An old woman was preparing breakfast for her grandchildren, whom she had long cared for with her husband. They had to take care of all seven grandchildren as best as they could. Fortunately, the children never once complained about their very simple life.
Daisy, along with her husband, Bobby, was willing to spend their old age just to care for their young grandchildren. After preparing breakfast and setting it on the table, she stepped outside to see what her grandchildren were doing in the spacious yard.
A red-haired girl was pushing a swing for her younger sister. She was Valtiria, the eldest of the seven siblings. Meanwhile, the little girl on the swing was the youngest, Crystalia.
Daisy's gaze then shifted toward the river, where Bobby was happily fishing with two of their grandchildren, Nimora and Zaraea.
Astraea, Lunaria, and Calantha were playing tag. Daisy smiled broadly, seeing all her grandchildren so happy. She wished their mother could see how her daughters were doing. However, sadly, the girls had lost both their parents during the war.
From a distance, sand suddenly scattered into the air, catching Daisy's attention. At that moment, her smile faded. She quickly called out to her husband and all her grandchildren.
Bobby realized the arrival of "them." Without hesitation, he quickly led the girls back into the house.
"Grandpa, what's going on?" Lunaria asked innocently.
"Nothing, just stay here, okay?" They all nodded in unison.
Bobby then stepped outside to follow Daisy. A group of Enforcers in full armor was approaching their home. Right in the front yard, their leader dismounted.
"Where are they?" asked Lance, the leader of the Enforcers.
"Sorry, sir, but who are you looking for?" Bobby responded.
Without hesitation, Lance drew his sword and pointed it directly at the old man's neck.
"Don't pretend you don't know. Where are the girls?"
"I swear, I don't know what you're talking about. We live here alone."
As Bobby tried to find a way out of the situation, Daisy couldn't utter a single word. She knew that one wrong move could cost her life.
Meanwhile, Valtiria was peeking from behind the window, confused as to why the Enforcers were after her and her sisters.
"AAAA!!!" Bobby let out a loud scream as the sword pierced his thigh before being pulled out again, causing him to lose his balance.
Daisy rushed to help him, but two Enforcers restrained her.
"Please, don't kill him!" Daisy pleaded.
"I won't kill him, as long as you're not lying to me," Lance replied.
"Now, I'll ask one more time. Where are they?" He pointed his sword at Bobby's neck once more.
Bobby refused to sacrifice his grandchildren for his own safety. He didn't say a word—only his painful groans reached Lance's ears.
Lance kicked him hard in the chest, causing Bobby to collapse onto the ground, his thigh drenched in blood. Then, Lance stepped on his right arm and drove his sword into his palm.
At that moment, Valtiria turned her gaze away. She couldn't bear to watch her grandfather being tortured just to protect them.
"Val, what's wrong?" Crystalia asked, her voice trembling with fear.
Valtiria hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She tried her best to keep her younger sisters calm.
"Hey, listen to me. Right now, those bad people are hurting Grandpa and Grandma. They're looking for us. I need you all to run as far away from here as possible and never separate from each other," Valtiria instructed.
"Why? Why are they looking for us? Why do they have to hurt Grandpa and Grandma? Did we do something wrong?" Calantha asked.
"I-I don't know... You'll understand one day. But right now, I just need you to leave this place."
"Then what about you?" Crystalia asked.
"She's not coming with us," Astraea, the second eldest, muttered. "She just wants to act like a hero, even though what she's about to do is foolish."
"There's no other way to save them, As. At least one of us has to surrender, and that person is me."
Astraea didn't stop her, but she warned Valtiria not to regret leaving her sisters behind. She also vowed to protect them until they were grown.
They said their goodbyes, and Astraea led the others through the back door.
•••
Lance raised his sword, ready to strike down Bobby, who was lying helplessly on the ground. But Valtiria rushed out and shouted.
"HEY, STOP!"
"It's me, Valtiria, the first daughter of Eiron and Elyriana."
Lance shot her a sharp glare before slowly approaching her.
"What is your skill?" he asked.
"I can fight," Valtiria answered.
"No, that's not what I meant."
Valtiria knew exactly what he was asking, but she held back. She refused to reveal her secret to someone as cruel as Lance.
However, Lance once again threatened to kill Bobby if she didn't answer.
As time passed, Valtiria's mind raced. She couldn't let her abilities fall into the hands of evil. Lance gave her one last chance, pressing his foot against Bobby's chest and preparing to drive his sword straight into the old man's heart.
"If I show you... promise me you'll let them go," Valtiria said.
"Whatever you want, my lady."
With a mix of fear and determination, Valtiria extended her right arm.
"Cut off my hand," she said.
Daisy gasped in horror, unable to comprehend what her granddaughter was about to do. She screamed for her to stop.
"I'm sorry, Grandma... But there's no other way," Valtiria replied.
One of the Enforcers stepped forward, ready to fulfill her request.
At that moment, Valtiria's agonizing scream echoed through the distance, reaching the ears of her six sisters, who had already fled far away.