Stumbling into the town center, Connor looked around in a panic. It had been a few hours since he had left the armory so negotiations should have been underway. Compared to the destruction and violence he saw in the way here he was surprised to see the city center and city hall were mostly untouched.
That being said, the citizens who had gathered outside were very confused, undoubtedly trying to figure why everything changed to ruin in a moment's notice.
This noise could not be good for any of the leaders inside the city hall. After all, the King and Queen from the Eastern Empire was in there, with the leaders of the far smaller Western nations discussing peace.
The people where all dressed in their best clothes, suits and gowns, hair done in braids and wearing their best jewelry. There was a line of city guards, most of which on horses, surrounding the city hall.
The crowd was too panicked and condensed towards the front, so he looked around for other guards. Noticing more city guards coming from the nearby streets, he began to make his way over.
Stumbling to a city guard he grabbed the man by his shoulder.
"I need a horse and soldiers sent to each of the districts of the city."
Taking a glance at him, the guard swatted his hand away.
"Get off me, you filth."
Before Connor could respond to the guard a second guard realized who he was.
"That is lord Connor of Nimbu, what is wrong with you." He said as he slapped the first.
The first guard's eyes went wide taking in the full look of him.
"My- my lord what happened? Who could do this to someone of your caliber?"
I must look far worse than I though.
"No time, terrorists from the East are attacking the city. I need the city guards to start an evacuation. Send people to each region of the city and ensure their safety."
More guards had formed around him as he spoke. "NOW!" he bellowed.
The guards began scattering, all to fulfil his orders. There were plenty of guards in the city center already, and if the attacks had not gotten here yet then the terrorists were probably going to ignore this place. Connor hoped that was the case because that at least meant they were acting outside their ruler's authority.
Their goal was obvious; they wanted to instill fear in the West. That and they wanted to paint a picture that the West was dangerous, and the East had to bring peace by ruling over them.
Connor clicked his tongue and grabbing another guard, he ordered him to bring him a horse.
Hurry up. There was no way to tell the extent of damage but there had to be more dangers all around the city. Analyzing the situation and the information he had heard this morning he wouldn't be surprised if there was someone capable to controlling animals. That would explain the increased beast activity outside the city.
The city was not the largest of the cities in the West, but it was still important. This was the city where Hunters were needed the most, the closest and last checkpoint before going into the Eastern Empire and was the biggest city near the Northern Mountains. Not to mention the river that went through the northern most side of the city.
Both East and West territories went to the mountains where their boarders ended. That meant this city was where most of the minerals, such as gold and iron, came to before being sent off all over the West.
The South region was where the wealthy often lived and was where Geo was sent. Connor was mostly worried about that region as it was where most of the people lived and the furthest from where they would evacuate if need be. If someone was causing animals to act crazed, then there might have been someone who made the people act crazed too.
Geo will be fine, he's almost as strong as I am.
Not much longer after Connor had that thought he heard the sound of steel on stone as someone ran to where he was resting. Looking up he saw two figures rushing to his side, but his vision was blurring and he could not tell who.
"You've seen better days."
This voice, was it Bill?
Someone from another Western nation who he had strong ties with. He was also the closest thing Connor had to a friend even if he was older by a couple years. Of course, he was also taller than him.
"Don't answer, I saved your younger brother dude."
Connor's heart skipped. "Which one?"
"It was Geo. Can you believe he was fighting off a hoard of citizens by himself. He didn't kill or seriously wound any of them. None of them could feel pain and, I must admit, they were pretty fearless. If not, then reckless."
"You mean the citizens were attacking him? That makes no sense."
Connor was confused, why had the citizens attacked a noble from the West? Besides that, why were they acting without fear? It was a serious crime to attack a noble, even in the West.
"It looked like they were under some sort of mind control. Probably still are as I couldn't identify anyone who could have been controlling them. I had to lead the few city guards and his own guard over to clear a path for him to retreat."
"Where is he now?" Connor was becoming more concerned.
"I'm here." Geo's voice was quiet, shocked if he had to guess why.
