Dusk was falling over the kingdom of Solara, shrouding the once golden lands in ominous shadow. The shining towers that rose to the sky seemed dull, as if they foreshadowed imminent destruction. But Caelum, then six years old, saw none of this. To him, this night should have been like any other, lulled by his mother's stories and the safety of his father's arms.
But that night, the heartbreaking screams of the queen tore him from his sleep.
Lyra, the captain of the royal guards, burst into the prince's room. Her normally calm eyes were now filled with panic. Without wasting a second, she lifted Caelum from the bed, wrapping him in a dark cloak. She held the boy close, feeling his small heart pounding.
"We must leave, now," she whispered sharply, trying to hide her own fear.
Outside, Solara's palace burned. Hordes of black-clad assailants swarmed the halls, carving through loyal guards like shadows from the deepest nightmares. These men were fast, silent, and deadly—*The Fallen*. The legend whispered to children to frighten them had become a bloody reality.
Lyra, Caelum in her arms, joined Aldric, her husband and captain of the royal guard, in the labyrinthine halls of the palace. Aldric stood at the ready, a black steel sword drawn. His eyes searched desperately for a way out.
"We can no longer pass through the main gates," he whispered as he saw the chaos. "The underground passage… it's our only chance." »
They rushed into the bowels of the palace, taking a narrow spiral staircase that led down to the catacombs. But the Fallen were on their trail, their footsteps echoing behind them like an inescapable hunt.
When they reached the bottom, Aldric stopped short. Three dark figures stood before them, blocking the exit. The Fallen's blades flickered faintly in the darkness.
Aldric exchanged a look with Lyra. "Protect him. I'll hold them off."
Without waiting for a response, he rushed toward the assassins, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. The first Fallen dodged, but Aldric quickly pivoted, his blade slicing into his opponent's shoulder. The second attacked silently, but Aldric parried the blow, countering with such violence that the Fallen backed away, leaving an opening that the captain did not fail to exploit. A series of quick, precise blows cut down the second assailant. Aldric turned to the third, a larger figure, recognizable by the insignia etched on his armor—one of the Fallen's high-ranking officers, a warrior feared for his mastery of combat.
The latter moved with deadly grace, his attacks calculated and flawless. Aldric, despite his experience, had difficulty keeping up with his pace. Metal against metal echoed in the tunnel, each blow bringing the two fighters closer to the inevitable denouement.
Lyra held Caelum close, watching the battle with wide eyes. She knew they couldn't just stand there. The Fallen's high-ranking officer was no mere fighter; he was toying with Aldric, pushing him to the limit. The captain, despite his bravery, was beginning to weaken.
As the situation grew desperate, Aldric suddenly lunged at the high-ranking officer with renewed strength, disarming his opponent in a swift and precise movement. The Fallen, surprised by the sudden offensive, tried to back away, but Aldric was upon him. In an instant, he turned the tables, his blade grazing his foe's throat.
"Fall back!" the high-ranking officer shouted to his remaining subordinates, his gaze fixed on Aldric with calculated coldness.
The remaining assassins vanished into the shadows as quickly as they had appeared, leaving Aldric panting but victorious.
"Aldric, we must go!" Lyra called, pressing Caelum against her.
Aldric, wiping the sweat from his brow, nodded. "Let's go."
They rushed toward the exit, their path now clear. After passing through the underground passage, they finally reached a door hidden behind a waterfall. The cool, damp air enveloped them as they emerged into the darkness of the mountains.
Lyra knew they couldn't stay here. They had to get away from Solara, deeper into the mountains where no one would find them. The Fallen were relentless, but she wouldn't let them take Caelum. The prince was Solara's future, her last hope, and they would protect him at all costs.
"We must go on, my prince," she whispered, her tears mixing with the mist of the waterfall. "For Solara… for you."
Aldric, wounded but standing, placed a comforting hand
"We will survive. Solara will be reborn. »
They set off, disappearing into the darkness of the mountains with Caelum huddled against them, unaware of the future that awaited them. But one thing was certain: that night had forever changed the young prince's destiny, forging him in the fire of loss and survival.
And somewhere, in the depths of the ruined palace, the shadows were retreating. The high-ranking officer of the Fallen, wiping the blood from his blade, took one last look toward the tunnel where Caelum had disappeared. A dark smile appeared on his lips. He knew they weren't done with Caelum Valerius. It was only the beginning of a hunt that would last years, a hunt that would push Solara's last heir to become more than just a prince on the run.