Elias reappeared in Eldoria with a sharp crack of energy, the familiar weight of the Golem's power still humming through his veins. He stood in the heart of the Fifth District, a bustling area usually teeming with traders and townsfolk.
But today, the air was thick with tension, and a large crowd had gathered near the central square. Their murmurs and gasps filled the streets, a cacophony of unease that sent a chill down Elias's spine.
Curious and wary, Elias began to weave his way through the throng, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of the King's Guard lining the streets.
Their stern faces and drawn swords were an unusual sight, even for the King's most disciplined soldiers. The crowd pressed closer as he neared the podium at the center, where a figure stood draped in chains—Queen Seraphina.
Elias froze, the breath catching in his throat as he recognized her. Seraphina, once a symbol of grace and wisdom, now looked small and vulnerable under the weight of the iron shackles that bound her. Her regal bearing was diminished, yet her eyes still held a fierce light, refusing to yield to the fear and despair that surrounded her.
A hush fell over the crowd as an executioner, clad in black, stepped forward. His voice boomed across the square, each word landing like a hammer blow. "By order of King Alaric, Queen Seraphina is condemned to death for treason against the crown. The execution shall be carried out immediately."
Elias felt the words strike him like a physical blow, his world narrowing to that single moment. Shock rippled through him, but it was quickly swallowed by a surge of rage so intense it made his vision blur. Confusion, shock, anger, curiosity. This was madness.
His hands clenched into fists, sparks of magic flickering around his fingertips. The air around him crackled with energy, the raw power barely contained as his anger fueled it.
How could Alaric do this? How could he put such a woman that everyone held in high esteem in chains? For what? Treason? Bullshit!Something isn't right.
Elias' eyes widened in realization, "She must have found something, she must have seen something she wasn't supposed to,"
Elias's eyes narrowed, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "If you won't stop," he said, his voice dropping to a deadly calm, "then I will stop you."
Alan's eyes hardened. "Think carefully, Elias. Defying the King is treason. Are you willing to risk everything for this?"
Elias didn't hesitate. "I've made my choice."
In the blink of an eye, Elias moved, faster than the guards could react. His body became a blur of motion, propelled by the power surging through him. He weaved between them with ease, his hands crackling with energy as he struck. One guard after another fell, not dead, but unconscious before they could even raise their weapons.
The executioner barely had time to flinch before Elias's magic knocked him off his feet, the axe clattering harmlessly to the ground.
In a matter of moments, the square was silent, the guards and executioner sprawled out on the cobblestones, all incapacitated. The crowd stood in stunned silence, eyes wide with disbelief at the display of power they had just witnessed.
Without wasting another second, Elias leaped onto the podium, his arms wrapping around Queen Seraphina. Her chains fell away at his touch, melted by the heat of his magic. The moment she was free, he took to the sky, soaring above the district, the wind rushing past them as they escaped the chaos below.
As they flew, Seraphina clung to Elias, her composure finally breaking. She buried her face against his chest, her arms tightening around him as the tears she had fought so hard to hold back came pouring out. Her body shook with sobs, each one wrenching, filled with the weight of all she had endured.
"He's going to kill them," she cried, her voice choked with fear and anguish. "He's going to kill them all."
Elias's anger flared once more, his mind racing as he struggled to comprehend the depths of King Alaric's action. He looked down at Seraphina, his expression fierce yet tender as he whispered, "What happened? Tell me everything."