Ashes Of Innocence

The sun rose lazily over the village of Eldenfort, painting the sky in strokes of gold and amber. Nestled amidst rolling meadows and dense woods, the village hummed with life. Farmers tilled their fields, children raced through cobblestone streets, and merchants peddled wares from wooden carts. It was a picture of tranquility, unmarred by the shadow of war that loomed beyond the horizon. Kael Veythar walked briskly through the marketplace, a wicker basket slung over his arm. His dark brown hair, tousled by the morning breeze, glinted in the sunlight. At seventeen, Kael was tall and wiry, with an earnest face that often bore the weight of unspoken dreams. "Kael!" a familiar voice called. He turned to see his younger sister, Liora, weaving through the crowd. Her golden hair shimmered, and her emerald eyes sparkled with mischief. Clutching a bundle of freshly picked flowers, she grinned as she approached. "You're late," Kael chided, though his tone was light. Liora pouted. "It’s not my fault! I found these by the river and thought they’d brighten our table." Kael chuckled. "You always find a reason to dawdle. Let’s get these supplies back home before Mother has our heads." As they walked, the siblings shared laughter, trading stories of the villagers and their small adventures. Kael marveled at Liora's ability to find beauty in the simplest things. Her joy was infectious, a beacon of light in his otherwise mundane life. Their home stood on the village’s outskirts, a modest cottage surrounded by wildflowers. Inside, their mother stirred a pot of stew, the aroma filling the air. She greeted them with a warm smile, her weathered face a testament to years of hard work and love. "Welcome back," she said. "Did you get everything?" Kael set the basket on the table and nodded. "Liora got distracted by flowers again." "They’re lovely," their mother replied, ruffling Liora’s hair. "Why don’t you put them in the vase?" As Liora arranged the flowers, Kael sat by the window, gazing at the horizon. The distant mountains stood as silent sentinels, their peaks kissed by clouds. He thought of the tales his father used to tell—stories of knights and kingdoms, of battles fought and won. Those stories had shaped Kael’s dreams, though the reality of village life often tempered his ambitions. Liora joined him, resting her chin on her hand. "Do you think there’s more out there? Beyond the mountains?" Kael glanced at her. "Why do you ask?" "I don’t know," she said, her voice tinged with melancholy. "Sometimes I feel like we’re meant for something more. Like our lives are just... waiting to begin." Kael hesitated, then placed a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever lies beyond, we’ll face it together." That night, the village square transformed into a vibrant haven of joy. Lanterns hung from ancient oaks, their flickering flames casting golden halos across the cobblestones. The aroma of roasted meats and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the sweet scent of wildflowers. Musicians played lively tunes on fiddles and flutes, their melodies weaving a tapestry of festivity. Villagers spun in spirited dances, their laughter harmonizing with the rhythm. Liora darted among the children, her golden hair catching the lantern light like strands of sunlight. Her laughter, bright and pure, rose above the music, a sound so joyous it seemed to hold the night itself in celebration. She paused to twirl a little girl around, both of them giggling as their skirts flared in unison. From the edge of the square, Kael watched with a faint smile. The scene before him felt like a fleeting dream, too perfect to last. He sipped from a cup of ale handed to him earlier by Ardyn, his gaze never straying far from Liora, whose happiness seemed to illuminate the night. Kael watched from the sidelines, his faint smile masking the storm within. The warmth of the evening, the lively dances, and Liora’s radiant laughter filled him with a bittersweet yearning. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Ardyn, his childhood friend, standing there with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. For a fleeting moment, Kael felt the shared understanding that, amidst all this fleeting joy, the weight of their lives was never far away. "Still brooding, I see," Ardyn teased, handing him a cup of ale. Kael accepted it with a shrug. "Just keeping an eye on Liora." Ardyn’s expression softened, his tone shifting from teasing to earnest. "You’re a good brother, Kael. Always looking out for Liora like that. But you need to live a little too, you know." Kael looked at him, his brow furrowing slightly. "What do you mean?" "I mean," Ardyn said, gesturing toward the joyous crowd, "you’ve got to let yourself be part of all this sometimes. Laugh. Dance. Talk to someone who isn’t worrying about chores or futures. Liora’s growing up, and she adores you, but she also wants to see you happy." Kael sighed, his gaze drifting toward his sister. "I don’t know, Ardyn. It’s not that simple." "It never is," Ardyn agreed, his grin softening into a faint smile. "But if we don’t grab onto these moments, we might regret it. Especially when they’re gone." Before Kael could