In a sudden, everything around Alaric becomes very
slow, slower than anything. His mind goes to that
night. It was a full moon night in the rugged,
mountainous terrain of Ragnarok. They were traveling by traditional horse and carriage with soldiers, a tradition in the Arren Kingdom despite the
advancements in weaponry. The soldiers carried
bows, arrows, and swords, respecting the customs of
their land.
Alaric and his brother were laughing and talking,
enjoying each other's company. "Brother, isn't our
neighboring country very aggressive towards us?"
Alaric asked, his young mind curious about the world.
His brother smiled, ruffling Alaric's hair. "You' re not
old enough to worry about that yet, but I can promise
you, no one will harm you while l'm alive."
Suddenly, an arrow brushed through the carriage
window. Although the window was bulletproof, the
force of the impact was unsettling. Alaric's brother
immediately pulled him back, noticing the arrows were laced with poison. Drawing his sword, he prepared for battle. Due to tradition, they had no guns, and the enemy used no firearms to keep the attack silent.
Stepping out of the carriage, Alaric's brother saw over
twenty figures in dark, shadowy outfits attacking their
entourage. The soldiers fought bravely to protect the
royal family, but the ambush was relentless. Three
shadowy figures rushed toward Alaric's brother, but
he swiftly dispatched them with his sword, his
movements precise and nadly.
As the battle raged, Alaric's brother noticeda soldier
approaching Alaric. Without hesitation, he ran to
intercept, but an arrow pierced his chest from behind.
Despite the excruciating pain, he pushed through, his
determination unwavering. He reached Alaric,
shielding him from the attackers. With a burst of
strength, he lifted Alaric and ran, desperate to reach
the capital and safety.
They ran through the dark forest, Alaric clutching his
brother tightly. The sound of battle faded behind
them, but the danger was far from over. Each step
was a struggle for his brother, yet he continued,
driven by his love for Alaric. Eventually, they stumbled into the outskirts of the capital, but his brother's strength was fading. He collapsed, blood soaking his clothes.
With his last breaths, he whispered to Alaric, "Stay
strong. Survive." His eyes, filled with pain and love,
closed for the final time. Alaric's tears mingled with
his brother's blood as he cried out for help, the reality
of the loss crushing him.
As Alaric's mind return to reality.
He comes back to reality, gasping in pain from the
gunshots. Suddenly, a mysterious window appears
before him, floating in mid- air. It reads, "Transfer
window is requesting to the host. Does the host
accept the transfer?" Alaric, barely understanding
what he's seeing through his haze of agony, feels a
strange sense of calm. In that moment, he sees his
brother's aura, shimmering and protective.
His brother's voice echoes in his mind, soothing and
reassuring. "You don't have to worry, Alaric. Even if
I'm not with you, I will protect you. I promise."
Desperate and clinging to any hope,Alaric accepts the transfer windoW, and his consciousness fades.
In the next moment, his body, weakened and bleeding, collapses. The impact of the shots and the
acceptance of the transfer send him falling from the
cliff. The soldiers nearby, realizing too late, rush to
grab him but fail. The royal family, caught up in the
commotion, turns to see what has happened. Duchess Eleanor cries out in anguish, her grief momentarily breaking through her anger. Duke Reginald's face remains hard, but a flicker of doubt and sorrowcrosses his eyes. He regains his composure, signalingfor the family to leave.
Alaric's body tumbles down the cliffside, bruised and
battered, until he hits the icy water of a river below.
The current sweeps him away, his body limp and
unconscious. The last thing he hears is the distant roarof the waterfall, pulling him towards the unknown.
Unseen by the royal familv, who believe they have justwitnessed his executic ic's journey is far from
ries him away fromOver. The river, a lifeline, carries him away from immediate danger, setting the stage for his struggle for survival and quest for justice.