The air was suddenly filled with a silent yet sharp scream, emanating from a nearby location.

A moment later, a fearful cry erupted, causing the gathered crowd to instinctively turn and search for the source of the commotion.

I could feel Fides trembling in my arms, her grip on me growing even tighter.

She looked up at me with wide eyes, and I could see pure fear in them. I knew I had to do something to calm her down.

But suddenly, a red substance splattered across us all. And I could hear the gasp of my mother as she witnessed what happened.

I could tell what the substance was.

It was blood.

"Lyssa, what's happening?"

Fides' voice quivered, mirroring the uncertainty in her wide eyes. I took a deep breath, my mind racing to find a way to reassure her.

"It's going to be okay, Fides. Stay close to my mother, alright?"

She nodded slightly and slowly, and she walked over to Mother.

I noticed Mother looking all around for me; a worried face was etched onto her face as she called out my name amongst the crowd.

I took my time to assess the situation; there were four dead bodies. All of them being elite guards. One of the highest and hardest roles to be assigned to.

Whoever the perpetrator was was clearly powerful and had no qualms about taking out high-ranking guards.

I heard a laugh boom from the direction where the scream came from.

The laughter sent slight chills down my spine.

It was a man's voice.

He was laughing. He was enjoying it.

Enjoying killing.

Mother rushed towards me, embracing me tightly.

"Lyssa, are you hurt? Are you okay?"

Her voice was filled with worry.

"Yes, I'm fine. But we need to get Fides somewhere safe."

"Of course. Let's go."

We quickly made our way through the panicked crowd.

I, however, secretly stayed back.

Mother and Fides didn't notice, due to the panic and confusion.

I needed to see who the evil person was.

And why was he here?

I hid behind a building and peeked around the corner.

I could see the evil person.

He seemed like an average guy. Average height, average hair colour, and average body type.

Oh, and a green crystal in his stomach.

My focus shifted to the crystal. It was emitting a strange aura.

A deceptive aura.

Suddenly, the green crystal guy turned his head in my direction.

His eyes locked onto mine, and a smirk formed on his face.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A little girl is spying on me, huh?"

He started walking towards me with a generic villain walk.

"You know, curiosity can kill the cat."

"Who are you, and why are you doing this?" I asked, glaring at him.

He looked at me with a quizzical expression, as if he were contemplating the answer himself.

He then shook his head, smiling.

"That doesn't matter right now."

His laughter echoed, intertwining with the panic, as illusions of monstrous creatures materialised.

I focused, weaving shadows into a shield, countering the illusory onslaught.

The monsters weren't just going for me. They were going for the people too.

Everyone else began fending off the monsters while I was fighting the mean crystal guy. Seems fair.

The kingdom's heart became a battleground of shadows and deceit.

The perpetrator's malevolent grin widened, his illusions growing more intricate.

A phantom army clashed with my shadows, each clash resonating with an otherworldly intensity.

"Stop this! You won't hurt anyone anymore!"

I shouted, my voice carrying surprising authority for someone so young.

The shadows around me gathered, forming into a massive serpent that lunged towards the crystal guy, aiming to distract him.

However, he effortlessly dodged, his smirk widening.

"Not bad, little shadow wielder."

The illusions persisted, threatening the safety of those around me.

But I wouldn't back down. I couldn't.

But then suddenly, one of the monsters began charging in the direction of my mother.

I leapt in front of the creature, shadows swirling around me like a protective cloak.

"You won't touch her!" I shouted, my voice piercing through the turmoil.

The creature lunged, but my shadow intercepted its path, creating a barrier.

The impact sent ripples through the shadows, but they held firm.

The monster persisted; its roar pierced my ears.

"Lyssa!"

Mother's voice echoed, a mix of worry and pride evident in her tone.

Suddenly, a pulse of energy knocked the monster far back.

The surprise registered not only on my face but on Mother's and the mean crystal guy's as well.

I turned and noticed Fides with her arm out, trembling like crazy.

"Was she the one who did that?" I considered it internally.

The consideration didn't last long as the ground began to shake and colossal pillars began rising from the ground.

The mean crystal guy began nicking them all down, creating havoc for everyone to experience.

"This is troublesome... Mother, can you do something?"

She glanced down at me, concern etched on her face. "Lyssa, I... I don't know if I can handle this."

