"Bring more water over here! Don't let the fire reach the magazines!" – The cries of desperation of the soldiers of Begonia resounded in the meadows that surrounded the capital of the principality, while their eyes were filled by the reflection of the flames that consumed everything in their path.
The vanguard of the army of the kingdom of Antioch made its way through the trenches, covered by the fire of the archers who did not stop firing, coordinating so that the fray kept the enemy infantry at bay.
That timing without an iota of human error, made the hearts of the brave Begonian combatants slowly begin to succumb to the horrors of the front line.
-" Sir, the enemy has broken the defensive formation on the right flank! Our men are falling one by one under the sword of the Antiochians. What do we do?" – An infantryman with his face covered by the mud and blood of his comrades, panted trying to maintain a bit of composure before his commander. Who kept observing with his spyglass in the direction of a small hill.
-" Sir!"
-" I already listened to you, damn it! I have been able to locate the general who is coordinating these mad dogs. I will engage him directly, while you try to push back your front lines with the cannons."
-" But sir, you will be caught in the crossfire!" – Giving a long sigh as if the soul left the body, Edmundo lowered his spyglass and held the reins of his horse firmly. Turning to see his subordinate, the gentleman did not say a word, but a conviction of success in his company could be seen on his face.
The soldier, seeing the confidence his lord had, felt infected by that spirit and ran towards his contingent to communicate the orders of his commander.
Gazing at a small hand-woven ornament tied to his wrist, Edmund smiled warmly and slammed his horse's stirrup to begin his advance.
The arrows that fell like a rain that darkened the sky, were sticking on the corpses that were shot down in the path of the brave commander. Who raised his shield covering his head in order to keep his eyes straight ahead.
Being close to his objective, Edmund saw the imposing silhouette of that general who rested stoically on a white horse with the coats of arms of the royal family.
"Can not be? It is impossible that it is him" – Dressed in black armor and a helmet that covered his face, that knight with an imposing figure unsheathed his sword while pulling the reins of the steed to charge against his opponent.
Bracing himself for the onslaught of his opponent's blade, Edmund held his sword, letting go of the shield to catch the horse's reins entwining them around his arm.
When the swords collided, the knight could feel the impact of that powerful blow that almost dislocated his shoulder. Causing his horse to almost lose its footing and knock him to the ground. The blows of the enemy's sword sparked with each full blow, while the crunch of metal echoed in the heat of combat.
Feeling that his arm was going numb, Edmund aimed at the horse's head in order to blind it and make the rider fall. But in that instant without warning, a rain of arrows fell on both combatants indiscriminately.
"Have they gone crazy? Their general is here with me and they have not hesitated for a second to attack us" – The arrows fell hitting the steeds and their riders, knocking them down on the field among the rocks and wild grass.
When Edmund tried to sit up, a sharp pain stabbed at the level of his left calf, clearly seeing that the arrows had pierced his armor, tearing the sinews and muscle.
Unable to move properly, the knight leaned on his sword for a moment; raising his face for an instant to realize that his enemy was standing erect as if nothing, with his sword raised in two hands to deal him a forceful blow.
Resigned to his fate, Edmundo lowered his head waiting for his adversary's fatal blow, when suddenly there was an explosion that raised dust and rocks where they were standing.
Coughing with great difficulty in breathing from the cloud of dust, Duke Voltaire rubbed his eyes to visualize his opponent. Who due to the impact of the explosion lay on the ground with his face uncovered.
"But what the hell is going on?" – An ominous sensation ran through Edmund Voltaire's body as he fixed his gaze on the man in front of him. There were visibly fresh wounds on his face, but without a drop of blood. The pupil of his eyes was fully dilated with a gloomy appearance that he had only seen many times on corpses within the battlefield.
King Raphael, the monarch of the kingdom of Antioch, had had his heart stop beating in his chest weeks ago. But he was standing there, in the middle of the battlefield as if a supernatural force controlled him like a puppet.
Just muttering unintelligible guttural sounds like a beast, he picked up his sword from the ground, his arm nearly severed by the impact of the cannon.
Edmund didn't have time to try to rationalize what his eyes were seeing, just in an instant the monarch's sword came down forcefully against the ground, leaving a clean cut on Edmund's face in its wake. Who barely saved his body by taking a few steps back the instant Rafael attacked.
Blood spurting bathing the metal of his armor, Duke Voltaire tried to stay on his feet feeling every fiber of his muscle ripping as he held back each attack from Raphael.
"Not only do they get stronger, but they get faster that I can't keep up with them" - In the last blow his sword received, the metal shattered like glass when it hit the rocks. The shards of metal looked as if they were falling in slow motion, while his chest felt a sensation of heat that soon gave way to pain.
Raphael plunged his sword through the breastplate of Edmund's armor, furiously thrusting the edge tearing through flesh and bone, collapsing the knight's right lung. Who fell to his knees on the ground with his eyes cloudy and fine threads of blood running from the corners of his mouth.
