The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 79: Gone (Part 1)

Chapter 79: Gone

Another world, before the collapse.

"She's so small," Ardent touched his daughter's fingers, smiling as they flexed and curled around his much larger one. The small baby moving even in her sleep. "It's hard to tell right now, but I think she'll grow up as beautiful as her mother."

Endi laughed, swiping tiredly at her husband, "I just want her to grow up happy."

"She will," Ardent replied with all the confidence in the world. "We'll make sure of that, no matter what happens."

"Ria," Endi spoke the name as she held her daughter in her arms. The family of now three cosy as they sat together. "One day, I know you'll do great things but right now, I think we need to change your diaper."

"Yeah, I smell that," Ardent reached out and took his daughter in his arms. He smiled, repeating the sentiments in his heart, "No matter what."

Ardent Friend:

We dropped everything and ran back to the edge of the Sky Caller Mountains. Despite the injured and the unconscious, with no Wyvern King to be wary of, we quickly made it back to the campsite within minutes. The entire time my heart was bounding. If King Articus was attacked, it meant Ria was in danger as well. I knew I couldn't be with her all the time, that I couldn't drag her into danger but at times like these, I wish she had never left my side.

The instant we exited the forest road we were welcomed by the sight of chaos. The knights guarding the King were spread all over the sight, injured and being tended to. The fight must have been fresh as even now the able bodied were helping the others to get to shelter. The convoy of carriages had been thrown about, left in a disarray of broken heaps. Even Shin's truck laid on its side, the wall facing upwards dented with wide cuts in the metal.

Beyond all of it a familiar sense of dread filled the air. It was their presence. Rift Walkers. It wasn't a smell but a feeling that permeated the gut. That things weren't right. Seeing the destruction my heart rate flared and for a moment I felt faint. The dead bodies lying on the roads, forgotten and abandoned, the people who fled screaming and hoping not to be struck down, myself running, forsaking those around me, intent to protect Aria.

I couldn't take it and rushed forward, "Ria! Ria, where are you!?"

Ratansi filled the gap I could not and began to organise the men and women who had come with us, quickly giving them orders to aid the wounded and clear the damage. My mind only briefly acknowledged his actions before I frantically began to search. I spotted the King, he was sitting beneath a makeshift shelter, a bandage covered his side. I didn't stop and pushed around the corner. Shin laid against a wooden crate; his head bandaged.

"Shin," I skidded to a halt in front of him. "Ria, where is she?"

His eyes met mine and then they bent away, a look of guilt, frustration and failure.

"Shin..., please. Tell me she's here," I stood above the wounded dwarf, heart hammering louder and louder in my ears.

"I'm sorry Ardent, they took her," he faced me beyond apologetic.

"No...." They took her. They took her! A million thoughts jumbled through my mind. What could I have done to protect her, why I wasn't beside her, where she was now, what could have happened to her, why I wasn't with her now? Was I angry? Yes. I was livid at myself for failing to keep her safe. The frustration built inside me, threatening to top over.