"What's the matter? Is something wrong?" He reached out a hand to the smaller figure trying to tell if the blood was his or not.
"You are the problem. Have you not seen yourself?" It was Bill who answered. "You are covered in soot and blood, smell terrible, and looks like your about to collapse." He could hear the question in his friends voice.
Connor kind of figured he was unrecognizable, that was tough fight he had just gotten out of and if Daisy had really wanted too, she could have killed him.
He imagined he had blood smeared all over him, and his shirt and pants were shredded, exposing the skin where there were cuts and bruises.
Connor waved his hand. "Thank you for helping my brother. I went to the commercial district, everything was ruined. I had to kill an heir who was hiding the true state of the city."
"You killed your first heir? Congrats man. Wish I was there to have seen that." Connor was not sure what he expected, but that was not it. But still felt good by the praise, even more so that Bill sounded impressed.
Before he could say anything, a loud roar tore through the city center, shaking the ground and deafening the group. Several more went off shortly after
Once they regained their bearings, Connor looked at Bill.
"Was that me or did I just hear explosions?" Connor had to ask since it was becoming increasingly hard to see and stand. Or do anything really.
"Explosions, definitely explosions."
The people who were only confused in the city center and remained began to scream. Running in all directions and calling for help. Terror was evident in their voices.
"What is happening?" Asked Connor.
What Connor could not see was that many of the people were being tossed around not by people but by more explosions. The sound of running sounded like thunder as people pushed and trampled other citizens. The cobblestone road they were on had cracked and the debris was falling back down.
"Death and destruction. Your eyes doing alright?" Bill was trying to lighten the tension with a joke. It did not land well.
"My lords! My lords! We need your assistance. An Easterner was just spotted coming this way, anything he touches is destroyed. None of us are prepared for someone of his caliber." It was a guard, and if the guards were not able to beat them, that made the enemy at least the rank of a knight.
Touching Connor's shoulder Bill told Connor not to worry. "I'll handle this, you go and get the rest of your younger siblings and take them to safety. I know that's what you really want right now."
Pausing for a moment, he added "fix your face though, you'll give them nightmares." Annoyed, Connor went to retort but he was running with the guard who hailed them down. Back to the way the new Easterner had appeared.
Connor could see Geo inching closer, undoubtedly worried about their situation.
"Don't you worry, our parents will be fine." Connor was trying to ease his brother's mind. Glancing at him, Geo asked "what about our siblings? Will they be okay?"
Hearing hooves hit stone and as another explosion went off in the distance, Connor flashed him his best smile. "Of course they will."
"Your horse my lord." Said the guard.
"You're steering," he said to Geo.
When silence ensued, Connor looked back. "I am in no condition to steer this horse; you are going to do it." Connor was never going to understand his brothers fear of horses but knowing his brother he would do it anyway.
Proving himself, Geo mounted the horse and helped Connor up.
Looking back at the guard Connor gave an order.
"Go assist the other soldiers here to evacuate the city."
The guard nodded, or at least it looked like it as he looked around at the destruction. Many of the citizens at this point had already evacuated the city center and mostly Western forces remained. Many still looking at the city hall, unsure if it would be best for them to go assist their leaders.
Garisson leaders seemed to be snapping out of their shock as they began giving them orders, to which they promptly followed. They were most likely giving orders to evacuate the citizens.
Snapping the reigns, Geo led them out of city center. Feeling him shake, Connor did his best to calm his younger brother down. The horse did most of the steering itself but still needed Geo to push him forward. The horse was probably younger and had yet to see battle.
Different streets passed by quickly, destruction following them all the way. Connor still could not figure out what it was that caused this amount of destruction and how long the city had been in such a state.
Would the city still look fine if I had not killed Daisy? Probably. Would things be worse? maybe.
Connor was not sure what to think as he watched city streets pass him by, blurring. One thing was for certain was a pressure that no longer felt like pressure. It felt like eyes were watching him. Studying him. Judging him. A chill was working its way across his entire being.
"Connor! Connor! Wake up!"
Coughing, Connor sat up straight.
"What happened? Where are we?"
