''Boom!'' ''Boom!'' "Boom!"
It was pure chaos in the kingdom of Eldom; the smell of blood and burnt flesh filled the air, and the screams of the tormented echoed through the castle of Eldom. Edna, the empress and mother of the young princess Althea who had just turned ten years old, pulled her daughter by the arms, scrambling to take cover from falling debris. The palace was under siege, and their lives were in danger. ''This way, Your Highness, hurry!!'' the voice of a man called out to Edna, trying to pull them both to safety. Althea looked at the man trying to help her and her mother; it was the knight Lan, who had been protecting herself and her mother for as long as she could remember. ''nngh'' he let out a painful groan, he was severely injured, and it did not look like Lan would last long if he had to engage in a fight.
The kingdom of Belmain and Eldom have been at war for the past seven years, and Belmain had gained the upper hand in the war, thanks to the corrupted aristocratic faction of Eldom. They were willing to overthrow the current king and father of Althea. He, too, was a good-for-nothing king, interested only in increasing his wealth, concubines, and unfair taxes on his kingdom's people. He had lived as an unruly man and now had died as one.
''This way, we are almost there, your Highnesses.'' The knight Lan had successfully escorted them to a secret passage in the palace. Althea followed as quickly and as quietly as she could, wondering where her mother was taking her. After going into what looked like a maid's quarters, they arrived at a door. ''Knock, knock.'' The door was immediately opened by a tiny child dressed rather elegantly, similar to Althea. She greeted them, ushering them inside the room.
''Boom, boom, boom!!'' The chaos outside was never-ending as the sounds of cannons continuously hit the walls. ''Here, put this on, hurry!'' Edna handed Althea clothes to wear, and although she was confused, she did not question her mother and quickly changed her attire. Lan had stayed outside to keep watch. He was very sure that his time had come; with his resolve unshaken, he took his last and final stance outside the door, protecting Edna and Althea. Edna led Althea to the room's rear; she moved some creates aside to reveal a wall. Handing Althea a bag, she looked at her daughter with a bitter smile. ''I wish I could watch you grow up to become an intelligent, strong, and beautiful woman my child''.
Edna's vision began to blur; she pulled her 10-year-old daughter into her arms and hugged her. Althea's vision began to blur, as well. 'we are going to die here.' She thought to herself, holding her mother tight. ''Gasp'' Althea gasped as her mother used a dagger to cut her hair. "Mother, why?'' she questioned, looking bewildered. Edna put the hair in a smaller bag without answering her question and handed it to her daughter. ''Look at me, Thea'' Giving her daughter a stern look, she placed her palm on the wall, revealing a secret passageway. ''You must live, grow beautiful, strong, and most importantly, my child, be happy.'' Edna did not want to cry in the presence of her daughter, and before further protesting, she shoved into the passageway ''take this passage, and it will lead you to the outskirts of the kingdom.''
Althea had pieced together what her mother was trying to do, and she looked at the little girl who was in the room. The child held no emotions in her eyes. Althea did not want to leave either one of them ''come with me please,'' she pleaded, trying to pull her mother into the passageway with her ''we can all live so please, do not make me leave you behind, I beg of you mother'' Her vision blurred as she tasted her salty tears streaming down her face. Edna's resolve shook as she watched her daughter, but she knew better. No one in the royal family was going to survive, and she was going to save her child no matter the cost. ''I love you, never forget that'' Looking dejected, Althea knew her mother was not coming with her.
Edna pushed on the wall to close the passage putting the crates back in place. She fixed herself looking at the young child in front of her, and she steeled her heart to stop herself from wavering. ''You ready?'' she addressed the child, who responded with a nod.
Lan, who was standing guard, had been bleeding for a while and kept himself conscious with his mana. He could see enemy soldiers approaching, and he took his final stance. He died defending them outside the door with Edna hearing it all. She was full of regrets. Edna felt that she had wasted her time occupied by other things and did not treasure her child until it was too late. She sighed; putting on a stern face, she held the little child close to her as they each consumed the contents contained in a vial.
The soldiers successfully broke into the room and dragged Edna and the child outside. ''So this is the fallen empress, pitiful,'' one of them mocked Edna. ''And this must be the little princess; she is quite the beauty,'' another soldier remarked, looking at what they assumed was mother and daughter. Edna glared at the knights of Belmain, and she could guess what they wanted to do. She was sure that the soldiers they left to ''clean up'' were nothing short of looters and rapists. She looked at the child and smiled wrily, and before the soldiers could grasp the situation, both Edna and the child began to foam at the mouth.
She had given the child a poison vial which had taken effect, and it was as painless as she could make it; she too, had consumed poison, and before letting go, Edna let out a last sigh of relief ''Althea.'' She embraced the darkness. Looking perplexed and somewhat disappointed, the soldiers beheaded the corpses and added them to the rest of the beheaded royals of Eldom, marking the kingdom's fall.
Running as fast as her legs could take her, Althea had made it to an underground tunnel; she was almost out; she would occasionally look behind her, wondering if somehow the hidden passage was found by the soldiers. Not wanting to know the answer, she ran as fast as she could. Huffing and puffing, Althea did not stop to rest; she had to get away. Not wanting to think about her mother, she kept a clear head.
Finally reaching the end of the tunnel, she pulled herself out. Taking a final look from a distance at the place she once called home, with a heavy heart, she turned away, heading towards the forest, leaving Eldom behind. She ran deep into the forest.