**Chapter 2: The Fall Continues**
Ian found himself ensnared in the unyielding grip of the head butler, who, fueled by desperation, quickened his pace. The butler's singular focus was to deliver his young master to the safety of his father, the esteemed Lord of the Gram family. "Ilios!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the twilight as a magnificent Golden Back wolf materialized from the shadows, its powerful frame lifting the butler onto its back. They fled towards the mansion, but a cloaked figure pursued them with relentless determination.
As the wolf unleashed a swirling vortex, opening portals in its wake, the cloaked man followed, undeterred. He was met by a fierce pack of Golden Back wolves, who lunged at him with ferocity. In a swift motion, he released a barrage of daggers, each finding its mark with precision, claiming the lives of the wolves in an instant. Enraged, the leader of the pack pressed on, his duty to protect the young lord overriding all else. "Young master, I regret to say that this is where my journey ends. But rest assured, I will avenge you against this vile pursuer!"
Tears streamed down Ian's face as he heard the butler's words. "Ilios, do not stop! Take me to the family head! Eliminate anything that stands in your way!" The butler responded with a sorrowful howl before leaping from the wolf's back to confront the cloaked figure directly.
Meanwhile, in the garden, the second elder grappled with the cloaked figure, his strength waning as he stood on the brink of death. "I acknowledge your power, but today you will witness true strength!" he declared, charging forward and unleashing a miasma-infused palm strike against the elder's chest. With each blow, the elder faltered, devoid of the energy he once possessed, his willpower the only thing propelling him forward. Memories of raising his son flooded his mind, and he uttered a final plea, "Please, grant our children long lives." His words hung in the air as his head and chest shattered like fragile fruit.
"Such an irritating man," the cloaked figure scoffed, observing the lifeless body of the second elder as he strode towards the main Gram mansion. With a wave of his hand, he sealed the entire Gram estate, trapping everyone within. "Bring forth the boy named Ian Gram! And I shall spare the lives of the rest, for I am a man of mercy!" His voice boomed with rage, but the Gram family stood resolute. Strong men and women rallied to protect their young master, with the commander of the Gram family standing defiantly at the mansion gates, spear in hand.
"Today, we may lose our lives, but the young master is our everything! Let us protect his smile, let us protect his life!" The commander's fervent declaration ignited a chorus of war cries, "We follow our young lord to death!" The air vibrated with their unity.
Inside the mansion, the patriarch fidgeted with anxiety, his son missing. Had it not been for the elders, he would have ventured out in search of Ian. But the war cries of his people stirred something deep within him. "Look at how willing they are to die for the young lord—even us! We must ensure he escapes! Lord Isaac Gram, are you ready?" As he stepped toward the doors, the army's morale surged, their determination palpable.
Suddenly, a massive wolf barreled towards them, the family's mount—the Golden Back wolf—carrying the young master in its powerful jaws. Isaac leaped forward, snatching his son from danger. "Ian! Please, are you unharmed?" Panic gripped him, but Ian nodded, calming his father's racing heart. "There is no time to waste. What I give you today must be protected at all costs," Isaac said, placing a necklace around Ian's neck and sliding a ring onto his finger, as the ring adjusted to his fit.
"This is a gift from me and my family. Cherish it," a man of the Gram family urged.
"Me too!" came the chorus from the clan members, each offering tokens of love and hope, urging Ian to carry forth their legacies.
"Lord, take the young lord away now! The enemies approach!" the commander shouted, brandishing his spear as he charged into the fray. He recognized the insignia on their chests—the royal palace's crest. "How could you betray us?"
Ian turned, eyes wide with horror as he witnessed the bodies of his kin falling from the sky, tears streaming down his face. "I swear, if I survive, I will take vengeance on everyone who has harmed my people!" he vowed, fleeing alongside his father towards the portal room.
Suddenly, the air shimmered as members of the royal court invaded the Gram estate. "Why don't you slaughter everyone now!" the commanding general's voice echoed ominously as chaos erupted, Gram family members collapsing around them. Ian's heart sank, engulfed by despair as he witnessed his family fall.
"How dare you do this to my people! Do you forget who I am? I am Isaac Gram!" With a fierce determination, he unleashed his power, severing the heads of four royal court members in a single moment. "I shall claim your heads as trophies!"
"We are prepared for you, old devil of the north," the general sneered, as the array master activated a binding array to contain Isaac's strength. Yet, Isaac pushed through, performing the Gram family sword dance, decimating two more generals with raw skill.
"My son, this is my final gift to you," he intoned, chanting a mantra that drew upon his blood energy as it went straight to his head. A shadowy figure "ilios" burst forth, seizing Ian and pulling him into the portal. "I am sorry, my son, this is my gift to you." As he knelt, the commander and three generals plunged their weapons into Isaac's chest.
"Ian's anguished scream pierced the air, a desperate cry that resonated through the snowy expanse as he found himself transported to the heart of a frosty mountain. The weight of his profound loss bore down on him, and instinctively, he curled into a ball, tears mingling with the soft snow beneath him. In that moment of vulnerability, Ilios enveloped him in warmth, a steadfast guardian shielding him from the biting cold, offering solace amidst the storm of grief."