Chapter Text
It was the sound of the roaring explosion that woke him up. Before he could register anything else, the screams started. People yelling in panic everywhere.
Hunter’s small bedroom was still dark, the curtains of his room were closing out any light that might’ve come in through the window. Panic started to rise up in his chest and he barely picked up on the door opening. His dad was standing in the doorway, the alarm clear on his face mixed with relief after his eyes fell on him. The sounds of panic and destruction outside didn’t lessen.
He was hugging his blanket tightly as his dad scooped him up into his arms and ran out of the room. As they got into the living room, Hunter saw his mom standing near the door, flinching back as the sound of buildings collapsing echoed outside.
„I got him, do you know what’s going on?“ His dad shouted. She shook her head. „We need to get out of here.“
They rushed out of their small home onto the streets as he clung to his dad‘s shirt. The sight that appeared before them made them stop.
Their town, the town that they’ve lived in for so long, being destroyed infront of their very own eyes. The houses of their neighbors were burning, the screams hadn’t stopped. Collapsing shops and explosions in the distance. People would occasionally run past, some carrying children of their own in their arms. Everything was a mess, chaos surrounded them.
„That way!“ His mom exclaimed, pointing to a seemingly harmless path. They continued to run through the rumble, as Hunter buried his face into the crook of dads neck.
Just as they seemed to finally get closer to the edge of the town, a scream more nearby than the others caught their attention. It was a girl, she was Hunters age, only six year old, he saw her at the park sometimes. Her legs were trapped under some rumble and she was trying desperately to get out. His dad looked around frantically for anyone else, but saw no one.
Before he could register what was going on, his dad had said something to his mom and handed him over to her. Hunter began to frantically scream as his dad ran towards the girl to try and get her free.
But just then, the world seemed to slow down. As his dad tried to lift the wooden beam off of her leg, another explosion went off. Not far away this time, but right at the building they were standing at. The flames of the explosion engulfed his dad as the blast threw him and his mother back. His head collided with the rough ground as a ringing sounded in his ears. Suddenly, he didn’t feel his mom‘s protective arms around him anymore.
Hunter lifted his head to look around and saw his mom lie a few feet away from him. He tried to find his dad but couldn’t see him. As he scrambled to his mom‘s side, he realized that she seemed to be rather unresponsive. He tried shaking her, anything, before he noticed the blood pooling up under her head as he sat next to her, shaking her body.
Everything was a blur. The ringing in his ears hadn’t stopped. He just kept on shaking her and crying and shaking her again. She didn’t wake up.
Suddenly he was picked up again and carried off. He tried to struggle out of the grip this person had on him, reaching and crying out to his mom. As they turned the corner, she disappeared out of sight.
Hunter recognized who was carrying him, it was the woman that lived only a few houses down. He begged and wailed for her to turn around and help his parents. She didn’t.
They got to a clearing a bit away from the town. A few others were gathered there, almost all with various injuries. Hunter looked back at the village behind them, engulfed in flames, rumble of buildings everywhere, a distant sound of voices screaming.
There were other voices too, closer to him. The woman was trying to tell him something, ask something, reassure him? He couldn’t tell, all he heard was his parents‘ panic stricken voices echoing in his ears.
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Belos had always been a busy man. Being the emperor was a very time consuming job. Between the endless paperwork for internal and external affairs and keeping the empire running, he hasn’t gotten a day off in years.
Of course, he had a lot of help, like Kikimora acting as his assistant and Lilith being the coven leader. Regardless, most decisions had to go through him as well to be properly approved.
Like right now, where he was looking over some paperwork concerning trades with a different kingdom a bit away from the boiling isles while sitting in the throne room of his castle. It was already late in the night and he was almost finished looking through everything.
Just then, a few guards came hurriedly through the throne room‘s large doors. They bowed before him, still catching their breaths. Belos raised his head after a moment, gesturing for them to speak.
„Your Majesty, I‘m sorry to interrupt you, but there’s been an attack.“ a scout said. Belos raised an eyebrow behind his mask. It‘s been long enough with him as the emperor for attacks to be unlikely. He likes to think that his established order has made the boiling isles as strong and safe as ever.
The scout goes on, „A small village on the outskirts has been attacked by a group of wild witches. There are many people that were injured or even killed, the town is in shambles.“
Belos narrowed his eyes. He should’ve guessed that this peace had once again been interrupted by wild witches. He put the paperwork away. „Send some scouts and witches from the healing coven to help the survivors. However many you see fit. If the village isn’t salvageable upon short notice, find them shelter until they’ve recovered and gotten back up on their feet. And make sure the wild witches responsible are found and dealt with.“ He said sternly. „Now, which village did this happen to? You said it was on the outskirts of the isles, correct?“
One of the guards nodded, „Yes, your Majesty. I believe the village is called Stormcrest, up in the northwest“ Belos stopped. Stormcrest? That couldn’t be. He remembered back to over a decade ago, the last conversation he’d had with Caleb face to face.
His brother told him that he‘d met someone and that he would move away with her, settle down and all. Belos had been admittedly displeased about the idea. He‘s never understood why his brother couldn’t just move into the castle with him and live more comfortably. But Caleb had been adament about his decision. So, they parted ways, only writing each other letters every few years or so. Those lessened over time as well. The last one he‘d gotten has been about six years ago, where he wrote about him and this witch he‘d never even gotten the chance to meet having a son together. Hunter was his name, if he‘d remembered correctly.
It couldn’t be that Stormcrest, right? The scout‘s words echoed in his ears. There are many people that were injured or even killed. The town is in shambles. A chill ran down his spine.
„One more thing, look for anyone by the last name of Wittebane. If you find them, bring them back to the castle as soon as possible.“ He kept his voice steady. They bowed again „Of course, your Majesty.“ There was confusion in their tone, but they didn’t dare question him.
They quickly left after being dismissed and Belos was left alone, only a few scouts standing guard in the throne room. He sighed heavily and lowered his head. He barely wanted to consider what this meant.
There was only one town named Stormcrest that he was aware of, and it was the town his brother resided in with his new family. All the internal resentment he had for his brother leaving him quickly turned into regret. If Caleb died in this attack, he didn’t know how he would be able to forgive himself. He would never be able to make up for all the years of lost time.
It wouldn’t do anyone any good if he continued to dwell on it though. He couldn’t do much until the scouts returned anyways, so he reluctantly picked up the parchment and finished the paperwork he‘s been putting off.