CHAPTER 33: DESPERATE ESCAPE

While Elyria argued with Harken, the members of the Order helped each other. And Kyrian was lost in thought.

He kept his eyes on the skies. The four columns of smoke had already disappeared, completely transforming into the crimson dome.

His new eyes could see the truth of that dome. Thin crimson threads, like invisible webs, connected every living being in the city to the dome that pulsed like a heart.

The blood of everyone was constantly being drained.

He took a deep breath. That was nothing that could be stopped with brute force now that it had begun.

He didn’t even know what exactly it was. No one there knew. There was no enemy to cut down, no wall to break through. For him, it was just a gigantic phenomenon, seemingly inevitable. Just like the ice bird from the frozen lands.

He couldn’t tell why or who was doing it. But Kyrian understood that they were definitely using this city for something evil and that it would be impossible for them to break free with brute force.

"The dome, that thing, is sucking everyone’s blood." Kyrian suddenly said.

Elyria looked at him, as did Harken and the surrounding warriors of the Royal Order, some frowning in confusion.

Kyrian then continued, staring seriously.

"The dome looks like a heart. With every beat, every drop inside you is being pulled into the sky. I don’t know how to stop it. I don’t know who’s behind it or why."

"I only know one thing. If we stay here, everyone will die, and it won’t take long. We need to run. Now."

The silence that fell after his words was terrifying. But the drip that came from the blood trickling out of Harken’s nose broke it.

Elyria saw it and bit her lips. She took a deep breath and nodded.

"We go to the royal castle. Gather who remains and head for the eastern gate. It’s the only chance. From what we know, the gates are locked by the traitors, we’ll have to force them open."

Kael then completed Elyria’s words.

"Maybe the traitor guards have already opened the gate. The dome seems to be absorbing everyone’s blood. I doubt that, after seeing their own bodies being affected, they will keep following whoever is giving the orders."

Everyone thought it made sense.

Kyrian was more focused on Harken at the moment. Outwardly, the old man seemed firm, but his eyes revealed exhaustion.

Beyond that, Kyrian was seeing further. His veins trembled violently, his blood being sucked out at a faster speed than Elyria and the others.

’He won’t last much longer.’

The vision gnawed at his thoughts. Kyrian couldn’t stop thinking.

’This will soon happen to everyone. And if it does, will there be nothing left but dry bones scattered across the city? Who is doing this and how?’

After discussing, everyone advanced through the main street. Kael and the others carried the moonflowers on their backs. Kael said the invaders wanted them more than anything else.

They definitely would not leave them behind. At that moment...

"RUN TO THE EASTERN GATE!" Elyria shouted along the way to any civilian still able to walk.

"IF YOU WANT A CHANCE TO LIVE, HEAD THERE!"

Many, upon hearing Elyria’s voice, crawled, others groaned on the ground. A few stood up and staggered in the indicated direction.

Soon, Elyria’s nose began to bleed.

She wiped her face with her hand, only for it to trickle again. She glanced back briefly and saw. Aside from Kyrian, everyone was already suffering.

Harken and the oldest of the Order had dreadful expressions.

’Damn it! The pressure seems to be increasing quickly.’

Kyrian was focused on the road, trying to think of something with his new pair of eyes and the knowledge he had obtained. But it was useless. He had no idea what to do.

While thinking, he caught sight of something at the corner of his eye that made him stop immediately.

Among some fallen bodies, he recognized a face he had lost sight of earlier amidst the chaos of the coliseum.

"Lina..."

She was on the ground with young soldiers, those who had accompanied her the first time they met.

All the youths were collapsing, unable to move. Lina could still move slightly better. Her gaze met his.

She gave a small smile along with a single tear.

"Your eyes... changed, but they’re still beautiful."

Kyrian looked at her and froze for a few seconds. The scene crushed him. He then made his decision.

There was no way to help everyone, he had neither the strength nor the time.

He clenched his fists, bent down, and pulled Lina. Throwing her onto his horse.

He gave one last look at the young guards and sighed before moving on.

Kyrian felt weak. He couldn’t save nor solve the situation. And there was nothing that could be done in his mind.

But at that moment, in the center of the city, over the lake, the blood was gathering. From the dome, drops of blood slowly fell into the center of the lake.

Causing a red whirlpool to gradually emerge, spinning slowly and growing with each moment.

After some time, finally, the castle appeared ahead. Kyrian arrived a little later with Lina. But the sight there was also misery.

Darien and the royal family were sitting before the castle gates. Their bodies were trembling. The prince and princess had already fainted from blood loss.

The king was still conscious. Kyrian saw that the others had entered. They had gone in search of horses in the stable so everyone could ride.

Beside Darien were two other members of the order, two women. One was the one who had brought the prince back to the castle, the other had been sent on a mission by Elyria to gather information.

But from her grim face, it was clear she had discovered nothing useful.

The others, who had survived the castle attack, had already been lying on the ground for some time. Kyrian saw that some were already dead, their bodies already dried out.

’If you die, the blood is absorbed instantly...’ Kyrian realized it in his mind.

Elyria and the others returned with fresh horses for everyone. Kyrian transferred Lina, who was already unconscious, to another horse. The horses he and the others had used along the way were tired and losing blood, just like everyone else.

’Even the animals are being affected. At this rate, any kind of life will disappear... This reminds me... Shadow.’ Kyrian remembered his beloved horse, there would be no time to fetch him. Kyrian only frowned, accepting he had no choice.

"We must escape! Now! Go!" Elyria said loudly, without hesitation, her hand covering her nose.

Everyone, without protest, mounted the horses. Blood was already starting to drip from them, but they were not as exhausted as the previous ones, and they would serve for now.

Together, then, they headed toward the eastern gate.

Little by little, the pressure increased more and more.

Kyrian felt the despair of everyone around him rise, but he didn’t know what to say or do. His small hands gripped the reins of his horse tightly.

He was the only one well, but at the same time, he hated the feeling of seeing so many acquaintances suffering without being able to do anything.

’What would Rurik do in this situation? Mother, what should I do in this situation?’ Kyrian asked as they finally began to see the gate on the horizon.