Now Shaurya is five years old.
Shaurya had grown sharper, stronger. He'd been training in fighting skills—taught to him by Naren. And on one cloudynight, as he lay in bed under the painted ceilings of the Malan Palace. He was having that strange dreams of the winged girl stood drenched in blood, weeping.
"Sorry," she whispered. Then the dream shattered.
Shaurya woke up. His face looked terrified and he was breathing very hard.
Crackling.
He heard it—a soft rustle and then muffled voices beyond the corridor. He sat up, listening. The voices weren't from any servant.
"…kill them both before dawn. Burn the west exit door to cover the exit."
Heart pounding, Shaurya slipped from his bed and crept toward the door, pressing his ear against the cold wood.
A group of assassins.
He caught a glimpse of their shadows flickering against the torchlit corridor.
He didn't hesitate.
He ran—barefoot—down the silent hallway, turning left toward his parents' chambers. His breath came in short bursts. Shaurya burst into their room. "Mother! Father! We're under attack!"
Ashvik was already half-awake, his instincts honed from decades of battle.
"Who?" Ashvik asked, already strapping on his armor.
"I heard them— there are ten men or more. They said something about burning the west exit."
As the family's personal guards gathered outside the chamber, preparing for defense, fire erupted at the western end of the palace. Crimson light flooded the sky as smoke began to emit through the marble corridors.
The assassins had lit the fire. And now, the flames were spreading.
"Shaurya," Ashvik turned to his son. "Stay by your mother's side. Protect her. Do not run towards the fight."
Ashvik was fighting six assassins at the same time. They were overwhelming him. He was reaching his limits. So, Isha tried to help him. She casted some offensive spells but they were weak. Her mana output was not great because she was pregnant and during this time there are cases of mana deficiency.
Ashvik having to protect his family and fight at the same time, got injured and was not able to continue his fight. So, Shaurya tried to help his father. He cast some attack spell, but they were easily blocked by the assassins.