Escape from the burning city

The rising smoke only made it hard to believe for the three young souls who ran among the disoriented masses.

All around them, the battle raged on, even though the youngest of them all couldn't hear the sounds, the scenes she witnessed didn't make anything easier as they made their way past streets filled with blood and dismembered body parts.

The group consisted of four people, a young kid of age twelve was the one who led everyone forward through the crowds. He was tall for his age, but still he was a kid of his age. On his back was a backpack that had everything that they needed to survive for long enough, they just had to make it out of the city in one piece.

He wasn't the most skillful or most intelligent kid out there, but his father's last words to him had been a simple request.

'Make sure you live a life that is worth the way you die. And protect your sister until the day you die!'

'Why?!' the kid protested in a stagnant voice. 'Why did you have to go and risk your own life!' he tried to find the answer, but his father had already gone to a place he couldn't visit yet.

'Master Storme,' the older girl among the two in the group tried to call with as soothing of a voice as possible. 'Lord Valpa has left you with everything he holds dear. Please, focus on getting out of here and moving on. After all, we can't always control who we leave behind.'

The girl faltered at the last bit. The vision of her mother holding her husband's hand as they both headed out to protect the castle was still fresh in her memory.

'You are a daughter of the Blaine family, your destiny is the one to the serve the heirs of the Valpa Household, fulfill your duty with the utmost sincerity.'

Those were the last words of her parents. She had been raised to not shed a tear for her own desires, but all the training in the world didn't amount for the barrage of emotions that you felt at the time you part ways with the ones who gave birth to you.

Storme was the heir she was supposed to serve for the rest of her life, and her parents had entrusted that to her as a last wish. She couldn't let herself be carried away.

The four of the group struggled through the streets as they passed a flurry of explosion. At the central square of the market, they saw all the citizens gathering to evacuate towards the South. The attackers were making their way through the North and West, South was the easiest to run away.

'Ladies and gentleman,' the kids saw one of the old soldiers heading to a raised platform. 'I hope you all understand the scenario that we are in and the steps we need to take. So, I request you to only carry the items that can last you to survive for as long as you can. Once we are out in the South woods, scatter as far and wide as you can, the only way to evade those dragons is to spread all around. I hope you all find refuge in your lives. I wish you all the best.'

The man said and then he started directing the soldiers he had alongside him. With the situation as is, the best of the soldiers were out on the field trying to fend of the attackers while only a small dispatch was sent in order to make sure the evacuation is successful, even these soldiers will return to the front lines the moment they had escorted the families out the South gate.

There was a huge murmuring amongst the people as they all panicked and tried to find a soldier who can lead them out of the city.

'They are all mostly women,' the older girl noted. 'And a lot of them have new-born children and infants in their hands.'

'Indeed Andromeda,' the tallest of the kid and the other boy said. 'Most of the men are out there on the field. If the master hadn't ordered me to follow Sir Storme, then I would have also been on the frontlines.'

'But Furnas,' Andromeda, the older girl called, 'the lord anticipated that you will be needed by Master Storme, shouldn't you prioritize the young master?'

'I was born and raised to be a close companion to Storme,' Furnas told her, 'Of course I will prioritize him. But if there was a chance that me being there would help in winning the fight, I would have preferred that. Fleeing one's own home, is something that is not considerable for anyone.'

'I see,' Andromeda bit her lip. As they talked, one of the soldiers approached the group. Storme immediately raised a hand and forced everyone behind him to halt and stand back.

The soldier approached and Furnas took his place in front of Storme as his aid.

'Who wishes to approach, state your business.' He asked.

'Furnas, keep a low profile,' Storme told him with a serious tone.

'I am sorry, but I couldn't help but notice that you are the lord's young son Storme, are you not.' The soldier tried to call.

Listening to him, the people around started to notice it as well.

'Hey, he is right, that is Lord Valpa's children. The boy and the young daughter.' Said one amongst the crowd.

'Really.'

'Hey, if he is here, that means Lord Valpa has ordered them to flee!'

