AERTHY

As Baltimore's dark essence dissipated into the ether, Thorn lay on the cold, unforgiving ground, his body wracked with pain, his life slipping away. The battle's end brought no joy, only the bitter taste of imminent farewell.

Josh and Scotch, their faces streaked with tears, knelt beside him, their hands shaking as they tried to comfort their friend, their brother in arms. "Thorn, hold on, please," Josh pleaded, his voice breaking.

Thorn's eyes fluttered open, his gaze weak but filled with a serene acceptance. He looked at his friends, his comrades, with a love that transcended the pain. "I can see her... my wife... she's smiling," he whispered, his voice barely a breath.

Scotch, gripping Thorn's hand tightly, sobbed openly. "You can't leave us, Thorn. Not like this."

Thorn managed a slight shake of his head, his eyes softening even more. "I won't leave... I'll watch over you all. From... from above." He paused, gathering strength for his final words. "Tell my children... tell them their father loved them more than the stars in the sky."

A tear escaped from Thorn's eye, rolling down his cheek, mingling with the blood on the ground. "Promise me, you'll keep them safe... guide them... let them know..." His voice faltered, his strength waning.

Josh, his voice choked with emotion, nodded fervently. "We promise, Thorn. We'll make sure they know. They'll know everything about their brave father."

Thorn's hand weakly moved to his chest, where a locket lay hidden beneath his armor. "Give this to them... so they remember me." With trembling fingers, he managed to unclasp it, revealing a small, worn picture of his family.

The last light of the day seemed to fall just on Thorn, casting a gentle glow around him, making his features almost ethereal. He looked towards the setting sun, his breaths becoming slower, more labored. "I'm coming home, love," he murmured, his last words a whisper of love, of hope, of an eternal promise.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Thorn's hand fell limp, his eyes closing for the last time. The silence that followed was profound, filled with the weight of loss and the echo of heroism. Josh and Scotch wept, their grief a testament to the bonds they shared, to the sacrifice they had just witnessed.

In that moment, the battlefield, once a place of violence, became sacred ground, a place where love transcended death, where a hero's story ended but his legacy began. Thorn's name would be whispered in stories, his courage celebrated in songs, his love for his family an eternal flame in the hearts of those he left behind.

Josh: I hope miss Burnham is still traveling to Ignisia, Because we have won the battle just like Thorn said so

5 hours remaining till the kings summit...

40 years ago in Ignisia

" Hello Arin" a voice coming from a wall above the right hand of prince Arin( Prince Arin is the king of ignisia in the present) He sees a boy about his age sitting up there looking down on him " Who are you child? " Arin ask the boy " My name is Thorn , I live just a few blocks away from this castle."

Arin: Hey get down! From there or i will call the guards on you!

Thorn stand up from the wall" This garden is beautiful, no wonder you always come here."

Arin surprised " Are you spying on me??, get out of here or i will call the guards on you.

Thorn: Relax my prince , If i wanted to harm you i could have done it weeks ago.

Arin: what do you want ?

Thorn:Nothing lets just be friends.

Arin: i dont need friends, Im the prince of Ignisia i have better things to do .

The prince faces the castles doors and walks into the castle , Thorn looks at him walking in the castle and walks away

Day 2

" Hello prince Arin "Thorn greets him from the same position as the day before

Arin: You ...What do you want i said i have better things to do then deal with deal with you.

Thorn sits down from the wall and ask " Dont you get tired of watching the same flowers everytime?"

Arin: No , let me ask you , how do you sneak pass the guards?

Thorn: Now that i wont tell .

The prince looks at him and walks away

Day 3

"Hello prince Arin ."The prince takes a rock throws it at him, Thorn dodges and runs away

Day 4

" Hello prince Arin "

Arin: Thorn im really getting tired of you , leave me alone .

Thorn: why would i leave a friend alone.

Arin: We are not friends.

Thorn: We are not? , And for some reason you keep coming back here , knowing full well that i will be here.

