...
Life is good.
That was what the priest had told me.
He preached that virtue was the highest calling, that kindness would always be rewarded, that good would always triumph in the end.
...
Liar.
...
The village priest moved with practiced grace as he prepared for the morning ceremony. Within the dimly lit church, the scent of old wood and melted wax filled the air. The altar stood adorned with sacred symbols, the statues of the Six Great Gods looming in silent reverence.
Carefully, he placed a golden chalice upon the altar, its polished surface gleaming under the flickering light of a dozen candles. The sacred texts lay open before him, their ancient words inscribed with divine authority. The priest adjusted his robes, smoothing out the folds with aged hands, before clasping them together in silent prayer.
Today was a holy day.
A day to celebrate the benevolence of the gods.
...
Outside, the village stirred with joy.
The scent of freshly baked bread drifted through the air as merchants set up their stalls, children ran about in the open fields, their laughter ringing like a melody against the morning breeze.
Eric and Anne stood together near the central well, the sun casting long shadows at their feet.
“Eric! You idiot, don’t run so fast!” Anne called, playfully smacking his arm.
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Eric grinned. “What, can’t keep up?”
Anne huffed, crossing her arms in mock annoyance. But her smile betrayed her amusement.
Nearby, villagers gathered in small groups, exchanging morning pleasantries before making their way toward the church. The bell rang, a solemn yet welcoming sound that signaled the beginning of the day’s ceremony.
One by one, they entered the sacred halls, their voices hushed in reverence.
Inside, the priest stood before the gathered faithful. His voice, steady and commanding, filled the chamber as he spoke of the gods’ mercy, their divine protection, and the eternal promise of peace and prosperity.
The people listened with hopeful hearts, their faith unwavering.
They did not yet realize that their prayers would go unanswered.
...
The earth trembled.
A low, unnatural rumbling shook the village, sending ripples through the ground.
Gasps filled the church as the villagers turned toward the entrance, confusion quickly twisting into fear.
Then-
A deafening boom echoed across the sky.
The once-clear heavens darkened, shifting into a deep, ominous red-swallowing the sun’s warmth.
Then, from the edges of the village, the creatures came.
Orcs. Goblins. Twisted beasts of varying sizes, their grotesque forms silhouetted against the crimson sky. Their snarls and guttural laughter sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld them.
And towering above them all—
A line of Death Knights.
Their armored bodies stood intimidating , the sigil of the Sorcerer Kingdom-upon their tattered banners
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then the slaughter began.
Screams erupted as the monsters charged, their war cries drowning out the desperate pleas of the villagers.
A farmer was the first to fall, his body cleaved in half by a goblin’s jagged blade. A woman tried to run, only for an orc to grab her by the hair, lifting her into the air before sinking its teeth into her neck. Blood sprayed across the dirt road.
The once-peaceful village was now a nightmare fuel ,made real.
Eric and Anne ran. They''re small bodies ,running out of the evil that came,out of the horror''s.
The chaos around them was suffocating-,people trampled one another in their desperation to escape, children were pulled from their mothers’ arms, the air thick with the scent of blood and burning wood.
Then-
A massive, clawed hand shot out.
Anne’s scream cut through the air as the orc seized her, its monstrous fingers wrapping tightly around her small frame.
Eric’s heart nearly stopped.
“ANNE!”
He lunged forward without thinking, fists pounding against the creature’s thick, leathery skin.
“LET HER GO!” He screamed, his voice raw with terror.
"Please Eric...run" her soft voice,like angle.
The orc turned its beady eyes toward him, lips curling into a sinister smile.
Then-,
A single, horrifying moment.
The creature’s jaw,sharp teeth,wide open.
Anne’s scream was abruptly cut off as the orc bit down.
A sickening crunch.
Warm blood splattered across Eric’s face.
His mind refused to comprehend what had just happened.
Anne’s small body, her golden hair, her bright smile-,gone. Devoured.
A mutilated limb fell to the ground with a wet thud.
Eric’s knees buckled. His stomach twisted into a painful knot.
The orc merely chewed, grinning at him as if amused by his reaction.
Anne had been there. She had been real.
And now, she was nothing but a pile of blood and torn flesh.
The screams around him grew distant. The world blurred.
Good was supposed to win.
That’s what they had always told him.
They had lied.
...
The village was no more.
The monsters continued their feast.
And above it all, the banners of the Sorcerer Kingdom fluttered in the wind, marking the beginning of a new era.
....