'Yes, why would he do that, wasn't he the one who said that we will be fighting here to the death?'

'That hypocrite, he intends to smuggle his own son to safety while ours perish in a battle that is all but lost.'

'You are correct, he leads our children on a death march.'

'Then why don't we take the kids here under our command. We can force the Lord to give up and retreat. At least our sons would be saved.'

'No one comes close to the kids!' Furnas shouted rising slightly to the air, the hood that he wore fell and it revealed a person clad in shining black armor. 'The one who wishes an early death shall approach and find themselves greeted with what they desire.'

'That is the black guardian! Isn't he supposed to fight at the frontlines!'

'He is the strongest of the fighters and yet he is present here!'

'That Valpa! He is deceiving us! Grab those kids, we will force that man to surrender!'

Furnas grunted and landed in front of the kids. 'Andromeda, Lord Storme, bring lady Kathe in front and grab hold of her. Make sure you move the moment you find an opening; I will be right behind you.'

'Furnas,' Storme called in a small voice. 'These are our people, we can talk...'

'Not right now Storme!' Furnas shot him down, 'this isn't the place where dialogue can prevail. Now go...'

With that Furnas swung a small rod in his hand and as he twirled it expanded and revealed a shining red spear.

Furnas held the spear and focused his spiritual power in it, the next moment it started burning with translucent flames of pure red. There was a band of soldiers desperate enough to approach him as Furnas covered himself in the same flames as his spear. In front of the soldiers stood the black knight clad in dark red flames. The guardian of the Valpa Family.

'They are trying to leave, grab them!' Came a voice from the crowd. There was movement as members of the crowd approached the group, their aim was the youngest of the crowd. The one who couldn't protect herself.

'No!' Storme grunted as the band of old men tried to leap on them, Furnas came swooping on the people and pushed them away like he was swatting flies.

'Furnas, I' Storme tried to call, but Furnas just pushed forward.

'Just go! I will handle the square, protect your sister.' He emphasized.

Katherine, she couldn't hear what the others were talking about. When Andromeda and Storme clasped her in between them and started heading forward, Storme felt her shivering with fear.

'She is,' the words didn't need to come out. He grabbed her hand and steered her that way. It worked to an extent and calmed down the little girl as she followed the two teens across the square.

'Master,' Andromeda called, 'there, the place that the lord told me about is through that fountain.'

'Then hurry,' Storme called. They rushed to the next square that came towards the southern direction of the one they were in right now. The fountain that square housed had a secret door that led towards the South-East of the city. Opposite from where the attackers were entering. The homes were deserted, the shops lay empty and the square with the fountain of a vase spewing water was standing there with no water to boast.

Storme led the two girls to the fountain as they heard the gusts of wind and small blasts in the distance from behind.

As they reached the fountain, Storme immediately went to search for the key to open the fountain.

'Come on, please be here,' he prayed as he found it right underneath the center piece of a huge flowerpot. The moment he touched a small nubbin, the fountain started vibrating violently and slid sideways. 'Furnas!' Storme called as he led the two girls inside.

Far behind, Furnas swooped in and out as he held the angered citizens at bay. The moment he heard him, Furnas immediately flew towards Storme. He rapidly descended and landed straight in the hole through the fountain.

Storme followed as the fountain started closing up.

'WAIT!' Storme heard the people cry, but he didn't turn and bat an eye towards them.

'Please, just take my kids, I don't care about myself.'

'Yes, we have new born children here!'

It took all his courage that he had to simply squint and let the door close. As he did, huge droplets streaked through his face.

'Master,' Andromeda tried to comfort Storme but he just couldn't let the emotions slide.

The group sat close together.

'I...' Storme tried to word it.

'Listen Storme,' Furnas walked up to him and held his shoulders. 'You cannot protect someone until you protect yourself. Right now, your sister can't do it for herself. She can't protect herself, much less roam around without her elder brother. She needs you, so you have to do what you can for her sake.'

Storme looked up at Furnas with bloodshot eyes. 'I could save them.'

