Treasures of Andalia Chronicles: Ring of Flames

Chapter Twelve: There is an Impostor Among Us

AMARIS

People strickened with panic. Everyone rushed away from the open area, looking for roofs as shelter from the raining black arrows. Screams of terror filled the entire kingdom. Parents were desperately running to save their children. Children cried beside the bodies of their dead relatives. There were a lot of casualties on the first wave. I couldn't bear what would happen if the main forces arrived at the gates of the palace. This was what Aleiah warned me about, and yet I still couldn't prevent the war. I failed to save the people.

My breath hitched. Watching them die mercilessly at the hands of the invaders broke my heart. I realized how helpless I was. I couldn't even move when we were forced to leave due to the danger that lies in front of us. Rihaan pulled my arm as I was too out of it to make sense of what was happening.

Rihaan and Valerick said something to me but I couldn't catch it. All I could hear were the endless screams of agony. I will never be able to forget this scene before me. It will haunt me all my life.

The remaining mages stood on their ground and started to cast the spell again but soon, they realized that the full moon was staring down at them, robbing them of their powers. They could no longer use their magic. Haquilla ordered the others to flee, and I swear that our eyes met for a second. At that moment, I saw her golden eyes. I knew I wasn't hallucinating when I saw it. We have the same eyes.

The royal army formed a defensive formation in front of the palace gates. The infantry was using their huge shield to protect themselves from arrows but some of them made it past through the small holes, hitting other soldiers and slowly destroying Ravalor's impregnable forces.

"Princess Aleiah!" Valerick called.

I panted as I forced my feet to run. Rihaan looked at me with a worried look. "Please pull yourself together," he said.

"We shouldn't be running away! We need to save those people!"

I stopped running and pulled my hand from Rihaan's grasp.

I can't turn my back to those who needed my help. I need to help them. This was the very reason why Aleiah brought me back here in the first place.

"Aleiah, you can't go!" Moryen cried, dashing my way, and tried to stop me from going back.

I yanked my hands. "I need to go back. It'll be too late if we keep on wasting time."

"But—"

"Christ!" Saevel cursed. "Why are you so stubborn? Just listen to Moryen."

"It may be easy for you to leave your people but I'm not like you—no, I won't be like you!" I yelled furiously, clenching my hand into a fist. Yet that only rendered them speechless.

I criticized their commitment to the people. It was our job as royalties—as their rulers—to protect their lives and home. We shouldn't be running away. We should be on the front line, protecting the innocents. Yet when chaos struck, they were the first to flee.

The king ran towards me and held my arms tightly. "Listen, Aleiah, you're in no shape to fight the Valerian army, and we're currently powerless. There's nothing we can do against an army that big. Please, listen to us," he pleaded.

The king is usually proud and strong but right now, he looked so vulnerable. I felt guilty for being stubborn. I stared at everyone and saw how conflicted they were. It wasn't just me who felt that way. Everyone felt helpless. Even though they wanted to help, there was nothing they could do at the moment. And I was the same. I can't help them the way I am right now. I wanted to get stronger. I needed to get stronger to save them, and one day I will.