The princess dragged Ryker behind a collapsed building, gasping for breath, her heart pounding.
The battlefield stretched before her, chaos and fire consuming everything. Enemy soldiers pressed their advantage, using underhanded tricks and flanking attacks.
She saw her father, the king, fighting bravely.
His sword flashed in the sunlight as he cut down soldier after soldier.
Pride surged in her chest,
maybe they could still hold the castle.
Then horror struck.
She saw him surrounded, outnumbered. Enemy blades rose high.
Her father fought valiantly, but it was futile.
She charged to his side, but she was too late.
A soldier's grin preceded the fatal strike. Her father's head fell,
and a scream tore from her throat, a mix of grief and rage.
Something snapped inside her.
A surge of energy coursed through her veins, wild and unrestrained.
She raised her hands, and a blast of pure force erupted, obliterating the enemy soldiers before her.
Shock and fury fueled her.
She unleashed wave after wave of power, until the battlefield was silent and the enemy reduced to nothing but dust.
Exhausted, she collapsed to the ground. Her body shook, her ears rang, and the devastation she'd caused stretched as far as her eyes could see. Her father… turned to dust,there was no remains go cry for.
She could barely comprehend it.
Her hands trembled as she flexed her fingers. They looked normal, but she could feel the power still thrumming inside her.
Ryker remained unconscious beside her. She struggled to lift him, but his weight was too much, and her body too weak.
She stumbled, nearly falling, but caught herself.
Tears stung her eyes, but she didn't have time to cry.
She had to get him to safety before the enemy regrouped.
Then, a voice whispered behind her: "Let me help."
Ayla spun around, startled.
A woman stood there, tall and regal, with long silver hair that shimmered like moonlight and piercing green eyes that seemed to see through everything.
She wore a flowing white gown that rippled as if alive with its own power.
"Who… who are you?" Ayla asked, her voice trembling.
The woman smiled softly. "My name is Eriol," she said, her voice calm yet commanding. "And I'm here to help you."
Ayla's chest heaved, a mix of relief, fear, and awe. For the first time since the attack began, she felt a glimmer of hope.