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Arc I Chapter 5

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Driven by her instincts, Aurora ran, hunted by a chorus of voices.

“Get her!”

“Where is she?”

“Are you blind, you idiots?”

“She got away!”

“She is right there!”

“I see her!”

“After her!”

“What the fuck are you waiting for?!”

“Get your fucking asses moving!”

Reaching a wide clearing, her journey ended, but not the way she expected. Her footwear failed her.

Life taught Aurora a painful lesson, cute boots with frills weren't the best choice for running. Her feet slipped on the mud, and she stumbled, falling. Her pursuers closed in from all sides. Her enemies surrounded her and more of them arrived every second with the sole purpose to kill her.

The unknown man from before stepped forwards. His blade glimmered in the dark. “You caused us quite some trouble, Lady Aurora. Why are you even running away? Be a good girl, don't make things complicated. Just accept your fate.”

In a final act of defiance, Aurora rose. Her hands trembled in fear, but her resolve didn't waver. Her entire life, she had been trained for this moment.

Aurora readied her spell, summoning a flame red octagon. Her magic might be weak, but she was still a Schwarz, and fire her primary affinity. The blood of her ancestors coursed through her veins.

A brave girl stood her ground. “Don't come any closer! Stay where you are ...”

“Or what? Your laughable magic doesn't scare me.” The enemy chuckled. Her antics clearly amused him. Ignoring her warnings, the man stepped closer.

Aurora activated her spell. Desperation forced her. “Ignis!” Fire heeded her call. Pouring everything into her attack, a fire bolt shot forwards to vanquish her enemy, to banish the darkness with its radiance. Yet her attack failed. The enemy dispatched her feeble attempt with ease. A simple shield spell sufficed, as a black array blocked her fire bolt. Her flames dissipated.

“...” The strength of her spell surprised Guenther. The girl was considered a failure, yet her spell proved stronger than expected. Her technique was passable, her cast speed acceptable, her mana control refined considering her age. In the end, her lineage, her Schwarzean blood showed.

His lips displayed a grin. Evil glee filled his eyes. The girl backed off, but she had nowhere to run. His men had encircled her. “Was that everything? You disappoint me, Lady Aurora von Schwarz. It's time to end this farce.” His mana strengthened his body and coated his blade in lightning. Sparks of electricity illuminated the air.

The cornered girl stiffened. “No ... Stay away ...”

He struck. His strike didn't miss. His sword pierced her chest, her lungs. Nothing stopped his blade. His lightning burned a gaping hole through her torso.

Guenther leaned closer. “It's over. Sleep well, my child, sweet dreams.” Guenther extracted his sword and her dying body collapsed, a body beyond salvation.

Aurora coughed blood as her world turned dark. A shivering cold gripped her limbs, making them lose any remaining force. The world felt cold, so terribly cold. The air, the ground, the forest, turned to ice as reality faded into eternal darkness.

Was this the end?

Tears ran down her cheeks. Sadness, sorrow, loneliness overcame her tender heart. Aurora feared death. She didn't want to die. Her whole life she had fought. Her whole life she had struggled to reach the stars in vain.

Always overshadowed by her elder brother, always looked down upon, always ridiculed, Aurora gave her best to match her brother. Her efforts failed. Unable to match Tiberius, she never fulfilled the expectation placed upon her.

For one last time, Aurora smiled beneath the pouring rain. Her death fitted her disappointing life. If only she was stronger. If only she had the strength to carry the weight of her burdens ... Yet, her wishes were never meant to come true ...

...

...

...

Guenther sheathed his sword after witnessing the girl's last dying moments. Her body ceased to move. Her breathing had stopped.

“Time to leave. Our job here is done. Ludwig!” Guenther summoned his second in command.

“Yes, Captain!”

“Gather the men, Ludwig. We return to the carriage. We need to destroy evidence. We can't leave all the corpses behind ...”

Guenther froze. His senses sharpened. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. The surrounding aether acted strangely. The elements vibrated, oscillated, trembled. A cold tenebrous aura saturated the air. Something powerful disrupted, distorted the aether of the land.

“Ludwig, do you feel ... this?”

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