I've never felt anything like this before.
The warmth in my chest is so new, so strange... and yet, it is still comforting.
She feels so small against me. Her lips are tender and her hands shaking against me.

It takes me a few moments to register an alarm blaring in my ears.
I pull back and a little gasp leaves her mouth until she also notices the alarm.
Her eyes go wide just as soon as the realization hits me.
The palace has been attacked.

I get up, giving a hand to Analia so she can also get up. Her eyebrows are scrunched together at the loud noise.

"The palace has been attacked! We have to go now!" I scream over the alarm, pulling Analia to the horses.

Helping her on the horse, I get up on my horse, Blade, and start galloping towards the palace.

I leave the palace for one day, just one day, and it gets attacked.
How did that so peaceful moment turn to this?

In no time, we are at the palace and though I can't see much damage done from the outside, people are scattered everywhere, running, hiding...
I leap off my horse and motion a guard to take care of Analia.

Running inside, I find all the paintings taken down, torn, the furniture lying everywhere, some guards trying to put a fire off, and one phrase smeared on every wall with red paint:
We are coming for you.

Andrew comes from behind me, out of breath, and says, "Where the hell have you been so late, Drake? The cynists attacked! Do you see how much damage is done?! What the hell?!"

I close my hands in frustration, unable to look my brother in the eye, and ask, "What happened?"

"The Cynists attacked, and they bombed the palace. Fortunately, no one was killed and all the injured are taken to aid immediately."

I nod, relieved not too much harm was caused, and pat my brother on the shoulder. What would I have done without him?

"I am sorry I left you all alone to face this. I am going to go to the library to check none of the documents were harmed. Please send Camara there, I would like to talk to her."

Andrew nods, like the brave soldier he is, and starts heading off.

I run to the library and am devastated by the condition in the room.
Some of the shelves are pushed down, many books are burned, some torn, and there is paper lying around everywhere. And there is one phrase written across every wall:
We are coming for you.

I clench my fists and walk to my table.
All my documents are torn or burned. Bending down, I pick up some papers, going through them.
The letter from the King of the Good Souls kingdom I'd gotten a week ago now half-burnt, some complaints from people torn.

I keep on collecting these papers until one catches my eyes.
It is scrunched up into a ball. I open it and the paper is creased, but that doesn't hide the content of that paper, not while I take it in.

Shock, confusion, anger... all these feelings go through me all at once.
The drawing is beautiful, I must say, but there's no denying that's my ring.
The ring I have been looking for two whole weeks.

What if...
What if the cynists have it?

Before I can give much thought about it though, the door opens and Camara walks in, her hair a mess and sword in her right hand.

"Where have you been?!" Are her first words as soon as she comes in.

I stand up, the paper still in my hands.
"I apologize, Camara. But right now, our first priority is to get everyone to safety and for me to meet Princess Liferia. I want you to contact her. Tell her we must meet as soon as possible.
"Also, I found this on the floor. Do you think this can help you find my ring?"

I hand the paper to her and she looks at it for a few moments before realization hits her.

"Your ring..."

I nod and she folds the piece of paper, tucking it in her pocket.

"I will look into it and inform you about it."

With a bow, she leaves the room, me following behind her.

It's quieter now, yet I can still hear the screams of the palace.

A headache is making its way.

I feel like the palace, the people are attacking me, and as much as I am trying to stop, all the memories of Mom, Dad are flowing into my brain like a tsunami. 

I sit down on the ground in the empty corridor, my back leaning against the wall, my hands grabbing my head, holding onto me like a rope so I don't fall again. The rope is weak, holding all my heavy weight, but, will it be able to hold me when I get heavier if it is already on the verge of breaking? Or will it finally break and let me fall into the dark abyss?

And just as the rope is about to break, someone grabs it, stopping me from falling. Saving me. Her face fills my mind. Her beautiful, chocolate brown hair, brown eyes, and pink lips smiling as she holds onto my rope with her life. 

And although I still feel relieved and a little more calm seeing her, will she still hold on when she finds the truth about me?

I hold tight on the rope, feeling stronger now, and get up, walking through the empty corridors to my room.

Time to meet Princess Liferia and save this Kingdom before that itself falls.