THE MOON NIGHT CH2

In a sudden, everything around Alaric becomes very

slow, slower than anything. His mind goes to that

night. It was a full moon night in the rugged,

mountainous terrain of Ragnarok. They were traveling by traditional horse and carriage with soldiers, a tradition in the Arren Kingdom despite the

advancements in weaponry. The soldiers carried

bows, arrows, and swords, respecting the customs of

their land.

Alaric and his brother were laughing and talking,

enjoying each other's company. "Brother, isn't our

neighboring country very aggressive towards us?"

Alaric asked, his young mind curious about the world.

His brother smiled, ruffling Alaric's hair. "You' re not

old enough to worry about that yet, but I can promise

you, no one will harm you while l'm alive."

Suddenly, an arrow brushed through the carriage

window. Although the window was bulletproof, the

force of the impact was unsettling. Alaric's brother

immediately pulled him back, noticing the arrows were laced with poison. Drawing his sword, he prepared for battle. Due to tradition, they had no guns, and the enemy used no firearms to keep the attack silent.

Stepping out of the carriage, Alaric's brother saw over

twenty figures in dark, shadowy outfits attacking their

entourage. The soldiers fought bravely to protect the

royal family, but the ambush was relentless. Three

shadowy figures rushed toward Alaric's brother, but

he swiftly dispatched them with his sword, his

movements precise and nadly.

As the battle raged, Alaric's brother noticeda soldier

approaching Alaric. Without hesitation, he ran to

intercept, but an arrow pierced his chest from behind.

Despite the excruciating pain, he pushed through, his

determination unwavering. He reached Alaric,

shielding him from the attackers. With a burst of

strength, he lifted Alaric and ran, desperate to reach

the capital and safety.

They ran through the dark forest, Alaric clutching his

brother tightly. The sound of battle faded behind

them, but the danger was far from over. Each step

was a struggle for his brother, yet he continued,

driven by his love for Alaric. Eventually, they stumbled into the outskirts of the capital, but his brother's strength was fading. He collapsed, blood soaking his clothes.

With his last breaths, he whispered to Alaric, "Stay

strong. Survive." His eyes, filled with pain and love,

closed for the final time. Alaric's tears mingled with

his brother's blood as he cried out for help, the reality

of the loss crushing him.

As Alaric's mind return to reality.

He comes back to reality, gasping in pain from the

gunshots. Suddenly, a mysterious window appears

before him, floating in mid- air. It reads, "Transfer

window is requesting to the host. Does the host

accept the transfer?" Alaric, barely understanding

what he's seeing through his haze of agony, feels a

strange sense of calm. In that moment, he sees his

brother's aura, shimmering and protective.

His brother's voice echoes in his mind, soothing and

reassuring. "You don't have to worry, Alaric. Even if

I'm not with you, I will protect you. I promise."

Desperate and clinging to any hope,Alaric accepts the transfer windoW, and his consciousness fades.

In the next moment, his body, weakened and bleeding, collapses. The impact of the shots and the

acceptance of the transfer send him falling from the

cliff. The soldiers nearby, realizing too late, rush to

grab him but fail. The royal family, caught up in the

commotion, turns to see what has happened. Duchess Eleanor cries out in anguish, her grief momentarily breaking through her anger. Duke Reginald's face remains hard, but a flicker of doubt and sorrowcrosses his eyes. He regains his composure, signalingfor the family to leave.

Alaric's body tumbles down the cliffside, bruised and

battered, until he hits the icy water of a river below.

The current sweeps him away, his body limp and

unconscious. The last thing he hears is the distant roarof the waterfall, pulling him towards the unknown.

Unseen by the royal familv, who believe they have justwitnessed his executic ic's journey is far from

ries him away fromOver. The river, a lifeline, carries him away from immediate danger, setting the stage for his struggle for survival and quest for justice.