The Rise of a Hero & The Garnet Nightshade: A Violet Rose (Book 2)

Chapter VI: The Fall of a Kingdom

POV: Alyssa Saura'Latia

As Sidora and I arrived at the doors of the castle we were greeted by a small mob of beast-folk. From the looks of things, the king and queen had held off most of the invaders from within the castle. From the state of the outer walls of the castle, it was obvious the beast-folk had used a battering ramp to break through. I didn't want Sidora to have blood on her hands for the sake of her people, so I dispatched the mob so she could move freely into the castle.

As one would expect, more bodies littered the entryway. More beast-folk than elves lined the way as we made our way further in until we neared the throne room. What stopped us dead in our tracks was what was said on the other side of the door.

A deep male voice says after several barking laughs "Don't worry, the oldest one screamed as one of my men had his way with her. The look of terror on her face while it happened was more pleasure than he could have asked for. As for the second, well, let's just say she won't want another for the rest of her life."

Through gritted teeth, the king says "You and your kind are more like the animals you take after than it's worth! Not only have you destroyed our home, but you dare defile my daughters with your seed. If I were in a better position I'd kill you where you stand!"

"Knowing your kind and that the third princess is more than likely on her way here, I'll take my time with her right in front of you."

Before the king could act, one of the beast-folk that was restraining him slit his throat. With an ear-piercing scream, the queen fights with everything she has before being silenced herself.

The amount of mana pouring out of Sidora at that moment was so dangerous that I couldn't even get near her. Sidora's body was covered in a glowing blue haze that ran up the walls causing everything around it to buckle and crack, without using an incantation, Sidora blasted through the wall with the strongest wind, water, and ice spell I had ever seen. The air itself froze and the spell was released. An ice pillar now stood in the center of the room where the men had once stood.

With her hand outstretched she clasped her hand closed shattering the pillar into tiny flakes leaving no trace of the beast-folk that once stood there. With the aura around her disappearing, she begins to go porcelain white and collapses. I catch her just before her limp body hits the floor.

Before passing out from mana exhaustion, Sidora whispers to me "Find my sisters and end their suffering, it's the most humane thing to do."

Setting her down gently I stand and say "I promise you they won't suffer anymore."

Walking away from Sidora at this point was hard, but the duty I promised to do was even harder. Sidora's sisters had been defiled in the cruelest way possible and it was up to me to end their lives. One would think an assassin like myself wouldn't mind taking a life whether they deserved it or not, but I had learned the difference between living for myself and being a tool.

Knowing that difference is what made doing this so much harder. After several minutes of searching, I found one of the sisters lying on the ground in the fetal position sobbing, and a man lying dead next to her.

Since I was naturally quiet, I made my presence known to the princess who slowly tried to crawl away from me. Knowing full well that reaction would be natural, I say "I know what happened to you and if you want, I could ease that suffering?"

The princess looks at me and asks "Is my sister alright?"

"Sidora used too much mana and passed out, but your other sister I'm sorry to tell you had the same thing done to her as well if not worse."

"Then please, all I ask is you protect my little sister and end my life knowing I give you my blessing."

With those final words, I walk over to her, kneel down, take my dagger to her throat and slice it quickly. With part of the deed done I find the other soon after. Like the first, the second princess gives me her blessing as well before her life ends. As I walked away from the princess I could feel myself getting sick. So I find a corner of the room and puke. Once I feel myself again I return to where Sidora lays asleep.