The sight of the battlefield hit Frederick like a lightning strike. His knees nearly buckled. His hands trembled, but he didn’t drop his blade. Instead, his grip tightened around the hilt, his knuckles whitening as the weight of the scene crashed down on him like a tidal wave. Thirty years. Three long decades of bloodshed, strategy, sacrifice… and hope. He had stood on a hundred battlefields, watched friends die, raised walls and burned bridges. All to delay what now stared him in the face. Their defenses were falling. Hope was flickering. “I’ve failed,” he whispered to himself, eyes glassy and unfocused. “All these years... I thought I was buying us time. I thought I could stop it.” Without wasting another second, he turned and mounted his horse. The beast reared, sensing his urgency, and galloped through the war-torn streets of Karaza. He burst through the gates of his home like a storm. Maria was already at the door, drawn by the thunder of hooves and the fear clawing at her

It had been several months since the tragic fall of Karaza and the subsequent arrival of Maria and the rest of the household on the distant Island of Shunga. The once-thriving city had been reduced to ashes, leaving behind only memories soaked in pain and grief. Now, in the cold embrace of night, everyone had gathered around a blazing campfire, seeking warmth, comfort, and a momentary sense of peace after enduring months of sorrow and loss. The memory of Frederick still lingered heavily in their hearts like a haunting specter, refusing to fade with time. Faul, the child born on the very day Karaza fell, was cradled gently in the arms of his mother, Maria. He slept peacefully, his small chest rising and falling softly as he rested against her warmth. The crackling sound of the fire filled the air, along with the soft whispers of those gathered, trying to enjoy this rare moment of calm. Then, without any warning, an unnatural and powerful gust of wind surged across the Island of Shunga

In the lonely mountain, which Kaar took as a den for many dangerous animals, this dangerous place has become a safe haven for Maria and the two boys. Hidden among the tall jagged rocks and twisted trees, far from the chaos and the ever-spreading plague, Maria has finished setting up their shelter with care and attention to every small detail, using sticks, large leaves, and anything she could find to make the makeshift place as comfortable and protective as possible. She knew that survival would not be easy, but in this temporary peace, she found the strength to keep going. Billie hunted down two wild rabbits for food, chasing them with precision and skill as if his body moved on its own. The meat from the rabbits would sustain them for the night and maybe the next day if carefully rationed. Faul was still sound asleep, lying on a small nest of warm blankets, his small chest rising and falling slowly as if he were in the deepest dream. Maria was getting worried about her son. It’s be

They arrived in the city after long hours of journey. Maria took the two boys and moved to Jura, a city close to the capital city of Kaar. Because they had stayed away from the activities in the main city for years, they didn't have any coin to rent an apartment. So, they went down to the area allocated for refugees, but before that, they had to go and register as refugees in the city hall. As they entered the city hall, all eyes were on them. Maria was wearing a black cloak, so no one could tell who she was. Billie and Faul were standing close to the door while Maria headed to the registration booth to get them registered. "Sir, we came to register as refugees," Maria said to the man in the registration booth. The man raised his eyes and stared at Maria with a malicious gaze because he had seen how beautiful Maria looked and had already imagined getting her on his bed. "One gold coin, but if you don't have it, I can take you in for just a night and give a beauty like you a free re

“Wakie wakie.” The voice sounded distant yet oddly close, echoing through the fog in Faul’s mind. As he slowly opened his eyes, the world around him blurred like a half-remembered dream. His vision struggled to focus, unable to make out any details. All he could see was the faint silhouette of someone nearby. “Where... where am I?” Faul croaked, trying to sit up. The figure that stood before him appeared to be a young girl around his age, her voice carrying a light, curious tone. “Dad! He’s awake!” she called out excitedly, turning toward the doorway. Faul blinked repeatedly, trying to make sense of everything. His head throbbed with confusion. How did he even get here? What had happened to him? A few seconds later, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped into the room. His presence was strong, commanding, but not threatening. He stared at the girl with stern eyes. “Anna, didn’t I tell you to stay away from this room?” the man scolded. “I’m sorry, Dad,” Anna said, her lips pouting