The sun had just begun to rise in the east, casting its golden light over the small border village, but the tranquility of dawn was shattered by a creeping terror. The village was engulfed in a blood-red doom.
"Olivia!! Olivia!! Wake up!!"
The violent pounding on the door startled Olivia out of her peaceful sleep. Groggy and confused, she sat up, blinking against the sudden rush of panic. Her father's voice, desperate and filled with fear, echoed through the door. At first, she thought it might be a thief.
But then came the screams; agonizing cries for help from the village outside, chilling her to the bone.
Heart racing, Olivia leaped out of bed, her feet sliding into slippers as she dashed for the door. When she opened it, her father stood there in disarray, hastily dressed in simple clothes with a breastplate strapped over them. His hands gripped two long swords, their blades gleaming ominously in the early light. His expression was grave.
"Put on your shoes, immediately! We have to go—now!" Brian, usually a quiet blacksmith, thrust one of the swords into Olivia's hands.
Olivia's hands trembled as she took the sword. Her father never touched weapons, and now he was handing one to her? Her voice quivered, filled with a mix of anxiety and confusion. "What's happening, Father? Why are people screaming? What's going on outside?"
Brian's face twisted with urgency as he replied, his voice strained. "It's the Kantadar army. A cavalry unit has stormed the village. We must escape, Olivia. There's no time to lose! Now hurry, put on your shoes!"
The realization hit Olivia like a punch to the gut. The Kantadar army? The name alone brought stories of cruelty, of devastation, to her mind. She forced herself to focus, pulling on her boots with trembling hands, and followed her father as he rushed toward the stairs.
"To the stables!" her father shouted, pulling her toward the back door.
Through the windows, the chaos of the village assaulted her senses, the desperate cries of the villagers, the sinister laughter of the invaders, and the relentless thundering of horses' hooves. Olivia's chest tightened as she listened to the sounds of horror.
"Help! Please! Spare me!" came the desperate cries of a neighbor.
"Father!" Olivia gasped, her heart twisting with anguish. "That's Uncle Matt!"
She halted, her instincts screaming at her to turn back, to help. But her father's grip tightened on her arm, his face pale with determination. "No, Olivia! Please, don't do something foolish. I know you're strong, but these men... they're not just bandits. They're soldiers. If we don't run, we'll die. Do you understand?"
Tears welled in Olivia's eyes, but she knew her father was right. She nodded, swallowing her fear and the guilt gnawing at her chest.
The two sprinted through the yard, the noise of battle and carnage growing louder with every second. But just as they neared the stable, a cruel voice rang out from behind them.
"Hah! Look what we have here, a woman!"
A Kantadar cavalryman sat atop his horse just beyond the low stone wall, his eyes gleaming with wicked delight. The sight of Olivia, her blonde hair catching in the early morning light, seemed to ignite something feral within him. He had already ransacked a farmhouse, only to find an elderly couple with little of value. But now, the cruel soldier had stumbled upon a far more appealing prize.
He dismounted with a sneer, his bloodstained sword gleaming in the morning sun. Without a word, he kicked down the small gate of the backyard and strode toward them, eyes fixed on Olivia. His grin widened as he got closer.
"Such a delicate little thing for a place like this," the cavalryman mocked in broken Feru, his voice dripping with malice. "Old man, your daughter's beauty is a gift I'll happily take. I'll make your death quick as thanks." He chuckled darkly, his grip tightening on his sword.
Olivia's heart pounded in her chest as she glared at the man, disgust boiling inside her. "Shameless," she spat, raising her sword, though her hands still trembled.
"Together!" Brian's voice cracked with urgency. "We'll face him together; don't hold back!" He lifted his sword, charging at the soldier without hesitation.
Olivia's fear gave way to a surge of adrenaline as she followed her father, sword raised, ready to fight for their survival. The odds were overwhelming, but they had no choice. This was a fight to the death.
The blonde girl, driven by a surge of anger, moved with a speed that even her father couldn't match.
