Adela was just returning from the palace when she sighted heavy smoke. At first, she paid no attention and continued down her path, cursing the one who had made her day miserable.
Darkness covered the sky, and the quietness surrounded her with a strange peace, but something was off.
The burning flames continued from a distance away, but what was even stranger was the quietness—usually, people would be screaming while trying to help the victims in the best way possible, but no one was. And the further she walked, the more she realized it was coming from where she now called home.
"No... this can't be!" Adela screamed and ran forward. For a while, she forgot her pain; her butt still ached from the effects of the lashes, but she paid no attention.
As she got closer, she saw her mother crawling and begging. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen and heavy with tears. The house was gone—it had burned to a point beyond saving; not even one item came out of it.
