Just as the sun began to rise, they were able to reach the village, but they didn't know what to make of what they saw.

The houses were either crashed or burned to the ground. The farm animals kept running all over the place across the now blood-filled streets. No living soul in sight.

Alice panicked. She sat on the ground covering her ears.

This can't be happening. This can't be real. I tried to help them, but I couldn't do anything. Did mom and everyone else survive? Or did they get them too? They can't be dead, please don't tell me they're dead, please, please, please.

"Alice, please, listen to me."

"Professor?"

"Smell these," he picked up some flowers, "It will help you calm down for now."

Doing as she's told, she took his flowers and smelled them a bit.

"Better?"

"I…I don't know."

Unsure what to do, he reached out his hand, "Close your eyes."

"What?"

"A child like you shouldn't see these horrid things. Hold my hand and I'll help you walk through the village, does that sound good?"

"Yeah."

Holding onto his hand tightly, the two of them traversed the village. They carefully hid behind crates and fallen carriages, but fortunately enough no hooded mage was in sight.

"Be careful, you could trip here."

"Got it. I just hope we find mom and the others soon"

"Yes…child."

"Yes."

"When we're safe and sound, I promise, we'll tell you the entire truth."

The truth?

"It was painful, that's why we had to hide it away for long from you. We planned to tell you when you were older, and look where that got us."

What is he talking about?

"I hope you'll find in your heart to forgive, but…we'll accept if you choose to hate us as well"

Alice couldn't figure out what he was talking about, "What are you-"

"Alice!?"

All that she wanted to say suddenly escaped hearing that all-so-familiar voice.

"Mom?"

Opening her eyes, Alice saw her mother all torn up and wounded, the chief right behind her.

"Mom! Chief!"

Running into Talisha's embrace, she couldn't stop herself from crying into her chest.

"I'm here, I'm here."

Adam left the two of them alone as he explained everything to the chief.

"I see, that's what happened. We suddenly found several mages inside our village attacking anything in sight, that impostor must have let them in."

"I apologize…for not being able to-"

"Adam please, it wasn't your fault this happened. Besides, they wanted you to escape and live on, so please, carry on their last wishes.

"I know," he teared up once more, "I know."

The chief smiled with hints of grief across his face, "Talisha, are you two ready to go?"

"Alice?"

"Can I still keep my eyes closed? I'm..still scared."

Talisha sighed, "Of course."

They slowly go their way through the forest, and after a while, they finally reached the training area

"Stand back you all."

Reaching one of the trees surrounding the area, he pulled down one of the branches, causing a flight of stairs to appear down on the ground.

"Sweetie, want to open your eyes now?"

"Oh," she paused, "Let me keep them closed for one more moment please."

"Right," Talisha seemed worried.

She must be so disappointed in me right now? We're being attacked and I refuse to even look at her. I need to open my eyes now, but I can't. Why can't you do it you stupid-

"You think she'll be ready?"

Huh?

Without them knowing, Alice overhears Adam and Talisha whispering to one another.

"Look at her, she can't even look at anything right now, if we tell her she might-"

"And what," Adam spoke out, "You know what she's like, she'll want to know the truth sooner or later, and look what keeping quiet about that had led to!"

Talisha was quiet.

"Listen, I understand but-"

"I know you're right, but could you and the chief…be with me when we tell her? Just this once?"

"...Of course."

Mom, professor, what were you hiding away from me?

"I see the entrance!"

"Finally!"

"Isn't that great Alice! We'll finally be able to escape!"

Alice held her mother's arm tightly and couldn't move.

Alice?"

"That smell, isn't it blood?"

"...What?"

The adults looked at one another.

"Talisha, you stay with Alice. Adam, you come with me."

"Oh, going already?"

A chill went through their spines when they heard a chilling voice.

"It can't be-"

"Rue!"

Alice opened her eyes finally, "Rue?"

She saw a woman wearing black armor, a white cape waving through the air, entering the tunnels, many hooded mages following behind her, "The reunion just began, you know it's rude to leave so early."

"You," enraged, Talisha sparked large flames, "How did you find us?"

"Is that how you greet an old friend? Of course, I didn't expect the likes of you to know proper manners-"

The chief attacked her with his flames but they dodged it, "Talisha! Get her away from here!"

"Got it," she carried Alice and was able to fly through the tunnels avoiding the mages in her way, but she stopped in her tracks once she saw what happened outside.

"What," she saw all of the villagers trapped by the mages with knives against their necks, "Everyone!"

"Heh, don't tell me you were about to abandon everyone just to save that child, that doesn't surprise me, after all, it wouldn't be your first time doing so."

First time? What is she talking about?"

"Rue," the chief sparked large flames that surrounded her, "Let everyone go this instant! You'll gain nothing with this, and you know that better than anyone else-"

Before he was able to finish speaking, two mages appeared behind him, knocking him out in an instant.

"Chief!"

"Oh, quit your yelling, the man was past his prime anyway. Now, Talisha, how about you and your daughter come over for some nice tea? If you come along, we might let your villagers go their merry way, and if you don't, I might have to take Alice myself"

"You piece of-"

"Mom, behind you!"

At a moment's notice, Talisha was able to dodge a mage's attack and kicked him in the face.

"Oh you think you're so slick, don't you Adam."

Right as he was about to blast her away with flames, she summoned her own and blocked them away.

Tch," he moved away, "Annoying as always."

"And you aren't?"

Talisha and Adam did their best to fight them off and protect the entrapped villagers. Alice meanwhile, stood in the middle of it, her body shaking and her eyes devoid of light

What should I do? Should I run? No, I can't leave mom and the professor behind. Should I fight, but I might get in the way. Is there nothing I can do? Do something, you idiot, something, anything, just, move!"

"Alice!"

Right as she was about to get stabbed by a mage, she was pushed and the sword cut through Adam.

No

Adam was able to spark his last flames, pushing away the mage and destroying his sword at the same time

No

He looked back at Alice, with a smile on his face before he fell to the ground.

"Uncle!"

"Adam!"

Talisha kicked the mages surrounding her to get to him and created a large ring of flames surrounding Alice and Adam.

"Uncle, stand up, please," she shook his body several times, "We still have time, we'll just have to get rid of these guys and we'll be safe alright! So please, stay with us!"

Unable to stop herself from crying, Adam gently put his hand on her shoulder, "Sorry kid, this is the end for me…"

"Don't!"

"Now I can meet up with your dad and hunters as well, heh, I wonder if they have good drinks in the world beyond…"

"Stop! Just, stop!"

"Goodbye…and thank you."

His body slowly dissolved into ashes, only his coat remaining. Alice grabbed into his coat crying her heart out.

"Oh, poor Adam," Rue appeared behind her, "That's the best way he could have ended up, for some people must die, may he repent for his wicked way wherever he is."

"Shut it you monster!" Alice tried to punch her, but Rue blocked it.

"Is that all you got? How disappointing. Can't believe he'd sacrificed himself for the likes of you."

"Let go of my daughter-" before Talisha was able to do anything, a mage knocked her out and she fell to the ground.

"Mom!"

"Pathetic," Rue chuckled, "Now where were we?"

She grabbed Allice in a chokehold with her left hand and sparked gray flames on her other hand, "Don't worry little girl, your time to shine is yet to come, until then, goodnight."

She shoved the flames into hers and Alice was knocked out.

—

And that's chapter 2 done! Things have taken quite a turn have they not? The next update is the beginning of chapter 3 and in it, some of my fav characters will be introduced in it so be excited! Thanks for reading and goodbye for now!