I could still see it, feel it, every time I closed my eyes. We knew they would come. Just not in these numbers. We were overwhelmed. The smell of burning corpses and decimated bodies. That's all I could process as my mother carried me through the burning forest.
The moon's glow was nothing but a curse. Monsters howled as the got closer and closer. Still, I was stuck in a trance. However, that changed when I felt my back becoming wet.
"Mom?"
She did not speak, just set me down with a forlorn smile. Traces of tears still streaked her beautiful face. For a moment, it felt like this would be the last time I would see her. We stood upon a high outcrop in the mountain devoid of trees. From here we could still see the burning village, the monsters tearing down our homes.
"Merrill… you must go on without me." My heart stopped. No. Why was this happening? Why wouldn't the world leave us in peace? If mother dies…
"No!" I shook my head vigorously. I won't abandon her. Not now, not ever.
"Listen to your mother, young lady. They will find us. If I can convince them that I am the Starborn they seek, it will buy you enough time to escape." No matter how hard and painful it felt to disobey my mother, I will do it if it means spending one more second with her.
I do not want to live out my days in regret. If death is what awaits us, then I shall die by my mother's side.
"Amara!" We both turned back, startled, and there was my father, breathing heavily. Relief flooded my body. He was still alive. Now all we had to do is cross this forest. With him here, it should not be simple enough. "They don't know you are one of them. Give up the child and we can live in peace!"
I froze. It must be a lie, it has to be. Such word would never have crossed my father's mouth. Mother moved in front of me and spread out her hands.
"I will never give up my child! Not even for you. You might as well kill me!" That's when I noticed my father's outstretched hand. It was not usual for him to have it drawn, he was in a battle after all. However, the red blood on it did not belong to the creatures attacking us.
It was human blood. Images flashed before my eyes. The many horrors I had witnessed on this very day palled in comparison. My father killed the villagers. He killed them by his own blade.
I let out a high-pitched scream, unaware of the attention it would bring.
"Stupid child! Now they know where we are!" He said in panic. "He killed them…He killed them…He killed them…" I kept whispering to myself. Mother somehow figured out what I meant and knelt down before me.
"It's okay, Merrill. It will be okay. I just need you to do something for me. Can you do that?" I nodded with bleary eyes. Time slowed to a crawl. She took my hand, still expelling mana, and broke into a run. I knew we couldn't make it. My mother was still exhausted.
I was right. The sword in my father's hand burned crimson behind us. Though I had my back turned, I felt the attack coming towards me. He was no time to do anything.
Something struck me, and I was sent flying.
When I opened my eyes, I come to a sudden realization. Life is cruel to us. Never could Starborn descendants live in peace. We keep on paying for atrocities we never committed with our lives.
I will never forgive them. I won't forget was this world has made us do to survive.
I stared on, wide eyed. Even though she was in pain, my mother smiled. She had once again saved me, however, this time with her life.
"R-run…" She collapsed. I run to her, begging, praying for someone to save her. "Please… Please don't leave me…" Tears clouded my eyes. Her hand shakily cupped my face.
"Mer-rill. I want you to…promise me you'll live. L-live." I shook my head. It hurt to think of it. "P-promise me…"
"I promise." She took my hand and smiled bitterly. "I'm sorry I could not give you the life you deserve. No matter how…the world sees us, always hold on to who you are. Un…leash the power I taught you to fear…"
My mother had shielded me with her own body. At the cost of her life. She always saved me. Time and time again.
I watched as her life left her body. My body was numb.
"I told you not to stand in my way! Now, not only is your sacrifice useless, your daughter will die too! Is that what you were aiming for?"
All thoughts running through my head stopped. I felt my so many emotions, I was not sure what I was feeling anymore. However, one emotion was more prominent than the rest.
Anger. Anger at the man standing before me for killing his wife, anger at my mother for shielding me with her own body…and anger at myself, for being so damn helpless.
"You did this!" I thundered against my father. He gave me a face one would give a child when explaining trivial matters.
"Don't blame me. You were a threat. Why do you think this town was burnt down? They were looking for you! You, a Starborn child! YOU. KILLED. THEM! YOU KILLED HER!" The more he talked, the more I felt anger grow.
How dare he lay the blame on me while he had killed his wife? How dare he try to justify himself!
"You…you killed my mother!"
Unleash the power I taught you to fear. I heard something akin to a heartbeat. Mana started rushing through my system.
My mother had once told me that my power could consume me if I let it. At that moment, however, it didn't matter. I want him dead, I thought. After that, you can do whatever you want.
I let loose the dam of power and gave up control of my own body.