The Village Burning!

"My child, believe in yourself. Always follow your heart." A lady wearing green robes, having eyes of green color is standing near a cradle and patting a child.

The child cooed and giggled in response.

Suddenly the roars of villager's scream pierced the night sky. The stench of burning wood and dark grey smoke that filled their homes awoke the villagers of Berea, forcing them out of their beds with violent coughs. Everyone scrambles to gather their children, their precious belongings, and their beloved pets. None of them expected the chaos that awaited them outside.

A woman wearing peasant clothes hastily entered her hut and rushed towards the cradle in which a beautiful girl with raven black hair and a skin as white as snow was peacefully sleeping.

'They are here for her.'

The woman held the baby to her breast and wrapped her with a piece of cloth so that the baby can remain hidden. But she made sure that the baby can breathe properly.

The baby might have sensed her mother's distress and started wailing. She tried to calm down her nerves and shushed the baby by gently rocking her back and forth.

Clutching the baby tightly in her arms she ran out of her hut towards the forest along with other villagers.

The flames danced around their village like a border. A group of attackers stood in front of the entrance. They wore dark clothing that made them appear as mere shadows in the fire's light. Red cloths covered half of their faces, their eyes glowing like animals in dark, waiting for their prey

The villagers turned and ran for the other end, hoping for an escape through the monster-ridden forest. Even filthy trickster creatures and hungry wolves seemed like the better option than sticking around and attempting to fight back.

As the villagers approached their chance at survival, four more intruders landed in front of them from the trees above. They stood upright and crossed their arms, glaring at the villagers with the kind of hatred that sent shivers down everyone's back.

But why did these people hate the villagers? As far as any of them knew, they had stayed out of everyone's way. They were just a small village of Attalea. They had so little, and they never asked for help despite being desperate enough. There wasn't any reason to be hated when they had remained quiet and hidden.

Still, these attackers looked at them as if the villagers were the enemies. Perhaps in their point of view, it could be true. In the tales they would tell their friends, wives, and lovers later when they boasted about their destruction, the village was the enemy.

Finally, the bravest villager stepped forward. "Leave us alone!" she pleaded, clutching her newborn in her arms. The baby girl was beginning to cry painfully. She looked down at her wailing baby with sad eyes and begged her to stop.

The attackers cocked their heads in surprise and they walked towards the crowd. Everyone backed away in fear except for the brave yet foolish woman.

"Zelda step down!" a man urged her to surrender.

But that foolish yet brave woman held her ground and narrowed her eyes at the opposing group. "Bring it on!" she declared.

The fire got dangerously close, and the man's wife clutched his arm.

"We have to go," she urged him tugging him away from Zelda.

"We can't leave Zelda behind," another woman argued.

"If she wants to fight, let her!" the woman said.

"Go then," Zelda shot back, but the sternness of her features quickly softened as her daughter released another wail, higher than the previous one. She hushed her, then one of the attacker's pointer to the baby. Zelda held her tighter and shook her head.

"Please spare her. She is just a child." She pleaded.

"A child that can bring destruction to this Kingdom." The attacker replied.

The attacker persisted as they lurched towards Zelda just as her husband ran in from the forest. His teeth were gritted, his green eyes and brown hair were wild. Sweat drenched his forehead, and blood dripped from the wound somewhere on his head. His rugged face was covered in red, warm, and sticky liquid. He looked worse than a wolf after hunting and devouring its prey.

Despite his appearance, Zelda sighed in relief at the sight of his husband Mervin. He raised his sword up high, then dropped it down with every ounce of his strength, successfully chopping off the attacker's right hand. It was an action that should have anyone recoiled in agony. For this attacker, however, it was nothing. They raised their stump and blankly stared at the blood dripping from his wound and pooling on the dry dirt below.

Such cold-hearted were they.

Zelda gasped and looked back at her husband. He stared back at her.

"RUN!!!"

She mouthed.

He turned to do so, and Zelda screamed in terror as another one of them stepped forward and struck their sword through Mervin's neck. the attacker pulled his sword out and moved away as if he hasn't just killed a man.

"Mervin!" the villagers cried as he fell dead to the ground, his eyes and mouth wide open in horror.

The attacker who had just lost his hand gestured to Zelda with his left hand and pointed at the baby. Zelda trembled in fear, fighting back the choking sob threatening to escape. She noticed that the attacker's gesture and sharply inhaled and glared at him.

"You will not take my baby. Not until I am alive." She growled through clenched teeth.

The one that killed her husband turned to her. before she could react, the attacker's long sword was plunged into her neck.

She gurgled, choking on her own blood. The blood flowed from her neck, completely drenching her and the baby's little body in red. The grip of her baby loosened, but she didn't drop her as she fell on her knees. With the last bit of life in her eyes, she looked up at the four of them. They were staring down at her, their heads tilted to the side, patiently waiting for her to give up the fight. She did, but not before she heard the howling.