Flames and explosions gleamed beneath the night sky, accompanied by screams and the frantic stomps of the masses. The helpless civilians ran for their lives as the mages hovering above the city reveled in the destruction they've caused. Bodies littered the streets as armor-clad men slew the defenseless people and razed all they could see down to the ground. The dwindling forces of the city formed up in groups, valiantly raising their shields in an attempt to defend against the opposition's relentless advance. Small gaps materialized within their formation, allowing the people to seek protection from behind them.

Tirdell, a small city called home by a variety of races, was currently under siege by a force that called itself the "Order of the High Kings'', a united force of kingdoms ruled entirely by humanity and exists solely for humanity.

In contrast, from its humble beginning as a small town, Tirdell treated each and every race with equality and opened their gates to all living beings. Due to this, and their steady rise in power, the Order sent their armies to purge the city, hoping to make an example of them and suppress those who would even think to defy their will. However, through the combined efforts of its inhabitants, the city survived, repelling all those who threatened their abode.

Alas, though the citizens were an incredible force to be reckoned with, they were still mortals and most fell prey to their physical limits. The true secret as to why the city still stands even after being besieged by armies numbering in the tens of thousands was due to the help of a family from a lost bloodline. They possessed fiendish physiques, unholy strength, and the innate ability to harness magic derived from the darker side of mysticism. The city secretly sheltered the descendants of the being known as “Asura”, an Invader who sought to slay the Six Gods and is the first of its kind to ever exist.

The city persisted for years due to the protection of these powerful beings, yet in spite of their might, the icy grip of death still found a way to take them, all the same. With the technological advancements created by the combined knowledge of the kingdoms, the Order found a way to deal with the immense power of not only Asura's descendants, but of any other creature. Once completed, the coalition of armies marched towards Tirdell with one goal in mind; total destruction. The large army was met with fierce resistance from the city, as the warriors of Tirdell fought till their last breath. However, despite their best efforts, the sheer number of troops and the loss of their greatest protectors proved too devastating. After more than a few hours of nonstop fighting, the city was reduced to rubble and the Order's armies still held a seemingly infinite amount of troops flooding inside.

**

Inside the desolate castle, an old man sat upon the center of a long table and empty chairs. His elderly features carried a hint of sadness to them as his hands curled into a fist. The noises and shaking from the attacks outside were faintly registered by his declining faculties. After taking one last look at his surroundings, the old man slowly rose from his seat and made his way to the giant doors. With a slight push, the doors creaked open, revealing two knights in full-armor waiting outside. Though the city was on the verge of ruin, the guards were seemingly unconcerned and even smiled as they escorted the old man. At the castle’s courtyard, the old man was greeted with the sight of all the remaining men and women who stubbornly remained, intent on making the city their final resting place.

"Have all the civilians been evacuated?"

"Yes! We are the only ones left. I bid you, my lord, please flee with the rest of our people!"

A soldier replied to the old man while kneeling. The old man slowly walked towards the soldier and placed his hand gently on the cold, steel-plated armor that coated the soldier’s shoulder.

"I have lived enough for one lifetime. To die fighting for my city and my people… I could not ask for a better way to depart."

His eyes slowly moved towards the flashing strobes in front of him. Beyond the gate, the barrier was constantly being assaulted with all kinds of magic, making the ground quake as the barrier absorbed the dreadful attacks.

"It seems, this is as far as we go… I thank you all for staying alongside me. Even if all that lies ahead is death." The old man gazed at the people one by one, committing their blurring visages to memory. Thinking that he could at least remember their faces as he welcomes his final moments.

"To be giving up though we haven’t started fighting yet. How unlike you, Father."

In response to the voice that emerged from the rear, the troops rose as one and opened a gap at the center. A man wearing an onyx-colored armor made his way through the gap, towards the old man. At the center of the armor’s chest, the likeness of a winged-beast bathed in silver, proudly spread its wings.

"We've already withstood them in the past, have we not? Today, we shall do the same. Before everything else, however, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for everything."

"Yes! We owe everything to you, Father!"

The soldiers answered in unison. Though uncharacteristic for soldiers from a falling kingdom, they smiled and chuckled beneath their helms. The old man sighed heavily as he took one last look at the warriors in front of him. Children he had raised since the first days of their city, now adults, ready to throw their lives for the sake of their home. His deteriorating eyesight blurred further as he felt his tears fall. He stared long and hard at the men and women in front of him, bravely fighting until the end. The old man faced the gates once more and raised his hand. A bright light enveloped the gap as the barrier finally broke, welcoming the last remaining forces of the city to their final stand.

**

Below the castle, a hidden tunnel which lay directly underneath the throne, was now being put to use for the first time as hundreds of people rushed underground in an attempt to escape from the armies that were laying waste to the city. The emergency tunnel was connected to a forest located quite a ways from the city and was dense enough to hide hundreds inside, making it the perfect place to escape to.

The last remaining citizens surfaced somewhere in the woods and met a mounted knight who led a small squad. They were a handpicked detachment from the army, formerly led by the Onyx-armored commander, and was now tasked with leading the people to safety. The squad was led by one of the lieutenants, an elderly yet rugged man who had experienced his own fair share of war even before the town’s founding. Though he had once harbored enmity for being outranked by a younger person, he soon understood why and even took pride in being part of his retinue. Though he too wished to fight and die alongside them, he could not bear to leave his wife, which led him to take the role of protecting the people as they sought refuge. The group moved swiftly and orderly while the guards, who were positioned at the rear, were vigilantly surveying for pursuers. They mourned silently for the loss of their families and friends since they could not risk being detected after the efforts of their fallen comrades. Still, none were able to hold back their tears and struggled to silence their whimpering as they recalled the catastrophe that rained upon their city. Despite their tears, they strove forth with heavy hearts so as to not let their comrades' deaths be in vain.

