NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Prologue
Amber hues blared all over the village, slowly demolishing everything in their way. They consumed the fragile woods, brought down mighty buildings and ravaged the flesh that was presented to them, gradually turning all of it into ashes.
Steadily, it grew bigger, hungrily looking for another victim to devour. Oh, poor fires, the only thing they knew was to keep alive while consuming others.
The cloudy smoke veiled the whole village, blocking the rays of the sun setting the scene for utter despair. It trapped them in fear of never seeing the sunrise again. It had no control of its own, only following where the winds blew and depriving all living beings of their senses.
The chaotic choir began with a scream of terror. Their sight was impaired by the smoke, and they excruciatingly withstood the heat of the flames. All of their functioning senses sharpened, warily looking out for signs of an attack by the orcs who caused this. The never-ending screams led to another chain of voices: pleas for mercy. Some begged their tormentor to let them live, while others sought God to end this catastrophe.
Among the rubble, an auburn-haired elven woman tenderly cupped her daughter's face, her touch gentle, burns scarred across nearly every inch of her body. "My daughter, you're Caelumora. Remember this; be nice and forgiving and..."
The little girl sobbed, her crying face covered in ash, her eyes scanning the chaos, searching for any possible salvation. "More forgiving and retaliate when necessary," she managed to choke out.
"Repeat it, what's the motto of Caelumora?" The woman's voice was soft, yet stern at the same time.
"Be nice and forgiving and more forgiving and retaliate when necessary," the girl said.
"Do not forget your roots,"
Suddenly, a sword suddenly pierced through her stomach, tearing through flesh and organ with ruthless precision. Before the mother and daughter duo could comprehend, another chained sword propelled through the air, severing the woman's head from her body. The woman's lifeless eyes stared out into the void, her head rolling across the pavement until it came to a stop at the feet of an enormous green figure.
The little girl stood frozen in shock as the monstrous creature loomed over her. With blood-stained hands, the creature grasped the sword, which was still dripping with the woman's lifeblood. The creature proudly plucked the severed head from the ground and affixed it to its belt, joining a ghastly collection of other severed heads. The scene before the little girl was unspeakable, and in that moment, the little girl's innocence was shattered.
The girl's scream echoed throughout, a raw outpouring of fear. Instantly, the orc's head was obliterated by a bullet, sending a spray of its brain across the blood-soaked road. With wide eyes, she whipped her head in the direction of the sudden gunshot. Between the smoke and carnage, a figure emerged—a tiny man atop a golden robot with multiple arms. He has eccentric attire and peculiar goggles. His beard grazed his round stomach as he scanned the scene in front of him.
"Aye, kids, you all right?" His voice drew the girl's attention. He removed his goggles, revealing eyes that remain peaceful.