The aftermath of the explosion still lingers in the air. The black smoke swirls around the moon in the black sky. Villagers gathered in the village square, their faces filled with fear and confusion, panicking as their chatters grew louder. Lucas stood amidst the chaos, trying to calm and assure the people.
"We all just saw the big explosion in our docks!!" one of the villagers began. "And you expect us to believe we are safe!"
A young lady stepped up, tears welling in her eyes, her trembling hands clutching her chest as she tried to speak. "What progress have you made? For weeks, you said you would figure things out, but you didn't" She paused as she let out small tears, sobbing quietly. "I can't do this anymore." Lucas pushed his fingers through his blonde hair, as he spoke. "I-"
"You're the reason why our Lord is dead." said one of the villagers as he interrupted Lucas. "Some head guard are you," he said, giving Lucas a dead stare.
Lucas furrowed his brows, grinding his teeth, his knuckles white as he struggled to maintain his composure. "If I had known his house would have caught fire, won't you think I would have done everything in my power to save him," Lucas said, his voice hoarse, looking at all the villagers he had sworn to protect. He missed the day the villagers smiled and looked to him for guidance and protection, but now all he could see was them losing faith in him.
"Meeting over. Guards will be guarding the village all through the night." Lucas said, leaving the village square in an uneasy silence.
✨🌙✨
In Emily and Eric's childhood home, Amelia roams around her house, tears still welling in her eyes. Emily sat beside Eric whose head was facing down. Emily's hands trembled in her lap, she felt a lump in her throat, making it hard to swallow. Despite the tears in her eyes, she felt numb, watching the events unfold. The rooms felt too bright, too loud, the sound of her mother's sobs echoing in her ears, she wanted to block it out. The sensory input overwhelmed her. Amelia's sobs grew louder, she wish to comfort her, to offer some word of solace, but she was at a loss for what to say. All she did was sit down silently, unable to grasp what had happened.
Eric stood up, smoothing out his clothes as he addressed his mother. "I'm going to meet up with Lucas now. You should probably take Emily back home."
Amelia nodded; her eyes red from crying. She walked up to Eric and hugged him tightly. "Please, my love, take care of yourself." Eric returned the hug, patting her back gently. "I will, Mom. I love you."
"I love you more," Amelia replied, her voice filled with grief. Eric let her go and left, closing the door behind him.
✨🌙✨
Emily and her mom stood before her door, waiting for someone to answer. Rosie opened the door and noticed that Emily was avoiding eye contact.
"Evening, Emily. You seem off, is something wrong?" Rosie asked, her voice filled with concern. Emily walked past her and entered the house without responding.
"Sorry about that," Amelia began. "Something bad just happened, and she's feeling distant and unresponsive. Please take care of her." Rosie nodded in understanding. "I will do my best."
✨🌙✨
The guard towers loomed overhead, as the moon overcast its shadow to Lucas as he commands the guards. Eric joined them and sat far from the crowd, His heart felt heavy as he stared into the distance, the weight of grief pressing down on him. His mind replayed memories of Casper, the man who had been like a father to Emily. He couldn't shake the feeling of loss and emptiness that now filled him. He thought drifting how his sister would get through this.
"How is your sister?" Zack asked, sitting beside Eric.
"Horrible," Eric responded.
"I'm always here to help. Not only for Emily, but you. How are you holding up?" Zack said, staring off into the distance
"I'm very shocked at what happened. I know Casper might not have a long life due to his enemies. But this just happened suddenly." he began. "And now Emily is just a blank page, and I don't know what to do," Eric confessed, his voice cracking with emotion.
"I'm here for you, you don't have to handle everything by yourself. Together, we will find a way to bring Emily back. I'm here to support you during this difficult time." Zack remarked with a soft smile, his brown eyes filled with determination, and the cold winds blew his brown ruffled hair.
Lucas approached Eric, his expression troubled, clearly struggling with his words, his face betraying the inner turmoil he was experiencing. He let out a sigh, feeling guilty for not being able to protect his friend, Emily, and the village.
