Elyria, 15th of Valyria, 542 ER
The sun rose in the west—an ancient anomaly of the island—casting golden rays toward the east. Birds filled the air with melody: robins, thrushes, doves, hummingbirds, and forest fowl sang in harmony, stirring the peaceful dawn of the island of GOA.
Three horses rode in solemn procession, weaving through a mist-veiled forest trail along the island's eastern fringe.
Two silver-colored stallions, clad in red hoof-guards, bore riders with hardened frames, while a white mare named Laina pulled an ornate Berlin-style carriage—an unmistakable sign of noble presence. Her saddle bore an engraved symbol: a crowned woman seated upon a throne—elegant, powerful, and wise. Clad in a maiden's gown, she exuded quiet authority.
Flanking Laina were this two riders. One was Alex, a broad-shouldered knight with a gleaming broadsword at his side. The other, Cole, rode with the weight of a war hammer across his back, his stance that of a seasoned warrior. Their presence formed a protective triangle around the carriage as they advanced through the mist-shrouded trees, just three kilometers from the towering cliffs that crowned one of GOA's ancient mountains.
Then—without warning—chaos erupted.
A hail of arrows tore through the treetops.
The sky darkened as the deadly rain descended. Laina reared in alarm. The carriage rocked violently. Inside, the silence broke.
Luna, asleep moments before, jolted upright.
Her green-skinned hand shot to the glowing red emblem on her chest—a snarling young brown bear. In one breath, she assessed the ambush. No hesitation.
"Alex, Cole! Fasten the fuck up, Nigas! The Demonga Dilt Archers are here! Shield stone—now!"
The warriors raised their weapons in tandem. Twin surges of light arced outward. A white, translucent barrier formed around the carriage like a cocoon—just as the arrows struck. Metal clanged. Sparks danced in the air.
From the shadows, six figures emerged.
At the center stood Brednack, cloaked in darkness, his eyes like coals burning through the void. Behind him: Sheemack, Jainee, Lilly, Dork, and another unnamed archer—silent, masked, deadly.
They encircled the carriage in silence. Wind rustled the leaves. Tension crackled.
A beat later—Luna exploded from the carriage.
Her foot hit the floor; the roof cracked open; she vaulted into the air like a spring uncoiled. Her black twin swords glinted as she landed in a crouch, standing tall and ready. Her orcish features were defined, powerful—her presence demanding fear.
She glanced at Alex and Cole. They didn't need words. The two turned, weapons drawn, horses braced for battle.
Brednack took a step forward. His voice slithered through the air like venom.
"So, you ignored our warning from Denair? You've got guts, I'll give you that."
He raised a hand—fingers shifting into dagger-like points.
"Submit the plan, and maybe... just maybe... you'll live."
Before the last syllable left his lips.
The forest snapped into action.
Alex and Cole surged forward, spurred by fury. Their stallions thundered across the ground. Alex's broadsword swung wide, aiming for Brednack's chest. Cole's hammer arced like a comet.
From the side, Jainee and Lilly transformed—limbs extending into razor whips, chains, and blades, striking the earth and spooking the horses.
Luna reacted instantly. Her blades left her hands mid-sprint—spinning, deadly. She launched toward the center, swift as flame.
One blade slashed through Lilly's neck—her body dropped like a puppet with cut strings.
Jainee barely escaped, rolling backward. Sheemack and Dork stumbled as Luna pressed forward, unrelenting.
Then—Brednack moved.
His eyes narrowed. His cloak shifted. A hidden dart flew from his wrist, striking Luna's neck. She staggered, but the glowing bear emblem blazed—deflecting death once again.
Brednack growled. His cloak exploded outward. Wings erupted—wide, feathered, sharp-edged—eagle-like and monstrous. With a single sweep, he shielded himself.
Too late.
Luna's blades returned to her grasp, spinning at her sides in a deadly orbit. They whirled faster—whispers of steel cutting through the air.
Wind roared. Leaves scattered. The ground trembled.
Jainee was hurled backward, unconscious. Sheemack and Dork tumbled, bleeding and stunned. Brednack himself was thrown skyward, wings flailing, his cloak shredded, revealing pieces of his demonic form beneath.
But Luna had spent her strength. She collapsed to one knee, panting, one hand anchoring her to the soil.
Then—the forest held its breath.
Above—a strange humming. Air shifted. A black glimmer sliced the light.
The Malefic Shaft—a weapon not of bow or blade, but ancient and cursed—cut through the sky like a serpent of shadow.
Alex saw it.
His eyes widened. He urged his stallion forward, sword raised high.
Cole, too, reacted. His mount twisted toward the threat. The two men shared a silent moment of unity, then separated, flanking either side of the projectile's path.
Alex swung his broadsword with fierce determination, meeting the Malefic Shaft in midair— CRACK. The blade shattered, shards scattering like falling leaves.
A brief, bitter smirk tugged at Alex's lips, mocking his own miscalculation—a quiet, sharp laugh caught in his throat.
Then his eyes snapped wide open, the smirk vanishing instantly as he tracked the shaft's sudden shift. It shimmered unnervingly, veering off course—directly toward the carriage.
Cole's grip tightened on his war hammer, his breath catching as he locked eyes with Alex and Luna, the shared dread unspoken but heavy between them.
The translucent barrier flickered violently as the shaft pierced through, nearly meeting—or threatening to penetrate—the carriage.
Silence fell.
To Be Continued...