reply, a distant horn shattered the revelry. The music stopped, and silence fell over the square. A second horn followed, its mournful wail sending a chill through the crowd. "What’s happening?" Liora asked, clutching Kael’s arm tightly, her emerald eyes wide with fear. "Kael, what do we do?" she added, her voice trembling as the mournful horn echoed again. Kael placed a reassuring hand over hers, though his heart raced with dread. "We’ll figure it out," he said, forcing calm into his voice. "Stay close to me, Liora. I won’t let anything happen to you." A scout burst into the square, his face pale with terror. "Invaders! They’ve breached the eastern border!" Panic erupted as villagers scrambled to gather their belongings. Kael grabbed Liora’s hand, his mind racing. "We need to get home. Now." By the time they reached their cottage, the invaders descended upon the village like a storm. Soldiers clad in dark, menacing armor marched with an unrelenting purpose, their swords reflecting the chaotic dance of firelight. The cries of the villagers filled the air, a cacophony of fear and despair. Kael froze for a moment, taking in the surreal nightmare unfolding around him. Homes that once stood as sanctuaries of love and laughter were now consumed by flames, their fiery tongues licking the night sky as ash drifted like fallen snow. Each scream, each clash of steel, felt like a dagger to Kael's heart. Kael’s mother, her face etched with fear and determination, grabbed both Kael and Liora by the shoulders, her voice trembling but firm. "You must go! Now!" She pushed them toward the back door with all her strength, tears glistening in her eyes. "But what about you?" Kael’s voice cracked, his body resisting the pull of his mother’s hands. "I’ll hold them off," she said, her voice softening as she cupped his face for a fleeting moment. "Kael, you’re strong, and Liora needs you. Promise me you’ll keep her safe. Promise me." Liora clung to Kael’s arm, her emerald eyes swimming with tears. "Mother, please come with us!" she pleaded, her voice breaking. "My sweet girl," their mother whispered, brushing a strand of golden hair from Liora’s face. "I love you both more than anything. But you must go. This is how I protect you." Before Kael could protest further, she turned, grabbing a kitchen knife with shaking hands and facing the approaching chaos. "Run, and don’t look back!" she shouted, her voice breaking but resolute. Kael hesitated, his heart tearing in two, but Liora’s frightened grip on his arm jolted him into action. He pulled her close, whispering, "We’ll come back for her. I promise." "Go!" she insisted, tears streaming down her face. "Protect your sister." Kael hesitated, but the fear in Liora’s eyes spurred him into action. They fled into the woods, the sounds of battle echoing behind them. As they ran, Kael stumbled, his foot catching on a root. He fell, dragging Liora down with him. Before they could rise, a soldier emerged from the shadows, his blade raised. Kael shielded Liora with his body, bracing for the end. But the strike never came. A figure lunged from the trees, tackling the soldier. It was Ardyn, wielding a makeshift spear. "Go!" Ardyn shouted, fending off the attacker. "I’ll hold them off!" Kael pulled Liora to her feet, his heart heavy with guilt. They ran until the forest swallowed them whole. When Kael awoke, the world was eerily silent. The forest, once alive with birdsong, felt hollow. Liora lay beside him, her face pale and her breaths shallow. Blood stained her dress. Kael’s hands trembled as he shook her. "Liora? Wake up." Her eyes fluttered open, but her gaze was unfocused. "Kael... promise me something." "Anything," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Don’t let them win." Her words faltered as her life slipped away. Kael’s anguished cry pierced the morning air. “No matter what happens, I shall end them, I shall end them all!” He cried all the day until supplies arrived, An announcement was made: “ Eastern Provinces Has declared war against us! Many of our precious soldiers and Citizens have died due to the invasion.” “It's not a common Attack! Parliament has been given a week to decide if they want to Declare National emergency.” And the troops carried dead soldiers and citizens for the Funeral event. “It’s like time is paused, everyday is becoming more challenging and hard to survive, everything was destroyed by them.” Kael muttered. Weeks after weeks passed but there was no other announcement made, food stocks were getting empty. Villagers began to go out of the village towards the main town in search of better job opportunities, following them Kael also went towards the capital town ‘Zakra’. “When I got there in Zakra, the scenario I saw was hard to believe, parliament was dissolved, national emergency was declared.” “His Majesty was given the full power and control of the Country.” “I got to see a poster, it says join the forces and support the Country during the situation of outbreak.” The moment he read that he got to remember that day when it all ended. No one survived. With this he applies to join the forces in order to fulfill his revenge! Ashes of Innocence CHAPTER 1 end _____________________________________________