'And risk revealing your position. You are the son and daughter of Lord Valpa, his only heir, there is no way they will let you slide and not use you as a bargaining chip. Going there right now will only mean risk to yours and your sister's life.'

'Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh' Storme cried and wailed at his peak. Furnas, realizing that he had said enough and that Storme would not risk his life now, he fell back and let Storme recollect his emotions.

'Lady Kathe,' when Furnas went back, the youngest of the group, a hooded girl with beige hair flowing down to her shoulders, approached Storme.

At that very moment, there was a huge explosion, that shook the entire tunnel that the kids were in. Kathe fell forward towards Storme and the other two lost their balance, leaning on the walls.

When the dust settled, Storme felt something dripping at his shoulder.

Kathe, who was standing in front of Storme, saw what was on his brother's shoulder and her eyes went wide with shock. She couldn't believe what she was seeing and she recoiled back to Andromeda.

''Lady Kathe!''

'Kathe!' the other three rushed towards her, Storme being the one to grab her.

When Storme garbed her, Kathe started writhing and tried to free herself of her brother.

'Kathe what is it,' Storme tried to ask.

'Master Storme, please leave her, your shoulder, look at your shoulder!' Andromeda pointed out.

'Shoulder,' Storme raised his right hand and felt his left shoulder, there was nothing, but when he checked his right shoulder, he felt something sticky, warm and wet. He tried to check his fingers to realize that it was a red liquid impure with dirt and dust, but clearly distinguishable for what it was.

He was only twelve. Even in the sword training he did, he never suffered more than a few scrapes. He never shed his own to realize the sensation of what fresh blood outside of a human body felt like.

When he realized how it felt, his stomachs lurched and he threw up everything he had inside.

**

'Two Silver!' Andromeda complained, 'I would not give you anything above eight coppers!'

Storme groaned internally as he heard the maid and the fat old man argue. The man had a noble's attire with a brown frill collar. The sign of a travelling merchant.

'Listen young lady,' he called, 'Maybe you don't realize your position here, you are the one who asked me for the ride. Beggars can't be choosers. You want to travel; you pay 2 Silver.'

As the two bargained back and forth, Storme tried to understand what he can do to tip the scales in his favor when Furnas came to his mind. An idea popped into his head as he saw the figure of the hooded entity, that had been protecting them.

'Okay listen,' Storme turned to face the merchant. 'I hear that you are going to hire a band of escorts for your travel aren't you!'

'Yes, and what business do you have there?' the merchant asked grudgingly. 'I already have a party contracted.'

'Well, what if you let us take that contract? We will do the job and you might only need to manage for our food. You can cut on the escort waiver.' Storme offered.

'Hahaha kid,' the merchant laughed hysterically. 'Aren't you a sweetheart, do nomads like you even have a means to protect yourself, that you can protect someone else?'

'What if we did?'

'Ridiculous,' the merchant complained. 'If your truly have the means to work better than a grade III escort group, than please be my guest. I will gladly arrange for the food as well.'

'Great, you have a deal!' Storme said as he raised his right arm for a handshake. 'Bring your contracted party to the outskirts of the city, the East Gate tomorrow morning, if my fighters beat your party, you will accept us as your escorts.'

'Hmph,' the merchant grunted, 'Insolent kid! Thinks like he can beat down the world, fine!'

The merchant left grumbling about.

'Master Storme,' Andromeda tried to raise her doubts.

'We don't have time Andy,' Storme said, at the mention of her nickname, Andromeda flinched as she realized his master wasn't in a calm mood. 'We have preparations to make.'

'As you wish, I hope you will let me and Furnas handle the escort party.'

'I plan on doing so,' Storme said, a grim look spreading on his face, 'Unfortunately, I have no skill in the first place to rival someone of a grade III squad, I will merely slow you down.'

'No master,' Andromeda held his hands and motivated him, 'You have secured us this chance to get this ride to the East Continent. Even I couldn't manage to hit the deal that you cracked in seconds. You have to realize you are not a hindrance to us in any one.'

Storme looked distant as he sighed. 'Fine, let's prepare.'

