The acrid smoke stung Leon's nose like countless tiny needles.
He awoke to a violent cough, his forehead throbbing with pain. Dried blood clung to his eyelashes, blurring his vision. Through the haze, he saw only ruins—what had once been the grand hall of his estate was now a charred skeleton of beams and broken stained glass, glinting coldly in the morning light.
"Mother… sister…" Leon struggled to sit up, his voice hoarse and barely audible in the empty wreckage. He remembered his mother rushing into the cellar, and the thought gripped his heart like an invisible fist, stealing his breath.
The entrance to the cellar lay on the east side of the hall, but now it was buried beneath a collapsed beam and a pile of concrete rubble and ash. Leon scrambled over, throwing himself at the debris, clawing at the scorched stones with both hands. His nails split, his palms bled from sharp cuts—but he felt no pain. Only a desperate, almost mad determination kept him going: "Open… please open!"
Despite his efforts, the beam didn't budge. Leon collapsed onto the ground, drowning in despair. He thought of his father's smile before he left, of Foster handing him warm milk, of his little sister hugging her doll. These memories cut through his heart like blades.
"Shadow Covenant…" he spat out the name between clenched teeth, each syllable dripping with blood, "I'll kill you all… I want every last one of you dead!"
After the rage came a deep, bone-chilling cold. Curled among the ruins, Leon remained there until the sun began to set. Then, forcing himself upright, he scavenged what he could—a half-loaf of hard bread, some rainwater from a broken cistern. With a little strength returned, he searched the wreckage for anything that could help him survive.
In the charred remains of his father's study, he found a knight's dagger. The sheath was burned, but the blade was still sharp. He tied it to his waist. He also picked up a sharpened wooden stake as a makeshift spear. After gathering everything, he took one last look at the smoldering ruins of his home, inhaled deeply the smoke-laden air, and stepped into the wilderness.
The autumn grasses of Lotharen Plain were already dry and yellow, whispering desolately in the wind. Leon didn't know where he was going—he only knew he had to leave this cursed land behind. He had heard stories of elven forests in the north and orcish tribes in the west, but to a thirteen-year-old boy, they were nothing more than vague legends.
Night fell, and the stars shone dimly. Leon took shelter in the hollow of an old tree, lighting a small fire with dried branches. The flickering flames illuminated his pale, determined face—and also caught the movement in the nearby bushes.
"Rustle… rustle…"
Leon tightened his grip on the dagger, holding his breath. He feared it was another monster from the Shadow Covenant or a wild beast drawn by the scent of blood. Every muscle tensed as he braced for a fight. But what emerged from the underbrush was not a monster—it was a little girl in ragged clothes, cradling a trembling gray rabbit.
She looked a year or two younger than Leon, her hair disheveled, her face smeared with dirt and ash—only her eyes sparkled like black pearls. She saw Leon and the fire, flinched in surprise, then cautiously stepped back, shielding the rabbit tightly.
"Who are you? Don't try to take my rabbit!" she warned.
Leon froze. This was the first living soul he'd met since fleeing his home. He lowered his stick and tried to sound gentle. "I won't take anything… did you escape from near here too?"
The girl eyed him warily. Seeing his torn clothes and wounds, she slowly relaxed. "My home was a village to the south… last night, those dark shadows flew in, and the whole place went up in flames…" Her voice trembled, her eyes reddening. "My parents…"
Leon's heart sank. Another family destroyed by the catastrophe. After a pause, he pointed to a spot beside the fire. "Come sit by the fire. It's cold outside."
She hesitated, then shuffled closer, nibbling quietly on a root. They sat in silence, the crackling fire and distant chirps of insects the only sounds.
"My name's Leon," he finally said.
"I'm Lily," she replied softly, adding, "This is Gray. I found him when I ran away."
Looking at how carefully she held the rabbit, Leon couldn't help but let a faint smile touch his lips—the first warmth he had felt since the disaster.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from a distance, accompanied by rough shouts. Both children stood up instantly, eyes fixed on the source of the noise. In the moonlight, a group of figures approached—wearing animal skins, wielding stone axes. Red war paint covered their faces, their expressions fierce.
"Are… are they from a tribe?" Lily whispered, hiding behind Leon, her voice trembling.
Leon gripped the dagger tightly. He had heard tales of nomadic barbarian tribes raiding villages across the plains. As the group drew closer, he whispered to Lily, "Don't be afraid. Stay behind me and look for a chance to run."
The leader spotted them and roared, "Look! A couple of stray human kids!"
The others surged forward, axes gleaming in the moonlight. Leon shielded Lily and raised his wooden spear, heart pounding. "We mean no harm—we're just passing through…"
"Passing through?" The brute grinned, yellow teeth flashing. "Perfect. We need a couple of slaves to trade for drinks!"
Just as the barbarians lunged, a clear female voice rang out from the trees:
"Stop."
Everyone turned. From the shadows emerged a figure—a teenage girl, about sixteen or seventeen, dressed in dark green leather armor, her long hair tied with vines. A finely crafted bow rested on her back, its quiver filled with deadly arrows. Her skin was pale like moonlit snow, her eyes a piercing emerald green.
"An elf?" The leader's face twisted, clearly wary. But he sneered again. "One lone elf girl? Let's grab her too!"
Without a word, the girl lifted her bow, nocked an arrow, and fired in one smooth motion. The string hummed, and the arrow shot forward like lightning, burying itself three inches into the earth at the brute's feet.
The display stunned everyone. The barbarians exchanged uneasy glances, unwilling to advance further.
"Leave," she commanded, her voice calm but unyielding.
The leader growled, glanced at the bow, then at Leon and Lily. Finally, he spat and waved his men off. "Let's go!"
The raiders vanished into the night.
Leon exhaled, realizing only then that his back was soaked in sweat. He turned to the girl and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, miss… may I ask your name?"
She slung her bow back over her shoulder, her emerald gaze sweeping over them with quiet scrutiny. "I am Elara, guardian of the forest. Why are you here?"
"Our home… was destroyed by the Shadow Covenant," Leon said quietly. Mentioning the name made his fists tighten again. "We're looking for a safe place."
Elara's eyes flickered slightly, surprised at the mention of the Shadow Covenant. After a pause, she looked toward the distant, smoking plains. "There is no true safety anymore. But… if you don't mind following me, I can take you to a camp near the forest edge."
Leon and Lily exchanged hopeful glances. Leon bowed again. "Thank you, Lady Elara."
Without another word, Elara turned and disappeared into the woods. Leon took Lily's hand and followed closely. The fire behind them died to cold ashes.
And with that meeting, Leon's path of vengeance took a quiet turn toward the unknown.
Deep within the forest, the night wind carried the distant howl of wolves—and a faint, almost imperceptible promise of things to come: adventure, challenge, and the soft glimmer of redemption.