"How are you and your sister holding up?" Lucas asked, concerned about their well-being. Eric hesitated, a wave of emotion passing over his features. "We're not doing well. Emily is..." Eric trailed off, unable to find the right words.
"What do you want us to do?" Eric asked, his voice firm, he stood up and straightened his posture, his eyes reflecting determination despite the turmoil within him. Lucas's eyes widened, surprised by Eric's sudden change in demeanour. "Eric, I'm asking if you are okay. Both you and your sister," Lucas clarified, his voice filled with concern.
"We're not okay, not at all," Eric admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "But, Dammit! I'm ready for whatever any bastard throws at us," he declared.
✨🌙✨
The sun rose, casting its bright light over Tauris. Emily lay on her bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, her mind blank, and her gaze unmoving. A knock was heard from her door, and it creaked open as Rosie peered through.
"I made breakfast," Rosie said, trying to engage Emily. "You know what they always say - breakfast is the most important meal of the day." She chuckled awkwardly, but Emily remained unresponsive, lost in her thoughts. Rosie sighed, as she closed the door quietly, and headed down to the kitchen leaving Emily with her thoughts.
Rosie sat down to eat her breakfast, 'She usually gives a snarky response when I say that.' Rosie thought to herself. Emily appeared and sat beside Rosie, eating her breakfast slowly. To Rosie's surprise, Emily chuckled.
"Maybe I should give you the silent treatment more often. This pasta is fantastic," Emily remarked, giving Rosie a soft smile.
"Are you okay?" Rosie asked.
"Yes, sorry for making you baby me all night. Thanks," Emily said gratefully.
Rosie smiled and adjusted the glasses on her nose. "Well, we better eat fast. I need to read this novel about the moon and spirits. It's intriguing," Rosie commented. Emily paused her eating and stared at Rosie.
"You believe in that stuff?" she asked.
"No, I've just had the book for a while and never got the chance to read it." A knock was heard at the door. Rosie stood up and walked towards the door, opening it to see who the visitor was.
Eric stood in front of the door in his guard armour, his gaze steady as Rosie opened the door. "Good day, Miss," he greeted politely.
Rosie's eyes widened, and she quickly shut the door, leaning against it. Emily, hearing the abrupt closure, approached Rosie. "Is everything alright?" she asked, concerned.
"There's a rather imposing guard outside, and I must say, he's quite intimidating and scary. Have you been up to something, Emily?" Rosie asked, half-jokingly, half-serious, still leaning on the door.
"A guard? It must be my brother. imposing you mean eye-catching, handsome, grand?" Emily teased, smirking at Rosie and giving her a playful wink.
Rosie blushed slightly, flustered. "I did mention scary, didn't I?" Emily chuckled, not pressing the issue further.
"I'm sure he's here to see me. Please, let him know I'm fine but not up for a chat now," Emily said, walking away, her gaze avoiding Rosie's.
Taking a deep breath, Rosie opened the door again. "Good day, sir," she greeted, composing herself. "Emily is okay now, but she's not in the mood to talk. She'd like some space."
Eric grinned at Rosie. "I know, I heard everything. I guess lurking by the door wasn't the best idea for a chat," he teased. "Well, thanks anyway. I'll see you around."
Rosie stood there; her face flushed with embarrassment. "He heard everything? Of course," she muttered to herself, feeling a bit flustered.
✨🌙✨
Emily is sitting in her childhood home, waiting for her mom to come out of the kitchen door. Amelia appears with a tray of cups and cookies
"We can never start a conversation without this," Amelia said as she ate the cookies, her eyes red and swollen.
"How are you dealing with all of this, my dear?" Amelia asked.
"I'm doing fine, Mom. Casper just left suddenly, I guess," Emily replied, avoiding eye contact.
"This day and age is filled with death and pain," Amelia remarked.
"We are going to host a small burial ceremony to honour him and move on with our lives," Amelia said, taking a sip from her cup.
Emily furrowed her brows at her mother's comments. "Easier said than done," she muttered.
"I never even got the chance to tell him," Amelia said, her voice filled with regret and sadness. Emily widened her eyes as she looked at her mother in shock, her mind finally connecting the dots.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and it opened without waiting for a response.
