Chapter Two: First Attack
Seth and Luke hurriedly rush back to Elmwood, after seeing a huge amount of smoke from Blue Harvest Beach.
"Come on, we don't have much time. We gotta head back!" Yelled Seth as he is running as fast as he can.
"I know, I know Seth we're halfway there, just calm down." Answered Luke.
Luke and Seth cut through the forest, thinking it's the fastest way back to Elmwood.
"Seth wait," said Luke.
Seth and Luke stop where they are.
"What's wrong? You need a break?"
"No…something else"
"Well then, what?" asks Seth.
Luke slowly draws out his sword and looks at his surroundings.
"We're being watched. Stay on your toes. We could be facing the enemy right now."
Seth places his hand on his sword, pretending he has no idea what's going on.
A few meters away is the enemy archer. He notices Seth and Luke and notifies the other soldiers to slowly close on them for the kill. He slowly raises his bow, aims for them, and waits for the right moment to fire. Suddenly, one of the soldiers stepped on a small branch and snaps, causing Seth and Luke to turn toward the sound. They spotted four swordsmen and an archer in the distance.
"Look out!" yelled Seth.
The archer fires at them.
"Duck!" yelled Luke as both of them try to avoid the arrow.
Luke starts attacking the soldiers who were trying to kill him. Seth draws his sword and aids Luke in the attack. They defeat 3 out of the 5 soldiers and the rest retreated.
"Who were those guys, and why'd they attack?" Asked Luke.
Seth looks closely at one of the dead soldier's shields. He notices a large "A" symbol in the middle with red. Recalling the conversation he had with the two men, he notices where they were from.
"They're from the land of Arson. Look, their emblem proves it."
"But why would they attack us?"
"Probably they want to declare war on us…but the only thing that questions me is why."
Just then another explosion erupted back at Elmwood. The smoke is now getting really dark and can be seen for miles.
"Come on Luke we gotta hurry"
"Right"
Seth and Luke sprinted back to Elmwood. Once they arrive they witness a horrific sight. Most of the buildings are caught on fire, people slain and killed. Screams can be heard for miles, and enemy troops everywhere.
"Oh my god…" said Luke.
"I knew it…" said Seth
Seth's worst fears came to reality, as soldiers from Arson are attacking Elmwood. Seth draws out his sword, eagerly ready to defend his village.
"Come on Luke, we gotta save the village"
"Right" said Luke as he draws out his sword as well.
The two charges toward the army of Arson, defending whatever is left of their village. People eagerly try to douse the flames with water, but it shows little effort to extinguish it. Most of the people are fleeing with whatever they have; items, their families, and their lives. Seth and Luke, as well as local troops in the area, try to hold off the area. But most of them already knew that the village is lost. Almost all of the buildings are burned to the ground, and half of the population has been killed in the incident. The army of Arson pulls back, knowing that the job is done.
"They're pulling back" said one of the soldiers that defended this area.
"Finally" said the weary Seth as fought enemy soldiers one after another. He sheaths his sword away.
"Yeah" said Luke, as he does the same.
"Glad to see you guys here to help us out. We lost a lot of good men here."
"What happened?" asked Luke.
"We were attacked unexpectedly with multiple fireballs launching a few miles away."
"It was first a huge fireball, then it just burst into multiple fireballs and caused a lot of fires in the village," said another soldier
"Damage?" asked Seth.
"Massive. A lot of buildings were burned to the ground. And it's gonna take a lot of time just to rebuild it."
"Hey Seth, isn't that your house over there." Says Luke as he points to his place.
"Oh no…"
Seth rushes to his house, which was halfway burned but was extinguished later on.
"Seth wait!" told Luke as he goes after him.
He bolts inside the door, and enters. He sees that the kitchen completely burned out but the stairs sturdy enough for him to head upstairs. Once upstairs, he tried desperately looking for his mom.
"Mom…Mom where are you? MOM!!!" Shouted Seth. But he heard no response. He entered his mom's room and saw that there's a big hole in the middle. When he looked further toward it he saw a horrific sight. Meanwhile, Luke catches up to him.
"Seth what were you-oh my god…." Said Luke as he saw it as well.
In the middle of the hole was Seth's mom, Lori, who was crushed and killed by the debris of the ceiling. Seth dropped to his knees and started to cry. The destruction of his village and the death of his mom were too much for him to handle. Luke comforts him and takes him outside of the house. With no home and no family, Seth was now an orphan.
"It'll be ok Seth, it'll be ok" said Luke trying to comfort him as best as he can.
"Ok...OK! How can it be ok when our village was burned to the ground by enemy soldiers, my house burned down, my mom killed, my...my..."
"Listen, calm down ok? I know you lost a lot right now but at least you're alive! I know I have a feeling I lost my friends and families in the attack, but their deaths will be in vain if we don't avenge them."
Just then footsteps approach the two men. Troops started to stand tall and salute him. The figure was a tall man, built for battle. He was an old man but still had strength to continue with his duties. He is the chief of the village, Master Gorrum. He too survived the attack as well.
"Are you Seth and Luke?" asked Master Gorrum.
"Yeah, what are you doing here Chief?" asked Luke.
"Come with me, I need to talk to you".