Grinwald used to say, ‘In battle, your mind must be a fortress, your body a blade. Both sharp, both unbending.’

Can you imagine walking into a scene straight out of a nightmare? Corpses everywhere, enough to make anyone sick to their stomach. And these weren’t just any bodies. These were people I knew and some of them I held dear. My family, our loyal servants, and the estate guards who protected us. Every one of them was reduced to lifeless forms. It was a sight so terrible it made my breath hitch with sadness.

Finally, there I was. At the top of the stairs leading to the grand mansion entrance stood my first opponent. A lone Silverlion had just yanked a bloodied sword from a body on the ground whose identity I couldn’t discern. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought it was my brother, Alistair, who had just been killed.

“Alistair!” I dashed forward, only to skid to a sudden halt. The Silverlion was coming down the stone staircase to confront me instead. His face, smeared with blood, held a murderous expression. His eyes appeared lifeless, as though all humanity had drained out of them. He hunched slightly, dragging himself forward. His right arm was sluggish, yet he still carried his sword with a tight grip.

Rage simmered within me. This man had just murdered my brother. By the way he carried himself, he wasn’t a magic swordsman, but I would soon find out. I just hoped it wouldn’t be with his blade in my heart.

“Another one, ready to die,” he taunted. “I guess it’s my lucky night. I get to kill another stubborn Stormbourne.” A maniacal laugh escaped his lips.

In an instant, I snapped into battle mode. “Come on then, you Lysander dog! Let’s dance. You will soon find out what a true Stormbourne is made of.”

Another laugh erupted from him. “A kid like you?” he mocked. “You’ll never defeat me.”

I gritted my teeth. Laugh all you want. Just you wait. Even when I’m dying, I’ll keep coming at you.

On that chilly night, with the silvery moon as my witness and the stars above promising greatness, my onerous journey to becoming transcendent began. I stood face to face with a killer. He was motivated to kill, while I was determined to defend my family’s honor and avenge my brother’s death.

We clashed. And I knew immediately the Silverlion was not at his full strength. He had an internal injury somewhere. His movements slowed, but his strength and experience were leagues beyond mine. Our swords met with a deafening clang, and every strike sent shocks through my arms. Flashes of my training with Grinwald came to mind. “Use your opponent’s strength against them,” he had taught me. “Stay light on your feet, and never let them see your fear.” Easier said than done when a madman is trying to hack you to pieces.

My opponent’s blows kept coming like relentless waves, but I stood firm, like a cliff by the ocean. Although there were times I fell to the ground, escaping death each time, I rose to my feet to meet his blade again and again. I can almost hear Grinwald’s voice in my head, guiding me through each move. “Stay calm, Alex. Use his anger against him.” I did my best to follow his advice, using my opponent’s sluggishness to my advantage. I struck when he was off balance and dodged when he overstretched.

Then came one particular clash. His sword arced down with a force that sent me sprawling. The impact jarred every bone in my body. As I rolled to avoid his follow-up strike, I could see the frustration in his eyes. He was used to overpowering his opponents quickly, but I wasn’t giving in that easily. I got back on my feet, feeling the burn in my muscles and the taste of blood in my mouth. Every time our blades met, it felt like my hands were about to give out.

The battle resumed like a never-ending squall. None of us gave up. It was brutal and exhausting. My breaths were ragged, each one a struggle. There was a moment when he almost got me, his sword slicing a thin line across my cheek. The sting of the cut brought me back to my senses. I had to stay focused. This wasn’t just about me. It was about everyone I cared about.

Then I saw it. An opening. I guess I’ll get to live another day. Or maybe another hour. My shout of “This is for my brother!” rang out as I dashed forward and thrust my blade into the Silverlion’s chest, feeling the resistance as it pierced through his flesh. The two of us stood there, staring at each other. He was impaled by my blade while I refused to pull it out, letting his life drain away. With his eyes wide in shock, he let out a last gasp of air before collapsing to the ground.

I stood there panting for breath. A strange mix of horror and grim satisfaction gushed through me. I had killed a man for the first time in my life. It felt surreal, like I was outside my body watching it happen. But I knew one thing for certain; I would have to do it again if I was going to save my family.

Enough rest. I needed to check on the body the Silverlion had slain earlier, ready to face the grief of losing Alistair. But as I got closer, I stopped short. It wasn’t Alistair. It was another Stormbourne with an unmistakable round belly. How the hell did I mistake my skinny brother for a fat dude?

