked with sobs as he watched her blood seep into the earth, soaking his clothes and hands.
"No!' Leona pushed Alaric away from her. "Alice!" She saw her daughter's lifeless body lying in front of her crying son. "No…Oreon run!" A scream ripped from Leona's lips, abruptly silenced as Alaric's sword found its mark. The sickening crunch of steel meeting flesh echoed as Leona, raised high on the sword, dropped her weapon with a clatter. Oreon's eyes, wide with disbelief, found Alaric, his sword dripping with blood, Leona's lifeless body impaled upon it.
-End of Flashback-