Arin : leave me alone will you.

Thorn stands up and leaves

Day 5

Prince Arin goes to the garden and to the same flowers he goes to everyday ( red spider Lilly)

" Hhhm he didn't come today . Not that i care anyway."

Day 6

" Hello prince Arin."

Arin: Good morning to you Thorn

Thorn: you finally greeted me back , Miss me?

Arin: I do not miss you , in fact i was happy ...I thought the guards have finally cought you.

Thorn jumps from up the wall and lands on his feet," Huh what are you doing ?!! Are you crazy?" Prince Arin shouts in concern for him

Thorn: You have never been outside the castle , Meet me here tomorrow .

Arin: I wont be leaving this place , I need to explore anything

Thorn: One day you will be king, what kind of a king that doesn't even know how his people live , If you want to be a greate king you will follow me.

Thorn turn around about to leave " wait." Arin stops him .

Arin: Tomorrow i wont be around , lets go today.

Thorn: Oky

Arin: Thats all it takes to convince you ?

Thorn grabs Arins hand ," to escape we need to into the castle , the path i take will both get cought , so you know how the guard work inside the castle and i know outside the castle."

4 hours later they escape the castle unnoticed, so they thought, One guard has seen them and reported to the prince personal assistant (Orion)and he follows them secretively.

Arin : So where do you live , show me your house first

Thorn: oky

Thorn and Arin arrive in a brocken down house with one room remaining and with a door full of scars" This in my home, lets get inside." They both go inside . The prince sees Thorns parents on pictures on the walls , the room had one bed a table with cabbage on top some carrots and a sack of pap.

Arin: Hey , where are your perents at?

Thorn: Oooh , I never known my parents , all i have of them is this pictures , Their the closest thing to knowing my family right now.

Arin: Im sorry, i should have...

Thorn: Its fine, Im used to it ...I have you now .

Arin : Dont you have friends?

Thorn:I did but i left them because they used to bully me .

Arin: Because you lack elemental abilities ,right?

Thorn: How do you know?

Arin : i have been trying to feel your core for a while but i cant detect it .

Thorn: Ooh oky lets go to the markets

Thorn and Arin exit the house , about to leave then a group of boys arrive " Hello Thorn , looks like today we finally cought you." A group of 5 boy with young Blackwood Thane as the leader serround them.

4 hours ago

The castle's labyrinthine corridors felt like the jaws of a beast ready to snap shut. Thorn moved with the stealth of a predator, his eyes scanning every corner, every shadow for signs of movement. Behind him, Prince Arin's breath was ragged, each inhalation a risk of discovery in the silent halls.

"Move like a ghost," Thorn whispered, his voice barely a vibration in the air. They slipped into a servant's passage, so narrow that the walls seemed to close in on them. The air was thick with dust, the silence so profound it was almost suffocating.

They popped out into a forgotten courtyard, where the moon barely dared to shine. Thorn paused, his hand signaling Arin to be as still as stone. The slightest sound could betray them. After what felt like an eternity, he whispered, "This way," guiding Arin to an ancient gate, its hinges groaning like a warning siren as they forced it open.

Outside, the city was a canvas of darkness and deceit. Thorn's steps were whispers on the cobblestones, but Arin's were less practiced, each footfall a potential echo of their escape. They navigated through alleys where the smell of refuse mingled with the evening's chill, every shadow a potential guard.

As they neared the market, the tension ratcheted up. The clamor of the day had subsided, but now the quiet was a double-edged sword—easier to hear, easier to be heard. Thorn suddenly pushed Arin into the dark recess of a doorway, his body tense against him as the heavy tread of guards approached.

The patrol was close, too close, their voices discussing the night's watch. Every word was a knife, every laugh a threat. Thorn's grip on Arin tightened, his eyes locked on the guards, waiting for the moment to breathe again. When they finally passed, Thorn's whisper was urgent, "Run."

