《Silent Blade》 Chapter 1: Born In the Chaos of War Chapter 1: Born in the Chaos of War The night sky burned crimson. Fires raged beyond the grand walls of House Vartos, the once-impenetrable fortress of Vaelgard¡¯s deadliest family. War horns of Draethis howled through the darkness, their soldiers tearing through the capital like a relentless storm. The Vartos family was no ordinary noble house. They were an Archduke family, bound by secrecy and feared across the continent. Whispers of their existence were enough to make kings tremble. Their assassins moved like shadows, unseen and unstoppable, striking with the precision of a god¡¯s wrath. It was said that no army, no kingdom, could stand against them. And yet, they had fallen. Inside the towering mansion, past bloodstained corridors and shattered doors, a newborn¡¯s cry pierced the air. Vael Atrius had been born in war. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. His mother, pale and drenched in sweat, cradled him against her chest. Her hands trembled¡ªnot from fear, but from exhaustion. The war had reached their doorstep, and there would be no escape. Beside her, Zarek Vartos, the greatest assassin in the history of their bloodline, stood motionless, listening. He could hear it all¡ªthe clash of steel, the death screams of his kin, the betrayal that had led them here. Their own cousins had turned against them. Traitors. They had sold the family¡¯s secrets to Draethis, guiding the enemy¡¯s blade straight to their throats. Zarek¡¯s grip tightened around his daggers. He had never feared death. But he could not allow his son to die here. Thunder rumbled¡ªno, not thunder. The fortress was collapsing. "Take him," his mother whispered, pressing Vael into the arms of a cloaked servant. Her voice was steady despite the agony in her eyes. "No matter what happens, protect him. Hide him. He must survive." Zarek turned to the servant, his golden eyes burning like dying embers. "If you fail¡ªthere is no place in this world where you can hide from me, even in death." The doors burst open. Draethis warriors stormed in. Vael Atrius was carried away, his cries swallowed by the roar of battle. His mother¡¯s final whisper faded behind him. "Live, my son. Live, and remember who you are." --- Chapter 2: The 1st Steps The morning sun cast a golden glow over the quiet village of Rellwyn. Chickens clucked in the distance, farmers guided their cattle across the dirt paths, and the scent of freshly baked bread drifted through the air. Life here was simple, peaceful¡ªfar removed from the chaos of war. Inside a modest wooden home, a small child stood on unsteady legs. Vael Atrius, now three years old, stared at the wooden floor beneath him, his tiny hands clenched into fists as he tried to balance himself. For the first time, he was going to walk. "Come on, Vael." A woman¡¯s gentle voice called to him. Elara, the woman he knew as his mother, sat a few steps away, her arms open with a warm smile. Her dark hair framed her kind face, and her emerald-green eyes held an affection he had always known. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Beside her, a tall man stood with his arms crossed. Soren, the man he called father, watched with quiet intensity. His sharp features softened as he gave a slight nod. "You can do it." Vael lifted his foot¡ªhesitated¡ªthen took a shaky step forward. His little legs wobbled. His body swayed. But he kept going. One step. Another. And then¡ªhe stumbled forward, right into Elara¡¯s arms. She laughed softly as she caught him, pulling him close. "You did it, my little warrior." Soren chuckled, ruffling the boy¡¯s messy black hair. "Took longer than I expected. He¡¯s stubborn, but not very graceful." Elara shot him a glare. "He''s three." Vael, not fully understanding their words, simply clung to his mother¡¯s warmth. To him, this was home. A Quiet Life in Rellwyn Rellwyn was a place where everyone knew each other. Vael¡¯s parents were respected in the village, known as hard-working and kind people. Elara helped the other women with cooking and weaving. Soren worked as a hunter, bringing back game from the forest. The other villagers would often smile at Vael as he toddled past, ruffling his hair. "Strong kid," they''d say. "Takes after his father." He didn¡¯t know why, but sometimes, he noticed something strange about his parents. They moved differently, as if they could sense things before they happened. They never seemed surprised by anything. And at night, when they thought he was asleep, he sometimes heard them whispering in hushed voices. But Vael was too young to understand. To him, they were just Mother and Father. And in this small, quiet village, he was just a boy taking his first steps into the world. Chapter 3: Shadows In Light Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Chapter 4: A lesson Unspoken If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Elara smiled gently. "You must have been exhausted. A farmer found you asleep in his field and brought you home." Vael''s fingers curled into the blanket. "I was in a field?" "You must have run too much and gotten tired." She set her sewing down. "You need to be more careful, little one." Vael¡¯s lips parted slightly. It didn¡¯t make sense. He was sure he had been taken. He could still remember their voices. The cold floor beneath him. But Elara¡¯s voice was warm, reassuring. And she was his mother. So, for now, he nodded. "Okay." But deep inside, he knew. He had been kidnapped. Chapter 5: The Whispers Vael was five now. Ever since that night, he had started noticing things. Whispers in the dark. The quiet rustling of footsteps when the village was asleep. Tonight was the same. A low murmur came from outside. Curious, he tiptoed to the window, pressing his small hands against the wooden frame. His parents¡ªElara and Soren¡ªstood near the trees. But they weren¡¯t alone. A hooded figure stood with them, speaking in hushed tones. Vael''s breath caught. Who was that? Just then, Elara¡¯s gaze snapped toward the window. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Vael ducked down, heart pounding. Did she see me? He waited, listening. The murmurs continued for a while, then faded. After some time, he dared to peek again. No one was there. ¡ª The next morning, sunlight streamed into the house. Vael rubbed his eyes as the sound of footsteps and cheerful voices filled the air. "Vael! Come out!" It was Elle and Shlor, his best friends. Elara smiled. "Go on. Don¡¯t keep them waiting." Vael nodded, pushing aside last night''s thoughts. They ran through the village streets, headed toward the shoemaker''s house. Their fourth friend, Riven, was always late. As they neared, they heard shouting. Vael¡¯s eyes narrowed. A group of older boys had cornered Riven near the shop. "Give us your money, shoemaker¡¯s brat!" one sneered. Riven clenched his fists. "I don¡¯t have any!" Vael stepped forward, voice calm but sharp. "Leave him alone." The hooligans laughed¡ªuntil Vael moved. With quick, precise strikes, he took them down one by one. He grabbed the last one by the collar. "Do this again, and I¡¯ll break your leg in half." The boy nodded frantically, scrambling away as soon as Vael let go. Riven dusted himself off. "You didn¡¯t have to do that." Vael smirked. "Then next time, fight back." ¡ª The day passed in laughter and games. By evening, they were on their way home. That¡¯s when the gang returned. This time, they weren¡¯t alone. More boys stood with them, blocking the path. The leader grinned. "You had your fun, but now it¡¯s our turn." Vael stared at them, unbothered. The wind rustled the trees. The fight was coming.