On the borders of Velkarn, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, there was a small luxurious house, surrounded by trees and small hills that seemed to protect it from the outside world. It was a refuge of peace and serenity, a secluded place that was used as a hideaway for those seeking respite from the relentless pace of the great metropolis. Here, a man and his daughter found the tranquility that their hectic lives did not always allow them.
The man, known as one of the great leaders of the nation, possessed vast knowledge in science and different types of magic, among them, the complex magic of materialization. He was the protector and guide of Caldris, the one who ensured that his people prospered in a troubled world. Under his leadership, the nation had grown, strengthening its technological advances and military strength while remaining committed to the welfare of its citizens.
But his ideals went beyond politics and expansion. For him, the most important thing was to protect the weakest, those who could not defend themselves. In his vision, Caldris was not only to be an empire of strength and power; it was to be a safe home for all. These values, this unwavering will to protect and serve, had been born out of a personal tragedy that marked him deeply.
In the main room of the house, there was a small photograph that he always carried with him, an image that seemed to contain all the happiness and pain he had known in his life. In the photo, a young man held a baby in his arms, while a woman smiled beside him, looking at them tenderly.
The woman, his beloved wife, had passed away shortly after the photo was taken. An illness that neither technology nor the most advanced magic could cure had taken her from his side.
They called it Vital Inertia, an ailment that slowly consumed the vital energy of its victim, making each day feel like a losing battle. Caldris' doctors and mages had done all they could, but the disease had deep roots in the very fabric of the soul, something that neither materialization nor conventional magic could repair.
They could create and transform matter, they could heal physical wounds, but they could not reverse an erosion that originated in the very essence of a person. She weakened over time, and, in the end, he left her with a weak smile, holding the man's hand and whispering words he still remembered clearly, "Live for her."
Since then, he had dedicated his life to his daughter, becoming her protector and guide. The little girl filled his days with joy, with her soft laughter and her eyes that reflected the sunlight like two mirrors of happiness. He always found ways to make her smile, whether it was lifting her up in his arms so she could touch the leaves on the trees or telling her fantastic stories about dragons and heroes who always found their way home.
—Dad, are we going back to the city soon? —asked the little girl one day, as they watched the sunset from the terrace.
—Yes, my little one —he replied, stroking her hair—. But first let's enjoy this place a little more, just you and me.
—I like to be here —she murmured, squeezing his hand—. It's quiet, as if the world were smaller.
He smiled, feeling his heart fill with peace every time he heard her speak. In those moments, he saw her and could not help but see his mother in her gestures and in the way her eyes sparkled. Although tragedy had touched his life, he found comfort in his daughter's innocence and purity. It was a reminder of what she had lost, but also of what she still had.
However, in the midst of that peace and happiness, something changed. A deep, dull sound echoed through the earth, like a giant heartbeat that shook everything around them. The walls of the house shook and the leaves of the trees vibrated with a force they had never felt before. The ground, always firm under their feet, began to move violently. The tranquility that surrounded them shattered into a thousand pieces.
The man, his heart in his fist, lifted his daughter in his arms, holding her tightly as the world around him crumbled. Furniture tipped over and glass exploded into shards that flew across the room, but he didn't take his eyes off the little girl, whispering words of comfort that could barely be heard over the roar of the earth.
—Everything will be all right, Yui. Dad is here.
The child, with her eyes wide open and full of fear, clung to him with all her strength, sinking her face into his shoulder. The house, which had been a haven of peace, turned into chaos, and he kept moving, looking for a safe place as the shaking continued.
In the distance, from the city of Velkarn, came the sounds of crying and gunfire. The roar of something breaking, something much larger than the walls of their home, echoed through the air. Flames were rising in the distance, and the sky, which only moments before had been blue and clear, was tinged red and black.
He knew something terrible was happening in Velkarn's heart, and though his first instinct was to protect his daughter, he couldn't help but feel a pang of despair within himself. He looked away, gritting his teeth, knowing that the world they knew was changing, and that the peace they had enjoyed together was about to vanish.
Even though the earthquake had ended, the noise of screams and explosions grew closer and closer, like an echo of a disaster that had not yet finished unleashing. But he stood firm, holding his daughter with all the strength he had left, knowing that, come what may, he would never leave her alone.
In the midst of that tempest, as chaos raged around him, his eyes were riveted on the horizon, and a single promise filled his mind: to protect her at all costs, no matter the price.