Raid

The moment Garren's laughter faded, a serious look washed over his face, replacing the lightheartedness with an air of urgency. "Idris," he said, his voice low and firm, "this is not why I came here. You need to know what's happening—and we need to leave. Now."

Idris's heart sank as Garren leaned closer, his expression taut with concern. "There's been a strange rumor going around," he continued, glancing over his shoulder as if to ensure no one was eavesdropping. "They say the son of the first queen, Giana, is alive. Because of this, the second queen has sent her men out to search for him."

"What? But how can that be?" Idris asked, confusion filling his voice.

"Listen," Garren urged, eyes intense. "They're searching for boys who are nineteen—anyone born around the same time as the rumored prince. It was never revealed whether he was a boy or a girl, so they're snatching up any young man of that age. All the nineteen-year-olds in the villages have been captured by the queen's people. I don't think even the king knows about this."

Idris felt his stomach churn. "Captured? Why would they do that?"

"It's the nobles, Idris. They're conspiring behind the scenes, and the king is oblivious. I heard this from a guard who works in the city—he's my friend's older brother. He sent a message through a trader to run north. He warned that the west isn't safe anymore."

Just as Garren finished speaking, a scream shattered the tense air, echoing through the village like a harbinger of doom. Idris and Garren exchanged horrified glances, and instinctively they rushed outside to see what was happening.

The sight that met their eyes was chaos. Villagers were running, panic evident on their faces. Amid the turmoil, a man dressed in royal palace armor was barging into a nearby house, demanding something in a voice that sliced through the noise.

Idris felt a rush of adrenaline. "We should help them!" he shouted, moving toward the scene.

"No!" Garren grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "We can't. We'll get caught too!"

"But they need us!" Idris protested, his heart racing at the thought of standing by while others suffered.

"Idris, think!" Garren's grip tightened. "If we help them, we'll become targets ourselves. We have to think about our safety first. If we're captured, we can't help anyone."

The fear in Garren's eyes forced Idris to take a step back, re-evaluating the situation. He nodded reluctantly, understanding the logic but feeling the weight of guilt settle on his shoulders. Together, they turned and sprinted away from the chaos, back into Idris's humble home.

Just then, Nyx emerged from the house, her eyes wide and curious. She let out a soft growl, drawn to the flickering warmth of a nearby fire. Idris instinctively reached down to scoop her up, cradling her against his chest. "No, Nyx! It's dangerous!" he whispered, fighting the instinct to comfort her.

"I've brought my bag; let's leave!" Garren said urgently.

Idris nodded and dashed back into his home, grabbing his pack filled with essentials—money, some food, a few clothes, and a small bottle of milk for Nyx. He knew he had to keep her safe. As he emerged from the house, he could see the growing shadows of panic looming over their village.

"Where's your sister?" Idris asked, suddenly recalling that Garren had mentioned her.

"She's at the start of the forest," Garren replied, his voice a mixture of worry and urgency. "I sent her away as soon as I heard the news."

"Then we have to find her! She could be in danger too!" Idris insisted, the sense of urgency mounting within him.

"Right. But first, we need to get away from here," Garren urged, his gaze darting around. "Let's go."

They raced toward the edge of the village, hearts pounding with every step. As they reached the tree line, the sound of shouting behind them intensified. Idris glanced back, his heart dropping when he spotted a soldier, a man in royal armor, striding toward them with purpose.

"Run!" Garren shouted, and they bolted into the cover of the trees, the thick foliage swallowing them whole.

Branches whipped at Idris's arms as they plunged deeper into the forest. The urgency to escape propelled them forward, but he could hear the soldier's footsteps closing in. Just as they crossed into a thicker part of the forest, a branch snapped underfoot, and Idris stumbled, his ankle twisting painfully.

He fell to the ground, pain radiating up his leg, but Garren was quick to help him up. "Come on, we have to go!" he urged, pulling Idris to his feet.

"I can't run!" Idris gasped, the sharp pain forcing him to lean on Garren for support.

"We can't stop! They're right behind us!" Garren yelled, adrenaline surging as he helped Idris along.

With every step, the soldiers' voices grew louder, their shouts echoing ominously through the trees. Idris felt a sense of desperation clawing at him. Just as they were about to give in to the overwhelming fear, the dense trees opened into a small clearing.

"We need to hide!" Garren urged, guiding Idris toward a thick patch of bushes.

They ducked down, their breaths heavy and labored as they huddled together, Nyx tucked close to Idris's chest. The foliage concealed them from view, but they could hear the soldiers drawing closer, their voices piercing the tension of the forest.

"Split up!" one voice commanded. "They can't have gone far!"

Idris squeezed his eyes shut, his heart pounding in sync with the chaos unfolding around him. Garren's grip tightened on his arm, and for a moment, they simply listened, waiting for the danger to pass.

As the soldiers' footsteps receded, the two boys shared a glance, both feeling the weight of what lay ahead. The world around them felt changed forever. They were not just fleeing; they were stepping into an unknown destiny, one that held secrets, dangers, and perhaps, the answers they desperately sought.

"What now?" Garren panted as they hid together the sounds of chaos fading behind them.

Idris racked his brain, desperately searching for a solution. Suddenly, a memory surfaced: his mother's last words, spoken in a fevered whisper. "If you wish to find the truth about your birth, then go to the temple."

"The temple!" Idris exclaimed, the words tumbling from his lips. "My mother mentioned it before she died. It's a place of answers, but I don't know where it is."

"Then we'll find it," Garren said, determination shining in his eyes. "But we need to keep moving."

"I hope your mother's temple is worth it," Garren whispered, his voice laced with determination.

"Me too," Idris replied, though uncertainty gnawed at his heart. Together, they would face whatever came next, the bond of friendship strengthening their resolve as they prepared to venture deeper into the unknown.