Pushing him with his foot to remove the sword from his chest, Rafael slammed his foot down on Edmund's body, raising his sword once more to deliver the final blow against his skull.
"Stop you fucking idiot! I need his brain intact" – A female voice resounded in Rafael's skull, stopping instantly according to the command that was given.
From the basement of Duke Solera's mansion, Karina watched the battlefield through her spirit arts, sharing the sight of the reanimated corpses. The scenes of anguish and suffering of the citizens of Begonia, were for her a spectacle that filled her with satisfaction.
"Soon I will have under my control an unstoppable army that knows no fear or pain. And it will be then that I will be ready to take revenge for the blood of my tribe. I just wish you were alive Eduardo, that you would see with those same lying eyes that I have turned your son into" - Forty years ago, long before King Edward II came to the throne, on the banks of the river that flows between the kingdom of Tigris and the principality of Arabella, a tribe was settled from times before the foundation of the kingdoms.
When the Hufira were almost exterminated by men, the people loved by the spirits were divided in two. The Hufira who decided to remain nomadic by hiding among the crowds and a small group known as the Houris.
Isolating themselves from the eyes of man in the middle of the forests that grew on the banks of the river, the houris flourished in culture and civilization, adopting a sense of protection to nature, thus giving worship to Gaia.
Fearful of being discovered because of their physical characteristics, the Houris had developed their spiritual arts by channeling their power into gems that hung around their necks or as earrings. Turning her beautiful red hair a shade of blue-black, at the same time the heterochromia was disguised thanks to illusion magic.
As the kingdoms of men grew, the distance between the houris and the rest of humanity was considerably reduced. Making them more of a group that over time was considered sectarian.
"Karina , find your brother Ignis! It's time to eat" – A ten-year-old girl was wandering near her home collecting some medicinal herbs. When her mother called her, she obediently left her basket and ran towards the river in search of her brother who must have been fishing.
"!Ignis ! Where are you?" – Bringing her hands to her face so that her cry could be heard louder, the girl walked on the rocks looking up in search of her older brother.
"Karina come quickly, I found a boy!" – Rushing to where her brother was, Karina saw how he was carrying the child on his shoulder. With wet clothes and hair, he gave the impression of having fallen into the river by accident.
-" Is he alive? I feel his skin very cold"
-" Of course you're alive, you piece of fool! Can't you hear him breathe?"
-" You are rude! I'll tell mom you called me dumb" – Bringing his right hand to Karina's head, Ignis ruffled her hair with a mocking smile.
The children managed to reach the village with great effort, being received by their father who helped them carry the child to take him inside his dwelling to dry him and prevent him from catching a cold. Despite being a tribe that avoided getting involved with outsiders, the Houris could not let a life be lost through an act of omission.
When night fell, the fire in the fireplace that burned warming the house woke up the little boy.
– " You finally woke up! You know how hard I tried to bring you with how heavy you are"
-" Karina, those are not the ways I have taught you to treat guests!" – Little Eduardo saw that beautiful woman with black hair hugging the girl, taking her into her arms. Immediately turning around to know where he was.
-" Where am I?"
-" Unfortunately I cannot tell you, but I promise that we will take you to the limits of the forest as soon as you recover"
-" They are kidnappers! Do you know who I am?"
-" Yes, you are a big fool" – With swollen cheeks and big expressive eyes, Karina could not contain herself before the child's insult towards his mother. Who apologized to him, berating his daughter once more.
"What are you laughing at? Because of you, mom scolded me" – Putting his hand to his mouth hiding his laughter, for Eduardo that girl was pleasant compared to the children of the nobles who kept up appearances with him.
As the days passed, Karina and Eduardo forgot their differences, beginning to leave the cabin behind their mother. Visibly excited by the immensity of the beauties that surrounded that forest, Eduardo felt that his place no longer belonged to the cold walls of the palace of Antioca.
"Hey, do you want to see my secret place?" – Pulling his hand insistently, Karina dragged Eduardo to a forest clearing where there was a spring from which gems of different colors adorned the bottom.
-" Look! These are the gems we use to protect ourselves."
-" Protect yourself?"
-" Yes, protect us from bad men. But shhh, don't tell anyone that I told you. It will be our secret" – Winking at him while making the gesture of silence, Karina deposited in Eduardo's hand a blue gem like the color of his eyes.
"Why are you giving me this?" - Keeping a brief silence, the girl lowered her gaze fiddling with her fingers nervously.
-" It is so that you do not forget me when you are gone from here"
"What?" – Suddenly surprised by Karina's kiss on the cheek, Eduardo saw how the girl ran, leaving him behind completely embarrassed. At eleven years old, the young prince had experienced a confession so pure, that his heart fluttered as if responding to those feelings.