"Mom, Emily!" Elijah burst through the door as he ran to hug his family. Eric and Ava walked in quietly, standing by the door, and closing it behind them.
Elijah let go of the hug and looked at Emily and his mother with a serious expression. "I heard about what happened. It seems I arrived just in time," he said softly. Ava came over, offering her support and held Amelia's hand.
Emily's mind raced with thoughts, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. 'It's so unfair.' she thought, clenching her fists at her sides. 'Casper didn't deserve to die just like that, to be taken from us so suddenly' She forced a neutral expression, trying to remain calm and composed, hiding her inner thoughts and growing anger from her family.
"Although I wasn't particularly close to him," Elijah continued, his voice filled with sorrow, "Casper was a good man. He didn't deserve such an unjust death."
Ava nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the sadness that hung heavy in the air.
Eric stood at a distance, observing the scene that was unfolding in front of him. Emily, her expression unreadable, made her way towards the door and twisted the handle, clearly intent on leaving.
"Emily, won't you stay a bit?" Elijah asked Emily, drawing the attention of his mother and wife.
"I'm busy, let's talk later," Emily replied, as she left through the door without leaving any room for argument.
The group sat down, continuing their discussion amongst themselves. Eric, however, remained standing by the door, his thoughts consumed with concern for his sister.
'She doesn't seem fine,' he thought to himself, a knot of worry forming in his stomach. He glanced towards the door through which Emily had left, a sense of unease settling over him.
✨🌙✨
Emily is strolling along the stone pathways, her black hair and flowery dress blowing in the wind. She walks towards a small patch of land outside the village borders, carrying a woven basket and smiling at the various flowers bursting with colour.
'At least this spot is still thriving and full of life. Even if it's just a small patch.′ She thought.
Emily knelt, opening the basket as her movement held purpose and meaning. She arranged the scene with candles, blankets, and lanterns. As a finishing touch, she pulled out the last item from the basket; a portrait of Casper. In the picture, Casper was holding items that he had collected on one of his trips, and his smile was so bright that it made him look much younger than he was. Emily positioned the portrait among the candles and blankets, and a sad smile appeared on her face.
"You never deserve such a cruel death," Emily's voice cracked, her words dripping with grief.
✨🌙✨
As the sun sets on Tauris, the moon begins to appear in the sky, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold. Eric and Elijah are leaning on the well, their discussion quiet in the fading light. "And this has been happening for months?"
Eric responds, "Yes, Lucas has been in the tower all day. I think he is working on .... something."
Elijah clarifies, "The blonde guy?"
Eric raises his eyebrows at Elijah's comment, surprised. "Yes, the blonde guy. And this is not happening in your region?"
Elijah responds, "I haven't heard of any deaths or writhing crops in the North, this is the first"
Eric lets out a dramatic sigh and raises his hand above his head. "I suppose the North is the most peaceful region, so it makes sense," Eric said
"Eric."
A voice interrupted their conversation, and both men turned to see Lucas approaching. His face was drawn with exhaustion, his eyes bloodshot from hours spent in deep concertation or perhaps from lack of sleep.
"I have been looking for you, please we need to speak," Lucas said, his tone serious.
"Okay." Eric began "I will be back," he said to Elijah, turning to meet Lucas.
Elijah stood straight, staring ahead at his brother in concern. Suddenly an arrow struck with a sounding thud on Elijah's back, sending a stabbing pain through his body. He clutched at the blood staining his clothes as he cried out in pain, his limbs went numb, and he collapsed straight to the ground.
Eric's eyes widened as he heard Elijah's cry and the sickening sound of his body collapsing. He spun around, his chest going tight as his eye set on his brother's body writhing in pain.
"Elijah!!" Eric screamed, his voice filled with horror and disbelief rushing to his brother's side and dropping on his knee beside him.
Lucas was startled by Elijah's cry and turned to look at him. His eyes widened with concern and shock. Without hesitation, he dashed towards Eric, kneeling as he wrapped his arms around Eric's shoulders, his voice urgent yet steady.
