Alone, under the morning's sweltering sun, a child stood stoically with a heavy steel sword in his hand.

"Hyah, Hwh, Haa"

Since the sky was stained crimson, the boy swung his sword, his hands now bloodied and back steeped in sweat.

“Hyah, Huh, Haar, Hoo”

Sharp but affectionate blue eyes followed the boy's forms.

"Let's end it here."

A handsome, well-toned man pushed himself off the courtyard's marble railing and walked toward the boy, placing his large calloused hand on his shoulder.

"Well done today, Mer. We bleed now, so we don't die later. Go and get some breakfast before visiting your tutor."

"Certainly, I'm famished. Thank you."

The man opened his mouth, but before any words left his lips, a tremendous explosion shook the premises. Delicate ornaments, eardrums, and windows were all shattered.

The man grimaced and looked toward his son, who was now sprawled on the ground, trying to stem the gushing blood pouring from his ears.

'I'm sorry, son. I'm sorry your father is not strong enough.'

With a gaze full of affection and sorrow, the father crouched to his son and rested his hand on the boy's head. From his hand, invisible tendrils of energy snaked toward Mer, staunching the bleeding and repairing his perforated eardrums.

"Quickly, go to our residence and meet your siblings; your mother is probably also with them. Then, follow your brother and escape through the deeproads. Don't worry about us, just run and don't look back… I love you, son, and I'm proud of you." Saying this, Leonis turned around and ran towards the breach.

With lachrymose eyes, Mer watched his father's firm back and long golden hair disappear around a corner.

'I thought our walls were impenetrable… How could this happen? Were we betrayed? Will we be able to push them back? Will my father be alright? What will we do once we escape?'

Frozen, Mer sat in solitude in the center of the courtyard. Thousands of thoughts whirled through his head, but they did nothing to ease his worries. Instead, his breathing became more erratic, and his hands started to shake.

Isolated, a boy sat in a seemingly peaceful but battered courtyard. The scene's idyllic tranquility starkly juxtaposed the clamor of steel wails of death not far away.

Drawing a deep breath, Mer tried to analyze the situation.

'Whatever's happened, I lack the power to help… I should first find my siblings and pray my father can push the Sol-dier's back. Only the lady can save us now. Yivlä nobiscum.'

Resolving himself, Mer battled against the rushing soldiers and panicked ministers, quickly navigating the castle's labyrinthine corridors until he arrived at a goliath stone door decorated with intricate runes.

Placing his palm on the stone, the runes lit up a brilliant blue, and groaning, the door opened inwardly, revealing Mer's mother, sister, and brother.

Before Mer could step beneath the towering baroque-stained glass windows to enter the colossal atrium, Selina ran forward to embrace her son. With each step, her long silver locks danced beneath the dawning sun, and against her slight bags, her resplendent golden eyes provided a sense of corrupted beauty.

"Mer, my wonderful son, you must be brave now and hurry to the hidden passageway with your siblings. I don't know how long our forces can hold, but I need to join your father for our last stand. Don't worry about us… You've seen how strong we are. We will escape and meet again in the capital. Everything's going to be okay. Remember, your Father and I love you very much."

An unseen tear slipped from Selina's eyes as she said this, knowing she would never hold her son again, knowing this would be the last time she saw her children. Deep down, Mer knew this too, but only being twelve, he naively believed or at least wanted to believe, his mother. When has she ever been wrong before, anyway?

"I know, Ma. I love you too. How long will it take until you can meet us in the capitol?"

"I don't know, little one. It might take a while."

At this moment, the smallest started to cry again.

"*Sniffle* Ma, I don't want you to leave. What if Mer bullies me again?"

Discreetly wiping her eyes and turning around, Selina responded.

"Don't worry, sweety, your brothers will look after you, and we'll all be together again before you know it."

Placing his hand on her shoulder, Malriv further reassured Ema.

"We'll be sure to take care of you, so don't worry."

Soothed by her oldest brother's assurance and deep, tranquil voice, Ema calmed down and ran towards her mother for one last hug.

"Take care, my children. I love you all very, very much."

Then Selina vanished, teleporting to her husband's side.

Staring at the spot his mother last stood, Malriv sighed.

"Okay, you two, stick close and follow me."

"Okay." "Yes, Maly."

"Ema, for the millionth time, my name's not Maly… Do you think… Ah, we don't have time for this."

The two little ones followed their brother's deceptively confidant gate, walking deeper into the keep until they arrived at an extensive library.

"Are you ready for a cool magic trick?"

"Umhmm," Ema was the only one to respond.

Malriv ambled toward a shelf and took out an unassuming aged red leather book, opening it to the two-hundred and thirty-seventh page. Then, pulling a knife from his waist, he cut his thumb, allowing a few drops of blood to fall onto the opened page. From where the blood spilt, mesmerizing and increasingly intricate patterns spread until the page opened a bloody maw.

"Descendant of Lupus, it seems you have begotten upon troubled times. For what reason have you summoned me?" A guttural and phlegmy voice enquired.

"We seek safe passage to the outside."

"Hmmm, that can be arranged... but I’d like to request you take me with you, little ones. I am no longer needed here.”

“Of course. We could always use your wisdom Krov.”

“Goood. Without the castle's magic sustaining me, I will enter slumber until satiated. Safe travels, little ones. Oh, and remember, some things are better left unseen."

With that, the bloody mouth enlarged and swallowed the children, leaving the library tranquil once more.

Overcoming the darkness, yellow lights slowly flickered on, revealing an expansive chiseled quartzite passage. Ancient engravings of bloody battles and abominable beasts speckled the walls. Each carving oozed a chilling feeling of death; their gazes peered into the secrets of the children's souls, observing their every movement.

Clutching the grimoire in his hand and recalling its warning, Malriv turned to look at Mer and Ema.

"Don't stare at the sculptures… There's a barrier preventing anyone from leaving our keep with magic, so we'll have to travel on foot until we make it to Viscount Demeetry's. So stick tog… Mer, are you okay?"

Wiping the ebony liquid leaking from the corner of his mouth, Mer responded.

"I'm fine, don't…"

But before he could finish his sentence, Mer began wheezing and hysterically retching. Dropping to his knees, each cough caused his body to shudder as more putrid raven fluid spewed from his mouth.

Barely discerning his brother's frantic shouts and sister's wails, Mer's vision faded to black.