"You have dark magic. You're agile. You can't feel pain, and you're strong. You're the strongest person I know."

"And Fides, whatever you did, I want you to do it more."

She nodded fearfully.

Fides looked at me with uncertainty still in her eyes, but she nodded.

"I'll try, Lyssa."

"Hey, mean crystal guy! You can't just ruin everything for everyone!"

I yelled with my voice, carrying the indignation only a seven-year-old could muster.

If I could distract him, maybe Mother and Fides could figure out a plan.

He chuckled, amused by my defiance.

"Oh, little shadow wielder, you're quite the spitfire. But this is just the beginning."

I gathered my shadows, forming them into playful shapes that swirled around the crystal guy.

"Look at me, meanie! You can't catch me!"

He turned his attention to my shadows, his smirk fading momentarily.

It brought a brief moment of relief for the others, struggling against the illusions and creatures.

While the crystal guy was momentarily distracted, Fides summoned another pulse of energy, aiming directly for his stomach.

The mean crystal guy staggered as Fides' pulse of energy hit him perfectly.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for my new friend.

"Good job, Fides! You got him right where it hurts!"

Fides smiled nervously, her uncertainty replaced with a glimmer of accomplishment.

"Mother. You can do it. Remember what I said? Dark magic, agility, no pain, and you're strong!"

Mother took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto the mean crystal guy.

Mother, undeterred, gathered her dark magic, forming it into sharp daggers that danced around her agile form.

Embodying the agility and strength I always admired, she unleashed a barrage of daggers on the mean crystal guy.

His illusions crumbled, and the creatures dissipated into nothingness.

With a final, powerful strike, Mother sent the mean crystal guy sprawling to the ground.

He hit his head hard, and a moment later, he began to dissipate, his malevolent laughter echoing one last time.

I ran back to Mother and Fides, who were waiting for me.

Mother was relieved when she saw me.

She embraced me tightly.

"Lyssa, you scared me! Please don't do that again."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for not running in without a plan and worrying them.

Everyone was on edge, trying to figure out who the crystal guy was and how he got away so easily.

But my mind was completely elsewhere.

"Mother, have you seen Lorien and Thalia? They're not here!"

Mother's worry deepened.

"Lyssa, I haven't seen them since the chaos began. We need to find them."

Fides, though still uncertain, nodded in agreement.

"We'll help you look for them, Lyssa."

We moved through the humongous crowd, and my mind was filled with queries.

Where could Lorien and Thalia be in this chaos? The pillars rising from the ground added another layer of confusion.

Suddenly, a distant cry reached my ears.

Upon recognising Lorien's voice, my heart thumped. Following the sound, I led Mother and Fides towards the source.

As we approached, the sight of rubble came into view, and my heart raced with fear.

"Lorien!" I called out.

Fides, with brand-new courage, rushed forward, her agility surprising even me.

With a strength I hadn't expected, she began clearing the rubble, revealing Thalia shielding Lorien beneath.

The relief washed over me.

I turned to Fides, a mix of gratitude and reassurance in my eyes.

"You did well, Fides. Thanks for helping."

She nodded, still wide-eyed, processing the chaotic scene.

Mother joined us, her stern expression softening as she ruffled my hair. "Lyssa, you've got to be more careful. You can't always protect everyone."

"I know, Mother."

I glanced around to ensure everyone was relatively safe.

The chaos had subsided, leaving a lingering tension in the air.

"We should probably get out of here before we get crowded by thankful people."

I nodded, grabbing Fides' hand, and we quickly navigated through the dispersing crowd. Mother kept a watchful eye on us as we navigated through the dispersing crowd. She made sure we were safe and secure.

As we moved away from the chaotic heart of the kingdom, I couldn't shake off the unease that lingered.

The mysterious crystal-wielding man had left, but the repercussions of his actions echoed in the wounded kingdom.

I could sense Fides's fear as we navigated through the thronging crowd. Her voice trembled.

"Lyssa, where are we going?"

"We're going to my place." I told her, hoping that it would provide some comfort.

As we moved forward, the atmosphere shifted, and a gentle breeze carried whispers of hope.

The shadows seemed to dance in harmony with our steps, revealing a path illuminated by the promise of a brighter future.

In the distance, a soft glow beckoned, hinting at the warmth and solace that awaited us.