The day her father took Eduardo to the edge of the forest, Karina watched him from the cabin window without daring to go out and say goodbye. Feeling that that separation left a hole in her chest, to the point that she felt a deep sleep that left her asleep on her bed.
"Karina, wake up! We must flee!" – Trying to open her eyes, Karina saw Ignis's terrified face blurry. Waking up completely to the screams of the residents who could be heard through the windows.
"Don't let anyone escape! These people are responsible for kidnapping Prince Edward!" – Upon hearing that name, Karina told herself that it was a misunderstanding. That Eduardo couldn't possibly have brought the bad men to the village.
"Hurry up Karina, mom said to go to the caves. She and dad will follow us later" – Saying those words in a low voice, Ignis took his sister sneaking through the brush in order to avoid the soldiers' eyes. Who attacked the villagers with the edge of the sword, taking their lives one by one.
"Breast?" - Those eyes full of pure innocence began to turn into tears when seeing a familiar silhouette hanging by the neck from the branch of a tree. The arms that had once held her tenderly now hung limp, dripping with blood.
"There are two more! Don't run away!" – Upon being discovered, Ignis took his sister in his arms and ran with all his might in an attempt to leave his pursuers behind, reaching the bushes that bordered the caves.
"Karina, whatever happens, don't make any noise. Stay here quiet. I'll try to distract them" – Holding tightly the sleeve of her brother's shirt, the girl looked at him with pleading eyes not to abandon her. But Ignis knew there would only be a chance for her if he sacrificed himself as bait.
"claudere labia tua" – Invoking a spirit magic spell, Ignis sealed his sister's lips and sounds, rendering her motionless in the bushes.
- " There's the brat. Hold it tight"
- " And the girl?"
-" It doesn't matter. They ordered us to get one alive to reveal the location of the jewels" – Dragging Ignis by the arms, the soldiers moved away from where Karina was, who saw her brother leave her side to leave her completely alone in that moment. forest.
"All these years, these damn forty years I have waited to avenge my tribe" - Putting her hand to her chest as if she was in pain that would not allow her to stand up, Karina leaned on the table in the basement while looking at her mother. Berenice.
-" I still can't die. Not without completing my revenge."
-" Then tear out the heart of that plunder" – From the doorway, Duke Solera looked at Karina while holding Adela in her arms, who slept peacefully unaware of the danger she was in.
With an unhealthy smile spreading across her face, Karina nailed her hand to the former countess's chest as she recited an arcane incantation. Little by little, the little vitality that remained in the body of the unfortunate woman withered, leaving an empty shell without a drop of life.
A sparkle in Karina's eyes manifested itself as unequivocal proof that the enchantment had worked. Feeling that the oppression that I had in my chest began to disappear.
"Is that little girl your granddaughter?" – Stalking Solera, Karina brought her hand up to the girl's face, who shuddered as if she felt she was in a nightmare.
"Very soon I will make you the king of this nation. Just wait a little longer, my dear duke" – Kissing Solera on the lips, Karina thought of her army of undead parading through the lands of Begonia towards Tigris.
Walking through the corridors of the royal palace, Elena was accompanied by two eunuchs as she made her way to the infirmary to check on Eunice's condition. Wearing a silk dress that trailed its train across the carpet, the princess kept a solemn expression on her face at the sight of the nobles passing through the palace.
"Leave me alone" - Obeying their mistress, the eunuchs stood firm at the door of the infirmary allowing her to enter without escorts. When the door closed, Elena felt the cold metal of a dagger rest on her neck, while a hand hugged her waist.
- " I did not tell you that you should be careful in this palace"
- " Does your sister-in-law serve you dead in your plans, my dear Sofia?" – Turning around to face each other, Elena grabbed Sofia by the wrist forcing her to drop the dagger, catching her before the metal hit the ground.
"This place is no longer safe for either of us. If you want to recover the throne of Antioca… no, if you want to keep even your life, then follow me without asking questions" – The expression on Sofia's face was that of a person who was pressing time.
Guided by the advice of the nobles, Eleazar had determined to kill all his brothers that night. Including Princess Elena, who would be replaced by the daughter of Marshal Vargas.
For the princess those news were not a revelation, because she had gained the trust of some servants who informed her of the prince's movements.
-" Your proposal is interesting. But how will we deal with your crazy brother?
-" I have a small contingent of dissidents near the border with Arabella. If you follow me I can guarantee your safety and that of your maid" – Taking Elena's hands, Princess Sofia looked her directly in the eyes hoping to hear a satisfactory answer from her lips.
"Then we must hurry, in two hours your brother will give the order to close the doors to begin the purge of the palace" - Thinking that the extermination plan would start at midnight and not in two hours, Sofia realized that If he hadn't sought out the princess to propose his plan, his head would have rolled without the slightest chance of a fight.