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

Chapter X: The Silence of Mourning & A Dirge

Southern G. NightShade

Village

POV: Amber Lis'ra

Once Arsidian and I made it to one of the villages in the southern reaches of his domain we found that the people had been put to sleep and then killed. I had found traces of a sleeping draught made from herbs that could only be found from my home. Arsidian asked me if there were any other kinds of herbs that could be dangerous, so I told him we needed to watch out for paralyzing herbs as well. Once we finished checking the rest of the village we moved on to the next one.

The next village was more or less the same. After we stopped by two or three more I decided to check the river that flowed between them to see if there was a connection. To my surprise, the water had been tainted with it. The only ones who knew how to make the draught were us elves. Meaning they had kept one of our kind alive so they could learn how to make it, and other forms of draughts.

Arsidian and I hurried to the next one hoping we made it in time. What awaited us from that point forward would change us forever.

"Is that a fire?" Asks Arsidian.

"There's smoke coming from the village as well. Do you think they're okay?"

"Get ready, because we're about to find out."

I look at my husband and nod as we head towards the village.

In the meantime

Village

"Where is the demi-human, we know she lives in this domain!" Growls a beast-folk soldier.

"The only demi-human I know of is Elise." Replies the villager.

"You're lying to me, I know it! If you don't spit it out I'll kill your whole family!"

"I swear, I don't know any other demi-humans. Please don't hurt my family?!"

The beast-folk soldier raises his hand and smacks the villager leaving claw marks in their place.

"I told you not to lie to me, now you'll watch your family die!" laughs the soldier.

Screams could be heard from one of the nearby houses as a beast-folk soldier carries out a woman and two young children. The one soldier takes the children and places them feet away from their father before taking his sword from its sheath.

"I'll ask once more, where is the demi-human?"

With terror in his eyes, the villager watches as the soldier kills his children. Screams that are soon muffled echo off the walls before she too is silenced. The villager begins to fight back with rage before the soldier kicks him into submission.

Moments Later

POV: Arsidian Lis'ra

Walking out of the shadows, I say "If you want to know where my sister is, then you'll have to go through me first."

With a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes, the soldier says "Don't make me laugh. You're a human."

Taking my sword out from its sheath I say "Alyssa Marie Lis'ra Saura'Latia is my sister, she's the firstborn daughter to the mothers Elise Lis'ra Saura'Latia and Mira Saura'Latia Lis'ra, as I'm the second born, Arsidian Saura'Latia Lis'ra! My mother Elise is a demi-human as my mother Mira is human."

"So, a human thinks he can win against one of us, huh, well let's find out!?"

"Amber, now!" I shout.

"With the element of earth, I summon thee to me, let the earth bind my enemies movements, IronClad!"

The earth forms around the soldier's feet, hindering him immobile.