The Rampage and Inner Struggle

Princess Felissa accepted the black hood that Ser Alanis handed to her. It was meant to help conceal her identity as they ventured into the bustling streets of Sibiah. As they began walking, Alanis maintained a vigilant watch over the princess. His eyes rarely left her, and his senses were heightened to ensure her safety.

Felissa, noticing Alanis's unwavering focus on her, could not help but be surprised. She turned to him and said, "Alanis?"

He replied in a calm but alert tone, "Yes, Your Highness?"

Felissa continued, "I'm not running away, relax."

Alanis nodded and relaxed slightly, though his protective instincts remained sharp still. As they strolled through the city, Alanis would occasionally look away, checking the surroundings. By the time he glanced back to where the princess was supposed to be but he did not see her, a spark of panic hit him. "Oh no, oh no," he muttered to himself, frantically searching for her.

Meanwhile, Princess Felissa was drawn to a chaotic commotion nearby. She felt compelled to investigate. Alanis, still preoccupied with searching for her, didn't immediately notice her departure.

As the princess ventured closer to the source of the commotion, Alanis followed her, and when he arrived at the scene, he was met with a sight that left him stunned. A man, his eyes filled with madness, was on a violent rampage. Alanis scanned the area, his heart pounding, and then he saw something that alarmed him even more—an unfamiliar man had wrapped his arm around Princess Felissa's waist. Their eyes locked in a captivating stare.The situation was escalating rapidly, and Alanis had to act quickly to protect the princess.

In a fleeting moment, Lucian found himself utterly captivated by Princess Felissa's breathtaking beauty.Her round-shaped blue eyes sparkled with a mesmerizing hue,long dark lashes surrounded those captivating eyes, her lips, naturally tinted in a soft rosy colour, curved with a subtle, inviting charm,the gentle slope of her nose added to the grace of her features,Her hair, so glossy and black at that moment he couldn't help but be captivated by her stunning beauty,

As for Felissa, she was equally captivated by Lucian's tall and imposing figure. His cool and composed demeanor, his deep brown eyes, unblemished fair skin and dark shiny hair falling gracefully to his shoulders ,coupled with his heroic act amidst the chaos, had captured her attention and admiration. Her heart swelled with a mixture of awe and gratitude.

While Princess Felissa looked down, her warm smile of appreciation fluctuate for a very brief moment. Her gaze was drawn to the necklace hanging on Lucian's chest. It was the same necklace worn by the mysterious hero who had selflessly saved the poor woman and her daughter the other day—the very person she had bumped into in the crowded streets while trying not to get caught by Alanis.

Recognition flickered across her face, and she looked up at Lucian again, her eyes now shining with curiosity and intrigue. However, their captivating moment was abruptly interrupted by the concerned and hushed voice of Alanis. He called to her urgently, "Princess, Princess, over here!" His hand waved discreetly, beckoning her toward him.

Without hesitation, Lucian gently took Felissa's hand and quickly guided her toward Alanis. He moved with a protective instinct, As they approached Alanis, Lucian's eyes remained very vigilant, his focus on the menacing figure of Starael, who continued to cause Chaos in the surroundings.

Lucian, still holding Princess Felissa gently behind him, glanced back and urged Alanis to take her far away from the commotion. As he looked at Starael causing chaos, he could not help but wonder why Starael was killing people and destroying things. He had a nagging feeling that Starael was here for him, but something seemed off – as if Starael was being controlled by an unseen force. This thought troubled Lucian deeply.

Lucian turned back to check if Felissa and Alanis had moved to safety, expecting them to be gone, but to his surprise, they were still behind him. He could not hide his mixture of concern and surprise as he questioned, "Why are you both still here?"

Alanis responded with a somewhat irritated expression, while Felissa, with a blush and a smile, looked down at the hand that Lucian had been holding. Lucian, realizing the situation, felt a bit embarrassed and quickly released her hand, apologizing in a calm voice, "Sorry."

