As the night continued and everyone had fallen asleep, strange insects began crawling towards the men who had been guarding the prisoners. The next morning, those who awoke were horrified to find the guards dead, their bodies mutilated, faces eaten away. Panic quickly spread among the remaining men, though they were puzzled as to why the prisoners had been left unharmed.
The lady stepped forward to examine the scene.
“This land isn’t ordinary,” she said, her eyes scanning the surroundings. The king and prince observed the gruesome sight, realizing something was terribly wrong.
“What happened here last night?” Xavier whispered to Ellen.
“I don’t know the full extent, but there are definitely flesh-eating predators here,” Ellen replied. “This land is full of unseen dangers. We protected you two by covering you with our energy.”
Eva added, “The king is running out of men. If we don’t find what we’re searching for soon, more will perish in this place.”
Zayn, concerned, asked, “What about Kyle?”
Eva’s face darkened with sadness. “We will save him,” she promised, her voice heavy with determination, knowing that Kyle was still being secretly treated by the lady in one of the carriages.
As they continued following the map, eerie, animal-like noises echoed in the distance, making the tension palpable. One of the men, clearly unsettled, whispered to his companion, “What do you think really happened to those two guards?”
“Not sure…are you scared?” his companion replied with a mocking grin.
“N-no, not at all,” the man stammered, but his uneasy glance at the surroundings betrayed his words. “This place just freaks me out.”
“Relax,” another guard chimed in, “whatever attacked them probably only comes out at night.”
As they pressed on, a small, magnificent butterfly fluttered over them, its delicate wings glowing faintly in the sunlight. Without warning, it swooped down and landed on the arm of the man walking at the rear. He swatted it away, grumbling as a red bump appeared where the insect had touched him.
“You okay?” another guard asked, noticing the welt forming on his colleague’s arm.
“Yeah, just a bug bite,” the man replied, but his discomfort grew as they walked. The bump swelled rapidly, and within minutes, the man began to sweat profusely.
“Dude, you sure you’re okay?” his companion asked again, now alarmed.
“I…I don’t know. I don’t feel right,” the man muttered before suddenly collapsing to the ground.
Everyone froze, their eyes wide with shock. The fallen man looked ghastly—his skin pale, the bite area grotesquely swollen, and his breathing completely stopped. The king, the lady, and William rushed over, examining the horrific scene.
“Keep moving!” the king commanded, his voice tight with frustration. “We can’t afford to lose more men. Pick up the pace!”
The group, now filled with fear and unease, hurried along the path, their eyes darting nervously at every sound and movement around them. The mysterious and dangerous nature of the land was becoming undeniable.
William looked at Eva, his face a mix of confusion and irritation. “Hey, you two, do you know what’s happening here?” he demanded, clearly on edge. The girls remained silent. “Hey, I’m talking to you!” he shouted.
Eva’s empty glare met his eyes as she coldly replied, “You’re all going to die.”
“What? What do you mean by that?” William said, pointing his sword at her threateningly. “If you know something, how about you tell us!”
Ellen, calm yet cryptic, added, “We’re close by.”
The tension grew thicker, but William reluctantly put his sword away after the lady nearby reassured him. “Relax, honey. We’ll get out of this alive. She’s just bluffing.”
As they walked further, suddenly, Eva snapped her chain, her speed catching everyone off guard as she sprinted to the front. “Eva, no!” Ellen yelled, panic in her voice.
The king’s men quickly raised their weapons, and the king himself grinned mockingly. “What are you doing, girl? That’s not a smart move,” he taunted, pointing his sword at her brothers, ready to strike.
Without hesitation, Eva summoned a glowing red bow and arrow, her eyes burning with fierce determination. “Don’t try me,” she warned, firing an arrow directly at his sword. The force of the impact knocked it to the ground, and red flames erupted where the arrow landed. The sudden burst of power caught everyone off guard.
In the same moment, Ellen took advantage of the distraction, freeing their brothers. They quickly joined Eva, standing strong by her side. Ellen’s voice echoed with confidence, “You might be the legendary Duncan, but without the stone, you’re nothing—just a weak, pathetic man.”
The king, his face twisted with anger, shouted at his men, “What are you waiting for? Attack!”
The soldiers quickly drew their bows, aiming for the siblings. Ellen reacted swiftly, forming a glowing shield to protect them. Arrows bounced off harmlessly as the men launched their attack.
Amina sighed, exasperated by the resistance. “This is getting tiresome,” she muttered. With a tap on her necklace, a surge of power shot out, instantly draining the energy from Eva and Ellen. The two girls collapsed to the ground, their strength completely gone.
“That’s enough,” the lady said coolly, approaching the fallen sisters.
The king, smirking with satisfaction, walked over to Eva and kicked her while she lay defenceless. “What was that you said about me being weak?” he sneered. “I’m always a step ahead. You’re a foolish little girl with much to learn.”
He motioned to his men. “Carry them,” he ordered, his voice dripping with arrogance. The siblings, once full of strength and hope, were now prisoners again, bound and dragged forward, deeper into the unknown dangers of the land.
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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...
