The halls of House Aeternis stood silent under the pale glow of the moon. Flickering lanterns cast long shadows across the stone corridors, illuminating the noble house in an eerie calm. Yet, beneath this illusion of peace, something sinister lurked in the darkness.
A group of hooded figures moved like wraiths through the estate, their footsteps barely making a sound against the cold stone floors. Cloaked in secrecy, they advanced with lethal precision, their goal clear—take the child.
Within the grand chambers of the manor, Seraphina Aeternis sat by Leon's crib, her keen senses on high alert. The night felt wrong, as though an unseen force loomed just beyond her perception. Her fingers tightened around the dagger she always kept hidden in her gown.
Then, the silence shattered.
A muffled scream rang out from the outer halls, quickly cut short. The unmistakable clash of steel followed, and the once-quiet estate erupted into chaos.
Seraphina rose instantly, cradling Leon protectively as the door to the chamber burst open. A knight of House Aeternis, blood dripping from a wound on his shoulder, staggered inside.
"My Lady!" he gasped. "We are under attack! They're here for the young master!"
Seraphina's eyes darkened. "Who are they?"
"No insignias—mercenaries, perhaps, or something worse. They move like assassins."
Her heart pounded as she realized the severity of the situation. This was no ordinary raid. Someone had orchestrated this attack with a single goal—to take Leon.
She had no time to dwell on the implications. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the corridor. More were coming.
Seraphina glanced at her son. His golden eyes—unnaturally perceptive for an infant—stared back at her with eerie calm. He knew. Somehow, he knew.
She would not let them take him.
---
On the other side of the estate, Duke Reynard Aeternis stood at the heart of the battle. His sword gleamed under the moonlight, already slick with the blood of those who dared invade his home. Around him, his knights fought valiantly, but they were outnumbered.
These were not mere assassins—whoever had sent them had armed them with enchanted weapons, their strikes unnaturally swift and precise. Magic pulsed through the air as battle mages exchanged deadly spells.
Reynard parried a blow, his blade dancing with ruthless efficiency. He had fought countless battles in his lifetime, but this—this was different. The enemy moved with purpose, their focus never wavering from the inner chambers of the estate.
They were after his son.
His chest tightened with a father's fury. Over my dead body.
A second wave of attackers pushed forward. A towering figure, clad in obsidian armor and exuding an aura of cold malice, stepped onto the battlefield. The leader of the raiders.
"You are formidable, Duke Aeternis," the armored figure intoned, his voice distorted beneath his helm. "But your time is up."
Reynard gritted his teeth. "We shall see."
The battle between them was swift and brutal. Magic clashed with steel, the force of their strikes sending shockwaves through the courtyard. But even as he fought, Reynard knew—this was not a battle he could win.
A piercing scream echoed from within the manor.
Seraphina.
Terror gripped him, and in that moment of hesitation, the enemy struck.
A blade, laced with dark energy, pierced his chest.
Reynard staggered, coughing up blood. The world blurred as he dropped to one knee. He could feel his strength fading, but he refused to fall.
With the last of his power, he grasped the enemy's arm and, with a final defiant roar, drove his own sword through his attacker's neck. The assassin choked, his body crumpling to the ground alongside Reynard.
As darkness claimed him, Reynard's last thoughts were of his son.
Leon… survive. Live. And one day, make them all pay.
---
Seraphina ran.
The corridors blurred past her as she clutched Leon tightly against her chest. She had seen Reynard fall—felt their bond shatter in that single, soul-wrenching moment.
But there was no time for grief.
The attackers were everywhere. Even now, she could hear them closing in. Her body burned with exhaustion, but she refused to stop.
Then—
A strange sensation rippled through the air.
The world around her shimmered, as if reality itself was unraveling. A golden light engulfed the hallway, radiating an overwhelming presence. The attackers halted, frozen mid-stride, their weapons suspended in the air.
And then, amidst the chaos, a voice echoed.
"I will not let you die."
The words rang with an authority beyond mortal comprehension, vibrating deep within Seraphina's very soul.
And then—
Everything vanished.
---
When Seraphina next opened her eyes, she was no longer in House Aeternis.
The scent of damp earth and ancient trees filled her senses. Towering trees stretched toward the heavens, their leaves casting dappled light across the forest floor. Strange, glowing flora pulsed with faint luminescence, illuminating the unfamiliar terrain.
Leon stirred in her arms, his golden eyes scanning their new surroundings with a quiet, unreadable expression.
Seraphina exhaled shakily.
They were alive.
But where were they?
And whose voice had saved them?
The attackers would soon realize their prey had vanished, but by then, it would be too late.
They had escaped—transported to a place unknown, deep within the vast and mysterious Central Continent.
The future had shifted, and fate had taken a new path.