Paul and Thomas raced towards their town, the horse's hooves slamming against the ground, urgency propelling them onward. The heavy cloud of smoke on the horizon grew larger, turning the once-comfortable journey tense and foreboding.
The settlement appeared amidst the commotion; its serene facade was ravaged by the goblin invasion. The sounds of clashing swords and panicked shouts filled the air as fires raged, sending billowing smoke into the sky.
Paul's heart clenched as he took in the devastation. He dismounted immediately, gripping Thomas's shoulders tightly but kindly. "Stay close, Thomas," he advised, his voice filled with concern and determination.
Gripping the hilt of his sword, Paul surveyed the battlefield. Villagers fought bravely against the goblin invaders, their faces a mix of terror and defiance. With renewed determination, Paul charged into the fray, his sword glittering in the sunlight as he fended off the assaults.
Meanwhile, Thomas's desperation surged. Ignoring the danger, he sprinted towards his house, calling out for his mother amidst the chaos. Bursting through the door, he cried out in search of her, but the only reply was silence—a silence that shattered his heart.
In the kitchen, Thomas's eyes widened with horror as he took in the scene. His mother lay lifeless on the ground, a single goblin standing over her. Anguish welled up within him, tears streaming down his cheeks as he realized the extent of the tragedy. He fell to his knees beside her, grief consuming him.
The goblin dashed toward Thomas, but he was too shocked to move. A vision of his previous life flashed before his eyes, replaced by the current horror. As he snapped out of it, he realized it was too late to dodge the attack. Suddenly, he felt a pull and saw the person saving him.
"Serena?" Thomas was confused. Why was she here? But Serena continued to pull Thomas out of his house while the goblin chased them relentlessly. Serena stumbled and fell to her knees. The goblin closed in, growling menacingly. They hugged each other, bracing for the end.
THUD.
The sound of something heavy hitting the ground echoed. Thomas opened his eyes, still hugging Serena, to see the goblin lying dead with an arrow through its head. A horse's approach caught his attention, filling him with hope.
"THE ROYAL KNIGHT!"
The royal knight entered the village, swiftly dispatching the goblins. Serena, still in shock, almost died but was saved in the nick of time. The battle ended with the remaining goblins fleeing into the forest. As Thomas watched them go, he noticed a humanoid figure in a robe staring directly at him before vanishing into the dark forest.
Thomas stood up, offering his hand to Serena. They walked through the aftermath, hearing the cries of children over their dead parents, pleas for help, and cheers of victory. Thomas continued searching for his father, his hope shattering when he saw Paul lying on the ground, mortally wounded from the fight.
"Dad! No, please!" Thomas's voice broke as he knelt beside his father. Paul opened his eyes weakly, a faint smile crossing his lips.
"Thomas... you're safe. That's all that matters," Paul whispered, his hand reaching up to touch his son's face. "Be strong, my son. Protect those you love."
Thomas gripped his father's hand, tears streaming down his face. "I promise, Dad. I promise."
Paul's eyes closed, his hand slipping from Thomas's grasp. Thomas knelt, his body heavy with grief. The reality of losing both parents hit him hard, making his breathing labored. The sounds around him faded as he burst into tears. Serena hugged him, sharing his sorrow.
A horse stopped beside them, and Thomas looked up to see his mother's brother, Arnol Baldwin, the rightful heir to the kingdom of Ruhan. Arnol dismounted, his face filled with concern.
"Thomas, I'm very sorry for your loss, but it is not safe here. How about you stay with us at the castle?" Arnol asked gently.
Thomas, his voice soft and sad, replied, "But then Serena will be far away from me."
Serena spoke up, "No, Thomas, you should go with your uncle. I will be fine. I can send you letters." She reassured him, understanding that Thomas had lost a significant part of his life that day.
Thomas nodded and agreed to follow his uncle back to the palace.
The village began to heal slowly after the goblin attack. Serena and the healing mage attended to the wounded, while Thomas, Arnol, and the royal knight helped rebuild and bury the dead. With everything done, Thomas gave Serena one last hug before leaving for the capital.
Back in the forest, the humanoid entity continued to observe Thomas from afar, a dark and evil aura emanating from it. Only time would reveal the entity's motives and why it had summoned the goblins to attack Thomas's village.