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“The city is under attack!” Orlando yelled over the blare of the siren. “Everyone stay here while we investigate!” However, Derrin and Kayla were already opening the front door as he spoke. “Hey, wait a…” he trailed off. The pair didn’t even waste a glance back before slamming the door behind them and dashing off. After a few steps, Derrin paused; they had no clue how to get back to the castle. “Need a bit of help?” Orlando asked from behind. A nod from Derrin and they were on there way.

“Shalia’s staying behind to watch over the headquarters and members,” Orlando said as they jogged through various alleys and streets. As they made for the castle, Derrin tried to think of anything that could have gotten past the city’s security and yet still be able to create this much chaos. He could think of nothing.

As they became closer and closer to the castle, the siren’s noise only grew. Suddenly, silence. Despite a feeling of uneasiness because of the alarm being shut off, he could help appreciating the lack of the constant blare.

Without any warning, the castle was upon them as they turned a corner onto the Grand Road. The scene around the castle dumbfounded the trio. Bodies were scattered across the streets. As they drew closer, they found some to be soaked in water. As they reached the gates, they found one who was still conscious. He raised a hand and attempted to speak. Kayla began to touch him and jumped back with a shout, “He shocked me!” Before anything else could be done, the hand fell to the side, and the man’s eyelids closed.

The uneasiness that had first began when the siren shut off grew with each step through the castle. As they went through the doors of the foyer and into the main hall, Derrin, who now took the lead, stopped and turned around. “What’s the de—” Orlando began to ask before being knocked unconscious by Derrin.

“Sorry, Pretty Boy, it’s for your own good.” With that, Derrin and Kayla made their way through the building, following any signs of a battle. The walls were either soaked with water or covered in holes. The further they progressed, the colder it got. Finally, they heard a noise. Surely that couldn’t be lightning, Derrin thought. Again, the sound echoed forth from down the hall.

The pair slowed as they closed in on the area from which the sounds were coming. With each pace, the sounds grew louder until another noise was heard. Again, Derrin couldn’t believe his ears. Something similar to wind chimes clashing against each other was now coming from the room. At last, they reached the room. One of the two doors was open halfway, and Derrin peered inside. He stepped back in shock. “No,” he mumbled, “no. He’s dead; there’s no way.” Confused, Kayla now took a look through the open door. Fear instantly shot through her. There stood one of the five Assassins. It was the second mage. With this discovery the meaning of the damage they’d noticed before became clear: he was a hybrid of ice mage and lightning mage.

As seconds passed, memories, terrible memories Derrin wished would disappear forever, were brought to mind. His little sister, his mother, and father floated through his head. Then, bursting through his family, his destroyed house appeared. The pain once again flooded Derrin’s mind. Suddenly, a new image appeared. It was Halvard in his dying moments. Tears began to fall from Derrin’s eyes as the image lingered in his mind. Suddenly, Halvard’s final words echoed through his mind: “Don’t let my sacrifice go to waste.” Despite the pain, a new determination was borne within Derrin. This was one of the men who were ultimately responsible for Halvard’s death. He would not let that act go unpunished. Without his knowing, Derrin’s shadow had materialized and was flailing violently. “Let’s go,” he said bitterly.

Kayla nodded, “Let’s do it.”

They stood and stared at the doors for a moment. In unison, they decided and slammed the doors open, “Die!”

A tad cheesy at the end, but you know, whatev’s. Big fight scene coming up, hope you enjoy it.