It had become increasingly hard to see, as a matter of fact, Connor couldn't see a thing.
He could hear his brother crying beside him. "We got to the house but then you fell off the horse." Geo's voice was muffled and he could barely make out what he was hearing.
"I called for the doctor in the house, and our siblings should be getting out here soon to evacuate."
Embracing his brother, he tried to calm his brother down. He hated causing his family distress. Connor's heart was beating fast. Far faster than it has already been today.
What was that? That feeling like I was being judged?
Embracing his younger brother he whispered, "can you help me up? You're kind of crushing my leg right now."
Standing up Geo grabbed Connor's arm and helped him stand too. Connor almost collapsed immediately when Geo let go.
"Brother!" Screeched his baby sister. Trying to turn he felt the impact to his back where she crashed into him.
"What happened?" Despite the panic in her voice, he felt a soothing warmth engulf his being. Starting with his injured leg and work its way up.
Standing as still as he could he let his baby sister heal his wounds. When the warmth dimmed, he was just starting to see and felt so much better.
"And your done with that." He turned and gave his sister a hug, pushing through the little pain left.
He could tell his sister was struggling to continue healing him. "I said you're done with that." He said as he placed a hand on her head. The youngest daughter of the Ironwood family was the third member of the family to have a power.
There was only so much he expected a seven-year-old girl to do while healing him. The last thing he wanted was for her to push herself too hard.
"Where are your siblings? We need to get going."
Looking around, this part of the city was relatively untouched. It looked as though no one had even bothered to try and damage this part of the city. Probably not a good sign, or they didn't want to be where most of the nobles where stationed.
After all, the most experienced people with will could sense the unnatural, knowing when something was not right. Why had they not said anything if something was wrong, Connor couldn't say.
So many questions and no answers.
More guards arrived, escorting the rest of the family out with the servants.
"I'm issuing a state of emergency." He announced as they came out of the building. Holding his sister's shoulder he continued, "everyone get yourselves to safety. The nobles are who they are after."
There was no way for him to protect everyone, and the best way for them to be safe now was for them to be away from nobles. The terrorists were most likely targeting nobles.
The guards nodded knowing exactly what he meant. They were to disguise themselves and escort the family to safety. Maids quickly returned inside the building then came back out holding cloaks. Passing them out everyone did their best to hide their faces.
Receiving another blade from a guard, he ordered them into groups and to leave in staggered starts. Most to leave with no one of importance and one group were to have all the Ironwood family.
Another thing about this city is that it was built on the side of a river. One of the largest rivers known to the West at that. They were to take boats and travel further West to the next port for safety against the East's attack. If the way was too difficult, they could always head further North, though that had dangers in itself.
Undoubtedly many others had the same idea, so the boats were bound to be crowded. So he intended to ensure their safety by sending them off then travel back inward to figure things out himself.
Connor planned to return inward of the city, leaving his siblings in trusted care he intended to figure things out.
Just before his group was about to leave the house, he saw Tim running at them. Connor's heart warmed at the sight, knowing that all his siblings were now safe.
Filling Tim in on what happened, some of the guards and his siblings listened in. They were truly in a dangerous situation.
When he was done explaining everything to him, Tim looked him in the eyes, worry evident.
"I spoke with the guards at the city center shortly after you left." Tim finally responded. "Mother told me to get all of you out of the city and not to come back. She says that there is nothing we can do to help and we must leave."
"How could you have talked to mother? She was inside the city hall."
"Not when I was there." Fear was evident in Tim's eyes now.
Connor's heart was beating much faster at this point. Pressure eating him alive.
Connor opened his mouth first to ask a question, then it dropped as he looked to where the city center would have been.
Where they had been moments ago, there was a black cloud rising to the sky. Not a cloud of smoke but of pure darkness. The already darkened sky of smoke was now becoming pitch black, all light vanishing as it expanded. Not just light but anything it came into contact with.
As the spire of black reached its peak, it began to fall. Not straight down but like a veil, eating and expanding everything. Realizing that the veil of darkness was descending and would consume them, there was only one thing they could do.
"RUN!"