The guard collapsed without a sound.For one terrible second, nobody moved.Then the sanctuary exploded."North ridge!""Take cover!""Shields up!""Move, move, move!"Hidden warriors flooded the courtyard.Wooden doors slammed shut.Ancient bells screamed across the mountains.Cinthye reached for the pistol at her waist.Damien caught her wrist immediately."Stay behind me.""Absolutely not.""Cinthye—""I'm not hiding while someone shoots at us."Another shot cracked through the valley.BANG.A stone lantern shattered beside them.Fragments sprayed across the courtyard.Master Aurelio didn't even flinch."Inside," he ordered."We're being attacked," Cinthye snapped."No," the old man replied. "We're being measured."Silence.Even Damien frowned."Explain."Aurelio pointed toward the ridge."If they wanted us dead, the second shot would have taken one of you."Another pause."They're announcing themselves."Well.That was somehow worse.---An hour later, the sanctuary sat under lock
Last Updated : 2026-06-25 Read more