"Do you think this will work, sire?"

"I have to believe it does. There's no other way."

"We can always-"

A loud bang from the other side of the iron doors startled both men that were contemplating a life-changing decision. One drew his sword from his scabbard and stood defensively in front of his mentor, who held a sleeping infant in his arms. The soldiers from Embla have reached the sacred temple, and they want the infant that the entire country protected dead. The poor child wasn't even a year old and she already had enemies after her life.

But her father, sworn to oath by the fabricators of fate, would never allow it to happen. They already killed his wife and eldest son. He'd die before letting them harm a hair on his daughter's head.

"Sire, if you're sending your daughter to the other world, now's the time to do it," his student warned as another bang echoed.

"Ronan! Give up the child, now!"

A growl left his lips, "Keep your guard up, Jonah!"

Ronan ran up to the shrine and carefully placed the bundled infant on the altar. He then fished out a special pendant from his coat pocket and laid it across her small neck. She stirred upon the contact, but it didn't wake her up. A sad smile made its way on his lips.

He would never get to see his daughter grow up. He wouldn't be there when she took her first steps. He wouldn't be there to protect her. He wouldn't be there to teach her the family's history.

Thinking about everything he would miss out on made him realize the tragedy of the situation. All she'd have to remind her of her heritage was that pendant that would one day show her who she was. A small tear rolled down his aging face. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead as a way to say goodbye. She was just an infant; she wouldn't know what goodbye meant if he said it.

Ronan stepped back and began chanting the incantation needed to perform this rite. Meanwhile, Jonah remained prepared in case any enemy soldiers were to break through. The thought of one man facing an entire army would've made him cower in fear and surrender, but he wasn't the same weakling from before. His mentor had taught him to stand his ground despite the odds being against him. It was better to die a hero than to live a coward.

As the incantations continued, the candles surrounding the shrine lit up followed by a luminous glow coming from the cryptic patterns leading to the sacred seal against the wall. The incantations became faster, passionate, causing the power from the shrine to create a small rift above the infant. Ronan's blue eyes widened, giving him the motivation to continue despite the infant's discomforting cries that were a result of the rift.

Jonah glanced back to see how his master was doing, only to be left in shock as the growing size of the rift. It resembled a black hole the would suck in the entire temple. However, seeing it right before his eyes meant that this plan was going to work. Even as Embla continued their reign of conquest, no doubt going after Askr next, there would still be hope for the return of the Grand Hero and heir of Elysium.

The fabricators of fate had great plans for the girl when she becomes of age.

Embla soldiers continued their attempt to break in, which was inevitable since the doors were ready to give in from all the blows it's endured. The earth began to tremble as the holy light grew bigger and bigger. Ronan and Jonah had to shield their eyes from the intensity while the Embla soldiers successfully knocked down the iron doors. They were taken aback by the power of the light that those unlucky few suffered from it.

When the light dimmed down, the infant was no longer there. The rite had been successful, and Ronan was more relieved than bereaved. His child was safe from Embla's unjust wrath.

He snapped out of it when he heard Jonah bellow in pain. Ronan swerved his head to see what was going on. His student was pinned down with a dagger near his neck while other soldiers marched toward the man, grabbing him by his arms and dragging him away from the shrine. He was thrown down next to Jonah and threatened with a sharp end of a blade in case he tried to fight back.

"Where is the child, Ronan?" their commander demanded gruffly.

A victorious laugh left the man's lips, "She's gone. You devils will never find her."

"As long as she lives, there's hope for Elysium. Embla will never win," Jonah added tauntingly.

Hope was dangerous, especially when the fate of their world rested on the hands of that child. However, the fabricators chose her for this life-long mission, and in that the two remaining Elysians had hope for.