Aron ran, breath heavy, heart pounding. His feet slammed against the muddy path, soaked in sweat and rain, until he finally reached home — relentless, desperate.
Inside, Milda and Agarth were sitting, their faces a mixture of fear and hope. As Aron burst in, they looked up, eyes wide. Milda's voice trembled.
Milda: "My son! Where were you?!"
Agarth stared quietly, thoughts racing behind his serious eyes.
Aron: "I have to tell you something. Today at the camp… I—I went somewhere. I don't know how, but I found a hole… a cave. There was a gate. I opened it. Inside, I found a tomb — a grave, with a giant 'N' marked on the boulder…"
Agarth's eyes widened.
Agarth: "Can you take me there?"
Aron: "I can... but the cave collapsed. Before that… when I touched the grave — something happened. A blazing energy shot through me. I saw flames… burning…"
Agarth was stunned. He didn't speak for a moment, but inside he knew:
> The blade had chosen its next wielder.
Agarth: "My son… take me there."
---
They walked together, father and son, toward the ruins. But when they reached the place — there was nothing. No cave. No river. Just dust and shattered earth.
Aron: "It was right here…"
His voice trembled, fear creeping in.
Agarth: "Maybe we're off. You said there was water in the cave — then it must've been near the river. Let's check further down."
They searched — until finally, they found it. The cave was ruined, rocks and soil had buried everything. The Death Blade, hidden somewhere deep within.
Then — shouts in the distance. Soldiers running toward them.
Soldier: "Sir! The dark army… it's coming. They've crossed from the land beyond Thoms. They've destroyed every village in their path. They'll reach the kingdom by sunrise!"
Agarth clenched his fists, rage and panic mixing.
Agarth: "Aron, try to dig. Clear the rocks. That blade… is our last hope."
And with that, Agarth rushed back to camp. Aron, only eleven years old, looked at the rubble. His tiny hands were shaking, bruised, bloody. Still — he began to dig.
Aron: "Damn it…"
He gritted his teeth, tears forming.
Suddenly, a rock slipped. It smashed against his head. Blood streamed down his face, but he stood, dizzy and injured. He couldn't see clearly, but he stumbled toward the camp… broken… barely holding on.
---
Back at the camp, Agarth rallied the soldiers — all 1500 of them.
Agarth:
> "This is the day Norm was forged for.
Today, we fight not for survival — but for honor.
Even if we fall, the world will remember that we stood.
Warriors of Norm — whether in life or in death — our flames will burn forever!"
The soldiers roared. The ground shook beneath the sound.
Aron arrived, barely conscious, watching his father — the man who now prepared to ride into war.
Agarth hugged his children — Kyle and Maria. Then, he turned to Milda.
Milda: "Come back alive…"
Agarth: "I'll try."
He sat down briefly, the weight of war pulling at his soul.
Agarth: "Milda… was I a good husband? A good father?"
Milda smiled gently, tears in her eyes. She handed him his sword.
Milda: "You were."
Agarth rose, a small smile on his face.
"Then I have no regrets."
He saw Aron, kneeling in the distance. He wanted to say goodbye, but the army was behind him now. With a breath, he raised his sword.
"CHARGE!!!"
The soldiers stormed ahead, horses roaring into the battlefield.
---
Aron: "I have to follow them… but how? I'm just a kid... I have no sword, no strength…"
His head throbbed, his fingers raw.
"I'm… a terrible son…"
Still, he pushed forward — returning to the cave, searching. He found a narrow hole. Dangerous. A fall from that height could kill him. But then — his mind flashed:
His mother's face. His father's voice. His family.
With bruised fingers and torn skin, Aron began to crawl. One step at a time. The rock beneath him shifted — and then he slipped.
He fell.
Three meters deep.
His shoulder cracked.
Blood poured.
Aron lay there — broken, unconscious.
---
Above ground, the skies darkened.
Rain poured. Thunder roared.
The winds screamed across the land.
Agarth, leading his army, looked ahead — but his heart lingered behind, with his son.
The storm grew heavier.
Drop by drop, the rain fell onto Aron's face…
But he didn't wake up.
He was gone — for now.
---
Thunder. Rain. Silence.
The end.