章節 34: Attack

It has been a year since they came back from Elpis. In the last 10 years, Violet and her parents would make a week-long travel towards the city, when the time for the CE to attack comes. Violet was already used to this kind of event, but rather than feeling afraid of the attacks she looked forward to visiting Elpis again. Besides, her parents showered her with love, making their escape feel like a holiday trip. The city helped her reduce her initial anxiousness as well. The city is always lively and there were many different species, she would never encounter in the village.

It was a thrilling experience whenever she visited, seeing all the flying cars, screens and the other high-end technology. Her eyes were sparkling every time she visited, but what awed her the most were the people soaring the skies. The strong individuals who were protecting them when they sought shelter. She admired them from afar, as they patrolled the city walls in their uniform.

Today she turned 16, all her friends and family gathered together and celebrated with a feast and lots of gifts. It was a very small village with barely a few hundred people in it, which resulted in almost everyone knowing each other.

In the evening she went out with her friends into the nearby woods to have a small party. She wore a short dress. The top part was in a bright red which crumbled into the white bottom part. It complemented her light bluish skin and dark violet hair, giving her a lively feel. Although she was young, she looked like a young woman, her long legs and her already developed assets were attracting the boy's gazes.

Needles to say that she was popular among the male villagers. She would be lying if she said that she didn't enjoy the attention, but since she was a child, she knew what she wanted. To work and live in her races headquarter in the city, but this was a distant dream. Only the strongest or smartest were allowed to live within the walls of the city, this was a restriction made from the city, to only have people able to contribute to society. She knew that, she wasn't smart enough to get in, so she trained almost every day, after hearing that one of her races made it in and accomplished astonishing feats.

Her race, Lycaen, reached adulthood early on at the age of 16 and wouldn't change in appearance until they were five hundred years old. They lived long lives, up to a thousand years. They were admired for their beauty and envied by their long lifespan, but they didn't excel in other areas. Weren't it for their long lifespan and accumulated knowledge they probably wouldn't even be able to have a stand inside the city, the place Violet worked to get in.

Today she was as determined as ever. She wanted to have a little party before applying for a job in the city, now that she officially became an adult.

Although her parents were reluctant to send her to the city, but since she was already considered an adult, they supported her in the end. But tonight, was time to relax and enjoy the night. After a few hours the party came to an end, most going back home. Only a friend who courted her in the past was left with her. They went to the village before separating towards their home and going to sleep…

This was what was supposed to happen. This should have been a normal day, like any other.

Her mind was blank as she stood a few hundred meters away from her village. She saw her village burn with an occasional CE roaring out.

"We have to leave!" The friend of her screamed, shaking her to try to bring her out of daze.

Suddenly a CE showed up from the village, looking at them, apparently attracted by the scream. It started going into a full sprint towards them. Her friend screamed out in panic before running away, leaving Violet behind. This attracted the monster even further ignoring the frozen Violet, heading straight at her friend.

Pulling herself out of daze, she headed straight at the village.

"Mom! Dad!" She screamed as she ran through the empty streets, until a familiar figure caught her attention, her father with only one arm was staring at her before sprinting at her. She broke into tears, seeing her father still alive. She wanted to hug him, but he just grabbed her arm with his remaining arm before fleeing towards the shadow of a building.

Seeing his pain filled face, she realized something.

"Dad, wh-where is Mom?" He gritted his teeth before tears flowed down his cheek. His silent confirmed her fear. She couldn't help breaking out in tears while hugging his father.

Her father wiped away the tears on her crying face, as he looked at her before whispering.

"Pshhh. Sweetie. It is alright. Sweetie look at me. I know it is hard, but you have to listen to me! You have to run to Elpis. Tell them what happened. You have to warn them. You have to tell them that the CE is already attacking."

"W-Why me. Y-you are co- ming with me. You can tell them." He looked at her with a saddened smile.

"…It is week from here. I have already lost too much blood. You have to be strong. You hear me? Stay strong. I am glad that I could see you one last time." He gave her kiss on the forehead, hugging her tight.

"Now go! Remember head east! Don't stop, don't look back!" He hurried her, in the background he could hear them approach.

"I- You- We can still make it! I- I'm strong, I can-" Before she could continue a black giant shadow appeared near them on the street.

"No! Listen to your old pa one last time. Okay? Everything will be alright. I love you." He then pushed her deeper into the shadows before running out on the street.

"Hey, you ugly beast, come and get me if you can!" Screamed at him before running in the opposite direction. The CE provoked, ran after him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Violet silently cried, as she ran out of the village. Without stopping, without looking back she ran. For days until she collapsed to the ground near a river out of exhaustion.

"Mom. Dad." She mumbled before falling asleep.