As they traversed the maze-like forest, the lieutenant came to a halt. In front of them, a six-legged being making mechanical sounds roamed the forest. The Lieutenant was surprised to see such a foreign creature since the forest was some distance away from the city and was inhabited by treants, nymphs, dryads, and various plant-like monsters, earning it the nickname “Forest of evil”. In the past, the forest was explored by a multitude of people, and none returned unscathed. Some returned with strange illnesses, missing limbs, while others went mad after the forest itself, they claim, attacked them and buried their comrades beneath the earth. In other words, it was not a place for humans.

Tirdell city, however, was different from the usual visitors they had. Despite having humans in their ranks, they treated the forest’s inhabitants with respect and made peace with them. In time, the forest itself had started to open its heart towards the city, leading to a lasting bond of friendship between both dwellings. Usually, there shouldn’t be anyone near the forest due to its dangerous nature, and yet they found a peculiar creature right outside of the thickets. The six-legged being snapped its neck towards their direction and started blaring an alarm. The Lieutenant was shocked due to the suddenness of its actions, but immediately regained his composure. As the last line of defense, panicking was not an option. He threw a javelin towards the creature, successfully destroying it. However, the creature had faithfully served its purpose and within a few minutes, a large army started making its way towards them.

Just as the Lieutenant and his men were about to charge outside the forest and face the army, countless vines blocked their path and a voice reached their ears.

"Hear me, O children of men."

 A gruff, yet gentle voice echoed from within.

"It pains me to see our friends face such a gruesome end. I fear that even if the forest were to aid you, to prevail against this army is a task nigh insurmountable. At the very least, I can at least spare you all from the pain as you pass away in peace…"

The Forest King’s voice, though tinged with sorrow, spoke clearly and audibly. 

"Thank you for your kind words o Forest king. However… please allow me to refuse. To everyone who wishes to accept the Forest King’s offer, speak now. I will not censure you for your decision. Not all of us are fighters. Wanting to be spared from such suffering is an understandable decision to make. However, I cannot afford that luxury, not when most of our comrades had died fighting for our sake."

The Lieutenant bowed towards the direction he believed where the voice came from. One by one, the knights that escorted the citizens followed suit, making clear their intentions as well.

"Though it may seem foolish, I believe that there is no greater glory nor love for a warrior than to die for our dear fellows and loved ones. Do forgive our selfishness, O king of the Forest."

The Forest king sighed. Though he could not claim to understand what spurred those in front of him to seek death, he respected the wishes of the warriors and retracted the vines preventing them from leaving the forest. They have made their resolves and that was all that mattered.

"I’m sorry, I… wish you all could have lived longer in peace."

The Forest King’s forlorn voice faded as the vines slithered away, allowing the Lieutenant and his squad to glean the opposing army which lay in sight once again. The Lieutenant turned his gaze towards the open night sky.

("I’m sorry, captain... I fear this is as far as we go…")

The Lieutenant silently apologized to the figure in his mind and glanced towards his wife who cradled a child in her arms. The child, however, was not theirs. The Lieutenant recalled his captain’s visage in his mind, a young man with jet black hair who wore a striking, Onyx-colored armor, bearing the likeness of a wyvern as it glowed brightly on his armor’s chest. The Lieutenant took the child from his wife and gazed at its features, reminiscent of its parents.

"O merciful Forest King, this boy is a child of our city! He had been entrusted to me by my captain prior to our exodus. In light of our situation, I implore you to spare this child from the ravages of war!”

“I see… so he is that mighty fellow’s son…”

The Lieutenant gently held the child up with his firm hands. At once, vines gently supported the child from below as it slowly returned back to where it came from. The Lieutenant hugged his wife as they both watched the child slowly disappear in the darkness.

“It’s time!”

The Lieutenant promptly faced his men. Soon, they will have to throw themselves into the fray. Before he could take a step, he felt a grasp on his arm.

“Norma…”

“I swore to be with you, till death do us part. If we are to fall, then we shall fall together.”

The lieutenant cupped his wife’s hands with his own. Though he would’ve preferred for her to perish in restful peace, to fight by her side till the bitter end was not such a bad idea as well. After being together for so long, it took one look at her eyes to see that she was never going to let go. Aside from her, some of the people found courage within themselves, as they too, readied themselves for the approaching finale. The Lieutenant helped his wife as she mounted his horse with a bow and arrow. 

"WE SHALL NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT!" the Lieutenant raised his sword as he rallied the last of their fallen city with a roar. 

Inside, the Forest king cradled the child with vines softly as the child slept, he put the child gently near the roots as an arch of beautiful flowers formed above it. The Forest king then covered the child with a barrier of leaves. Seeing the child’s innocent smile reminded the Forest King of the past, when the child’s father mistakenly wandered inside the forest. Thinking back, that was when his perception of humanity had changed for the better. For someone to hold such power, yet stay as kind and compassionate as he did, was a rarity among rarities. Perhaps if he had been alive 500 years ago, the world would not have been as wretched as it was today. 

"Tis’ a shame. I truly believed that ‘you’ were the one destined to change this world. But I have faith. Though you are to depart from this world, I believe your legacy shall live on. In your stead, I shall deliver this child unto the future. This, I swear."