Elianna's and Nicholas' minds were racing with a storm of thoughts and emotions. Fear and uncertainty continued to wash over them like ocean waves crashing upon a rocky shore. As they were lifted into the air, Elianna's fear-filled eyes were locked on her father, unsure of what was happening and afraid for him.

  Elianna reached out to her father, but she was already rising into the air, and he was getting smaller by the moment. As Elianna passed over the trees, she watched as her father and Matilda flew into the air, both surrounded by an emerald aura, and they zoomed off toward the north.

  "Dad..." Elianna whispered, her voice shaky, seeing him fly off toward the smoke.

  "Lia?"

  Elianna's head snapped to her right, seeing Nicholas gazing at her. Looking into his deep sea-green eyes, she felt a slight sense of comfort, knowing she and Nicholas would be together right now.

  Nicholas mustered a small smile, "I-It'll be okay."

  Elianna could tell that he was afraid, too, by the look in his eyes. The usual confidence and joy he held in his gaze had been replaced with concern. However, she could also see how he was trying to stay strong and comfort her, which brought a smile to her lips.

  "It'll be okay," Elianna repeated to him, but she wasn't sure she believed those words.

  "We're almost there!" Freya yelled.

  Nicholas and Elianna looked forward, seeing they were closing in on the palace. Eyeing the palace, they could see dozens of knights surrounding the palace on all sides, with more running around. Mages flew into the air, landing on the roof, and took sentry positions overlooking the area.

  Elianna gasped, and Nicholas went wide-eyed, their stomachs dropping as Freya began an immediate and quick descent toward the palace entrance. At the palace entrance, Nicholas and Elianna could see several knights standing around Kassandra, who was pointing and barking orders.

  "Incoming!!"

  Nicholas and Elianna looked toward the voice and saw a knight on the perimeter pointing at them. Other soldiers, mages, and Kassandra looked toward the knight before eyeing where he was pointing.

  "Hold!" A mage on the roof yelled with a look of recognition in his eyes as he looked at Freya. "She's one of ours!"

  Freya continued her descent, slowing down until she gently placed her feet on the ground. She whipped around and held her wand up toward Nicholas and Elianna, gently lowering their feet to the ground before canceling the levitation spell.

  The emerald aura around them dispersed, and Freya eyed both Nicholas and Elianna worriedly, "Are you both okay?"

  Nicholas and Elianna gave her a small smile and nodded.

  Freya's expression tightened; she could only imagine how scared they were. She would be lying if she said she wasn't slightly afraid as well. Nothing like this had ever happened in all the years she had lived in Tri-Union City.

  Freya wanted to comfort Nicholas and Elianna, but she knew she didn't have time. She needed to join her unit and help secure Tri-Union City as soon as possible. She jerked her chin toward the palace entrance and said, "Come on, you two."

  Elianna and Nicholas nodded as they followed Freya, who quickly began walking toward the palace entrance. They could see Kassandra standing there, looking intent as she spoke with a few soldiers. Two of the soldiers she was speaking to nodded before running off, then Kassandra looked in Freya's direction.

  Confusion and curiosity crossed Kassandra's facial features as she said, "Freya? What brings you here?"

  "These two," Freya said, gesturing to Elianna and Nicholas behind her.

  Kassandra's eyes flicked and settled on Elianna and Nicholas, widening slightly.

  Freya stopped in front of Kassanda, eyeing her almost pleadingly, "Can I please leave them here, in the safety of the palace?"

  "Of course you can."

  All eyes darted to the entrance, and Kassandra went wide-eyed with worry as Raina approached them. She was adorned in a beautiful blue dress with a sheen and a golden crown atop her head. She had her wrists clasped in front of her and walked with elegance, and she held high despite what was transpiring.

  "R-Regent Raina?!" Kassandra stuttered, looking at her with eyes the size of moons. "What are you doing out here?! You're supposed to be safely inside the palace!"

  Raina calmly looked at Kassandra, "It is my duty to rule and watch over Tri-Union City." She looked forward, watching the smoke rising in the north. "I needed to ensure that all defenses were being engaged."

