The morning shattered with a scream.
Athena's eyes snapped open. Smoke was curling into their small hut, and Yhan Yhan was growling low, pacing at her bedside. Outside, the clash of swords and the crackle of flames echoed through the village. The cries of villagers filled the air like a haunting song of despair.
"What's going on?" Athena muttered, groggy and alarmed.
Jea was already on her feet, peering out the small window. Her face turned pale as the color drained from her cheeks. "It's… it's the Elven Lord. He's here, and he's attacking the village."
Before Athena could process, Juan burst through the door, his face streaked with dirt and tears. He was trembling, his breath ragged. "They're dead! My family… they're killing everyone! My brothers… my—" His voice broke into a sob, and he leaned against the wall, struggling to stay upright.
Athena froze, her blood running cold. "What? No… no, that can't be true!"
"It's true!" Juan shouted, his voice cracking. "They're killing everyone. They've already—"
A deafening roar echoed through the village, cutting him off. The ground seemed to tremble as Lord Anjo's booming voice followed. "Burn everything! Leave no one alive!"
Jea gasped. That morning, chaos erupted in the village as armed men stormed through, wielding swords and setting the huts ablaze. The air filled with smoke, the crackle of flames, and the terrified screams of villagers scrambling for safety.
Jea's heart sank as the pieces finally clicked into place. The swarm of giant crickets, the massive bird—it had all been orchestrated. These weren't random acts of nature but deliberate attacks infused with magic, warnings of a greater calamity.
And now, the final blow had arrived. This wasn't just an attack; it was an attempt to annihilate the village entirely. Jea clenched her fists, determination flaring in her eyes but couldn't do anything.
Athena darted to the door, but Jea grabbed her arm. "Are you insane? We can't fight them! We have to run!"
"Elder Igo is still out there!" Athena protested. "We can't just leave her!"
"She'd want us to survive!" Jea yelled back, shaking her. "If we stay, we'll die too!"
Juan's fists clenched, and he pushed off the wall, his eyes blazing with anger. "I'm not leaving! I'll kill them! I'll kill every last one of them!"
Athena turned to him, grabbing his shoulders and forcing him to look at her. "Juan, listen to me! I know it hurts—I know—but we can't help anyone if we die here. We'll fight back, I swear we will, but not like this!"
The door burst open, and Yhan Yhan roared, her small body vibrating with fear. The heat from the fire outside made the air almost unbearable, and the sound of warriors shouting orders grew closer.
Athena shoved Juan toward the door. "Move! Now!"
The trio stumbled into the chaos. The village was unrecognizable—flames consumed the huts, smoke curled into the sky, and bodies littered the ground. Warriors clad in dark armor swept through, their swords flashing as they struck down anyone in their path.
Athena's eyes darted to the elder's hut, now engulfed in flames. Her heart sank. "Elder Igo…" she whispered, grief hitting her like a blow.
"We can't go back!" Jea screamed, pulling her forward.
Juan suddenly stopped, staring at the burning remains of his home. His eyes filled with tears again as he whispered, "My family… they're all gone."
A scream tore through him as he turned to run back toward the chaos, but Athena caught him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Juan, no! It's too late! I'm so sorry, but we have to go!"
"They took everything!" he cried, his voice breaking. "They took everything from me!"
Jea stepped beside him, tears streaking her own face. "We're still here," she said softly, gripping his hand. "You're not alone, Juan. I promise we'll make them pay, but not today. Right now, we have to survive."
A loud crash behind them snapped them back to reality. Warriors were closing in, their shouts like thunder.
"Run!" Athena shouted, pulling them both forward.
They sprinted through the village, dodging falling debris and avoiding the eyes of the elven warriors. Yhan Yhan stayed close, her growls turning into frightened whines. The heat from the fires burned at their skin, and the acrid smoke stung their eyes, making it hard to see.
Finally, they reached the edge of the forest, their lungs burning from the effort. Juan stopped and turned, his eyes fixed on the burning village. His face was etched with devastation. "It's gone…" he whispered. "Everything is gone."
