Tears of Ashes En-Us

Chapter 3: The Second Escape and the Sacrifice

When the new day dawned, Eldric felt a wave of determination fill his being. The frustration and pain of the first escape attempt still burned in his memory, but now, with a more elaborate plan, he was determined not to fail again. Alongside Lira and the other children, he prepared for a new attack on freedom. The captivity had been a prison of suffering and brutality, but for them, it had also become a symbol of resistance and an unrelenting longing for liberation.

In tense silence, the group gathered, aware that this could be their last chance. Eldric looked into Lira's eyes. Even injured and fragile, she radiated a strength that inspired everyone around her. They exchanged silent promises: if one of them fell, the other would fight until the end.

As night cloaked the world in its dark mantle, they advanced. The darkness was their ally, and their hearts pulsed like war drums. Eldric led, his mind focused and his body moving with precision. The forest around them seemed alive, whispering secrets and dangers, but freedom called to them. They reached the passage they had discovered, where the fresh air and open sky made them feel liberation was almost within reach.

The group, more united than ever, ran down the path. Eldric and Lira were at the front, their steps in sync. When they finally crossed the last barrier, a wave of overwhelming ecstasy took hold of them. Cheers of joy erupted, a pure sound of triumph. But the happiness was quickly cut short by the shouts of warning from the bandits. The brutal reality returned like a cold wave.

Eldric didn't hesitate. Feeling the power of the Vérium pulse in his veins, he turned to face the attackers. Black flames ignited around him, dancing like living shadows. The battle unfolded like a nightmare, intense and chaotic. The Vérium, fueled by his anger and despair, transformed Eldric into a devastating force. He fought with fury, each blow a manifestation of his desire for freedom.

Lira, even amidst the chaos, encouraged the other children to run. The battlefield became a hell of fire and steel. Eldric saw several children escape, but his concern for Lira tormented him. He shouted her name, his voice lost in the roar of the flames. When the bandit leader emerged from the smoke, Eldric felt his heart freeze. The man laughed cruelly, as if he had already won.

"Did you think you could escape?" the chief taunted, advancing like an unrelenting shadow. Eldric, exhausted but with no option to retreat, raised the black flames once more. The fight with the chief was fierce. Eldric attacked with everything he had, but the man was skilled and cunning, separating Eldric from Lira. Horrified, he watched the chief bring her down. Eldric's scream echoed into the night as he unleashed one final burst of energy.

The Vérium burned, relentless, consuming everything. Eldric triumphed, but when he turned, he saw Lira gravely wounded. The cruel laughter of the chief echoed like a ghost, and the reality of loss and failure weighed heavily on Eldric. He picked Lira up in his arms, tears burning his eyes. He ran, thoughtless, to a nearby cave, seeking desperate shelter.

The cave was filled with bats, a dark sanctuary. The danger, however, had not passed. Two white wolves emerged from the shadows, growling. Eldric, exhausted, had to fight again. He used the Vérium, the black flames dancing around him, consuming what little energy he had left. He took down the wolves with difficulty, but each effort drained his strength.

Finally, Eldric fell to his knees. The tragedy weighed upon him: he had escaped, but at the cost of so many friends' lives, and Lira, the only person he loved, was dying in his arms. He whispered desperate promises, but he knew he was losing. The Vérium still burned in his veins, but it was also his curse. As tears burned his face, Eldric understood the darkness that now enveloped him.

He braced himself for what was to come, knowing that the path ahead was shrouded in shadows and pain.