The Tyrant's Attack

As the festivities unfolded, laughter and joy filled the air of Tyrus. The sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in a gradient of orange and pink, when suddenly, the harmonious melody of the celebration was shattered by the distant sound of clashing steel. The revelers paused, their laughter dying away, replaced by a collective gasp.

Kaia’s heart raced as she turned to the children, their faces pale with confusion. “What was that?” she asked, her voice trembling with an unfamiliar dread. Before anyone could answer, the ominous sound grew louder, accompanied by the echoing cries of alarm from the castle guards stationed around the perimeter.

“Back to the castle!” shouted a guard, his voice urgent and commanding. “Everyone inside, now!”

Kaia felt panic ripple through the crowd as people began to scatter. She grabbed the hand of the curly-haired boy, her earlier joy vanishing in an instant. “Come on! We need to find my family!” she urged, pulling him toward the castle entrance. The scene around them quickly devolved into chaos; people were shouting, and the air grew thick with fear.

As they dashed through the courtyard, Kaia caught glimpses of soldiers clad in dark armor pouring into the festival grounds. Their faces were obscured by menacing helmets, and their eyes gleamed with ruthless determination. The flag they bore—the insignia of the tyrant king—sent chills down her spine.

The boy clung to her hand as they entered the castle, breathless and wide-eyed. The grand hall that had just been filled with warmth and light was now a battleground. Soldiers clashed with the royal guards, swords raised high, while frightened guests scrambled to find safety.

“Kaia! Where are you?” cried Selene, her voice cutting through the chaos. Kaia's heart surged at the sight of her sister, who was standing near the entrance, trying to usher people inside. Selene’s face was pale but resolute, a warrior spirit shining through her fear.

“Over here!” Kaia shouted, guiding the boy toward her sister. But as she reached Selene, a loud crash echoed from the entrance, followed by the unmistakable sound of steel meeting flesh.

“Stay close!” Selene commanded, pulling Kaia and the boy behind her as she drew her sword. The gleaming blade shimmered in the dim light, a symbol of her strength amid the turmoil. Kaia felt a mixture of fear and admiration for her sister, but the looming shadow of danger closed in around them.

Suddenly, the castle doors burst open, and more soldiers poured in, their laughter twisted with malicious glee. Kaia’s heart raced as she realized they were here for one purpose: to destroy the royal family.

“Defend the princess!” a guard shouted, charging at the intruders. Kaia watched in horror as he was struck down, the glint of his armor falling silent on the polished floor. The castle echoed with the cries of battle, and the vibrant colors of the festival turned to a grim palette of chaos.

“Run!” Selene shouted, her voice piercing through the din. “Get to the back! We need to protect the family!” She thrust her sword toward an advancing soldier, but Kaia's gaze was locked on the entrance, where their parents should be waiting.

“Mother! Father!” she cried, her heart pounding in her chest. But as she scanned the room, dread settled in her stomach. The crowd had become a tumult of desperation, and she could see her mother and father in the distance, struggling against the tide of chaos.

Kaia’s breath caught in her throat as she spotted Queen Elara, her beautiful gown now torn and stained. She was holding a small child, protecting him with her body while trying to reach the throne room. King Alder fought valiantly beside her, deflecting blows with a fierce determination that made Kaia swell with pride. But fear gripped her heart, for she could see the tides of battle turning against them.

“Kaia, come on!” Selene shouted again, grabbing her sister’s arm. “We need to move!”

But Kaia felt a pull, an irresistible urge to run to her parents. “I can’t leave them!” she protested, shaking her head. “We have to help them!”

“Your life is more important! We can’t do anything if we’re caught!” Selene replied desperation in her eyes. Just then, a soldier broke through their defenses, raising his sword as he charged toward them.

“Kaia!” Selene yelled, pushing her sister away. In an instant, the blade struck, and Selene was thrown aside, her body crumpling to the ground with a sickening thud.

“No!” Kaia screamed, her heart shattering. Everything around her faded as she rushed to her sister's side, the chaos of battle becoming a distant echo. “Selene!” She knelt beside her, panic overtaking her as she shook her sister’s shoulders.

But Selene’s eyes, once vibrant and full of life, now looked distant and hollow. “Kaia…” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “You have to go… you have to survive…”

Tears streamed down Kaia’s cheeks, the reality of what was happening crashing down upon her like a tidal wave. She felt the boy still clinging to her hand, but she couldn't bring herself to turn away from Selene. Her world was crumbling, the laughter and joy of the festival replaced by the stark horror of bloodshed and loss.

As the sounds of battle swirled around her, Kaia made a decision, one that burned with the heat of desperation and determination. “I won’t let them win,” she whispered to herself. With her heart racing, she tore herself away from her sister’s side, pushing through the throng of chaos.

“Come on!” she urged the boy, pulling him with her toward the throne room. They dodged the chaos, weaving through the fallen guards and frightened guests. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and blood, and every cry echoed like a dagger through her heart.

When they reached the throne room doors, Kaia pushed them open, praying her parents were safe within. The sight that met her eyes was more horrifying than she could have imagined. The room was filled with shadows and flickering torchlight, the once-grand space now a battlefield.

King Alder stood tall, his face marked with determination, but Kaia could see the weariness in his eyes. The queen, bloodied and worn, fought valiantly beside him. “Kaia! Get back!” her father shouted, his voice fierce as he deflected an attack.

The moment Kaia stepped inside, time slowed. A soldier charged at her father, and Kaia’s breath hitched as she saw the blade come down. She was frozen in place, but the boy beside her surged forward, grabbing her hand tightly.

“Move!” he shouted, pulling her toward a side exit.

But it was too late. The blade struck true, and Kaia watched in horror as her father fell, collapsing to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut. The throne room filled with a deafening silence, her heart shattering with the weight of loss.

“No! Father!” Kaia screamed, her voice raw with anguish. She felt the boy’s grip tighten around her wrist, but she was lost in a wave of despair.

In that moment, everything changed. The tyrant king’s forces surged into the room, their dark laughter echoing as they took control of the once-hallowed space. Kaia’s world was engulfed in darkness as the shadows closed in, her body trembling with the weight of everything she had lost.

“Run!” the boy yelled again, breaking through the fog of her despair. “We have to go! Now!”

Kaia turned to him, tears streaming down her face, and for a moment, she saw the determination in his eyes—the same fire that burned within her. With a heart that felt as though it was being torn apart, she nodded, forcing herself to turn away from the nightmare behind her.

Together, they ran, their small forms slipping through the chaos as the tyrant king's forces claimed the castle, leaving behind only the remnants of a celebration that had turned to tragedy. As Kaia fled, a new fire ignited within her—a fierce resolve that would not be extinguished. She would not let her family’s sacrifice be in vain.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***