  "They are," Kassandra nodded and looked at Raina pleadingly. "Now, please, go back inside."

  "I will," Raina said and calmly smiled at Nicholas and Elianna. "And I'll take these two inside as well."

  "Thank you," Freya said, and Raina nodded to her. Freya turned to face Elianna and Nicholas and placed her hands on their shoulders. She eyed them intently, "Listen, I need to go. But please, stay inside the palace; you will both be safe there. Understood?" Elianna and Nicholas nodded. "Good," Freya said and brought them both into a tight hug. "I'll be back as soon as I can," Freya whispered before she broke the hug.

  Nicholas watched his aunt worriedly as she turned around. An emerald aura enveloped her body, and she quickly took to the air, flying toward the east. Nicholas watched Freya with worry as she slowly disappeared into the distance. Over the years of living with her, she had grown to become a mother to him, and he didn't want anything to happen to her.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "Elianna, Nicholas."

  They both looked toward Raina, who approached them with a smile. She gestured to the palace entrance and said, "Come on, let's go inside."

  Elianna looked toward the north, where her father had gone, while Nicholas looked toward the east, where he last saw his aunt.

  "Don't worry," Raina said gently, and they looked at her again. Raina gave them both a reassuring smile, "Your families will be okay." She again gestured to the palace entrance, "Now, come on."

  Nicholas and Elianna nodded before following her to the palace.

  "Do you think they will be okay?" Elianna asked, looking to Nicholas for comfort.

  Nicholas' eyes fell, feeling worried. He mustered a smile and looked at Elianna, "I'm sure they will be."

  Nicholas wrapped his arm around Elianna's shoulder and pulled her into a side hug. Elianna smiled, and her cheeks turned slightly red as she felt Nicholas' comforting body heat. She pressed herself closer to him, feeling his muscular chest. The only downside was that she thought he stunk a little from just working out, but she didn't care.

  Approaching the palace entrance, Raina gestured for the knights to open the door. The two knights nodded before opening the doors for Raina, Nicholas, and Elianna, then stood to the side. Stepping into the palace, Raina made her way to the center of the grand entrance hall before she turned to look at Elianna and Nicholas. Her brows raised in surprise, seeing Nicholas holding Elianna close, but she soon smiled warmly, seeing the blush and smile on their faces. She had been trying to think of ways to comfort them, but it seemed to her that all they needed was each other.

  "Elianna dear," Raina said, and Elianna looked at her curiously. "Why don't you take Nicholas on a tour of the palace?"

  "Right now?" Elianna asked, confused.

  Raina smiled and nodded, "It could be nice. Plus, there are knights walking all over the palace. It'll be safe."

  Elianna shrugged before she looked up at Nicholas. Her blush deepened, seeing how close their faces were. "Do you wanna go look around?"

  Nicholas smiled and nodded, "Sure. Lead the way."

  "Come on," Elianna said, and they broke their embrace. Raina smiled as she watched Elianna reach out and take Nicholas' hand. Nicholas blushed as Elianna jerked her chin to the right, "Let's go this way." Nicholas smiled and nodded, and he didn't resist as Elianna escorted him out of the room.

  Raina smiled warmly as she watched them leave. However, her smile faded as she approached the window and watched the smoke rise in the north. "Please," Raina whispered to herself, knowing her soldiers were fighting. "Be safe out there."

  ***

  Lucian watched with his heart clenching as Elianna and Nicholas disappeared over the tree line, being carried by Freya. He didn't want to let Elianna out of his sight, but right now, he needed to defend his city. Plus, he knew she would be safe in the palace.

  "Ready?"

  Lucian looked at Matilda, seeing her hardened expression. Lucian returned her expression and nodded, "Ready."

  Matilda took her wand out of her spatial ring and cast levitation on her and Lucian. An emerald aura enveloped both of them, and Lucian wobbled a little as Matilda hovered both of them into the air.

  "Hold on!" Matilda yelled, and the two of them took to the air.

