Outside of the dome.
Everyone was staring at the huge second blast happening inside the dome. This blast was more violent and overwhelming than the previous one; surviving in that mana dome seems impossible.
The Duchess Maria stood silent, looking at the blast, and slowly, her hand loosened on Vivien's tiny hand.
The little girl looked up at her mother's face, her grey eyes widening in fear. Maria stood frozen; she wanted to run towards it to save her son, but she couldn't.
"Mother… are they—"
Before she could finish, Maria fell to her knees and started crying. Her hands trembling, her breath comes short.
"No… no, no, no…" she whispered, gripping the earth as if she could hold herself together. "Not my son… not my children… please…"
Her son echoed throughout the clearing; the nobles stood silently, not knowing what to do.
Vivien dropped to her knees beside her mother, tears gathering in her own eyes.
"M-Mother…" she choked, gently touching Maria's arm.
