As the guards hauled Valerus away, a heavy silence enveloped the Thorenzians. Shock and fear permeated the air, causing the room to seemingly spin around them. Panic was evident in Princess Alexandra's wide eyes, while anger burned in Thane's expression. Isolde's eyes welled with tears, reflecting the emotional turmoil they all felt.
Valerus's parting words, "Train hard! We'll need it!", echoed through the camp, offering a faint reassurance. Despite this, a lingering sense of despair haunted the Thorenzians as they grappled with their hero's abrupt departure.
As the guards vanished into the night, uncertainty and worry shrouded the camp, leaving the Thorenzians to ponder their next steps in the wake of this unsettling event.
Within the confines of the Thorenzian camp, an oppressive silence hung heavy, punctuated only by the fierce winds that whipped through the tents, their mournful howls echoing through the stillness. The weight of fear and worry pressed down upon the people, suffocating in its intensity. Gathered outside Princess Alexandra's quarters, the members of The Shield sat in a stunned quiet, each lost in their own tumultuous thoughts.
Their beloved leader, Valerus, had been taken away, and the remaining heroes found themselves consumed by a fiery mix of anger and frustration, a torment born of their own perceived powerlessness. How could they have allowed such a fate to befall their champion? How could they have stood by, mere witnesses to the darkness that had swallowed their hero?
It was Princess Alexandra's soft voice that finally broke through the oppressive quiet, her words a mere whisper against the shrieking wind. "Guys," she began, her tone laced with urgency, "we have to save him."
Caius responded with a vigorous nod, his face set in grim determination. "Yeah, Valerus is our leader. We can't let him die now. Not after everything he's done for us."
Thane's voice joined the conversation, unwavering in its conviction. "I agree. If we don't act now, we could lose our leader, our hero, our friend, and our brother. We can't let that happen. We owe it to him, to ourselves, and to Thorenzia."
Isolde's eyes shone with tears, yet her gaze remained resolute. "Valerus has been fighting alone for over a year now. We can't let him continue to bear this burden by himself. He needs us, and it's time we stood by his side."
Elara's voice trembled with raw passion as she added, "We've been slaves for over five centuries. I don't know if there were people who tried to fight back in the past, but at least during our time, Valerus is the first to stand up and fight for Thorenzia. We must do the same. We must stand up and fight for Thorenzia's freedom!"
A familiar smile crept onto Orion's lips, a dangerous glint in his eye. "This should be interesting, eh?"
Princess Alexandra's gaze swept across the group, her voice firming with resolve. "So, we all agree to go and rescue Valerus, right?"
The Shield members exchanged determined glances, their faces reflecting their shared determination. In unison, they released a defiant roar against the gale, screaming, "YEAAAH!"
Their triumphant cry reverberated briefly through the camp before it was abruptly cut short by a familiar voice, sharp and commanding, piercing the air.
"Stop this madness now!"
The Shield whirled around as one, their eyes focusing on the speaker. Lord Ozai, one of the five revered elders, stood before them, his single eye piercing through the darkness. His other eye, a mass of scar tissue, bore witness to a long-ago battle.
"Lord Ozai!" Elara exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
Lord Ozai's gaze swept across the group, his expression severe. "What are you attempting to do? Are you trying to throw your lives away? You believe you can confront the Vylonians and emerge victorious? You're no match for them."
Princess Alexandra drew herself up, her voice firm. "Lord Ozai, with due respect, have you no shame? A young man fought tirelessly to ensure we have food, and now that same young man has been apprehended. Shouldn't we rise up and fight to rescue him?"
Lord Ozai's expression remained unwavering. "A war against the Vylonians is futile. You'll only succeed in getting yourselves killed. We must find another way, one that doesn't involve senseless bloodshed."
Just as Lord Ozai's words seemed to quell the group's determination, a voice called out from behind him. "Lord Ozai," Lord Ozan said, his voice calm and measured. All eyes turned to him, and Princess Alexandra's eyes lit up with surprise.
"My granddaughter is right, and you know it," Lord Ozan said, his voice firm.
Princess Alexandra whispered under her breath, "Grandpa…"
Lord Ozan's gaze swept across the group, his voice clear. "You have my blessing to go and rescue Valerus."
The Shield erupted into a frenzy of cheers and screams. "YEEEAAAHHH!" they shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the night as they filed out, their faces etched with determination.