The Princess blushed in response, but Alanis intervened once more, insisting urgently, "We really have to go, now." With that, they both left the chaotic scene, leaving Lucian behind, still puzzled by Starael's actions

Meanwhile Earlier before the Rampage escalated,In the quietude of the Royal Garden, Queen Amarissa sat beneath the moonlight, her thoughts adrift like distant stars in the night sky. She flashed back to one of the conversation she had shared with Lord Malkin earlier in the day before her daughter's departure.

**Lord Malkin**, his voice filled with sorrow, had remarked, "She looks so much like him." He followed with concern, "Why didn't you tell her the full story of what happened?"

**Queen Amarissa** had replied, her tone resolute, "I will tell her everything when the time is right."

Lord Malkin, scoffed and said, "When is the time ever right?"

Yet, Queen Amarissa had chosen to ignore what he said and continued, "Did you see or feel anything?"

However, her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a town guard, who bowed his head and knelt before her, his demeanor fraught with anxiety. The Queen, her Majestic Composure undisturbed, granted him permission to speak.

With urgency in his voice, the guard relayed the unsettling news, "Your Majesty, there is an unknown individual with dark magical abilities wreaking havoc in the cities of Sibiah, causing harm and chaos."

The furrowed brows of Queen Amarissa showed her shock and concern for her own People. An unspoken question came to her mind: Who could this person possibly be? She swiftly inquired about the whereabouts of the remaining town guards.

The guard, maintaining his composure, responded, "They are assisting the citizens, ensuring their safety, and confronting the dark mage."

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Queen issued a resolute command to the town guard, "Gather twenty guards immediately and make haste to the residence of ArchWizard Crowley at Malkin's House. Inform him of the dire circumstances that have befallen our city."

In response to her majesty's decree, the town guard, with unwavering determination, saluted and departed with great urgency to convey the ominous news to ArchWizard Crowley.

When Lord Malkin, accompanied by a small group of both skilled wizards and guards, arrived at the scene, a tumultuous scene of chaos unfolded before their eyes. Starael, gripped by dark and malevolent forces, continued his merciless rampage, terrorizing the streets of sibiah.

Without hesitation, the wizards under Lord Malkin's command sprang into action. Wielding their formidable arcane powers .The Archwizard, dressed in robes beautifully marked with runes that pulsed with ethereal light, stood at the forefront. His voice, Altered by countless incantations, chanted words of power that resonated through the very cobblestones beneath his feet. His companions, similarly dressed, channeled their unique abilities,their collective aura creating a stunning light show in the night sky.

Starael, possessed by the dark powers of the Abyss, fought back strongly. Dark energy clashed with the wizards' magic, causing buildings to shake. The city was quiet as people watched in both trepidation and amazement.

Lucian interrupting the fight, stepped out to talk to Starael amidst the clashes he stood undiscouraged, determined to reach the friend he once knew. He could see the inner struggle within Starael, the battle against the unseen force that sought to control him.

Lucian's voice quivered with emotion as he began to speak, "Starael, do you remember our childhood? The countless hours we spent exploring, laughing, playing together and sharing secrets? We were more than just friends,we were brothers.

Lucian took a step closer to Starael, stretching out his hand toward him. "I know you are still in there, somewhere deep inside. We can let go of the past, the misunderstandings, and find our way back to each other."

For a moment, a glimmer of recognition flickered in Starael's eyes, a brief struggle against the darkness that consumed him.Its grip momentarily weakened. The city itself seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the outcome of this struggle ,a desperate fight for control.

Then, unexpectedly, Starael's countenance shifted. His eyes, though still shadowed, softened as he looked upon Lucian. In a eerie voice, he spoke, "Lucian, I will be back for you."

With those haunting words, Starael vanished into a whirling mass of black shadows, his laughter reverberating through the void—a mixture of both a scream and malevolent amusement.