A Week Earlier.
(POV: Rosalind Redmond) — Caspian Fiancee mother)
"We have to do something about this... Caspian."
Lady Rosalind Redmond's voice echoed in the grand hall of the Redmond estate.
Her blue eyes, sharp and calculating, fixated on her husband, Lord Ren Redmond, who stood by the window, gazing out at the gardens.
His jaw tightened, but he remained silent.
"Are you listening to me, Ren?" Rosalind's asked.
Ren sighed, turning to face her.
"I heard you. But do you understand what you're suggesting? The boy is still tied to our family through the engagement. If anything happens to him, it could stir unnecessary questions—questions that will lead back to us."
Rosalind smirked, standing gracefully as she approached her husband.
"Unnecessary questions? Please. Do you honestly believe the Arcwright family will waste time investigating the death of a boy they discarded? That family values strength and worth. And Caspian? He has neither."
Ren frowned but didn't argue.
"He is a blemish, Ren," Rosalind continued, her voice dripping with disdain.
"A boy of no status, no power, and no future. And yet, his mere existence offends me. How can we allow someone so... beneath us to be tied to our daughter? Fianna deserves better."
At the mention of their daughter, Ren's expression softened.
"You know I agree with you," he said. "But removing him... it must be done subtly. If the Arcwright family senses foul play, it could backfire. They may not care about Caspian, but they value their name."
Rosalind's lips curled into a sly smile.
"Of course, my dear. I've already considered that. This isn't a crude assassination. No, this will be artful. An unfortunate accident. One that no one will question."
Alaric raised an eyebrow.
"And how do you plan to accomplish that?"
Rosalind moved to a nearby table, picking up a delicate glass of wine.
She swirled the crimson liquid lazily before taking a sip.
"Nyxoria City. An S-rank portal has appeared, yes?"
Alaric nodded.
"Monsters spill out of those portals all the time, don't they? It's tragic, really," Rosalind mused.
"A family outing disrupted by a sudden attack. Caspian Arcwright, the poor boy, bravely sacrifices himself to save his family. A noble death for a boy who was never noble."
Ren's eyes narrowed.
"And the mother? The brothers? You plan to involve them?" Ren asked.
Rosalind waved her hand dismissively.
"They will survive, of course. We'll send someone to rescue them at the last moment. The story will be flawless. The monsters will be blamed, the family will mourn, and our daughter will be free of that wretch."
"And who will ensure the monsters target only Caspian?" Ren asked, his tone skeptical.
Rosalind's smile deepened, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"I've already arranged it. Our contact within their security detail will ensure Caspian is left alone when the monsters strike. As for the creatures, let's just say they've been... guided. We've set things in motion, Ren. The boy's fate is sealed."
For a moment, Ren studied his wife, his face unreadable. Then he nodded slowly.
"Very well. But make no mistake, Rosalind—if this goes wrong, you'll no our whole family will bear the consequences."
Rosalind raised her glass, her smile unyielding.
"Oh, it won't go wrong, my love. Next week, Caspian Arcwright will be nothing but a memory." Rosalind said.
She turned back to the window, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
Far beyond the gardens, the outline of Nyxoria City loomed in the distance—a city about to become the stage for her carefully orchestrated tragedy.
"Goodbye, Caspian," Rosalind whispered to herself, her voice devoid of pity.
____
[Present time]
The screech of twisting metal and the hiss of steam filled the air as the car came to a jarring halt, the front end crumpled against the road.
Smoke poured from the engine.
"Get out of the car! Quickly!" Eleana shouted.
Caspian, dazed from the crash, stumbled out first, blinking as his surroundings spun.
Jaxar and Eirak followed, trembling as they clutched at each other.
"Where's the escort team?!" Eleana yelled, scanning the area.
The road behind them was empty, no sign of the trailing vehicle that was supposed to ensure their safety.
"They were right behind us!"
"They... they abandoned us?" Jaxar stammered, his voice shaking.
"No!" Eleana snapped. "That's impossible. They wouldn't—"
"GRRRRR"
A low, guttural growl interrupted her, freezing everyone in place.
Caspian turned his head slowly, his heart sinking.
Out of the thick forest lining the road, shadows emerged who were following them.
"They're everywhere…" Eirak muttered, his voice barely audible.
The lupivores prowled closer, their growls growing louder as they formed a circle around the family.
"What do we do, Mom?" Jaxar cried, clutching at Eleana's arm.
Eleana's expression hardened.
"Stay behind me. Do not run!" Eleana said.
Eleana's hands trembled as a faint golden light emanated from her palms, forming a shimmering protective barrier around her family.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The lupivores hurled themselves at the barrier with relentless force, their claws screeching against its surface.