  Matilda flew both of them high above the city, and they both looked around. They could see the populace of Tri-Union City running around, with some individuals running into buildings for shelter. Soldiers and mages were seen moving quickly through the city, taking their defensive positions.

  As he looked around, Lucian's spatial ring began to vibrate, and he raised his hand, taking his telemirror out, which was shimmering. He answered the telemirror, and Katarina's image appeared on the other side.

  "Are you okay?!" Katarina asked, panicked. "Where is Elianna?!"

  "We're both fine," Lucian reassured. "Elianna is currently at the palace with Nicholas."

  Katarina seemed to relax a little, "Good. She will be safe there." Her eyes narrowed slightly with confusion, "Wait. Where are you?"

  "I'm heading to the north gate with Matilda."

  "What?!" Katarina yelled, alarmed. "But-"

  "Kat," Lucian said, looking at her softly, and smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. You know what I'm capable of."

  Katarina's eyes fell, knowing he was right, and she nodded. A sudden blast of power on Katarina's end had Lucian grow concerned. Katarina looked up, and Lucian looked toward the academy. Lucian watched as a beam of pure white mana shot into the sky and exploded outward, forming a mana dome over the entire school.

  "It's the headmaster," Katarina informed and looked back into her telemirror. "She is creating a barrier around the school."

  "No one will get past her," Matilda said, and Lucian looked at her, seeing she was eyeing the school with admiration. "The students are safe with her." She chuckled darkly, "I sympathize with those who would try to hurt her students on her watch."

  "Lucian," Katarina began, and he looked at her. She looked at him affectionately, "I need to go. But please, be safe."

  "I will," Lucian said, returning her gaze. "You be safe as well."

  The communication ended, and Lucian stored the telemirror back into his spatial ring. He looked back up and saw that they were approaching the northern gate. The sound of explosions, metal colliding with metal, and people yelling filled the air. They could see a small portion of the wall surrounding the city was on fire, and the black smoke filled the air, obstructing Lucian and Matilda's view.

  Lucian's gaze flicked to the right of the smoke, seeing a young dwarven mage standing there. He had both hands gripping his staff, which was slammed into the ground, and an emerald energy surrounded him.

  "Look," Lucian said, pointing to the mage.

  Matilda looked to where he was pointing and began flying toward the mage. She began her descent, and a moment later, they landed on the wall. Smoke filled the air around them, and Lucian coughed a little as he approached the mage.

  Hearing Lucian cough, the young dwarven mage flinched and looked toward Lucian and Matilda, startled. Though, as soon as he realized who they were, he looked at them with relief.

  "Arch-Mage, Commander," The mage said, hope in his dry voice.

  Matilda eyed the mage, seeing their face smeared with ash. She then looked at the ground, seeing several wounded soldiers and a mage lying on the ground covered in blood and injuries, with some even missing limbs and an emerald energy washing over them. Her eyes flicked back to the dwarven mage, and she could tell the dwarven mage was currently casting rejuvenation zone. She knew it was a costly spell that affected a small area around the mage, healing everyone in the affected area over time. Though, she could see some of the soldiers had already passed.

  "What happened here?" Lucian asked angrily, over the sound of battle.

  "An ambush, Commander," The mage began, looking tired from maintaining the spell. "An individual walked up to the gate and just stood there. Adeptus Yen and Sergeant Dulten went to confront them." The mage looked at the wounded, seeing Yen and Dulten lying there, with Dulten missing his left arm and Yen with third-degree burns covering her entire body. The mage looked angry, "But the individual was a powerful mage. They took out Yen and Dulten and destroyed the gate, injuring the others."

  "The gate?" Lucian said, alarmed, looking toward the smoke obscuring the area. Fear washed over him, knowing that if the gate was destroyed, the attackers could storm the city at any moment.

  Matilda narrowed her eyes at the smoke, "How much longer can you hold the rejuvenation zone?"

  The mage swallowed hard, determined to save as many injured as possible, "As long as needed, Arch-Mage."

  Matilda nodded, proud of their conviction, "Good." She began to walk toward the smoke. "This battle will be over soon enough."