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Alicia said in fear, "Roux... wh.. what is happening?.. Th..That light, it's from Lyndell, isn't it...", she is trembling in fear. Roux hugged her and said, "Shush.. We are going... right now." Ruox got her up on her feet, and the whole of LimeGrave is in turmoil.
Animals are running, People are screaming, and falling over each other in chaos. Both ran out of the house in the state they were in initially and found the horse, and they sat on it and ran at full speed toward the only place Roux thought would be safe in chaos, the StormVeil Castle. Ruox watched as the beacon, which had been hit by the sky, became the eye of horror.
The stars in the sky started to move in circular motion around the beacon, looking like a Celestial Whirlpool. The Sky became chaotic, and they heard a dragon's Roar on the horizon. In a single instant, everything is falling apart. Destruction starts to erupt in every corner. As the beacon started to die out, it was followed by a dark black-red smoke which twisted inward in itself and disappeared. Alicia said while crying, "What is happening?" Roux made the horse even faster as Stormveil was just in view and said, "I do not know what that is, but it's the only place that will be safe if Castle of Stormveil."
A Man who was also running toward the castle heard the horse's steps and turned back to see Roux running toward the castle. He tried to jump on in and hijack it in desperation, but Roux was quick. He kicked him in the chest, making him fall away as the horse sped up toward the castle gates, which were almost in reach.
As they arrived at the castle, guards were holding civilians from entering. He grabbed Alicia and pushed through the crowd forcefully. A soldier stopped him, "Hey, hotshot, Castle is off limits. Back off before I have to attack". A man Crowd was saying a lot of things in desperation, but what was most intelligible in that chaos were, "Open up," & "Save us," & "Let us in". Ruox said, "I am a soldier here, let me and my wife in".
The guard moved from in front of him and said while patting his shoulder in a serious tone, "Go in fast, and whatever happens from now on, keep your mouth shut. That is an order from above."
Ruox and Alicia move into the castle, and she is scared but holds on to him tighter than ever. They arrive in the place where many soldiers and civilians are gathered, mainly the families of those soldiers.
A man in a black robe came toward them and asked, "You are a soldier?". Ruox said, "I am...". Man in robe said, "You are to go and get geared up, and if you miss, you have to wait with the crowd gathered in the courtyard". Roux said in a threatening tone, "I... am not leaving her.". Man said, "You will follow what we say. If you are smart, you must know that only we can save you in this calamity". Alicia asked in a timid and sacred voice as she saw the sky falling inwards, "Um.. what is happening?". Man replied, "Everything will be explained in some time." and turned to Ruox, "You.. go.. she won't be hurt in here, time is running out".
Ruox hugged her and kissed her on her forehead, and ran towards the barracks. Meanwhile, Alicia was escorted into the courtyard, where civilians were gathered; all were the families of soldiers on duty.
She waited for sometime and then a man in same robe as the one before came forward on the platform and said something which made whole courtyard go numb, he said, "Queen Marika The Eternal, her majesty have shattered the Elden Ring, Since this moment, World will be purged in chaos till new lord arises and saves it all".
After a silence, chaos erupted in the courtyard. Everyone was crying and panicking. Just then, Ruox entered the courtyard and started searching for Alicia in the crowd in desperation. He found her sitting and sobbing near a pillar. He ran and hugged her. Just then, the man on the platform said, "But fear not, for nobles blessed by graces are safe, so are you.
We nobles will look after families of the brave souls fighting for our cause". Hearing this, the whole courtroom's chaos stopped, and only one thing echoed, "Long live the Golden Order, Long live the grace".
Noble in black robe said, "You will be transported to a place safe from the chaos. Soldiers, you will stay behind. You have till morning to bid farewell". The crowd got tense as they heard the upcoming deadline.
That night, Alicia and Roux talked about everything they could. But once time starts, so does it comes to an end, sunlight start to erupt in horizon, time of the separation is coming, Alicia started to cry as she see the first ray of light, Ruox said, "Hey.. no need to cry, we are sage remember?? I will come to get you once its over, i promise." and wiper her tears, and said "now stop crying.. and be strong okay?".
She nods as her sobs die out, just then the order came, "EVERYONE TO THE MAIN GATE OF THE CASTLE.. NOW". They go to the main gate where the transports are waiting for the family members, roux gave her a tight hug and settled her in the carriage, and said, "we will meet soon, dont worry and remember the promise okay?", Alicia said with watery eyes, "i know... and.. love you..", Ruox said,
"Love you too.."
And the carriage rolled away as every soldier stood till the carriage was past the horizon, and when it was gone, a noble came and said, "Soldiers, in barracks now!".
Everyone slowly walked into the barracks. Ruox was in the middle of the troop. The former captain and a noble came forward of the troop and said, "everyone your duties are simple, kill every intruder in castle, protect it from falling, and do what we say with utmost loyalty, cause we need to soldier who is either a rebel or useless, and so we have no use of saving a family who gives us no profit".
The solders go numb as they heard the announcement, one soldier questions, "Commander, why threaten us with family? That's inhumane...." Commander, cold and ruthless, said a simple thing, "This Era without a lord has no humanity to preserve, no fairness, no strong and no weak, only one who gets respect is the one who survives. For those who survive, decide how tales are woven. So, survive, so your family can survive. The more you survive and serve, the more privilege your loved one will get."
The Noble said in a loud voice by looking in sky and spreading his arms...
"WELCOME TO THE ERA OF CHAOS... SOLDIERS!!"
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