The garden, once a sanctuary of beauty and peace, had become a nightmare. The air was thick with tension, the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds replaced by the sound of hurried footsteps and the clinking of weapons. Kaelith's heart pounded in her chest as she clung to Elara, her crimson eyes darting around the garden, searching for the source of the danger.
"Stay close," Elara whispered, her voice trembling as she pulled Kaelith behind a large bush. Her blue eyes were wide with fear, but her grip on Kaelith's hand was firm. "We need to find a way back to the palace."
Kaelith nodded, her small hands trembling as she peered through the leaves. She could see shadows moving in the distance, dark figures closing in on them. Her mind raced, her thoughts a chaotic jumble of fear and determination. She couldn't let anything happen to Elara. She wouldn't.
But before they could move, the assassins were upon them. Three figures emerged from the shadows, their faces hidden behind black masks, their eyes cold and merciless. Kaelith's breath caught in her throat as one of them stepped forward, a dagger gleaming in his hand.
"Run, Ela!" Kaelith shouted, shoving her sister behind her. Her crimson eyes burned with defiance as she faced the assassins, her small frame trembling but resolute. "I'll hold them off!"
Elara hesitated, her blue eyes filled with panic. "Kae, no! I'm not leaving you!"
"Go!" Kaelith screamed, her voice cracking with desperation. She didn't wait for Elara to respond, lunging at the nearest assassin with a ferocity that belied her small size. She kicked and punched, her movements wild and uncoordinated, but driven by sheer willpower.
The assassin laughed, a cold, mocking sound that sent a shiver down Kaelith's spine. He grabbed her arm, twisting it painfully as he threw her to the ground. Kaelith cried out, the pain sharp and immediate, but she refused to stay down. She scrambled to her feet, her crimson eyes blazing with determination.
"Leave her alone!" Elara shouted, her voice trembling but loud. She stepped forward, her small hands clenched into fists, but the assassins ignored her, their attention focused on Kaelith.
The second assassin grabbed Kaelith by the hair, yanking her head back as the third delivered a brutal punch to her stomach. Kaelith gasped, the air driven from her lungs as she crumpled to the ground. Pain radiated through her body, but she forced herself to stand, her legs shaking beneath her.
"Stop it!" Elara screamed, tears streaming down her face as she tried to intervene. But the assassins were relentless, their blows raining down on Kaelith with brutal efficiency. She fell again, her vision blurring as blood trickled down her face.
Kaelith's mind raced, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind of fear and anger. It wasn't fair. She had finally found something—someone—worth living for, and now they were going to take it away. Her chest burned with a fierce, unyielding emotion, a desperate need to protect Elara at all costs.
As the assassins turned their attention to Elara, Kaelith's vision blurred with tears. She could see them advancing on her sister, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. Elara stood her ground, her blue eyes filled with a mixture of fear and defiance, but Kaelith knew she was no match for them.
"No…" Kaelith whispered, her voice barely audible. She tried to stand, but her body refused to obey, the pain too overwhelming. "Please… don't take her…"
And then, something inside her snapped.
A surge of heat erupted from her chest, spreading through her body like wildfire. Her crimson eyes glowed with an otherworldly light as flames burst from her hands, swirling around her in a fiery vortex. The assassins froze, their eyes widening in shock as the flames roared to life.
Kaelith didn't think. She acted on instinct, her body moving with a speed and precision she didn't know she possessed. She lunged at the assassins, her flames engulfing two of them before they could react. Their screams echoed through the garden, a horrifying sound that made Kaelith's stomach churn, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.
The third assassin, realizing the danger, moved quickly. He darted forward, his dagger slashing across Kaelith's back before she could react. She cried out, the pain searing through her as she fell to the ground, her flames flickering and dying.
"Kae!" Elara's voice was filled with panic, her blue eyes wide with terror as she rushed to her sister's side. Kaelith tried to stand, her hands trembling as she pushed herself up, but the pain was too much. She collapsed again, her vision swimming as she reached for Elara.
"Ela…" Kaelith whispered, her voice weak and trembling. "Run… please…"
But Elara didn't run. She knelt beside Kaelith, her small hands trembling as she placed them on her sister's back. Tears streamed down her face as she closed her eyes, her lips moving in a silent prayer.
And then, something miraculous happened.
A soft, golden light emanated from Elara's hands, spreading across Kaelith's back and sealing the wound. The pain lessened, replaced by a warm, soothing sensation that made Kaelith's breath catch in her throat. She turned her head, her crimson eyes wide with awe as she watched her sister's light magic work.
But the healing was imperfect. The wound closed, but a massive scar remained, a jagged line that stretched across Kaelith's back. Elara's light magic, newly awakened, wasn't strong enough to heal it completely.
"Kae…" Elara whispered, her voice trembling as she pulled her sister into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to…"
Kaelith shook her head, her small hands gripping Elara's dress. "It's okay," she whispered, her voice weak but filled with love. "You saved me, Ela. That's all that matters."
The sound of footsteps echoed through the garden, and Kaelith looked up to see their parents and the royal guards rushing toward them. The assassins, realizing they were outnumbered, tried to flee, but the guards quickly surrounded them, their weapons drawn.
"Kaelith! Elara!" their mother's voice was filled with panic as she ran to their side, her hands trembling as she checked them for injuries. "Are you hurt? What happened?"
Kaelith didn't answer. She was too exhausted, her body and mind drained from the ordeal. She leaned against Elara, her crimson eyes closing as she let the warmth of her sister's light magic soothe her.
Elara, still crying, held Kaelith tightly, her blue eyes filled with a mixture of relief and guilt. "I'm sorry, Kae," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry…"
Kaelith shook her head, her small hand reaching up to wipe away Elara's tears. "Don't be," she whispered, her voice weak but filled with love. "You're my light, Ela. Always."
As the royal guards subdued the assassins and their parents fussed over them, Kaelith and Elara sat together in the garden, their bond stronger than ever. The scar on Kaelith's back was a reminder of the danger they had faced, but it was also a testament to their love and determination.
They had survived. And as long as they had each other, they could face anything.