The road to the northern valley was supposed to take half a day.
Lawrence and Corrine made it in less than two hours.
They traveled without stopping, moving through the forest at a pace that would have been impossible for ordinary soldiers. Lightning carried Lawrence forward in bursts, while Corrine used controlled explosions of fire to propel herself between the trees.
Neither spoke much.
They didn’t need to.
The farther north they traveled, the more obvious the danger became.
Trees had been torn apart.
Large claw marks scarred the trunks.
The ground was covered in tracks.
Too many tracks.
Lawrence stopped suddenly.
Corrine landed beside him.
“What is it?”
Lawrence crouched.
He placed his hand against the dirt.
“It’s worse than we thought.”
“How many?”
“I don’t know.”
He stood.
“But more than a normal beast wave.”
Corrine looked ahead.
Smoke was rising beyond the trees.
“The town.”
Lawrence nodded.
They accelerated.
When they finally reached the ridge overlooking the valley, both of them stopped.
Below them was chaos.
The town was surrounded.
Beasts filled the streets.
Hundreds of them.
Perhaps more.
Creatures of every shape and size crashed against the town’s defensive barriers.
Some were small enough to move between buildings.
Others were enormous.
One creature was large enough to crush an entire house beneath one foot.
The town guard was desperately trying to hold the walls.
They were losing.
Corrine stared.
“That’s not a beast wave.”
Lawrence’s eyes narrowed.
“No.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know.”
Then a roar shook the valley.
The largest beast emerged from the forest.
It was enormous.
Its hide was covered in black scales.
Two massive horns curved backward from its head.
Lightning flashed across its body.
Corrine’s eyes widened.
“That’s a catastrophe-class beast.”
Lawrence drew his weapon.
“Then we kill it.”
Corrine smiled.
“Together?”
“Always.”
They jumped.
Lawrence landed in the center of the battlefield.
Lightning erupted from his body.
The nearest beasts were thrown backward.
Corrine landed beside him.
Fire exploded outward.
The combination immediately changed the battle.
The town guards stared.
Someone shouted.
“The patriarch!”
Lawrence didn’t answer.
He charged.
A massive beast swung its claws toward him.
Lawrence disappeared.
A flash of lightning appeared behind the creature.
His blade struck.
The beast screamed.
Corrine followed with a wall of fire.
The creature collapsed.
“One down,” she said.
Lawrence looked around.
“Too many.”
“Then we keep going.”
They fought.
For hours.
The battle became a blur.
Lawrence’s clothes were torn.
Blood ran down his arm.
Corrine’s hair had come loose.
Her breathing became heavier.
Neither stopped.
Every time they cleared one section of the town, another wave of beasts appeared.
The town’s defenders slowly regained ground.
People who had expected to die were suddenly fighting back.
Lawrence could hear children crying inside the houses.
He could hear parents screaming for their families.
He could hear wounded soldiers begging for help.
He fought harder.
Corrine fought harder.
Eventually, they reached the center of town.
The catastrophe-class beast was waiting.
It stood in the middle of the ruined square.
Its body was covered in wounds.
But it was still alive.
Lawrence raised his weapon.
Corrine stepped beside him.
“We finish this together.”
Lawrence smiled.
“Like always.”
The beast roared.
The ground cracked.
Lawrence moved first.
Lightning exploded around him.
He struck the beast from the front.
Corrine attacked from behind.
Fire engulfed its body.
The creature screamed.
Then it swung its tail.
Lawrence was thrown through a building.
“Lawrence!”
Corrine’s eyes widened.
She rushed toward him.
The beast charged.
Corrine turned.
Fire erupted from both hands.
The impact sent her skidding backward.
She slammed into a wall.
For a moment, neither Lawrence nor Corrine moved.
Then Lawrence emerged from the rubble.
Blood covered the side of his face.
Corrine looked at him.
“Still alive?”
Lawrence smiled.
“Unfortunately.”
She laughed despite herself.
“Idiot.”
“Married me.”
“Unfortunately.”
The beast roared again.
Lawrence looked at Corrine.
“Ready?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She smiled.
“Let’s do it.”
They attacked simultaneously.
Lightning and fire collided.
The resulting explosion lit the entire valley.
When the smoke cleared, the beast was dead.
The surviving soldiers cheered.
Lawrence lowered his weapon.
Corrine dropped to one knee.
“That’s enough.”
Lawrence approached her.
“Are you hurt?”
“Nothing serious.”
He offered his hand.
She took it.
He pulled her to her feet.
For the first time that day, they allowed themselves to breathe.
The town was safe.
Not unharmed.
Not untouched.
But alive.
People began emerging from their homes.
Children were reunited with their parents.
Soldiers embraced.
Some cried.
