Weapons screamed and roared across the shattered landscape as swords cut through flesh like vicious wolves tearing into helpless prey. Somewhere, a spear found its mark, glancing off the bone and sliding deeper as the dying man's mouth opened in one last wordless cry. Men fell in stumbling heaps, sliding in like a spreading tide of blood. The ground was stained so thoroughly that it seemed nature itself was greedy for the violence, drinking in every drop and pulling the wounded down. Every minute registered a few deaths, but the war continued.
Not far from where the battle raged, two women and a boy clung tightly to the back of an enormous eagle. The eagle pumped its wings furiously through the smoky air. Ash drifted in violent currents around them as the eagle soared and cut a desperate path above the carnage below. A group of attackers was flying in the air, chasing the eagle with excitement in their eyes. No matter how the eagle twisted or soared, those dark shapes drew closer, tracking their every motion.
"How did they know about us?" One of the women shouted, clutching the eagle's feathers so tight that her knuckles whitened. "We escaped in disguise!"
The eagle gave a low, rough cry. Both women's faces tighten with understanding, while the boy's grip tightens around his sword's hilt.
"B!tch let's see where you escape!" A voice boomed behind them. "Accept your death. The space and time bloodline is not something a filthy boy can keep."
The eagle flew desperately, but within a few minutes the attackers closed in, and there was no escape at all. With no option left, the eagle dived towards the ground, and all three riders jumped off his back. Making a defensive triangle, keeping the boy in the center. The cloaked woman faced two attackers as they came at her. Her hands moved quickly, turning aside the sword that struck at her. Beside her, the other woman kept her focus on those who threatened the boy in the center. She held her ground and met them head-on, showing no sign of hesitation.
The eagle roared and threw itself at the nearest attackers. Its claws lashed out, ripping through armor as if it were paper. Feathers flew as it spun and struck, never giving ground. The beak snapped shut and tore away a hand trying to grab the boy, leaving nothing but blood and broken fingers behind. With every move, it fought with savage speed and strength. Each blow was meant to kill and end the fight quickly.
The sixteen-year-old boy Valerius was observing everything. Despite being cornered, there wasn't even a trace of fear on his face. A warmth washed over him when he saw his mother protecting him from the front while the eagle protected him from behind. But as more attackers joined in, the already outnumbered group started to lose their ground. Even with their desperate efforts, they couldn't hold all the attackers.
"Val, I'm sor….sorry. Run away as far as you can. You have to stay alive!" Valerius heard his mother's desperate plea mixed with her sobs. But instead of running, he pulled out his sword and decided to help his mom.
While his mother was busy holding the attackers, two youngsters found their way and locked Valerius with their murderous eyes. One of them attacked him, while the other blocked his escape. Valerius saw the blade approaching him. The sword in his hand started vibrating, as if it were ready to kill. The attack was quick and precise, but Valerius was colder and sharper. He slipped beneath the wild swing, and his blade rose fast in a short, savage arc.
Before the young warrior could react, Valerius' sword dug deep into his flesh with a wet sound. The youngster gasped with disbelief written in his wide eyes while his body crumpled to the ground. Valerius did not hesitate. He grabbed the ring from the fallen youngster's cold hand and sprinted to attack the other youngster who was blocking his way.
As Valerius was getting closer to the second youngster, he heard a familiar scream. His head automatically turned towards the scream, and he saw his mother's falling body. The blade came down fast and cruel. Her body went limp, shattered like a broken doll.
Everything slowed down for Valerius, and an unintentional wild howl of pain erupted from deep inside him. His eyes stayed locked on the terrible scene, glowing with a cold and intense fire.
Without hesitation, he drove his sword into the chest of the youngster. He twisted the blade slowly as if trying to grind the life out of him. Cold fury filled every part of him, sharper than reason or mercy.
The warrior gasped and choked on his blood. Valerius pulled the sword free, spraying the blood like a fountain.
His eyes darted across the battlefield, desperately searching for the other women. Finally, he saw his aunt's body lying crumpled on the churned ground, her eyes open and empty, gone as quietly as his mother had been. For a moment, the sounds of battle faded. He stood frozen, staring at her lifeless face, each detail burned into his memory.
The man who had killed his mother stepped closer, his boots leaving bruises in the bloodied ground. He grinned as if the violence had only sharpened his pleasure. In one hand, he held a small talisman shaped like a skull. The surface of the talisman was mottled and dark, flickering with sparks.
The man's fingers twisted, and the talisman rose into the air, spinning in a slow arc before it shot forward with vicious speed, cutting through the swirling smoke and noise straight at Valerius.
"Enough running, little puppy," the killer spat. The words were heavy with mockery, each one meant to wound deeper than any blade.