' What was that.' Ignis and Ashur felt cold shivers.
'Over there Ashur ... ' Ashur looked at direction his hand was showing.
Ashur was thinking did he let down his people, will they suffer again because of him.
He couldn't bare the thought of losing his people all over again.
His mind suddenly went blank....
*
"Father look what I found." Young Ashur was holding a small frog.
"You little pest, Ahabahahah just leave the little one be... You have to respect their freedom." Ashur grinned as his father patted his head.
Ashur and his father were playing in a pond sorrounded by green grass and different kind of flowers that gave sweet fragrance to the air.
"Your Royal Highness Prince Darius the first..."
"You know it takes much longer when you say all the titles to talk to me, if something is urgent you lose precious time, don't you think?" With a smile he patted Ashur's little head.
"Go on ahead and tell me."
"Your Royal Hi... Prince Darius, your first son has arrived, he ...."
"Father." He bowed. "We have to move now, His Royal Majesty the King, Uncle is already aware of his abilities. " Said the older brother making and head gesture to Ashur.
The Prince Darius I, face went dark as his older son brought him this news.
" We have to hide him father."
" And then what, do we keep him hidden until your uncle decides that mages are allowed again or until he dies? What kind of life is that." Ashur face was of confusion.
He couldn't understand why his father who was always smiling and gentle was suddenly angry, with a scary face.
"Father..."
"We already have been hidding so many under our care don't you think we can handle this?"
"Father this is not a matter of suspicions anymore... He knows for sure."
"Your Royal Hi... Prince Darius I, if I may interject..." The Prince Darius nodded.
" I speak for everyone we would gladly die for the young prince. We would give our lifes for him, and for you."
Mr. Theodor still in his prime, bowing his head before the second Prince of the house Stonebless.
"No... I will not sacrifice your lives like this.
My brother has lost his mind is surely not anyone's fault but mine and my brothers."
"We've known about his lust for power long time ago, we just thought, he would outgrown it once he became king."
"Father we have to send him to somewhere else safe."
"More safer than by his father side? My brother might be crazy for power but would never dare to attack me."
"Father.... " The second son arrived pushing a man to the ground.
"Father this man betrayed us, he was the one that revealed all the information to the king about us and my baby brother."
The man was bruised and beaten.
"I am sorry, I am truly sorry Your Highness, I was at main town of the kingdom, with my family, my son couldn't control his powers, and the king was informed that my son is a mage." The man was on his knees trembling and crying.
"I just wanted to save my son, I am truly sorry, but what father does not do anything to save his child."
"And for that you choose to kill everyone's child?" Asked Mr. Theodor furious. " Your Highness your permission to slay this bastard."
Prince Darius I shook his head. " What kind of man would I be to punish a man for trying to save his child. Let him go..."
The man was speechless, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Indeed your Highness you are more fitted to be our true King."
Prince Darius I face went dark. " Leave at once even if I don't punish you life will certainly do so. "
The man left looking back running away.
"But Father... That man..."
" That man did nothing less of what a father loving his son wouldn't do."
"I beg to disagree Father." Said the oldest son. " You just choose to save everyone instead of just your son.. "
"We need to go back, bring us our horses."
"Father if we sent everyone with children out of town into hiding we will be very hard for them to not be noticed..."
"Your Royal Highness.... Prince Darius I, Your Royal Majesty...." A man came running towards them. "... The king just sent his men, they are invading town. They are arresting everyone that is thought to be a mage. "
"I will go into town....l
... Mr.Theodor I have a selfish request please take the little one far away from here. I don't know what might happen today... So please... Darius, my son, I need you to Live !"
The Prince Darius I, mounted his horse, with a Dark face, and his both sons as well.
"Father I want to come too." Said Ashur rushing over to his Father side. Mr. Theodor grabbed him by the arm.
"My son, you have to be brave, for starting today our lives won't be the same. " The Princes Darius I, didn't look at his young one afraid that he wouldn't want to let go.
"Mr. Theodor please take care of my baby brother. " The first son and the second son followed their father into town.
"Father .... Father.... Brothers" Cried Ashur not knowing why his father had left him behind, he just wanted to be with father and his brothers.
"We have to go young Master, you need to be a brave boy now." Ashur swollowed his tears and grabbed Mr. Theodor hands.
That was the last time that Ashur saw his father and his brothers alive.
The people in this town was persecuted, some where arrested the ones who resisted were killed, by skilled knights. Even with the mage resistance they lost the battle.
The king ordered the arrest of anyone from the town of the 'Blessed', and anyone who reported them were rewarded.
Some of the arrested were tortured and made an example of in public places.
Blessed, a lovely town, with a prosperous life, beautiful places, flowers and people who loved culture and learning, was burned down, turned appart and made unliveable.
The people who managed to survive had gone into hiding, afraid that they would be taken to the king.
The king made sure that noone could return to that wonderful town.
The King kept looking for his missing nephew. The promising mage the
young Prince Darius III.
*
'Ashur we are here!'
Ashur's eyes opened to an unsightly situation, the town had new higher gates, and the wall sorrounding it was in a good shape.
However the fallen monsters before it was concerning, and the fact that noone was here even more.
He burned those monsters into crisp just in case.
The sky light up into beautiful colours, from the fireworks, as he was walking into town.
There was noone to be seen, the houses were empty, a familiar feeling came over him.
In all this empty town he could only hear his footsteps and his heart beating over the fireworks sound.
His Anger, his fears were all mixed into a powerful crushing feeling.
There was two strong aura emanating from his Manor, he didn't want to think that he failed to protect everyone again.
He walked, he ran even when his body was begging him to stop.
He just kept pushing forward. He couldn't afford to stop, not until he could be sure they were okay, not until he could save them.
He felt that one of the auras had disappeared but the other one was still... Very much there coming towards him.
As he was about reach the Manor something rushed over and attacked him, his instincts was to block the attack.
The white haired person with blood all over, with glowing red eyes was attacking him with all its might.
He lift his sword and struck back pushing it backwards.
He was about to lose his senses again, he was fighting two battles, the one against that aura owner, and the other against his body.
That person was standing in front of many others, it looked over its shoulder, everyone behind it lined up and got ready to fight.
The figure ran towards him again, throwing arrows, his body instinctly evaded the arrows jumping back, he swong the sword towards figure, as it lift it's bow to block, it slipped in half as the strength of the blow had thrown it to the floor.
He took that as an opportunity to grab it by the arm and pinned it on the cold freezing ground. With his sword he stroked right next to its face.
It was the first time, that they were looking into eachothers faces, both in anger, both in fear, trying to protect something dear.
"Master! You are alived." A familiar voice reached his ears.
Mr. Theodor and Mrs Clair ran over to the Master, stopping right in front of him.
Mrs Clair couldn't hold back her tears. Thinking that in her old age she wouldn't live such surprise. "Young Master Ashur...you are alive..." she gasped. " ...your hair..is white...what happened?"she grabbed his hair, his face.
Mr. Theodor on the other hand, pulled the Master hand away from Alana, helping her up.
He looked around he recognised every single face, everyone of them was there.
'They are alive!'
"I am finally here." He collapsed in Mrs. Clair arms.