Her skirt flared as she darted forward like a golden meteor, her movements swift and precise. Olivia's fury fueled her, and her target, the Kantadar cavalryman; didn't stand a chance.
Behind his helmet, the soldier's eyes, once gleaming with arrogance and cruelty, widened in sheer shock. He had no time to react, his body frozen as Olivia's sword arced toward him like a streak of light. Panicking, he instinctively raised his sword, trying to block her attack, but his hand twisted awkwardly, and the blade slipped from his grip as Olivia's strike hit its mark.
A cold chill raced down the cavalryman's arm as pain seared through his hand. His sword clattered to the ground, the fingers that once held it now useless. Olivia's blade had found the gap in his iron gauntlet, slicing through the chainmail and into his flesh with deadly precision.
Before he could even cry out, Olivia twisted her wrist, her sword flashing again. This time, the blade found its way into the joint of his right arm, cutting through the mail with a sickening sound. Blood poured from the wound, staining the glinting armor as his forearm, severed cleanly, dangled helplessly at his side.
"Aaaaahhh!" The scream tore from his throat as he staggered backward, clutching at the remains of his arm, terror written across his face. The once-powerful cavalryman was reduced to a quivering mess, stumbling away from Olivia as blood spilled onto the ground.
Olivia stood poised, sword raised for the finishing blow, her breath shallow. Yet, as the blade hovered in the air, she hesitated. The sight of the soldier's fear, his life slipping away before her, made her pause. She had never killed anyone before, never even thought she'd have to. The idea of ending a life gnawed at her, holding her sword in place.
But the brief moment of indecision was quickly shattered by her father. Old Brian, fueled by years of survival instinct, surged forward, knocking the cavalryman to the ground with a brutal shoulder slam. Without hesitation, he plunged his sword into the man's exposed armpit, the blade sliding easily into his chest.
"Do not hesitate, Olivia!" Brian barked, his voice harsh and urgent. "Their crimes deserve no mercy!"
The cavalryman let out a final gurgle as his life drained away, his body crumpling beneath Brian's weight. Brian glanced up at his daughter, his expression firm. "If you don't kill them, they will kill you. Protect yourself, or we'll both die."
Olivia's heart clenched. She had always been taught to be kind, to show mercy, but this, this was survival. Her father's words hit her hard, making her realize just how unprepared she was for this kind of brutality. Regret flickered in Brian's eyes as he saw her hesitation. He had raised her to be compassionate, but now he wished he had taught her what it took to survive in a world this cruel.
Wasting no more time, Brian grabbed Olivia by the arm, dragging her toward the stable. "Come on, we have to go!"
He shoved her onto one of the horses, and then mounted another himself. With a shout, he spurred his horse forward, galloping out of the stable. Olivia took a deep breath, pushing aside the turmoil inside her as she urged her horse to follow.
She couldn't afford to hesitate any longer. The villagers, her home, were beyond saving, but her father wasn't. She had to stay focused, had to make sure he survived. She wouldn't let him fall because of her own doubts.
Father and daughter charged out of the backyard, one after the other. As they reached the front, Brian noticed the Kantadar soldier's riderless horse still lingering by the gate. Without slowing down, he leaned over in the saddle, snatching up the cavalry spear still embedded in the dirt beside the dead soldier.
"Onward!" he yelled, spurring his horse again.
With the spear tucked under his arm, Brian led the way down the narrow streets like a seasoned knight, the spear aimed forward, ready for the next attack.
The village was chaos, houses burning, the streets filled with terrified villagers, and Kantadar soldiers wreaking havoc wherever they went. But as Brian and Olivia raced through the chaos, several of the marauding soldiers took notice of their escape. Their eyes followed the galloping figures, filled with both surprise and hunger for blood.
Olivia's heart pounded in her chest as she urged her horse forward, her father's words ringing in her ears. She couldn't afford to slow down, couldn't afford to falter. Every second counted. They had to escape—before the storm of violence consumed them too.