The tranquility that pervaded the throne room was abruptly interrupted when a guard, his face marked by urgency and fear, burst in. Without pausing to catch his breath, the guard recounted the horrors that had ravaged a nearby human village, news that sparked concern and haste among those present.
Upon hearing the report, the king wasted no time in making a decision. With a firm voice, he ordered Aria and Alex, along with a detachment of guards, to immediately head to the scene of the tragedy to offer all possible assistance. Despite the weight of the mission, Aria and Alex accepted the mandate without hesitation, aware of the gravity of the situation.
Upon arrival, the scene that greeted them was devastating. The once lively and joyful village now lay in ruins, its streets stained with the blood of its inhabitants. The buildings, shattered and burnt, were silent witnesses to the unleashed violence. Among the rubble, they found survivors, who, in a state of shock and desperation, recounted the attack of a nightmare creature, whose description echoed Aria and Alex's deepest fears.
Aware that there was no time to lose, they quickly organized the transportation of the survivors to the capital, offering them not only a safe refuge but also the promise of healing for their physical and emotional wounds. The journey back was marked by a somber silence, interrupted only by the sobs of those who had lost everything.
On the way back to the capital, as twilight tinged the sky with purple and orange hues, Aria and Alex walked side by side, each lost in their thoughts until Aria broke the silence.
Aria: Who do you think could have done such a thing? The survivors... what they described sounds terrifying.
Alex: I have my suspicions... It could be Thalrion. But it's just a theory at this point.
Aria: Thalrion? Who is he?
Alex: He was the court mage of Aeloria. He betrayed his own people for power and out of his hatred for humans, whom he considered an inferior race. If it really was him, this marks a new level of threat.
Aria: I've never heard of him until now. Do you think we can face someone like that?
Alex: It will be difficult, no doubt. But not impossible. We have to be prepared for anything. Thalrion was powerful even before... if he really has transformed into something else, we'll need all the help we can get.
The conversation faded as they approached the gates of the capital. Despite the uncertainties and challenges ahead, Aria and Alex clung to the light of hope, prepared to face together whatever came, strengthened by their renewed determination.
Upon their arrival, the capital mobilized to provide assistance to the affected, showing a solidarity that illuminated the darkness of the moment. However, for Aria and Alex, the encounter with Thalrion's unchecked brutality, albeit through the survivors' accounts, was a wake-up call to the magnitude of the threat they faced.
The king, upon receiving the full report, could not hide his concern. The presence of a new and powerful enemy, capable of sowing such destruction, posed a formidable challenge. In the tranquility of his throne room, with the weight of his crown feeling heavier than ever, he reflected on the next steps to take. The battle against the dark forces was far from over, and the need to protect his people and his heroes, Aria and Alex, had never been more critical.