"There!" Owen shouted, pointing with his tail. A maid was collapsed on the floor, a chunk of broken stone pinning her leg.
Axelius skidded to a halt and knelt beside her. "Hold on." He shoved the heavy stone aside and carefully helped the trembling maid to her feet.
"C-can you walk?" he asked quickly.
"Y-yes… thank you, young lord…" she whispered, wincing as she steadied herself.
"Where is Princess Athena's room?" Axelius demanded, his voice sharp.
"T-that way," the maid stammered, pointing down the hall with a shaking hand.
"Good. Get yourself to safety."
Without wasting a second, Axelius dashed in the direction she showed him. The hallway was cracked and littered with debris, smoke creeping through the air as the castle shook again from distant impacts.
He reached a tall, ornate door Athena's room and kicked it open with a loud crash.
The sight froze him for a split second.
