Chapter One: The Day Everything Changed
I still remember that night—the night my world shattered.
I had run to my mother, panic in my chest.
"What's going on, Mom?" I asked.
Elira's eyes were filled with fear. She whispered urgently,
"Riven! Get inside—now!"
From outside came dreadful screams.
"Give us the cursed child! Hand him over and no one gets hurt!"
The villagers' voices echoed like thunder.
My father, Elandor, stepped out to face them.
"I would rather die than give you my child!" he roared, hurling a stone in defiance.
Their rage only grew.
In that moment, my mother grabbed me and pushed me into the closet.
She knelt, looked into my eyes, and whispered,
"No matter what happens... stay quiet."
Outside the closet door, I could hear my father holding it with his body,
trying to keep them from entering.
But they got to my mother.
And I watched.
I watched as she screamed.
Begged.
But it was no use.
She was murdered right before my eyes.
I wanted to scream, but nothing came out.
Then suddenly, a cry tore from my throat.
My hands trembled. My vision went dark.
And then—my father appeared.
He scooped me into his arms,
"RUN, RIVEN!" he cried.
But I couldn't leave her.
I didn't want to leave her behind.
My heart broke into pieces.
And then he said,
"You have to live, Riven..."
In that moment, I made a vow.
One day… I'll make them all pay.
From that night forward—
I was never the same again.