Lawrence watched quietly.
Corrine leaned against him.
“We did it.”
“Yes.”
“Leo would be proud.”
Lawrence smiled.
“He’d probably complain that we didn’t let him come.”
Corrine laughed.
“Definitely.”
Lawrence looked toward the distant horizon.
“I should have brought him.”
Corrine frowned.
“You know why we didn’t.”
“I know.”
“He would have tried to fight.”
“I know.”
“He would have gotten hurt.”
Lawrence sighed.
“I know.”
Corrine rested her head against his shoulder.
“He’ll understand someday.”
Lawrence looked down at her.
“I hope so.”
They remained there for a while.
Neither noticed the strange movement beyond the edge of the town.
Neither saw the dark figure watching them from the forest.
Neither saw the flash of something metallic beneath its cloak.
The attack had ended.
But the danger had not.
Back at the clan, Leo waited.
At first, he wasn’t worried.
His parents were strong.
His father was the strongest warrior in the clan.
His mother was nearly his equal.
A beast wave was dangerous, but Leo had never imagined that anything could truly defeat them.
He trained that afternoon.
He sparred with Celine.
He lost.
“You’re distracted,” Celine said.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m just tired.”
“You keep looking toward the gate.”
Leo frowned.
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
Catherine sat nearby.
“They should have returned by now.”
Leo looked at her.
“How long does it take?”
“Normally?”
“Yes.”
“Half a day.”
Leo looked toward the setting sun.
It had been longer than that.
Celine noticed the change in his expression.
“They’ll be fine.”
Leo nodded.
“I know.”
But he stopped training.
As evening came, he remained near the gates.
Every time someone approached, his heart jumped.
Every time it wasn’t his parents, his heart sank.
The sun disappeared.
Still nothing.
Catherine eventually came to sit beside him.
“You should eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You haven’t eaten since lunch.”
“I’ll eat later.”
Celine frowned.
“Leo.”
“I’m fine.”
Neither girl believed him.
Still, they stayed with him.
The three sat beneath the lanterns.
The night became colder.
Then the gates opened.
Leo stood instantly.
A group of soldiers entered.
He searched their faces.
His parents weren’t among them.
His stomach dropped.
One soldier approached Lance.
They spoke quietly.
Leo couldn’t hear the conversation.
Then Lance looked toward him.
And something in his expression changed.
Leo felt fear for the first time.
Not ordinary fear.
Something deeper.
Something instinctive.
He ran toward them.
“Where are they?”
Lance turned.
“Leo—”
“Where are my parents?”
The soldier looked away.
Leo’s breathing stopped.
“Where are they?”
Lance took a step toward him.
“Leo, you need to calm down.”
“No.”
His voice cracked.
“Where are they?”
Nobody answered.
Celine grabbed his arm.
“Leo…”
He pulled away.
“No.”
He looked at the soldiers.
“You came back.”
They remained silent.
“Where are they?”
Finally, one of the soldiers spoke.
“There was an attack.”
“I know.”
“The town was overwhelmed.”
“I know.”
“My parents went there.”
The soldier’s eyes filled with tears.
Leo stared at him.
“Where are they?”
The man swallowed.
“They saved us.”
Leo’s expression changed.
Relief.
For one brief second.
“They’re alive?”
The soldier couldn’t answer.
Leo smiled.
“Where are they?”
The soldier lowered his head.
“They didn’t make it back.”
Leo froze.
The world seemed to stop.
“What?”
The soldier’s voice broke.
“Your father and mother…”
“No.”
Leo shook his head.
“No.”
“They died protecting the town.”
“No.”
He took a step backward.
“No, they didn’t.”
“Leo…”
“No.”
His voice became louder.
“My father doesn’t die.”
Nobody moved.
“He promised.”
The words came out barely above a whisper.
“He promised he’d come back.”
Celine covered her mouth.
Catherine’s face went pale.
Leo looked toward Lance.
“Tell them.”
Lance stared at him.
“Tell them they’re wrong.”
“Leo…”
“Tell them!”
Lightning erupted from Leo’s body.
The courtyard shook.
Everyone stepped backward.
“MY FATHER DOESN’T DIE!”
The lightning intensified.
Leo screamed.
“HE PROMISED ME!”
His knees gave out.
Celine caught him.
Leo clutched her.
“No.”
He was crying now.
He hadn’t even realized it.
“No, no, no…”
Celine held him tightly.
“They’re wrong.”
Leo shook his head.
“They’re not.”
“They’re not.”
“They are.”
He buried his face against her shoulder.
“I want my mother.”
Celine began crying too.
“I know.”
“I want my father.”
“I know.”
“Please.”
His voice broke.
“Please.”
Catherine knelt beside them.
She placed a hand on Leo’s back.