Athena put a hand on his shoulder, her own heart heavy with grief. "We'll come back, Juan. We'll rebuild. And we'll make them pay for this."
Jea nodded, her voice trembling. "But first, we have to stay alive. For them."
Athena looked back at the village one last time, her fists clenched. The screams were fading now, replaced by the crackle of flames and the triumphant shouts of Lord Anjo's warriors.
"Let's go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We can't stay here."
And with their hearts heavy and their future uncertain, the trio disappeared into the forest, leaving behind everything they had ever known.
*****
Few miles away.
Mathea glanced down at her glowing necklace, the soft shimmer catching her attention. The light pulsed faintly under the moonlight, as if urging her forward. She stopped walking and looked up at the thick canopy above, a strange energy pulling at her.
Andrei walked beside her, his steps silent. "What's wrong?" he asked, noticing her hesitation.
"The necklace…" Mathea whispered, holding it up. "It's glowing brighter now. Something's ahead."
Andrei raised a brow. "Should we trust the magical jewelry, or do we turn back and ignore the ominous forest?"
Mathea rolled her eyes. "We're going forward. Keep up."
As they moved deeper into the forest, a faint noise reached their ears—a rustling mixed with strained groans. Then, the unmistakable voice of a young boy.
"Help! Someone, help me!"
Mathea's heart sank. "That sounds like a kid!" She broke into a sprint, Andrei right behind her.
When they reached the clearing, the sight before them was shocking. Juan was dangling upside down from a thick, green vine-like tendril that wrapped around his legs, thrashing wildly. Below him, Jea and Athena were sprawled out on the forest floor, unconscious but alive, with similar vines slithering around their ankles.
"What is that thing?!" Andrei hissed, his eyes darting toward the massive, carnivorous plant in the center of the chaos. Its gaping maw dripped with a slimy substance, and the vines snaked around, searching for more prey.
"It's some sort of magical plant," Mathea said, her voice shaking. "And it's not friendly."
Juan, still dangling, spotted them. "Hey! You two! Stop standing around and get me down from here!"
Mathea glanced at Andrei. "You get the kid. I'll take care of the plant."
Andrei looked at her skeptically. "You? With your… untrained magic? Not exactly comforting."
"I don't see you offering a better idea," she shot back, already stepping forward.
The glowing necklace flared brighter as Mathea approached the plant. She held her hands out, focusing on the magic inside her. "Come on… work this time," she muttered under her breath.
The plant hissed, its vines snapping toward her like whips. Mathea dodged and raised her hands again. A spark of energy erupted from her palms, slicing through one of the vines. Encouraged, she concentrated harder, sending a burst of magic directly at the plant's center.
With a deafening screech, the plant shuddered and collapsed, its vines withering away. Juan fell from the tree with a startled yelp, only to be caught mid-air by Andrei.
"Got you, kid," Andrei said, smirking as he set him down.
Juan brushed himself off. "That was embarrassing," he muttered. Then, looking up at Mathea, he grinned. "Nice magic, lady. I thought we were goners."
Mathea turned to Jea and Athena, kneeling beside them to check if they were okay. The necklace was now glowing so brightly it illuminated the entire clearing. As Jea stirred, she squinted at the light.
"What… what happened?" Jea mumbled, sitting up.
"You were almost plant food," Andrei said bluntly, offering her a hand.
Athena groaned as she woke, glancing around. "Ugh, what hit me?"
"A magical carnivorous plant," Mathea replied with a faint smile, helping her up.
Athena blinked at her, then at the necklace. "What's with the glowing jewelry?"
Mathea quickly tucked the necklace under her shirt. "It's… just a trinket. Nothing important."
Jea raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. "Sure doesn't look like nothing. It lit up the whole forest."
"Yeah, and how'd you find us?" Juan chimed in, folding his arms. "That glowing thing led you, didn't it?"