The sky was still clouded with dust, and the wind whirred through the ruins.
Laria stood amidst the rubble, the sword was dripping with ash in her hands, while Rita inspected the scepter embedded in the king's chest, which had been reduced to cracked stone.
Sasha rested her bow on her shoulder, panting with exhaustion.
"It's finally over."
But Laria didn't answer. She stared at the scepter with trembling eyes."This isn't an ordinary weapon. I can feel something moving inside it."
Before she could finish, the scepter began to thump faintly, like a heart beating inside.
Rita took a step back, opening her book, preparing to confront it again. But suddenly, the air split in front of them, and a dark light emerged, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
A tall man wearing a dark cloak appeared, his eyes a pale silver, and his face bore a frightening resemblance to Laria's.
Laria froze, barely able to make out her voice. "Father?"
The man smiled coldly. "You've grown, Larya."
"What are you doing here?"
Her father didn't care and looked at the king lying on the ground, pleading for help. "Sir, please help me."
Laria's father stomped on the king's head and smashed it.
Sasha immediately raised her bow, but three shadows suddenly appeared behind him, warriors wearing dark magical armor.
"Who are you?" Rita asked cautiously.
No one answered. Laria's father simply pointed at the scepter, and a strand of black energy emanated from it and merged with his hand.
In an instant, the ground began to shake and debris shattered around them.
"Father! Don't do this!" Larya cried.
But he looked at her with a merciless expression. "You think you're getting closer with each passing day, but in truth, you're drifting further away."
Then he reached out and pulled the scepter from the ground. The energy began to glow again.
Rita shouted, raising her book. "Laria, go away!"
But the three shadows swarmed around them. One of them cast a spell that repelled the winds, while Laria's father opened a dark portal behind him.
"You still have much to learn, my daughter, and we will be waiting for you when the time comes."
Laria knelt down, tears glistening in her eyes as she whispered.
"Father, why?"
Rita leaned closer, hugging her to comfort her. "I know what happened is difficult... but we will find her, and we will put everything back together, I promise."
Sasha sat beside her and laughed softly, despite her exhaustion. "We've been fighting for so long, and now we've won. And yet you're still crying. Don't worry, Laria, we will find her, and everything will be over soon."
Laria looked at them, tears still in her eyes, but she smiled faintly.
"You always... you know how to make me cling to hope."
Sasha stood up and extended her hands to Laria. "Come on, we have to get back to the city. Those who deserve to hear the good news of victory are waiting for us."
Laria stood up with the help of her two friends, and the three of them headed toward the horizon, where the lights of the destroyed city loomed.
The sky was beginning to lighten, and rays of sunlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating the path ahead.
They continued walking through the ruins of the battle, the wind whirling around them, as if whispering of a promise still waiting beyond the horizon.
As the sun's rays filtered through the scattered clouds, Laria and her two companions returned to the stricken city. People emerged hesitantly from their hiding places, their faces smeared with ash, their eyes searching for a glimmer of hope after the storm.
Rita walked into the great square, raised her book high, and shouted loudly, "Whoever wants to live here in peace, may stay. Whoever wishes to leave, may go! The evil king has fallen! The city is free from his darkness!"
There was silence for a few seconds, then people began clapping, cheering in a mix of tears and laughter.
The children ran toward Larya, who was exhausted, surrounding her and chanting her name, while Sasha laughed and waved her bow in the air.
Laria's voice was hoarse but full of pride. "Fear will no longer rule this city. Today your freedom begins, and life will return as it was, only more beautifully."
The destroyed houses still bore witness to the battle, but people began to set up tarpaulins and raise flags.
The wind that had carried the ashes of injustice now carried the sounds of joy, and the sky opened up to welcome a new sun.
The three girls stood in the center of the square, looking at each other with sincere smiles. "I think we deserve a royal dinner this time."
Rita laughed and replied, "A long vacation before a new villain emerges."
Among the children, Sherry appeared, running quickly, hugging Laria tightly. "Thank you, thank you."
At that moment, Larya hugged her too and kissed her head. "No need to thank me , my dear."
The voices of the city rose around them, celebrating their victory.
At that moment, everyone realized that the darkness had vanished,
and that the city of Lorain had begun a new era of light and bliss.