Chapter 4 - The Daughters of Daxam

Lanvia rose to her feet, relieved to find herself and the girls unharmed. The youngest girl wept, her sister offering comfort as they helped the archer to her feet. Lanvia called out to Mon-El, but he didn't respond. Realizing he likely believed she was dead, she understood the predicament: he couldn't enter, and she couldn't exit.

"Milady, what do we do now?" the girls asked.

Lanvia introduced herself to the girls and asked their names.

"I'm Sola, I'm eight, and this is Lirra, she's five," the older girl replied.

"Pleasure to meet you both. I'm Lanvia, from the 'Breathing Sun', and I'm 28 years old," Lanvia said with a warm smile.

"Are you a princess?" Lirra, the younger girl, asked innocently.

"No, sweetheart. I'm not a princess; I'm a warrior archer," Lanvia chuckled.

"You're really tall and strong. You were able to lift both of us," Sola observed.

"Ah, well, I suppose adrenaline can give you superpowers," Lanvia joked.

"Are we going to die, Warrior Lanvia?" Lirra's question cut to the reality of the situation.

She stared at the girls and made a difficult decision. She decided to lie to them. She knew their chances of survival were slim, whether from a falling space rock or thirst.

"Listen to me, young ones," Lanvia began, her voice gentle yet firm. "We're not going to die. I have a plan. We need to reach higher ground, and one of the ships will spot us and come to our rescue. But I need to tell you a secret. Can you keep it?"

"Of course!" the girls replied eagerly.

"I am betrothed to Prince Mon-El. Did you see the man who was with me? He will retrieve his ship and come for us. So don't worry," Lanvia assured them, forcing a smile despite the uncertainty in her own heart.

"That's wonderful, and since you shared your secret, we'll share ours," Sola exclaimed.

Lanvia couldn't help but wonder what secret the two young girls held.

"Our backpacks are filled with water. Our parents gave it to us. You can have some if you'd like," Lirra offered kindly.

"I'm truly grateful and indebted to you. Now we have a plan. Where is the highest point we can reach? I'm not familiar with this area."

Lirra pointed to the northeast. 'There are some hills over there. They're easy to reach and easy to walk. Many tourists go there to hike."

"Alright, that's where we're headed. Is everyone ready?' Lanvia announced.

She embraced the girls tightly, silently hoping for a swift end. Thoughts of Mon-El and the wedding that would never happen crossed her mind. Yet, Lanvia found some solace. In her final moments, she felt a sense of contentment, grateful for the precious time she would spent with her two beautiful surrogate daughters, however brief it may have been.

Pressing on with their hike, they eventually reached a vantage point. From there, Lanvia watched as the city below was consumed by destruction.

"It's like watching fireflies swarm around a pond," Lanvia mused sadly.

"I've never seen fireflies before," Sola admitted.

"I come from the forest, where I see them every day at twilight. They're like tiny, glowing lanterns, lighting up the darkness."

"That's why you have these markings in your arms?" Lirra, the youngest, asked while touching Lanvia's forearm. "They look like trees."

"Yes, my dear. But they are not trees. They are branches. This one here symbolizes determination."

"And the other one?" Lirra asked.

"It symbolizes hope. It means, no matter the situation, there is always a solution."

"That's neat. I would like to know your land and have these in my arms too," Lirra concluded.

"When all of this is over, I'll take you there," Lanvia promised with a bittersweet smile.

"Promise?" Sola asked eagerly.

"Absolutely, girls."

Sola got up and pointed to the clouds. A brilliant light pierced through the dense cover. Lanvia pushed the girls into her arms and closed her eyes, bracing herself for what she believed would be the final impact of an asteroid. At that moment, nothing else seemed to matter.

"Look!" Sola exclaimed suddenly. "It's a ship!"

Lanvia opened her eyes to behold a massive spaceship dominating the skies. It was surrounded by a protective force field, shielding it from the onslaught of burning rocks. The girls listened intently as a message emanated from the ship.

"Fear not. This is the starship 'The Movement' from Krypton. We are here to rescue you. Wait for transportation. It will be over in a few minutes."

The girls embraced each other, and they danced happily. Lanvia struggled to comprehend the surreal turn of events. She showered the girls with kisses, grateful for the chance to be alive. In her heart, she hoped to reunite with Mon-El once the ordeal was over.

A smaller ship soon arrived to assist them.

"Welcome aboard. I am Lieutenant Elara. Is everybody okay?" the officer asked.

"Yes, just a bit scared," Lanvia replied.

"What happened?" Lanvia inquired. "Is Krypton really gone?"

"We're still gathering information. Our priority is to save as many people as possible," Lieutenant Elara explained. "What are your names?"

"I'm Lanvia, and these two are Sola and Lirra, my daughters. Thank you for saving our lives."

As the starship from Krypton descended upon the ravaged planet Daxam, desperation spread to the surviving inhabitants. The once-glorious cityscapes now lay in ruins, consumed by fire and debris. People ran through the streets, searching for loved ones or seeking refuge from the relentless rain of asteroids. The air was thick with smoke and the stench of burning buildings, and the sound of sirens and cries of anguish echoed through the air.

Lanvia found herself grappling with a great deal of emotions. Relief flooded her as she and the two young girls, Sola and Lirra, were rescued by Lieutenant Elara and her crew. But alongside the relief, Lanvia felt a profound sense of loss and uncertainty. Her home, her family, her entire way of life—everything she had known and loved—had been destroyed in a matter of minutes. She thought of the green forests of Daxam, now reduced to ash and rubble. And now, as she boarded the starship The Movement looking for safety, she couldn't help but wonder what awaited her on this journey.