In the mystical realm of Astra, where every living being possesses magical abilities, there are six kingdoms: Celestria, Verdantia, Pyrothos, Abyssalia, Terramor, and Aurrorium.
Verdantia is an emerald paradise cloaked in the embrace of a verdant jungle that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Celestria is a land surrounded by breathtaking beauty, its landscapes adorned with rolling hills and crystalline rivers that dance through the entire kingdom.
Pyrothos is a land dominated by towering volcanoes, where the earth pulses with the primal energy of molten lava.
Abyssalia is a kingdom hidden in the depths of the ocean, shrouded in mystery and secrets.
Terramor is a land steeped in ancient times, where every stone and tree whispers the tales of a bygone era.
Aurrorium is a frozen landscape covered in snow, bathed in the shimmering hues of the northern lights.
Somewhere in Celestria.....
A small village nestled on the outskirts of Celestria, untouched by the hustle of the outside world, its people embrace the tranquility that surrounds them.
As villagers leave their houses to do their daily tasks, some gather crystal-clear water from the nearby river. Others work in the golden wheat fields. Meanwhile, children laugh and play freely on the cobblestone streets. Life here unfolds like the petals of a delicate flower.
"TAK....TAK....TAKKK"
All of a sudden, a sharp, loud noise emerged and shattered the peaceful silence of the village. The noise was so loud that the children had to cover their ears for protection. Villagers acted quickly and swiftly sent all the children back to their houses.
As the children returned to their houses, a villager spotted something and said out loud while pointing towards the entrance of the village. "LOOK!!!"
Just as everyone heard the villagers' voices, they looked at the entrance of the village and spotted a herd of horses swiftly emerging towards their village.
There were about twenty horses with their riders on their back. The horse riders were wearing heavy-duty armor and a black hood to hide their faces.
Within seconds, the Horsemen reached the entrance of the village. Their horses snorted aggressively, but the riders remained calm and seated.
The Horsemens had dark, uncanny eyes that were observing every single villager.
Villagers were frightened by the horsemen's presence, but they still managed to make their way towards the entrance. Villagers stood as one before the entrance. They were nervous and frightened, but they still stood as one.
"Who are you?" One Villager murmured from the crowd.
Just as the villager asked the horsemen in the middle dismounted his horse and slowly began to make his way towrads the villager, while the remaining horsemen remained seated on their horses like statues."Bring your wisest men people...."
The horsemen stood before the villagers' crowd and spoke in a deep, demanding tone while his eyes observed every villager at once.
After hearing the Horsemen's uncanny voice, the villagers murmured to each other for a few seconds. They were frightened as they talked about who they should send from their side. None of the villager wanted to step ahead and take the responsibility to represent their village before the Horsemen.
"Step.....Step....."
As the villagers continued to argue who would represent them, a seventy year old man stepped forward from the vilagers crowd. He had a wooden walking stick in his right arm.
The old man slowly made his way before the crowd and stood before the Horsemen.
"I...I..I'll represent my v... Village..." The Old man spoke in his shaking voice..
The villagers were stunned by seeing the Old man's courage, but they still did not want to get in any kind of trouble. They were still frightened and intimidated by the Horsemen's presence.
The horsemen's leader gazes at the Old man and smirks before he speaks. "Is this your representative..." The Horsemen asked the villagers.
All of the villagers responded with a slow nod. The villagers knew if they refused, someone else had to stepped in, and they did not wanted to be the person.
The Horsemen leader spoke again after hearing the villagers respond, "Well...If that's what you want.." He spoke while gazing at the villager crowd before him.
The Horsemen leader shifted his gaze towards the Old Man, "I am the leader of our group, and we are just some travelers."
The Horsemen leader continued, "We just need some resources from your village and we will be leaving..." The Horsemen leader stated.
The moment the villagers heard the Horsmen leader's response, they were at ease. All of their nervousness faded away.
All the villagers spoke, "Yes, we will help you...."
The villagers let all the Horsemen in without even talking to the Old Man about whether he even wanted them to enter their village.
A few moments later.......
The villagers gave the Horsemen leader food and water for his entire group for their journey up ahead.
The Horsemen leader gazed at the resources the villagers had gathered for his group and smiled. Then he shifted his gaze towards the Old man and walked towards him.
"That you...." The Horsemen leader stated before he extended his hand for a handshake..
The villagers had a gentle smile on their faces as the Horsemen leader extended his hand for a handshake.
Respecting the Horsemen leader's gesture, the Old Man extended his hand for a handshake.
As their hands met, a chilling smile appeared on the Horsemen leader's face, even visible through his hood. The rogue leader's grip tightened around the Old man's hand, his voice dripping with malice, "Well, I think there has been a change in our plan..."
Just as these words exited the Horsemen leader's mouth, Villager's smile faded away.
The Horsemem leader's hand began to glow with dark magic as he started to channel it into the Old Man's body, causing him an enormous amount of pain. The Horsemen leader smirked evilly. "What do you think, old man? doesn't this feel good...."
The Old man responded with a loud, painful shout, "AAAAHHHHHH!"
As the Old Man yelled, the Horsemen leader started sending waves of his dark magic surging through the Old Man's body. With each surge of magic, the Old Man's veins darkened, and he began to scream in pain. His screams echoed throughout the village.
As the villagers heard the Old man's screaming in pain, they all rushed towards their home, but their advance was halted by the remaining rogues. The villagers found themselves surrounded.
One of the Horsemen said, "You are not allowed to go anywhere." The Old man kept on screaming in pain, his screams echoing through the villagers' ears.
The villagers couldn't bear hearing the Old man's painful scream any longer and shouted, "Leave him..."
The leader's grip on the Old man's hand loosened as the villagers' words reached his ears. With a sinister smirk, he released the Old man's hand, causing the Old man to crumple to the ground.
Seeing the Old man, lifeless collapes on the groun barely alive, made the villagers freeze in a spot.
One brave villager tried to confront the Horsemen leader. "You will pay for what you have done to him."
The rogue leader's response was swift, "Ugh, fine."
Extending his arm toward the villager who dared to challenge him, with a flick of his finger, a purple ray filled with dark magic shot forth, piercing through the heart of the brave villager. The lifeless body of the villager fell to the ground with a loud impact.
The villagers were shaken by how effortlessly their comrade was killed. In desperation, they cried out loud, "Take what you want, just leave us be!" The rogue leader responded, his tone filled with malice. "What do you think my plan was? But now your old man has made me change my plan."