I left Uncle Ned’s body without checking his pulse and pushed through the shattered doors of the mansion. They hung tattered and wide open, like the gates of hell inviting me to enter. Inside, I knew the battle was far from over. I had to find Aeryn and Alistair.

When I stepped into the lobby, I had no inkling what I was in for. The place, once grand and magnificent, had turned into a raging inferno. Flames were everywhere, licking up the curtains and walls like they had a personal vendetta. The paintings of my ancestors, those stern, disapproving faces, were melting away right before my eyes. It was uncanny, just like in my dream. Their eyes seemed to follow me, as if they were saying, “As usual, you’re bloody late again, you cursed Stormbourne,” before they disappeared into the fire.

Smoke filled the air, making it hard to see and even harder to breathe. I coughed, trying to clear my lungs as I took in the devastation around me. Bodies were strewn across the marble floor like discarded rag dolls. Some were Silverlion soldiers, others were our guards, and a few were just unfortunate servants caught in the crossfire. My heart felt like it was being crushed as I noticed my uncle Sam and his wife among the fallen.

I rushed over to them, but it was too late. They were gone. I closed their eyes, feeling a lump rise in my throat, and whispered a quiet sendoff. In moments like these, you realize how fragile life really is. One minute, you’re having dinner with your family, and the next, you’re closing their eyes for the last time.

I resumed my search, hoping against hope that Aeryn and Alistair weren’t among the dead. The lobby was just the beginning. I moved through room after room, darting through the corridors. Fear and desperation gripped my heart. I even checked the kitchen, only to find more bodies. Not a single soul was left alive.

My quest ended in a smaller dining room of the mansion. There, lying close to each other on the marble floor, were Aeryn and Alistair. I ran to them and knelt down. Aeryn’s breathing was faint, but Alistair was completely still, a sword lying by his side. I placed my fingers on his neck, hoping to find a pulse, but there was nothing. I was devastated. My brother was dead.

I turned to Aeryn, cradling her head in my lap. Her eyes fluttered open, and she managed a weak smile when she saw me. “Alex, you’re alive,” she whispered.

“Aeryn, hold on,” I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’m here.”

She coughed, her body shuddering with the effort. “Alistair tried to protect me. He was so brave.”

Tears blurred my vision. “I’m so sorry, Aeryn. I should have been here. I should have done something.”

Her hand weakly grasped mine. “Don’t blame yourself, Alex. You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

We gazed at each other for a moment, our fingers clasped together, the sounds of battle and destruction around us fading into the background. “Stay with me, Aeryn. Don’t leave,” I begged, but I could see the light fading from her eyes.

“I’m proud of you, little brother,” her voice now a whisper. “Keep fighting. For all of us.”

Those were her final words. Aeryn breathed her last breath and closed her eyes. I held her close, tears streaming down my face. I had lost both my siblings in a matter of moments. The pain was unbearable. My throat constricted, and a horrible ache threatened to consume me.

I gently placed Aeryn’s head back on the floor and stood up, wiping my tears away. I knew I had to keep moving. I had to find Aiden. He was on the roof, fighting for his life.

Just as I was about to leave, a sound at the entrance to the dining room alerted me. An injured Silverlion soldier staggered in, dragging his left leg. He leaned against the wall for support, a sick grin spreading across his face when his eyes met mine.

“Oh, there’s one more Stormbourne I get the pleasure of killing,” he sneered.

“Yeah, that’s what your buddy said earlier, and I drove a blade into his chest,” I retorted. A surge of confidence and strength gushed through me. I didn’t know where it came from, but I rushed onward, my sword raised high. The Silverlion barely had time to react. I jumped and brought my blade down with both hands. He used his sword to defend, but my blow was too powerful. His blade was pushed aside, and my sword struck his shoulder. He fell backward, and I followed up with a thrust into his chest. Down he went. His eyes were wide, shocked that he had been killed by someone much younger than him.

“That’s for Aeryn and Alistair.” I felt my anger somewhat satiated. My eyes fell upon my siblings one last time, a silent farewell in my heart. Then I turned and headed toward the stairway that led to the mansion roof. I knew exactly where it was. I had been there many times before. And I knew I had to keep fighting till the very end.