Arthur returned to the village with a heavy heart. The sight of their burned home and the remains of their once peaceful village only deepened his sorrow. His siblings, Tomas and Elara, were waiting for him near the ruins of their house, their faces etched with grief and exhaustion.
"We need to organize everything and bury Mama and Papa," Arthur said, his voice firm despite the pain that gnawed at him. Tomas and Elara nodded, their expressions solemn.
They spent the next few hours gathering what remained of their belongings. Most of their possessions had been destroyed or stolen, but they managed to salvage a few items of value. As they sifted through the rubble, Arthur found a small, ornate box hidden beneath the floorboards of the forge. Inside was an intricately designed ring, untouched by the chaos.
Arthur examined the ring closely, feeling a faint magical aura emanating from it. This ring… it's not just any ring, he thought, his curiosity piqued.
He slipped the ring onto his finger and felt a surge of energy. The ring glowed faintly, and he realized it contained a dimensional spell, allowing him to store items within a hidden space. For a moment, he considered imprinting the ring to himself, but Baal's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hold on, boy," Baal said, his tone laced with amusement. "I can help you with this."
Arthur hesitated, then opened his hand as Baal instructed. To his surprise, a dark, shadowy ring materialized on his palm. "This ring will allow you to access the storage space," Baal explained. "Consider it a gift… from your new best friend."
Arthur couldn't help but be intrigued by Baal's abilities. I'll need to have a conversation with you later, he thought, slipping the ring onto his finger. There's a lot we need to discuss.
Baal chuckled. "I look forward to it."
With the ring now imprinted, Arthur and his siblings continued their grim task. They found their parents' bodies and prepared them for burial. The process was heart-wrenching, but it was necessary. They dug graves for their parents in a quiet corner of the forest, where the trees provided a serene resting place.
As they lowered their parents into the ground, Arthur whispered a promise to himself. "I will avenge you. I will make those responsible pay."
Elara clung to Tomas, tears streaming down her face. "Arthur, what will we do now?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Arthur took a deep
breath, trying to maintain his composure. "We need to be strong, Elara. For Mama and Papa. We'll find a way to keep going."
Tomas nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "Arthur's right. We have to be strong. It's what they would have wanted."
After the burial, they returned to their ruined home. Arthur sat with Tomas and Elara, the weight of their situation pressing down on him. The silence between them was heavy, each lost in their own thoughts.
"We have nowhere to go," Tomas said finally, his voice filled with frustration.
Elara, ever the optimist, spoke up. "What about Aunt Miriam? She lives in Ravenwood. It's two days' journey from here."
Arthur considered the idea. Their mother's sister, Miriam, had always been kind to them. It's our best option, he agreed. "We'll go to Ravenwood."
They packed what little they had and prepared to leave. Before departing, Arthur sought out Lyra, who had been watching over them from the edge of the village.
"Lyra, we're going to Ravenwood," Arthur explained. "We have family there. But we need help to get there safely."
Lyra nodded, understanding their plight. "I'll send two magical beasts with you for protection," she said. She whistled softly, and two creatures emerged from the forest.
The first was a massive, wolf-like creature with sleek, silver fur and glowing blue eyes. "This is Fenris, a Lunar Wolf," Lyra introduced. "He's swift and strong, perfect for guarding you on your journey."
The second creature was a large, bird-like beast with vibrant, emerald feathers and piercing golden eyes. "And this is Aerie, a Wind Roc. She can scout ahead and alert you to any dangers."
Arthur was grateful for Lyra's assistance. "Thank you, Lyra. We'll be careful."
With Fenris and Aerie accompanying them, the journey to Ravenwood was relatively uneventful. The beasts' presence deterred any potential threats, and they arrived at their destination safely. Ravenwood was a bustling city, much larger than their village, and the sight of it filled Arthur with a mix of awe and apprehension. Ravenwood... It's so different from our village. Can we really find safety here?
They found Aunt Miriam's house near the city's edge. It was a modest home, but it radiated warmth and comfort. Miriam greeted them with open arms, her eyes filled with concern and love. "My dear children, what happened?" she asked, ushering them inside.
Arthur explained the attack on their village, their parents' deaths, and their desperate journey to Ravenwood. Miriam listened with tears in her eyes, her heart breaking. "You're safe now," she said, hugging them tightly. "You can stay here as long as you need."
Arthur and his siblings accepted her offer gratefully, but Arthur had other plans. "Aunt Miriam, I need to return to our village," he said, his voice determined. "I have unfinished business there."
Miriam looked at him with concern. "But why, Arthur? It's dangerous."
Arthur explained his reasons. "I need to become stronger. Lyra has offered to train me, and I can't turn that down. I have to protect Tomas and Elara, and I have to avenge our parents."
Miriam sighed, understanding his resolve. "I can't stop you, but promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise," Arthur said. He turned to his siblings, who looked at him with a mixture of worry and admiration. "I'll come back for you. Stay here and be safe."
Tomas nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "We'll be waiting, Arthur. Do what you need to do."
Elara hugged him tightly. "Be safe, big brother."
Arthur left Ravenwood with a heavy heart but a clear purpose. As he traveled back to the village, he thought about his next steps. He needed to speak with Baal, understand the demon's powers, and learn how to harness them. He also needed to start his training with Lyra. I need to grow stronger. For Tomas and Elara. For Mama and Papa. I won't let their deaths be in vain.
When he returned to the village, Lyra was waiting for him. "Are you ready to begin?" she asked, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and determination.
Arthur nodded. "Yes. I'm ready."