The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 61: Where we are. (Part 1)

Chapter 61: Where we are.

Another place somewhere somewhen:

"Daddy, look what I made!" Ria held a crown of white flowers, presenting it to her father. She was smiling brightly as if the troubles of the world meant nothing. She gestured for Ardent to come closer, "Come here."

Ardent smiled and kneeled beside her. As the crown was placed upon his head he took the small girl into his arms and stood up, twirling in the small garden. Ria's laughter filled the air.

"Do you like it?" Ria asked in his arms.

"I love it," Ardent replied. He kissed on the cheek, "But I love you more."

"Daddy stop!" she pushed his face away laughing as he showered her in kisses.

It was times like this that Ardent felt the world still had a chance. In this small dungeon in the middle of nowhere. A few thousand people who had managed to find each other created a life despite the monstrosities that existed outside. This was a world that Ardent wanted his daughter to grow up in. If only he could change what the world had become, he would in a heartbeat.

"Daddy, are you going back out for work?" Ria asked shyly as the two sat in the garden.

Ardent looked at the girl who already knew the answer but hoped for more, "Yes, I'll have to soon, but I promise I'll be back."

"It won't be long, will it?" Ria crawled into his lap and looked into his green eyes.

"A few days," Ardent replied.

"It's important, isn't it?" she held her hands together, her eyes turned away.

"Yes...," Ardent stared at his daughter who clearly didn't want him to leave. If he could he'd never leave her side but there were thousands in the dungeon who relied on him. They were locked away, the outside world unknown. It wasn't just his role to seek out information and supplies but to also keep up the lingering hope that barely held together. He couldn't abandon them, though at times like now, he wished he could.

Ria turned back to him, a strong smile but cracked with sadness, "It's okay, Ria will be a good girl and wait."

"Thank you, Ria," Ardent gave her a tight hug. "I promise one day, you'll be able to explore the real sky outside."

As the two parted a sudden blaring alarm exploded into the garden. Ria's eyes went wide, unsure and afraid. Ardent hoisted her into his arms, knowing what that alarm meant. They had been found.

"Ardent!" a handsome elven man rushed into the small garden. "We need to leave, now!"

"Vanter, how close are they?" he replied holding Ria in one arm.

Vanter grit his teeth, "We picked them up a few kilometres away but it's different this time, they're not searching, they're heading straight here! With our defences we should have half an hour, if that."

"Damn it," Ardent clenched his jaw, trying to think. "How did they find us?"

"It was Kah'Seer.... We saw her in their ranks."

"Was she captured or... or did she give in?"

"She gave in," Vanter answered heavily. "She lost so much already... with the news from Crysis, it was too much. Ardent, we need to move."