She couldn’t find words.
There weren’t any.
Leo had spent his entire life believing that his parents were invincible.
They weren’t supposed to leave.
They weren’t supposed to die.
They were supposed to come home.
They were supposed to continue teasing him about destroying training dummies.
His mother was supposed to complain that he wasn’t eating enough.
His father was supposed to tell him that he was still too young to surpass him.
They were supposed to watch him grow up.
Watch him get married.
Meet their grandchildren.
Grow old together.
Instead, they were gone.
Just like that.
Leo suddenly pulled away from Celine.
“I need to see them.”
Lance stepped forward.
“Leo—”
“I need to see them!”
“There is nothing you can do.”
“I don’t care!”
Leo’s lightning surged again.
“I need to see them!”
Lance grabbed his shoulders.
“Leo!”
Leo looked into his uncle’s eyes.
“Please.”
Lance hesitated.
Leo’s expression collapsed.
“Please.”
The anger was gone.
There was only a child now.
A terrified child who had just lost both parents.
Lance released him.
“They’ll bring them back tomorrow.”
Leo nodded desperately.
“Okay.”
He wiped his face.
“Okay.”
He looked toward the gate.
“Tomorrow.”
Celine took his hand.
“Tomorrow.”
The next morning, Leo didn’t leave the gate.
He didn’t sleep.
He didn’t eat.
He simply waited.
When the sun rose, he was still there.
When it reached its highest point, he was still there.
Then, near sunset, a wagon entered the compound.
Leo stood.
His heart began pounding.
The wagon stopped.
Two covered forms lay beneath white cloth.
Leo stared.
“No.”
Celine stepped beside him.
Leo slowly approached.
His hands were shaking.
He reached for the first cloth.
Lance tried to stop him.
Leo pulled away.
“I need to.”
Lance said nothing.
Leo lifted the cloth.
His father’s face was there.
Pale.
Still.
Leo stared.
His father looked smaller somehow.
Not weaker.
Just…
gone.
Leo touched his cheek.
It was cold.
“Father?”
Nothing.
Leo smiled faintly.
“You’re supposed to wake up.”
Nothing.
“Come on.”
He shook Lawrence’s shoulder gently.
“Father.”
Nothing.
Leo’s smile disappeared.
He looked toward the second body.
His mother.
He stumbled over to her.
He lifted the cloth.
Corrine’s face appeared.
Her hair was still tangled from battle.
There was a small cut near her cheek.
Leo touched it.
“Mom?”
Nothing.
He leaned closer.
“Mom, I’m here.”
Nothing.
His hands began trembling harder.
“You said you’d come back.”
His voice broke.
“You promised.”
He lowered his forehead against hers.
“Please.”
Nothing.
Leo closed his eyes.
“Please wake up.”
Still nothing.
He began sobbing.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
At first, it was almost silent.
His shoulders shook.
His breathing became ragged.
Then the sound finally escaped him.
A broken, desperate cry.
Celine turned away, unable to watch.
Catherine cried beside her.
Leo remained there.
Holding his mother’s hand with one hand and his father’s with the other.
He had never felt so small.
He had never felt so alone.
The boy everyone had once called a genius didn’t matter anymore.
His three elements didn’t matter.
His talent didn’t matter.
The expectations of the clans didn’t matter.
All he wanted was for his parents to open their eyes.
They didn’t.
That night, Leo refused to leave them.
He sat between their bodies until the candles burned low.
He talked to them.
He told them about his training.
He told them about Celine.
He told them about Catherine.
He apologized for not coming with them.
Over and over.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough.”
“I’m sorry.”
Eventually, his voice disappeared.
He simply held their hands.
Celine sat beside him.
Catherine sat on his other side.
Neither tried to tell him it would get better.
Because they didn’t know if it would.
For the first time in his life, Leo understood what it meant to lose something that could never be replaced.
His father was gone.
His mother was gone.
And the future he had imagined for himself had died with them.
Outside, the clan mourned its former patriarch.
Inside, a boy mourned his entire world.
And while everyone else called Lawrence and Corrine heroes who had died protecting a town, Leo couldn’t stop thinking about one thing.
His father had promised to come home.
His mother had promised.
And they had broken that promise.
Not because they wanted to.
But because death had taken them before they could keep it.
Leo squeezed their hands.
His tears fell onto the white sheets.
“I’ll never forget you.”
His voice was barely audible.
“I promise.”
He didn’t know it yet, but that would be the last promise he ever made as the carefree boy he had been.
Because when the sun rose again, Leo would wake up in a world without his parents.
And in that world, Lance would be the patriarch.
Everything would change.
Everything.
But for tonight, Leo was still simply a son.
And he was still waiting for his parents to come home.