"Eldric woke up and his heart pounding in his chest as he struggled to shake off the remnants of his unsettling dream. Sweaty palms gripped the edges of his blanket as he sat up, glancing around the darkness of his room. With a sigh, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, the floorboards cool beneath his bare feet.
Making his way to the kitchen, Eldric's steps echoed softly in the silent house. But upon reaching the familiar room, a sinking feeling settled in his stomach. His mother hadn't returned home yet.
Disappointment washed over him as he turned away from the empty kitchen, the ache of loneliness creeping back in, With a heavy sigh, Eldric returned to his bed, the weight of the night pressing down on him like a leaden blanket. He lay there, staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought as he mulled over the events of the past days.
His mind drifted back to his unsettling dream, the cryptic words of the mysterious figure still echoing in his ears. What did it all mean? And why did it fill him with such a sense of foreboding?
As the night deepened and the hours slipped by unnoticed, Eldric finally roused himself from his reverie. It was clear that his mother wasn't coming home anytime soon, and he couldn't shake the gnawing worry that had settled in the pit of his stomach.
With a sense of determination, Eldric rose from his bed and made his way out of the house. The village streets were eerily quiet, the only sound the soft whisper of the wind through the trees.
He walked with purpose, his steps quickening as he neared the outskirts of the village. Beyond the last row of houses lay a small, wooded area that led to the farm where his mother worked.
Pushing through the dense foliage, Eldric emerged into the open expanse of the farm. The sight that greeted him was a familiar one, yet no less breathtaking. The fields stretched out before him, bathed in the soft light of the moon, rows of corn and vegetables swaying gently in the night breeze.
To one side, the pens and coops housing the farm's livestock stood silent and still, while on the other, the farmhouse loomed in the distance, its windows glowing warmly in the darkness.
With a sense of relief, Eldric made his way towards the farmhouse, his heart pounding in his chest. The path was well-worn, the ground softened by years of footsteps and the constant comings and goings of the farm's inhabitants.
As he approached, Eldric's pace quickened, anticipation and anxiety building within him. The farmhouse stood before him, a beacon of warmth and familiarity in the cold night air.
With a trembling hand, Eldric pushed open the door and stepped inside. The air was thick with the scent of home-cooked meals and the sound of laughter and conversation filled the room.
But as Eldric scanned the faces of those gathered inside, his heart sank. His mother was nowhere to be seen.
Panic gripped Eldric as he called out for her, his voice echoing off the walls of the empty farmhouse. But there was no response, save for the creaking of the floorboards beneath his feet and the distant rustling of the wind outside.
As Eldric made his way to the other side of the farm, his heart pounded with anticipation. The moon cast a pale glow over the fields, illuminating the pens where the farm's animals roamed freely. Pigs snuffled in the dirt, chickens clucked softly as they pecked at the ground, and the night air was filled with the peaceful sounds of farm life.
But as Eldric rounded the corner of the barn, his blood ran cold at the sight before him. His mother stood surrounded by three menacing figures, their bald heads gleaming in the moonlight. Each of them brandished swords and knives, their faces twisted into cruel sneers.
Eldric's heart lurched as he saw his mother, bloodied and wounded, her right hand pressed against a deep gash in her side. Her one eye met his with a mixture of pain and determination, her face pale and drawn from the loss of blood.
"Mom!" Eldric screamed, his voice echoing across the silent fields. The bandits turned towards him, their eyes narrowing with suspicion.
His mother's voice was weak but filled with concern as she asked, "What are you doing here, Eldric? You shouldn't have come."
Ignoring her words, Eldric's gaze hardened as he faced the bandits. "Why are you doing this?" he demanded, his voice trembling with anger and fear.
One of the bandits took a step forward, his eyes cold and calculating. "Where's that book?" he growled. "We know you have it. Tell us, or we'll kill you and your child."
Eldric's mother's eyes widened in horror, her voice barely a whisper as she pleaded, "He's innocent. He has nothing to do with this."
The bandits laughed cruelly, their weapons glinting in the moonlight. "Innocent or not, he's a witness," one of them sneered. "And witnesses don't live long."
With a sudden movement, the bandit lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air towards Eldric's mother's neck. Eldric watched in horror as the blade made contact, cutting deeply into her flesh but not severing her head completely.
"M-Mom!" Eldric cried out, his voice breaking with emotion. Tears welled in his eyes as he watched his mother struggle for breath, her life slipping away before his eyes.
!
As Eldric rushed towards his fallen mother, he dropped to his knees beside her, his hands trembling as he tried desperately to stem the flow of blood from her neck. Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded with her to hold on.
"Mom, please, hold on," he choked out, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'll find a way to save you. I promise."
But the bandits, callous and cruel, watched the scene unfold with heartless laughter, their mocking jeers fueling Eldric's rising fury. With each scornful taunt, his rage grew until it became an inferno burning within him.
Suddenly, the air around Eldric crackled with energy as his eyes flashed with an intense light. The wind whipped around him, hot and heavy, as the very ground beneath their feet began to tremble and shake. Eldric's black aura enveloped the area, suffusing the atmosphere with an ominous presence that sent shivers down the bandits' spines.