'Yes, let's!' Andromeda smiled and tilted her head. Watching her like this caused Storme to crack a smile of his own and after days of hard travel from their hometown, they were finally picking pace.

**

The countryside has not been in the best of its shapes. Ever since the fall of the coastal city and capital of Valpa, the western Continent of Dragon's Den was in an uproar. The dragons that began their retribution had reached deep within the territory and were now burning through everything in their way through the western continent. South was the only way to head for the people seeking refuge, but as the dragons were making there way with the continent, the focus shifted on leaving towards the Eastern continent on the farther side of the planet of Dragon's Den.

That was where the group of Storme, Katherine, Furnas and Andromeda was headed.

Storme led Andy back to the shack they were using as their hideout in the town of Iswalt. It was a rundown old building covered in moss in between the cracks of the paved stones, but it was safe enough to live in for the time being.

'Furnas you there, it's us,' Storme called after knocking at the wall they were using as a door, they tried to maintain as much secrecy as they possibly can.

'Master, has lady Kathe opened up to you yet?' Andy asked.

'Yes, a little,' Storme told her with a pained expression. Ever since they ran away from their hometown, Katherine had been constantly living on edge. She would wake up when she tried to sleep, she would cry at random intervals, her appetite was measly and she was unusually feeble.

'I hope she eats something heavy today.' Andy wished in a hopeful smile.

'Thank you, Andromeda,' Storme said in a serious tone.

'What? Why Master?' she pestered him.

'It's just...' Storme tried to explain when Furnas came running towards them.

'Storme,' he called as he blasted the door open, 'come quick, she is writhing again and I can't...'

Furnas didn't need to continue, Storme threw the shopping bags he had at the dilapidated dining table and rushed to the first floor's second room, he had nothing in mind until he found his sister strangling herself in the bedsheets.

'Kathe!' Storme called, he rushed to his sister's side and tried to wrestle her out. 'Kathe...' he kept calling, his voice being drowned by the mute cries of his sister.

It took a long time to subdue her, when she finally woke up from her dream, Kathe shot straight up and sat like a ghost.

She slowly turned to scan her surroundings when she saw her brother and utterly broke in tears. She went in and buried herself in his chest and cried as she had never before.

Storme couldn't hold it in. 'Kathe, don't worry, I am not leaving you ever!' he told her in sign language.

Kathe couldn't hear his brother's heartfelt words, but when she saw the streak of salty tears falling from the face of her brother, who had never lost his smile, the brother, who had been ready to sacrifice everything in order to protect his baby sister; she felt the feelings in her heart and for the first time, she had felt light and warm.

'Why didn't I do this before,' Kathe wondered. 'He was always there for me, he did everything he could so we could escape. And all I did was scream. I am the worst sister.'

'I haven't seen her this disoriented before,' Andy told Furnas as they sorted the shopping goods, a streak of white on her cheeks solidifying as they talk.

'I think she had had enough; she must have been bottling it up until now, and now it finally breaks.' Furnas inferred.

'Yes, and young master has to do something he had never had to do before.'

'They were never pushed to this extreme, the worst I remember was when the lady was scolded at leaving her quarters without information and without an attendant.' Furnas recalled the incident a couple years ago.

'Ah yes,' Andy remembered as well. 'That time too, she ran and hid in her brother's shadow who took the brunt of his father's wrath for the baby girl.'

'Ever since she was born,' Furnas recalled, 'Storme has never allowed her to cry, he even went as far as to take her punishments and scolding, all to make sure she always got to play and smile.'

'Yes,' Andy piled the goods and took them to the shelf in the kitchen, 'I hope we can find a place where the young master and lady Kathe can live peacefully.'

'We will make sure of it,' Furnas affirmed, steeling his resolve. He had been raised for this purpose, and he intended to pursue it to the end of time.

'Yes,' Andy replied in her own warrior tone. Her Battle Maid training itching to surface out. 'And our first job, is to make sure that escort party enjoys getting crushed to a pulp.'

'Indeed,' Furnas agreed clapping his fist in his arm.

'Furnas, can you come here for a