Web Novel Chapter 1: Anna's Escape and the Amazing Cave
The battle had reached its peak. Cries, explosions, and the clash of swords filled the air, yet the humans were weak, their numbers dwindling one by one.
Adrien, watching his troops fall and realizing they were losing, ordered a retreat. His thoughts immediately went to his wife and unborn child. With all his speed, he raced toward the village. When he arrived, the gates were closed.
The ruthless, rebellious orcs stormed the village, breaking the defensive lines. The wooden gates shattered under their axes, and they poured in. The villagers fought bravely, but their resistance was futile. Soon, the orcs began slaughtering indiscriminately, and the village was engulfed in flames and chaos.
Adrien hurried into his home and found Anna. Grabbing her hand, he said anxiously:
"We must go! The orcs are destroying everything!"
Anna's eyes filled with fear as she looked outside. The village burned in blazing fire, and the ringing of the tower bell signaled that everyone needed to evacuate immediately.
They ran to the stables. Adrien grabbed two white horses and helped Anna mount one. He mounted his own and said:
"You take the southern gate toward the mountains. I'll follow right behind you. Go ahead!"
They moved together, but when they reached the southern gate, it was locked. Adrien dismounted and quickly opened it.
A massive orc charged at Anna and her horse. She froze in terror, but Adrien stepped in front of her, drawing his sword. With furious determination, he blocked the orc's axe to protect his wife. Exhausted, he held the orc back and shouted:
"Go! Are you scared?!"
Adrien knew he couldn't defeat this orc alone—it was the leader of the others. He didn't want Anna to see him die; he just needed to buy time for her and their child to escape.
Anna snapped back to focus and, with all her strength, spurred her horse toward the southern gate. Explosions, smoke, fire, and the screams of the villagers surrounded her like an endless nightmare. Adrien raised his sword and shouted:
"Go! I'll hold them off!"
But the real nightmare was right behind her. After a few moments, Anna heard Adrien's cry. She turned and saw an orc's axe embedded in his neck. Her heart clenched in agony, and tears streamed down her face.
"No… Adrien… don't leave me!"
The merciless orc struck again with a second blow, slicing Adrien in half. He collapsed to the ground. The leader roared, and two more orcs appeared, rushing toward Anna.
Yet Anna, summoning all her courage and thinking of the life in her womb, resolved to survive. She spurred her horse toward the mountains. Midway, she heard the orcs' cries—they were still in pursuit.
She dismounted and used a clever trick: sending her horse in another direction to mislead the orcs. She took a moment to catch her breath and regain strength.
Struggling under the weight of her pregnancy, she climbed to the top of the mountain and rested for a few moments, gathering energy. She thought:
"Maybe they've lost track of me… maybe they've given up…"
But the peace was fleeting. From below, the orcs' shouts echoed. Standing on a rock and looking down, Anna saw the entire orc army advancing up the mountain.
Placing a hand on her belly and breathing heavily, Anna braced herself. She knew she had to escape this dangerous peak and fight every moment for her life—and the life of her unborn child.
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A cold wind swept across the mountains, carrying the orcs' screams like the roars of hungry demons. Anna, breathless and with tears in her eyes, silently climbed the mountainside, focusing every ounce of her strength to stay unnoticed. Her palms were raw from scraping against the jagged rocks.
Suddenly, something caught her eye—a narrow crevice in the mountain, as if nature itself had carved a tiny escape route. She knelt and brushed the dirt aside. Inside, there was only darkness.
"Maybe it's a den… or some creature lives here…" she whispered.
The approaching orcs' flames and shouts made her heart pound faster. Night had fallen. Closing her eyes, she muttered an incantation, and a faint blue light sparked in her hands—a tiny flame, like a candle struggling against a storm. It illuminated the crevice.
The path inside was empty—just stone and a narrow passage leading deeper into the mountain. She whispered under her breath:
"Better than being torn apart by them…"
With all her strength, she squeezed through the narrow gap. Her clothes tore, her arms were scratched, but finally, she entered. The air inside the cave was warmer and slightly damp compared to the biting cold outside, and tiny particles of magical energy floated around, brushing against her skin.
Anna moved cautiously forward. Outside, the orcs' roars grew louder, their stomping echoing like dark ceremonial drums throughout the night. She held her breath, extinguished her magic light, and pressed herself against the wall. The orcs, dancing around their fire, never noticed the small crevice she had vanished into.
After a few tense moments, still trembling and breathing heavily, Anna reignited her faint light and moved deeper. She reached a section of the cave where the walls were studded with tiny crystals that reflected a soft glow, illuminating the passage. She extinguished her magic again, letting her eyes adjust to the crystal light.
The cave felt different—the air heavier, every breath seeming to interact with her body and the core of her magic. She felt the pure energy in her magical pathways surging, sensing a transformation beginning within her magic core.
She rested briefly on a stone ledge, her heart still racing with fear and excitement. Her child kicked inside her womb. Placing a gentle hand on her belly, she whispered:
"Calm down, my boy… Atysh. Everything will be fine, I promise.".