Chapter - 0 The Burning Castle

"I don't know when this story began."

"Maybe it started before me."

"Maybe it started before Erwin."

"But I know exactly when I realized something was wrong."

"That night..."

"The castle began to burn."

The castle was burning.

Flames climbed the towers, illuminating the night as if the sky itself had been set on fire.

Black smoke covered the walls.

Screams echoed through the corridors.

Soldiers ran through the streets.

Horses escaped from the stables.

And in the middle of all that chaos...

A girl sat inside one of the castle's rooms.

Her name was Anny.

She held a small diary in her hands.

Her fingers were trembling, but she continued writing.

"The castle is on fire."

Another explosion shook the room.

BOOM!

Anny looked through the window.

The towers were disappearing behind the flames.

People were running through the courtyard.

Soldiers were shouting.

Something was terribly wrong.

She lowered her eyes to the diary and continued writing.

"I don't know who is attacking us."

"I don't know how many people have died."

"But I can hear their screams."

A loud crash suddenly echoed through the hallway.

Anny stopped writing.

Footsteps.

Someone was coming.

She quickly closed the diary.

The door was violently opened.

A wounded soldier entered the room.

— Lady Anny!

She stood up.

— What happened?

The soldier looked behind him.

His face was pale.

— We need to leave. Now.

— Who is attacking the castle?

The soldier hesitated.

For a moment, he looked as if he didn't know how to answer.

Then...

GRRRRRRRR...

A deep roar echoed through the castle.

Anny froze.

The soldier's expression changed completely.

Fear.

Real fear.

— What was that?

The soldier looked at her.

— Don't ask.

He grabbed her arm.

— Just run.

But before they could leave...

BOOM!

The wall at the end of the corridor exploded.

The soldier was thrown backward.

Anny screamed.

Smoke filled the hallway.

Through the darkness...

Something moved.

A massive silhouette slowly emerged from the flames.

Anny couldn't move.

The creature was enormous.

Its body was covered in dark skin.

Its claws dragged across the stone floor.

Its eyes glowed through the smoke.

The soldier raised his sword.

His hands were shaking.

— My lady...

He stepped in front of Anny.

— Stay behind me.

The creature roared.

And charged.

The soldier attacked.

But the creature was faster.

One strike.

The soldier was thrown across the corridor.

Anny stared in horror.

Then she heard something behind her.

A window opening.

She turned around.

A man climbed inside.

He wore battered armor.

Blood covered part of his face.

A massive axe was strapped to his back.

His expression was calm.

Almost unnaturally calm considering the chaos around him.

Anny stepped backward.

— Who are you?

The man looked at her.

— Anny?

Her eyes widened.

— How do you know my name?

He didn't answer.

Instead, he looked toward the corridor.

The monster was getting closer.

— We need to leave.

Anny grabbed her diary.

— Who are you?

The man finally looked at her again.

— Erwin.

Another explosion shook the castle.

Erwin opened the window.

— Come with me.

Anny looked outside.

There was a long drop beneath them.

— You want me to jump?

— No.

He climbed onto the ledge.

— I'm going to get you down.

Anny hesitated.

Then she looked at the diary in her hands.

She quickly opened it.

Erwin stared at her.

— What are you doing?

Anny began writing.

"A man named Erwin has appeared."

"He says he is going to save me."

She closed the diary.

— Now I'm ready.

Erwin stared at her for a moment.

— You were writing this whole time?

Anny nodded.

— Someone needs to remember what happened.

Erwin didn't argue.

He extended his hand.

— Then don't let go.

Anny grabbed his hand.

The two climbed out through the window.

Behind them...

The castle continued to burn.

And neither of them knew...

That this night would become the beginning of something far greater than either of them could imagine.