Viena and the Black Mirror

[ 25 ] - 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬

      Viena and Sen dashed through the caves like frantic mice, dodging stragglers in search of Skale and the Captain. Maria was here a night early, and they were not ready.

Viena spotted the Captain with a clipboard, signing something for Skale. They were making sure tent placement stayed organized to better fit in the narrower areas.

"Captain!" Viena rushed forward, almost crashing into him with how fast she was running. "Maria is here! There are shadow monsters in the horizon!"

"We need to gather the army right now," Sen added. "We have little time. Not even enough time to set up for Plan A."

Alexander walked behind the Captain with a worried expression. "What's going on? I heard yelling."

"Alex. I need you to gather the other trainees and stay with the people. Unless the enemy finds the Caverns, I don't want anyone leaving," the Captain ordered.

Alexander looked like he was about to protest, but Viena intercepted. "You promise to keep our and the Forest's people safe, right Alex?"

Alexander drew his sword, pulling down the visor to his helmet. Although he seemed upset, the Curculus Alliance couldn't defend the Forest and guard the people at the same time. "I promise, but you have to promise to stay safe too."

Viena smiled despite the stress. "I will."

The Captain frowned. "I wish you did not have to fight with us."

Viena rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "We do not have time for this. As the ruler of Monduria, it is my duty to help lead in battle. My father would do the same."

He sighed. "As long as you don't stray where I cannot reach you-"

A powerful rumble cut the Captain off. The mountain shook from the force of it, spraying pebbles and amplifying the sound through the acoustic caves. If the shadow monsters were the storm, that must have been the thunder.

Soon, they would be rained down upon.

Citizens screamed in fear, gasping as another boom shook the earth. They were getting closer.

A voice rose above the chaos, one that was neither encouraging nor rational. "Human citizens, listen to me!" Malvor, the ex-leader of the Mondurian council stood above like an idol. "We must evacuate this mountain to the Mondurian outskirts or it will crush us! You should have never mingled with these monsters!"

Growls coursed throughout the cave, eyes flared in anger. It was one thing to insult a few magic bloods expecting prejudice, and another to badmouth them in their own home. Many humans coward away from the furious magic bloods, glaring in return.

Malvor grinned, eager to puppeteer his new webs of fear and anger. "Fight against these pathetic destroyers of our kingdom before they imprison us under their mountain-"

"Silence!" Viena roared. She stepped atop a rock, overlooking the cavern of people. Malvor scowled at her from the other side, standing on a formation of stone similar to a balcony. If someone were to push him off, he would fall to his death.

"Nowhere else is as safe as this Cavern! Let alone a prison of trickery!" She waved her hand to the people, gesturing to the magic bloods and humans alike. Although they stood under the same mountain, they could not have been more separated. "Do you want to fight one war or two?! Ask that to yourself every time you regard the other as a monster or bug! Because I will only fight one war for you, and that is against the actual monsters outside!" Viena paused, taking in a deep breath. "Stand together or perish."

Malvor's mouth gaped open like a fish before closing in a thin line. This was the most furious she'd ever seen him. "Ignore the falsehoods of this wayward queen-!"