Within a secluded village nestled deep within the shadows of ancient mountains, the peace of dawn was shattered by the roar of invading warriors. The doors of humble homes splintered under the force of savage kicks, their iron-shod boots reverberating through the cobblestone streets. Cries of terror pierced the morning air as blood-soaked the earth, and the once serene village became a scene of unholy carnage.
“Leave no one alive!” a grizzled warrior bellowed to his comrades, his voice a dark thunder amidst the chaos. They surged forward like a relentless tide, sparing none in their path
Amidst the horror, in the dim recesses of a small, hidden house, a young man and woman huddled together. The woman’s trembling hands cradled two fragile bundles, her tears flowing freely as she glanced at the man beside her.
“Just go,” he whispered urgently, his voice cracking with the weight of unspoken fears.
“I can’t… I can’t leave you here,” she sobbed, her heart breaking with the thought of abandoning him to the monsters that prowled just beyond their door.
The young man cupped her tear-streaked face in his hands, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be fine,” he lied, his own eyes shimmering with the truth he could not voice. With a swift motion, he guided her towards a small, concealed entrance to an underground tunnel.
As the trapdoor closed above her, muffling the distant sounds of violence, the main door of the house exploded inward. The warriors stormed inside, eyes gleaming with the thrill of the hunt.
“Where are the rest of the villagers?” one demanded, his voice a growl that made the walls tremble.
The young man, now alone, stood tall and defiant despite the fear gnawing at his insides. “I don’t know anything,” he spat back, his voice steady even as his heart pounded in his chest.
The leader of the warriors sneered, cruelty twisting his features into something monstrous. Without a word, he grabbed the young man by the hair, dragging him out into the street. The villagers who had managed to survive the initial onslaught watched in horror as the young man was bound to a towering wooden pole in the center of the village square.
A pile of dry wood was stacked at his feet, and with grim efficiency, the warriors set it alight. Flames licked at the wood, growing hotter and higher as they climbed towards the young man.
His face twisted In pain as the heat seared his skin, but still, he did not cry out. Instead, he closed his eyes, feeling the flames encircle him, and whispered through his tears, “It’s all up to you now.”
Deep beneath the village, in the silence of the tunnel, the woman clutched the bundles to her chest, her sobs muffled by the earth around her. She knew what the man’s sacrifice meant, and she would carry his final words with her forever. As the village burned and the smoke rose to meet the dawn, she made her way through the darkness, determined to protect the precious lives in her arms and honor the man who had given everything for their future.
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Arika: The legend of the lost jewel
FantasyA forbidden religion leads to a violent execution of many believers after the rein of a new leader who despised it's existence and declared himself to be worshiped instead. However during the execution two survived, twin sisters gifted with divine a...
