High above the humble village, the towering Eldian Castle stood as a beacon of power and sovereignty. Its white stone walls gleamed under the golden sun, an unshakable symbol of the kingdom's strength and isolation. It had stood untouched for centuries, nestled atop the cliffs of Paradis Island, a paradise where war had long been nothing more than a tale in history books.
Inside the grand halls, where banners of Eldia hung from the vaulted ceilings, the hurried clank of armored boots shattered the morning's peace. A knight, clad in polished silver, stormed into the throne room, his expression urgent. He clutched a scroll in his trembling hands as he fell to one knee before the king.
"My King, we have trouble!" the knight announced, his voice edged with panic.
Upon the ornate throne sat King Arthur Solhart III, ruler of Eldia. His piercing blue eyes narrowed, sensing the weight in the knight's words. Draped over his broad shoulders was a regal cloak, lined with golden embroidery, its hem resting on the polished stone of the throne platform. His grip on the armrest tightened as he spoke.
"What is it, General?" His deep voice was steady but firm.
The knight swallowed hard. "A horde of bandits, my lord… They march toward Eldia. Just miles away!"
The throne room fell into stunned silence.
The nobles present exchanged nervous glances, while the knights standing along the walls instinctively reached for their swords. Eldia had not seen war in centuries.
King Arthur's brow furrowed. "What?! Bandits? Here?!" His voice carried both disbelief and anger. "This island is isolated—no army should be able to reach us!"
The knight exhaled sharply. "My lord, there was a messenger… a child." His voice wavered. "He was barely standing, covered in wounds… as if he had been tortured before delivering this." He raised a bloodstained scroll, his fingers still shaking.
A flicker of rage passed through the king's eyes. He held out his hand. "Give it to me."
The knight hurried forward, placing the scroll into the king's grasp. The wax seal had already been broken, its edges stained with dried blood.
With a sharp motion, King Arthur unrolled the parchment and read the scrawled message aloud:
"Dear King Arthur,
Your kingdom overflows with treasure, food, and resources—luxuries we do not have.
We are travelers, warriors, and survivors. And we have come to take our share.
Hand over what we demand, or we will burn your city to the ground.
Sincerely,The Bloodborn Raiders
The hall fell deathly silent as the final words echoed off the stone walls.
The king's grip on the scroll tightened, his knuckles turning white. A deep growl rumbled in his throat before he hurled the parchment across the throne room, his fury evident.
"How dare they threaten my kingdom?!" he roared.
The nobles and knights stiffened. Fear clung to the air like a shadow.
Eldia had known peace for centuries. No one had ever dared to attack this land.
Yet now, their sanctuary was under siege.
Beyond the castle walls, the island of Paradis, once an untouched haven, was about to witness the storm of war.
The thunderous clatter of armored boots roared through the village streets. Rows of knights, their polished silver armor gleaming under the afternoon sun, marched in perfect formation. The rhythm of their movement was a steady, unyielding force, like the pulse of a great beast awakening from slumber.
Some rode towering warhorses, their dark manes flowing as they trotted forward, banners fluttering in the wind—each one adorned with the proud emblem of Eldia. Others carried long spears and shields, their expressions grim with duty, as they formed defensive ranks around the village.
The once-peaceful streets now trembled under the weight of a kingdom preparing for war.
The Rising Fear
Amidst the growing commotion, Lucia Lior stood protectively with Ymir and Axel behind her.
Ymir's curious golden eyes flickered with unease as she watched the soldiers move with urgency. "Mom, what's happening?" she asked, gripping the fabric of Lucia's dress.
Lucia knelt slightly, placing a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I don't know, dear… but stay behind me. The knights will handle it."
But when she turned to Axel, her breath hitched.
The boy stood motionless, his once vibrant blue eyes now dark and hollow—a mirror of something lost and broken. His small hands trembled at his sides, his expression frozen in place as he stared at the marching army.
A look of distant terror haunted his face.
Lucia's heart clenched.
She had seen this look before—the expression of someone who had witnessed war, death, and unspeakable horrors.
The way his shoulders tensed. The way his eyes refused to focus.
This was not the fear of a child.
This was the silence of a survivor.
"Axel…" Lucia whispered, gently reaching for his hand. But he didn't respond. He remained trapped in whatever nightmare lurked within his mind.
A terrible thought gripped her.
What have you seen, child?
The Gathering Storm
By the time midday shadows stretched long, the Eldian Knights had reached their battle stations.
Loid Lionheart, the kingdom's revered General, stood atop the castle walls, his golden cape billowing in the high winds. His sharp green eyes narrowed toward the distant hills, where a dark wave of figures lurked beyond the horizon.
A mass of raiders, armed and waiting.
The Bloodborn Raiders.
Loid's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
"Prepare the catapults!" his voice rang across the fortress.
At his command, soldiers rushed to the massive wooden siege weapons, loading them with boulders the size of carriages. The scent of burning torches and sharpened steel filled the air—a promise of the battle to come.
Meanwhile, across the village, knights went door to door, urging the people to evacuate.
"Take only what you need! Move toward the castle!" a knight ordered, his voice firm yet urgent.
The village that once brimmed with life now echoed with hurried footsteps and frantic whispers. Mothers carried infants, elders leaned on their canes, and children clutched their parents' hands as they rushed toward the castle gates.
Amidst the fleeing crowd, Lucia held Ymir's hand tightly, her other gripping Axel's wrist.
The boy had remained silent, his face unreadable.
But his fingers clenched onto Lucia's sleeve, holding on as if the very ground beneath him threatened to shatter.
The Castle's Sanctuary
Inside the great halls of Eldian Castle, the lower chambers had been transformed into a sanctuary for the villagers.
The stone corridors, once quiet, now overflowed with people seeking shelter—worried mothers, trembling children, and anxious fathers clutching their tools like weapons.
A sense of fear and confusion filled the air.
Ymir, still holding Axel's hand, looked up at him with searching eyes.
"It's going to be okay… right?" she asked softly, her voice small.
Axel did not answer.
His gaze remained locked on the stone walls, his fingers twitching slightly as if feeling something unseen.
Something dark.
Something coming.
And deep inside, beneath the layers of silence, he felt it creeping closer.
Something terrifying.
And for the first time, Axel was afraid.