The hall, once filled with warmth, was now thick with tension. The sounds of battle echoed through the castle walls, and Arlen stood by his mother, his heart pounding. Queen Alessa's gaze was fixed on the door, concern etched on her face. She had always trusted her husband, King Helios, but tonight felt different. There was an unfamiliar coldness to the air, a sense that something more sinister was at play.
"Stay here, Arlen," Helios' voice was firm yet reassuring. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "I will take care of this."
Arlen nodded without a word, but his insides were on fire with worry. His father, the strongest man he knew, had faced many challenges before, but tonight felt different. He couldn't shake the feeling that something more dangerous was approaching.
Helios turned and strode toward the door, his movements confident, almost regal. He was the king, after all, and his strength was unparalleled. The doors creaked open, and the air shifted with the crackle of flames—Helios' flames. Arlen had seen it before, the fiery fury his father could summon with a mere thought. But tonight, there was an intensity to it that unsettled him.
"Father…" Arlen whispered, but the king was already gone, vanishing into the chaos outside.
Arlen's thoughts raced, but he was snapped back to reality when he heard his mother's voice.
"Stay here, Arlen," she repeated softly, but her eyes were filled with fear. She placed her hand on his, her fingers warm but trembling.
But Arlen wasn't listening anymore. He couldn't sit idly by while his father was out there, fighting. He needed to find Ina—his younger brother, who had been missing from the dining hall. With a quick glance back at his mother, Arlen bolted from the hall, running through the castle corridors, his heart thumping wildly in his chest.
His mind raced as he ran. Where was Ina? Why hadn't he seen him in the hall? The fear gripped him tighter with every step. Ina was younger, smaller, and didn't have the strength to defend himself like Arlen did.
"Where are you, Ina?" Arlen muttered to himself.
Outside, the castle was alive with chaos. The sky was thick with smoke, and flames rose high in the distance. But Arlen didn't stop. He pushed through the castle doors and ran into the courtyard, his eyes scanning every corner. And then, amidst the chaos, he saw him—Ina.
The younger boy was standing in the shadow of a pillar, his face pale with fear, his eyes wide. He looked lost, confused, and Arlen's heart ached at the sight of him.
"Ina!" Arlen shouted, running toward him.
Ina looked up, startled, and then smiled with visible relief. "Arlen!" he whispered. "What's happening? Where's Father?"
Arlen's chest tightened. He wanted to reassure his brother, but the words wouldn't come. "Father is fighting. We need to go back inside, quickly."
But before they could move, the air around them suddenly chilled, and Arlen froze. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he turned toward the looming figure that emerged from the shadows—Darius.
Arlen's eyes widened in shock. Darius. His uncle. The man who had left the kingdom when Arlen was just a toddler. The man who had never returned until now.
"Darius?" Arlen whispered, his voice shaking. He didn't recognize him at first—this man, standing before him, was so different from the warm and kind uncle he remembered. His features were sharper, colder. His eyes… colder.
Darius didn't respond to the question. Instead, he stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Arlen, then shifted to Ina. "I never wanted it to come to this, Arlen," he said, his voice quiet, but full of purpose. "But this kingdom must fall. For the greater good."
"Why?" Arlen demanded, his voice shaking with anger. "Why do you want to destroy our home?"
Darius's expression softened for a moment, but it quickly turned to stone. "Your father's kingdom is built on lies. This peace he's maintained—it isn't real. The world needs change. I've waited long enough."
Arlen clenched his fists, his magic sparking to life within him, a flicker of flame igniting from his fingers. But Darius simply watched him, his gaze unwavering.
"Get away from us!" Arlen shouted, stepping in front of Ina, his body a shield.
But Darius didn't move. Instead, he looked at Arlen with a sad, almost pitying expression. "You don't understand, do you? This is for the greater good, Arlen. For the world's future."
Just then, the ground trembled, and a sudden burst of fire tore through the air. A massive figure, cloaked in flames, appeared in front of them—King Helios.
"Stay back from my children!" Helios' voice rang out like thunder, and the ground beneath them seemed to shudder with his power.
Darius stepped back, his expression momentarily faltering. "You've always been the strongest, brother. But this ends tonight."
King Helios' fiery aura roared around him. "Not while I'm still standing."
Arlen could barely keep up with the sheer intensity of the moment. His father's flames were more furious than ever, a storm of fire swirling around him, tearing through the ground like a tempest.
"Arlen, Ina—go back to your mother. Now," Darian commanded, his voice hard.
"No!" Arlen protested. He couldn't leave. Not now.
Sir Rayen, stepping up beside the king, gave a respectful bow. "Your Majesty, please. Let me take them."
Helios looked at Arlen one last time, his face softening for the briefest moment. "I will always be with you. Remember that."
Arlen's heart broke, but he nodded, his resolve hardening. He turned to Rayen. "Take him. Please."
Sir Rayen gripped both boys by the shoulders and led them away, his steps quick. But Arlen couldn't help but glance back at his father. He saw the figure of Darian, flames still raging around him, as he faced his brother.
The battle had only just begun.