Snarls and guttural growls echoed in the air as drool dripped from their fangs.
"They're only attacking one side…" Caspian muttered, his eyes darting to the section of the barrier nearest him.
It was as if the lupivores had a singular focus—him.
Their Red eyes locked onto him, not wavering even when Eleana's light repelled them.
"Why… why are they only coming for me?" Caspian's voice trembled. Was it because he was weak? Or was there another, more sinister reason?
Eleana's face was pale, her body trembling as she poured every ounce of her energy into sustaining the barrier.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, a stark crimson against her ashen complexion.
"I… can't hold this much longer," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Her left hand glowed faintly, channeling a healing spell to her own body.
But it was clear the strain was overwhelming her; even healing herself was taking a toll.
A faint crack echoed through the air.
Eirak's heart dropped. "No… it's breaking."
Another crack appeared, branching like a spiderweb across the barrier.
THUD!
One of the lupivores slammed against it with its massive body, its claws raking furiously.
"Mom, stop! You're going to—"
"Quiet!" Eleana snapped, blood dripping from her lips. "I won't let them touch you!"
The barrier flickered, its golden glow dimming.
CRACK!
The sound was deafening this time, the web of fractures spreading until—
SHATTER!
The barrier exploded in a burst of light, fragments dissipating into the air.
Eleana staggered back, nearly collapsing, but she caught herself.
The lupivores wasted no time.
They surged forward, their eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.
"Caspian!" Eleana shouted, stepping in front of him.
A lupivore lunged, its fangs aimed at Caspian's throat.
Eleana raised her arm, intercepting the attack.
SNAP!
The beast's jaws clamped down on her forearm.
"Ahhhhhh"
She let out a scream as blood splattered onto the ground.
With a desperate cry, she swung her other hand, releasing a burst of light that sent the lupivore sprawling back.
"Mom, stop!" Jaxar shouted, tears stinging his eyes.
Another lupivore charged.
Eleana turned, her movements sluggish. The beast's claws raked across her side, tearing through fabric and flesh.
Still, she didn't back down.
"I won't let them have you!" she cried, summoning another burst of light to push the creature away.
Her breaths came in ragged gasps.
Her body swayed, her knees threatening to buckle.
"Stop… please…" Caspian whispered finally, his voice breaking.
The lupivores circled again, their focus still locked on him.
One lunged, and Eleana, barely standing, stepped in its path.
This time, she couldn't repel it.
The beast's claws struck her chest, and she collapsed to the ground.
Blood pooled beneath her as she lay still, her breaths shallow.
"Mom!" Caspian screamed, dropping to his knees beside her.
The lupivores paused for a moment, growling low as they watched their prey.
Eleana's trembling hand reached up, brushing Caspian's cheek.
"Run… Caspian…Run all of you,"
Her eyes closed, and her hand fell limp.
The lupivores, sensing their opportunity, began to advance again.
Caspian stood frozen, staring at his mother's broken form, his heart pounding in his ears.
Suddenly, the air grew still, and the lupivores froze mid-advance.
Their snarls and growls ceased as if an invisible force had taken control of them.
Caspian's chest heaved as he stared at the beasts.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a woman draped in a dark, flowing cloak.
Her presence exuded an unnatural authority, and even the lupivores seemed to bow in submission.
Caspian's heart leaped. 'She's here to save us…'
The woman moved with calculated grace, stepping over the blood-soaked ground until she reached Eleana's crumpled form.
Caspian watched as she knelt, lifting his mother's limp body effortlessly into her arms.
"Wait!" Caspian gasped, relief flooding through him. "You're here to help, right? Please, take us—"
The woman glanced at him, her expression void of warmth.
Her emerald-green eyes glinted with something cold and distant.
Behind her, Jaxar and Eirak, still frozen in terror, were yanked to their feet by an unseen force.
The woman's gaze lingered on them for a moment before she turned back to Caspian.
The woman gave him a faint, almost pitying smile.
"Bye, child. It was hard enough controlling these beasts anymore,"
With that, she turned and picked jaxar and Eirak in air as they started floating, her cloak billowing behind her.
Eleana, Jaxar, and Eirak vanished into the shadows with her, leaving Caspian alone amid the circling lupivores.
"No! Come back!" Caspian shouted, his voice cracking as he stumbled forward.
"Don't leave me here! Don't—"
The lupivores growled low, their predatory eyes locking onto him once more.
The woman didn't stop, her figure disappearing entirely as the weight of her words settled in Caspian's chest.
Alone.
The beasts began to close in again, their steps deliberate and hungry.
Caspian clenched his fists, his body trembling.
He was truly, utterly abandoned.
_______