With a surge of power, Eldric unleashed his mana, channeling it with raw intensity. The bandits' bodies quaked and trembled under the weight of his aura, their skin glistening with sweat as they struggled to withstand the crushing gravity that bore down upon them.
In a desperate attempt to fight back, one of the bandits lunged at Eldric, but his efforts were futile against the young mage's formidable power. With a simple touch, Eldric caused the bandit's body to disintegrate, his bones melting like wax in a furnace.
As the other bandits moved to attack, Eldric's body seemed to blur with unnatural speed. He appeared before one of them in an instant, delivering a powerful kick to his leg that sent him crashing to the ground. With swift precision, Eldric grabbed hold of the bandit's leg, and in a horrifying display, he melted the man's flesh and bones until only a puddle remained.
Turning to the last remaining bandit, Eldric seized the sword from the fallen assailant and met the bandit's desperate gaze with steely resolve. With a heavy swing, he severed the man's arm, then the other, leaving him defenseless and pleading for mercy.
But Eldric's heart was heavy with grief and anger, his vision clouded by tears as he remembered his mother lying lifeless beside him. With a final, decisive blow, he ended the bandit's suffering, his heartache mingling with the echoes of their screams.
As the chaos subsided, Eldric's attention turned back to his mother, who lay before him, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. With trembling hands, he gently cradled her, his tears mingling with hers as they shared a final, poignant moment together.
"Mom?" Eldric whispered, his voice filled with sorrow and longing. "Talk to me, Mom."
But there was no response, save for the haunting silence that enveloped them. With a heavy heart, Eldric held his mother close, his sobs echoing into the night as he mourned the loss of the woman who had been his guiding light.
"Mom... you're so warm," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion, as he clung to her lifeless form, his heart breaking with each passing moment. !
Eldric rushed towards his fallen mother, he dropped to his knees beside her, his hands trembling as he tried desperately to stem the flow of blood from her neck. Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded with her to hold on.
"Mom, please, hold on," he choked out, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'll find a way to save you. I promise."
But the bandits, callous and cruel, watched the scene unfold with heartless laughter, their mocking jeers fueling Eldric's rising fury. With each scornful taunt, his rage grew until it became an inferno burning within him.
Suddenly, the air around Eldric crackled with energy as his eyes flashed with an intense light. The wind whipped around him, hot and heavy, as the very ground beneath their feet began to tremble and shake. Eldric's black aura enveloped the area, suffusing the atmosphere with an ominous presence that sent shivers down the bandits' spines.
With a surge of power, Eldric unleashed his mana, channeling it with raw intensity. The bandits' bodies quaked and trembled under the weight of his aura, their skin glistening with sweat as they struggled to withstand the crushing gravity that bore down upon them.
In a desperate attempt to fight back, one of the bandits lunged at Eldric, but his efforts were futile against the young mage's formidable power. With a simple touch, Eldric caused the bandit's body to disintegrate, his bones melting like wax in a furnace.
As the other bandits moved to attack, Eldric's body seemed to blur with unnatural speed. He appeared before one of them in an instant, delivering a powerful kick to his leg that sent him crashing to the ground. With swift precision, Eldric grabbed hold of the bandit's leg, and in a horrifying display, he melted the man's flesh and bones until only a puddle remained.
Turning to the last remaining bandit, Eldric seized the sword from the fallen assailant and met the bandit's desperate gaze with steely resolve. With a heavy swing, he severed the man's right arm, The bandit cried out in agony, his screams piercing the night air,
Eldric faced the last remaining bandit, the air thick with tension and fear, the bandit's eyes widened in terror at the sight of Eldric's unleashed power. With a trembling voice, he pleaded, "Wait..."
But Eldric's rage was unrelenting. His voice was filled with anguish and fury as he replied, "There's no point in waiting."
With a swift and decisive blow, Eldric swung his sword, severing the bandit's left arm. The bandit cried and screamed out in agony, Eldric's heart raced as he realized the gravity of his actions. With a conflicted expression, he whispered to himself, "I killed them."
Ignoring the bandit's pleas, Eldric proceeded to end the confrontation with one final strike, severing the bandit's neck. The bandit's cries were silenced, leaving only the heavy silence of the night.
But Eldric's heart was heavy with grief and anger, his vision clouded by tears as he remembered his mother lying lifeless beside him. With a final, decisive blow, he ended the bandit's suffering, his heartache mingling with the echoes of their screams.
As the chaos subsided, Eldric's attention turned back to his mother, who lay before him, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. With trembling hands, he gently cradled her, his tears mingling with hers as they shared a final, poignant moment together.
"Mom?" Eldric whispered, his voice filled with sorrow and longing. "Talk to me, Mom."
Amidst his grief, Eldric's mother spoke with great effort. "When did you create your mana core? When did you learn magic?" she asked, her voice strained with the effort of speaking.
Eldric swallowed hard, the weight of his mother's questions pressing down on him. "I... I learned from that book," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't keep your promise, Mom."
"It's okay, my little prince," his mother replied softly, her words a balm to his troubled heart. "Thank you for telling me the truth."
With those words, Eldric felt a measure of peace wash over him, despite the overwhelming grief of the moment. He held his mother close, cherishing their final moments together as tears continued to fall..
"Mom... you're so warm," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion, as he clung to her lifeless form, his heart breaking with each passing moment.