"Take him to the medics immediately. The culprit must have come from the forest," Lucas said, his gaze flickering towards the nearby woods.
Eric nodded, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to lift Elijah. Despite feeling exhausted, Lucas's determination burned as he turned towards the forest. He sprinted towards the tree line, scanning the shadows for any sign of the attacker.
✨🌙✨
Emily and her family are together in the small, dimly lit room, their faces etched with worry and fear. Lucas stood nearby, looking out of the window. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a man stepped inside, drawing their attention.
"He's stable for now. The bandage should hold up for a while," said the man, his voice filled with relief.
Amelia's eyes widened with a concerned expression and approached him "What do you mean?" she asked.
The man's gaze softened "He's in severe pain, and I need to make a remedy, but I require a Siloon plant, which I don't have at the moment." he said.
Just then, Ava appeared at the door, her eyes red from crying. "Where's Elijah?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Amelia held her hand to comfort her, giving her a reassuring smile. "He's safe, Ava. We just need to find a plant to help him out."
"Is the plant in Lunaria?" asked Eric, walking up to the man.
"Yes," he answered.
Ava rushed towards the man and pleaded, "Then go get it, please!"
"I will, but when the sun rises," the man responded.
Eric furrowed his brows and retorted, "Daytime? You can go right now! Lunaria is a neighbouring village and not far away."
The man was quick to reply, "There's a hitman out there killing people! I will not risk my life by leaving at night."
Ava opened her mouth to protest, but Lucas intervened, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He's right. We can't risk more lives. Elijah will be fine," he reassured, his voice steady.
Emily stood with her back against the wall, her jaw clamped tightly as she observed the scene unfolding before her. She felt a storm of anger and frustration brewing inside her, every muscle in her body tensed. She fought to keep her emotions under control, her fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.
Ava's pain was unbearable to watch. Emily's heart ached as she saw the anguish on her sister-in-law's face while she leaned on Amelia for support. Emily longed to ease her suffering and take away her pain.
As tears threatened to spill from her own eyes, Emily quickly brushed them away. She didn't want to show her vulnerability to others. She knew that they needed her strength, and she couldn't afford to break down now.
Raising her gaze, Emily locked eyes with Lucas, who stared back at her with a mixture of worry and deep concern. The intensity of his gaze made her uncomfortable, and she quickly averted her eyes, feeling a sudden urge to escape and leave the room. Without a word, Emily turned on her heels and left the room.
Lucas stood in his spot, his gaze lingering on the door which Emily had exited. He felt a pinch of regret wash over him, wishing he had the courage to follow and comfort her. He and Emily had never been close, their interactions limited to short and formal discussions. He didn't know what to say to her, or how to reach out to her in her time of need.
"What will I even say?" Lucas muttered to himself, as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Lucas watched as Eric approached the door, his gaze following Eric's hand as it grasped the doorknob. Eric paused for a moment, shifting his gaze to Lucas, giving him a slight nod of understanding before finally turning the knob and stepping out of the room.
'I guess he noticed too,' Lucas thought.
✨🌙✨
Eric closed the door behind him, feeling the cold breeze on his skin. He turned to see his sister sitting on the floor, staring at the night sky.
"Are you alright?" Eric asked, joining her gaze at the black sky.
"I feel so great," Emily responded, her tone thick with sarcasm.
Eric sighed, putting his hands into his pockets. "We are going to be fine. Lucas has come up with a plan. Justice will be found soon."
Emily nodded, sitting up straight to look at Eric. "Thanks for the reassurance. I'm heading home now," she said, leaving the scene abruptly. Eric stares ahead at her retreating form, before deciding to join back with the others.
✨🌙✨
Minutes later alone at the village docks, Emily stood at the water's edge, a bag slung over her shoulder. She stared out at the sea, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.
'I won't stand and wait for someone else to get hurt.' She thought bitterly, her fists clenched at her sides. "I will take action.′
With determination burning in her eyes, Emily boarded a boat, setting sail into the night towards Lunaria, her heart set on a path of retreating the Siloon plant.