As the Shield disappeared into the darkness, Lord Ozai turned to Lord Ozan, his voice laced with incredulity. "Lord Ozan, what are you saying? Don't you care if your granddaughter perishes?"
Lord Ozan's expression remained resolute. "Of course, I fear losing my granddaughter. I have no desire to lose her. But you see, if we don't stand up and fight for ourselves, we'll remain enslaved. Lord Ozai, we can only change our fate with our own hands."
Valerus was dragged through the grand halls of the palace by the guards, the sound of their footsteps reverberating off the stone walls. They forced him to his knees before the Emperor's throne, where Absalom regarded him with a gleeful, malevolent expression.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? The infamous Valerus of the wretched Thorenzia," Absalom sneered. "Who would have thought that by merely starving your people, we would flush you out of hiding?"
Valerus responded with a low, sinister chuckle. "Enjoy your dominance while it lasts, Absalom, for soon a great wave will sweep away Vylonia, and not even an Emperor as powerful as you can stop it."
Enraged, the Queen lashed out, striking Valerus across the face. But he merely smiled back, his eyes glittering with defiance.
Chaos erupted as The Shield burst into the throne room, their chains clattering against the stone floor. The guards moved to seize them, but Caius, Thane, and Orion were prepared, wielding their chains as weapons to take down their foes.
"Guys! Stop! What are you doing here?" Valerus shouted above the din.
"We came to save you!" Princess Alexandra exclaimed, her face etched with determination.
Valerus's expression hardened. "I'll be fine! I don't need your help! Get out of here!"
"What?" Isolde asked, her eyes blazing with anger.
Absalom's gaze narrowed, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Did they defeat the guards outside? Even with their chains, they broke through. This is unsettling."
A tense silence descended upon the throne room, punctuated only by the labored breathing of the guards and the creaking of chains.
"Valerus el joranda," Absalom declared, his words dripping with venom, "for your crimes, you will be executed in a fortnight!"
Isolde and Princess Alexandra gasped in horror. "What?"
Absalom's expression was unwavering. "That is my decision! Remove him from my sight!"
As the guards dragged Valerus from the throne room, Princess Alexandra's anguished scream echoed through the palace. "NOOOO!!!" She struggled to reach him, but Thane, Caius, and Orion held her back, their faces resolute and determined.
As the sky darkened, the air grew heavy with foreboding. Thunder boomed and the earth trembled as the wind howled like a chorus of lost souls. The heavens opened, releasing a torrential downpour that drenched the land. The unrelenting rain mirrored the despair that weighed upon the hearts of the Thorenzians.
The Shield returned to the camp, their faces etched with sorrow. Lord Ozan emerged from the shadows, his eyes filled with concern as he moved to greet them. Princess Alexandra stumbled forward, her body shaking with sobs, and collapsed into her grandfather's embrace.
"Grandpa," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the thunder, her drenched form trembling.
Lord Ozan's expression softened as he wrapped his arms around her. "What happened?" he asked gently.
Elara's voice was heavy with despair as she answered. "Lord Ozan, Valerus is to be executed in a fortnight."
Lord Ozan's eyes widened in shock. "What?" he repeated, disbelief lacing his voice.
As the news spread, the people of Thorenzia emerged from their tents, their faces contorted in anguish. They paid no heed to the rain, their grief too overwhelming to be contained. The camp was soon filled with the sound of wailing and sobbing, echoing through the night as they mourned the impending loss of their beloved hero.
"Even the sky weeps for Valerus," Lord Ozan lamented, his voice filled with sorrow.
Lord Alexander nodded in agreement. "Yes, he is truly a remarkable young man."
The rain continued to fall, a somber reminder of Valerus's impending fate and the sorrow that gripped the hearts of the Thorenzians.
Two days later, Lord Ozan found himself standing before the palace guards, his eyes imploring them to allow him a meeting with Valerus. Despite being met with rejection and disdain, he persisted, and at last, he was granted a brief audience with the young hero.
As he was led into the dimly lit chamber, Valerus was brought before him, his body weighed down by heavy chains that clattered against the stone floor. Lord Ozan's eyes met Valerus's, and he called out to him in a hushed tone.
"Valerus."
Valerus's response was barely audible, his voice worn from the hardships he had faced. "Lord Ozan."
Lord Ozan's voice held a sense of urgency as he inquired about Valerus's discoveries regarding the Vylonians. "Tell me what you discovered from investigating the Vylonians," he whispered.
Valerus's gaze flickered, as if carefully considering his words. "What do you want to know?" he replied, his voice equally low.
