"Avary, Rise of the Lost Soul”

Keal " Alright, i saw people just like you and they called themselves Humans "

Nao " Where did you find them? "On the eastern ruins of kingdom Zepla" Keal said. 

" We are going there now!! "

The wind howled across the open plains as Nao and Kael made their way east. Every step closer to Kingdom Zepla carried the weight of her past and maybe, her future.

Kael walked beside her, hands behind his head, whistling like they weren’t heading toward the ruins of a dead kingdom.

Nao's eyes, however, were locked ahead. Focused. Burning.

"More like me..." she whispered under her breath.

Her heart raced. Could it really be true? Had others survived Annihilation? Had others also lost everything like her?

Kael broke the silence, his usual teasing tone softened.

"You’re quieter than usual. Worried?"

She glanced at him, her voice low.

"I’m thinking. If what you said is true... then I’m not the only one left. That changes everything."

Kael nodded.

"They survived the impossible. Just like you. You might even find answers there."

Nao’s grip on her blade tightened.

"I don’t want answers. I want truth. About the Annihilation. About why we were hunted like beasts."

They passed a cliff overlooking the shattered remains of what once was a trade city burned to ash, silent and forgotten. Kael stared at it for a moment, then looked at her.

"You're strong, you know. Stronger than most."

She didn’t respond, but a faint flicker passed in her eyes. A spark of something buried hope? Pain?

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in crimson gold, Kael stopped and pointed ahead.

"See that broken statue in the distance? That’s the outer edge of Zepla’s ruins. We’re close."

Nao looked up. The shape of a once-mighty figure now crumbling, moss-covered loomed ahead. Her chest tightened.

"This is it," she said softly.

"This is where I find them... or lose everything all over again."

As they reached the ruins of Zepla, the air felt different heavier. Yet for the first time in years, Nao felt... hope.

Survivors. Real people. Humans just like her.

They looked at her with wide, amazed eyes, some whispering, some crying. One of them stepped forward, trembling with relief.

"It’s true... you’re like us. A survivor."

Nao nodded, her voice soft.

"Why are they hunting us? Why did they wipe us out?"

The survivor’s lips parted. He was about to speak

But then

Shhhhk!

A blade pierced through his chest. His eyes widened. Blood splattered across the stone.

He dropped.

"NO!" Nao screamed.

From the shadows they came. Clad in black armor, faces hidden, the Evil Ones had found them.

Kael immediately stepped forward.

"Nao, run! I’ll hold them off!"

She hesitated but then he was struck. Blades tore through him before he could even draw fully.

"Kael!"

She ran forward, but it was too late. His body dropped before her.

Nao turned, blade raised but there were too many. One cut slashed her side. Another pierced her chest.

She gasped, collapsing to the ground, blood pouring.

"I’m... sorry... Father..." she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Thendarkness.

 Avary, Realm of Fallen Souls

Warm air brushed against her face. She wasn’t in Zepla anymore. The ground beneath her feet shimmered with golden light.

"Am I... dead?" she whispered.

Then, glowing figures began to appear gentle, radiant. One voice pierced through the light.

"Nao... my girl..."

She turned, eyes wide.

"Father...?"

Tears flooded her eyes.

"I thought you were gone..."

"I am. We all are." He looked around.

Countless human souls stood around her men, women, even children every one of them glowing faintly.

"This is Avary the last sanctuary of the human spirit."

Nao looked down, overwhelmed.

"So many... everyone who died..."

Another voice came from behind soft, warm.

"Nao..."

Two glowing figures stepped forward.

"My daughter... you’ve grown so strong. But now"

it’s time to rise."

Her father held out his hand.

"We can’t fight. But you can. Take our strength. Our rage. Our will."

The glowing figures surrounded her. A storm of light burst around Nao as the power of thousands surged into her.

"Go, Nao. Avenge us."

Scene: Return

Her eyes snapped open.

She was still in the ruins. The enemy laughed until her body began to glow.

The blade still pierced her but her hand gripped its hilt.

"What the" one of them muttered.

She pulled the sword out and with it, released a storm.

In a blur of fury, her blade danced. Shadows fell one after another, screaming.

When the dust settled, silence returned. And Kael’s body lay still.

She dropped beside him, broken.

"I’m sorry... it’s all my fault..."

But then

"Don’t cry... you’re not cute when you do."

Her breath caught.

"Kael?!"

His smirk returned, blood on his lips.

"So you do want me alive, huh?"

She lunged forward and hugged him tightly.

"Idiot..."

He smiled faintly.

"Aww... that’s the cutest ‘idiot’ I’ve ever heard."