"My lady, please—run! I'll buy us time!" a frantic voice called.
Meliora's heart thundered in her chest as she dashed past the fallen forms of servants and guards. Blood coated the marble floors; some lay unconscious, some still. Her fragile hands trembled as she clutched Marie's limp form. "Please… do not die, Marie!" she screamed, tears blinding her.
She didn't dare look back. If she did, everything they had sacrificed would be in vain.
The back door of the mansion yawned open, and then… he was there.
A man with white hair that shimmered like moonlight and deep blue eyes that pierced her soul. In that instant, Meliora knew her life—and the war around her—would never be the same.
10 years earlier
Sunlight poured through the tall windows of House Carvane, catching the polished marble floors and reflecting in the crystal chandeliers. Laughter echoed through the halls as Magnus, Rowan, and Orion chased each other, weaving between the furniture, their shouts mixing with the lighter, joyous giggles of Meliora.
"Meliora!" Magnus called, spotting her behind the curtains. "Hiding again? You'll never catch me if you stay there!"
"I'll catch you one day!" she whispered back, determination gleaming in her bright eyes.
Rowan held out a hand. "Come on, Mel! Don't make us wait all morning."
Orion leaned lazily against the doorway, smirking. "Careful, Magnus. She's fast. You might actually lose today."
With a squeal, Meliora bolted from her hiding spot, her tiny feet skimming the marble. Magnus lunged — and she spun away, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Gotcha!" Magnus laughed, spinning her in a circle.
"You're fast," he said, ruffling her hair. "But not fast enough!"
"She's clever," Rowan said with a grin. "Always one step ahead, even if she's small."
Orion brandished a wooden sword playfully. "Next time, I'll have my revenge!"
From the doorway, Isolde's gentle voice called, "Children, please behave!" She carried a tray of tea and pastries, her eyes warm and soft.
"I'm just showing her my skills, Mother!" Magnus protested, pretending to be offended.
"Skills or trouble?" Isolde teased, kneeling to brush back Meliora's hair. "Remember, even small shadows need confidence."
"I'll try!" Meliora tugged at her mother's fingers, laughing.
Soon, they spilled into the garden, where roses climbed the trellises and a fountain murmured at its center. Birds flitted through the air, and the scent of fresh blooms filled the morning.
"Come on! Rowan and Orion are waiting," Magnus called.
"If she falls behind, I'll carry her!" Rowan shouted.
"No, I'll carry her!" Orion laughed. "Magnus, you can't always win."
Meliora squealed, weaving between the older boys. "No! You'll never catch me!"
Under the wide oak, they collapsed, gasping for breath. Orion leaned back. "You're quick, Meliora, but even you tire eventually."
Magnus smirked. "You wait. One day, she'll outrun us all."
"I will! And I'll never be scared again!" she declared.
Rowan smiled. "You won't have to be. We'll always protect you."
Later, Isolde led Meliora to a sun-drenched patio for lessons. It wasn't just reading and writing; today, she learned balance and quick reflexes, hopping over low beams and dodging thrown beanbags.
"Focus on your footing," Isolde instructed gently. "Skill without awareness is useless."
"I can do it!" Meliora said, landing nimbly on her feet.
Magnus watched proudly. "See, Rowan? She's learning fast. Soon she'll beat us in the garden games, too."
Rowan grinned. "Not if we train harder. No one outruns our little shadow that easily."
Three days later, the children accompanied two knights to the city. The streets buzzed with merchants shouting their wares, carts clattering over cobblestones, and the distant tolling of church bells. Meliora's eyes sparkled, wide with wonder at every sight — the bright fabrics of stalls, the aroma of freshly baked bread, and the swirl of people moving like a living river around them.
"Stay close," Magnus warned, his hand hovering near her shoulder. "Crowds can swallow you in an instant."
"I'll be careful!" she promised, though her curiosity tugged at her like a kite in the wind.
She lingered just a step too far from the group, drawn to a street juggler spinning flaming torches. The flames danced in her reflection, and she clapped with delight, forgetting the knights' watchful eyes.