Lord Ozan's eyes darted around the chamber, ensuring they were truly alone. "I want to know everything, but I only have two minutes to talk to you. Just tell me the strength of the Vylonians. Their strongest fighters."
Valerus's expression turned contemplative, and he leaned in closer. "Well, I'm only going to give you a single clue. The Seven Days."
Before Lord Ozan could press for more information, the guard's voice sliced through the air. "Time's up!"
The guards moved forward, separating Valerus from Lord Ozan. As Valerus was dragged back to his cell, Lord Ozan's mind raced with the cryptic clue, "The Seven Days."
Lord Ozan found himself consumed by the enigmatic clue, "The seven days." His mind raced with possibilities, grappling to discern its meaning. Were they actual people, or something more symbolic? He pondered the question long after leaving the palace, determined to piece together the puzzle.
In the cold, dark confines of his cell, Valerus's hands folded tightly, as if in prayer. When he opened them, a small key lay flat on his palm. A smile crept onto his face as he whispered a quiet gratitude, "Thank you, Lord Ozan."
The following morning at the Thorenzians' camp, the sound of clashing steel echoed through the air as Princess Alexandra trained with her sword. Lord Ozan approached her, his footsteps quiet on the damp earth.
"Good morning, Grandpa," Princess Alexandra greeted, her breathing steady.
"Good morning, Princess Alexandra," Lord Ozan replied, his eyes warm with affection. "How was your night?"
Princess Alexandra's expression faltered, and she looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not so good, Grandpa. I miss Valerus."
Lord Ozan's expression softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You need not worry, my Princess. Valerus el joranda is just fine."
Princess Alexandra's eyes narrowed, her voice laced with skepticism. "How can you be so sure?"
Lord Ozan's smile was enigmatic. "I'm certain."
The air grew heavy with unspoken words, and Princess Alexandra sensed something was amiss. Lord Ozan's next words only added to her confusion.
"Hey, Alexandra," he called, his voice low and serious.
"Yea, Grandpa. You rarely call me Alexandra without calling me Princess. That's strange," Princess Alexandra replied, her brow furrowed.
Lord Ozan's expression was solemn. "Be strong. No matter what happens, everything will be fine."
Princess Alexandra's confusion deepened. "Grandpa, where'd that come from?" she asked, but Lord Ozan didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked away, his footsteps steady and purposeful.
"Grandpa, where are you going?..... Grandpa!... Grandpa!.... Grandpa!" Princess Alexandra called out, but Lord Ozan didn't look back, disappearing into the distance, leaving her with more questions than answers.
A massive screen within the Thorenzians' camp flickered to life, displaying a gruesome execution scene. Gasps rippled through the crowd as they took in the horrific sight.
Absalom's voice boomed through the screen. "Valerus, you chose to defy me, and so you must be executed. I don't know how you escaped, but this will be your end. Any last words?"
The man kneeling before Absalom wore the same mask Valerus had donned during his palace infiltration. Yet, something felt amiss.
"Wait a minute, this isn't the time Absalom said he'd execute Valerus," Isolde said, her voice laced with concern. "It's way too early. We still have about 10 days."
"Yeah," Orion agreed, his brow furrowed. "Something isn't right."
Princess Alexandra's eyes shook with fear as she watched the scene, her heart racing with a sense of impending doom.
"Oh? Last words, huh?" the masked man asked, his voice echoing through the screen. "In a foreign soil, our sorrows root, a bitter branch, a poisoned fruits, the soil that burns, the chains that bites, we are the shadow of lost lights...….. But, when we grow weary of the darkness, we shall arise and return to the light"
"Wait a second, that voice doesn't sound like Valerus's," Elara pointed out, her eyes narrowing.
"Grandpa?" Princess Alexandra's voice trembled with fear, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
Absalom's cold, calculating voice cut through the air. "Fire!"
The gunmen unleashed a barrage of bullets at the masked man, their shots ringing through the air. At Absalom's command, they ceased fire. "Remove the mask," he ordered.
As the mask was pulled away, the executed man's face was revealed. A horrified scream tore from Princess Alexandra's throat as she recognized the face of Lord Ozan, her grandfather, and one of Thorenzia's revered elders.
"NOOOOOOO!" she wailed in anguish, her body shaking with grief.
The camp erupted into chaos, cries, and wails filling the air. A great hero had fallen, leaving the Thorenzians to pick up the shattered pieces of their hope.