They sprinted towards a decrepit section of the city wall, where a gate, hidden by time and neglect, awaited. Thorn worked the lock with trembling fingers, the metal cold and unyielding. The gate shrieked in protest as it opened, the sound slicing through the night like a beacon of their location.

Stepping outside the city walls, the air was sharp, the darkness a cloak they desperately needed. But even now, the freedom was tainted with fear. Thorn's whisper was a mix of exhilaration and dread, "We're not safe yet."

Unknown to them, Orion had been a shadow among shadows, his presence felt more than seen. His eyes, cold with calculation, watched their silhouettes blend into the night. The tension was palpable; their escape was known, and the game of cat and mouse had only begun.

Back in the present

Thorn and Arin ran fast through the streets of Ignisia, chased by Thane and his mean friends. They reached a dead-end alley with a big wall. The boys were close behind.

Thorn saw some old pipes going over the wall. "We can climb these!" he said.

Arin, not good at climbing, followed. They got to the top just as Thane and his group got there. One of Thane's friends threw a bottle with fire stuff in it. It broke on the pipes, making a big fire.

Arin almost fell but Thorn caught him. They looked back and saw the fire spreading. Then, one of the burning pipes fell, hitting Thane's leg and trapping him. The fire was getting closer to Thane.

Arin, even though Thane was mean to them, couldn't leave him there. "We have to help him," he said to Thorn.

Thorn nodded, and they both quickly climbed back down. The heat was intense, and the flames were licking at Thane's clothes.

Arin, with bravery he didn't know he had, grabbed a piece of cloth from the ground, dipping it in a nearby puddle to make it wet. He handed one end to Thorn, and they used it like a rope to try to drag Thane away from the fire.

Thane was in pain, yelling for help, his eyes wide with fear. Thorn and Arin, together, pulled with all their might, the heat scorching their faces. They managed to drag Thane just far enough away from the worst of the flames, but not before some of the fire caught on Arin's sleeve.

Thorn quickly patted out the flames on Arin's arm while Arin checked on Thane. They managed to move the pipe off Thane's leg, but he was hurt and in shock.

Thane looked at Arin and Thorn, his face showing he was both scared and grateful. Arin knew that they had all just been in a life-or-death situation together.

Thorn, seeing the change in Thane's eyes, knew this wasn't the end of their story. This scary moment would change how they felt about each other, but it would take time.

As they helped Thane limp away from the alley, back towards safety, Arin felt a bond forming, one born out of danger and mutual rescue. They weren't friends yet, but they had all risked their lives for each other today, and that was a start.

Thorn escorted Arin home both full of burns on their bodies but not fatal. "That was fun.." says Arin

Thorn:This is the life i live everyday, Most of the time i just come to the castle to watch flowers and rest.

Thorn takes the path that he usually takes to reach the flower garden while not noticed by guards. And so on they both go their separate ways after a day of adventure.

Orion: My king it seems the prince has returned safely (Reporting back to the king on the thrown)

 Current ruler of Ignisia

King David the third, 50 years in age

Even though his old he loves hunting and traveling

The food he eat must be spicy,

He has a reputation for his great leadership and peace treaty.

He has never lost a battle in all his fights

King David: Let him have his fun , to become a great king you must know your people. Orion i have a question

Orion: yes my king

King David: That boy he was with, is he the same boy who sneaks to the flower garden?

Orion: Yes he is your highness.

King David: Lend him an entrance card , The prince needs a friend , I cant trust the child but the prince might learn a few things from him, I believe his last name is Hosi right?

Orion: yes your highness, the child currently lives alone , struggling to survive he always looks happy...and thats thanks to your people sir , They take care of him .

King David: Yes. That is all

Orion: Thank you my king.

Orion turns around to walk away " Ooh one more thing Orion" the king speaks to Orion.

Orion: yes your highness.

King David: That child has been found , The Verdani child ...You are to retrieve him Zowe as soon as possible. I trust you will not fail .

Orion:Yes your highness

Orion walks away after making a salute

To be continued...