Two rough men, eyes narrowed and teeth bared in crooked grins, noticed the children.
"Just a few kids," one muttered. "Easy pickings."
The other smirked. "They won't fight back. Probably."
Meliora reached for a brightly colored ribbon lying on the ground near the juggler's hat, her small fingers brushing it. That's when the first man lunged, his hand snaking out to grab her by the hair.
"Ah! Let go!" she screamed, twisting to break free, but the grip only tightened. Pain shot through her scalp.
Magnus's face darkened instantly, veins standing out at his temples. "How dare you!" He sprang forward, fists flying in a blur. Rowan moved like water, sweeping the second man's legs out from under him with a sharp kick of his stick. Orion, calm and precise, shoved a nearby crate between him and the first attacker, then delivered a swift, punishing kick that sent the man staggering backward into a merchant's cart.
Meliora's small fists pounded against her attacker, tears of fear and fury streaking her cheeks. "I'm not scared! I won't let you!"
The pickpockets froze, confusion flashing across their faces. "They're… kids?" one whispered, eyes widening in disbelief.
"They're nobles!" the other hissed, recognition dawning. Panic crept into their movements, but the children were already moving as one. Magnus tackled the nearest man to the ground, pinning him by the shoulders, while Rowan's stick flicked again, knocking the thief's dagger harmlessly aside. Orion delivered a sharp, calculated strike to the ribs of the second man, who howled and stumbled into a stack of empty barrels.
Meliora twisted herself free, shoving against the man who had grabbed her hair. "Let go! You'll regret it!" Her small frame darted behind Magnus, still trembling but unbroken.
The thieves staggered backward, humiliation and fear overtaking their initial confidence. Every punch, kick, and sweep had been precise, effective, and terrifyingly coordinated for children their age.
"Get… get away from us!" one of the men gasped, finally understanding that their prey was no ordinary target.
Magnus spat on the ground beside him, voice low and dangerous. "Next time, you think twice before touching a child. Especially ours."
Rowan straightened, twirling his stick with a casual flair. "And remember, you never know who's watching. We fight together, always."
Orion crouched, surveying the fleeing men as they disappeared into the crowded streets. "Lesson learned," he said softly. "Never underestimate someone who looks small or weak."
Meliora, fists still clenched, took a shaky breath and turned to her brothers and Orion. "I… I'm okay. I won't let anyone scare me!"
Magnus ruffled her hair, exasperated but proud. "You're impossible, little sister. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
Rowan chuckled, clapping her gently on the shoulder. "Good. You'll never need to fear anyone with us around."
The two knights finally caught up, panting and eyes wide. They looked at the four children, their expressions a mixture of awe and concern.
"Are you all unharmed?" one asked, glancing at each of them.
Magnus brushed off his sleeves. "We're fine. They underestimated us — badly."
Orion's gaze followed the retreating thieves. "Let this be a lesson," he said quietly. "Even the smallest shadow can strike harder than you think."
Meliora hugged Magnus's side tightly. "I… I'm okay. I promise."
The city moved on, unaware of the chaos that had just erupted among its cobblestones. But for the children, the bond forged in that brief, violent encounter had grown stronger — loyalty, courage, and trust intertwined in a single, unspoken promise: no one would harm one of them without facing the wrath of all four.
Over the next few days, they practiced city navigation, learned to read crowds, and even helped a few merchants round up runaway carts — all under the guise of innocent play. Each day, their confidence, skill, and trust in each other grew.
One evening, they returned home to House Carvane, tired but triumphant. Isolde smiled warmly. "You are all brave and clever, but remember — strength is nothing without care. Protect each other, and you will always be safe."
Magnus lifted Meliora onto his shoulder. "We will. Always."
Rowan and Orion nodded in agreement. For the children, the bond was no longer just friendship or family duty. It was a promise — one that would carry them through dangers far greater than playful pickpockets, and challenges that even they could not yet imagine.
As twilight stretched over the estate, the sun dipped behind the distant hills. A sense of calm settled over the house — fleeting, fragile, and beautiful — a fleeting sanctuary before the storms of the future.