Chapter 3 The Secret Room

Ethan nodded as he accepted the heavy responsibility. "I understand."

Elena cupped his face for a brief moment before turning away. Without another word, she rushed back toward the courtyard where the sounds of clashing steel echoed through the air.

Ethan grabbed Akira's hand firmly. "Come with me."

Still clutching little Angela tightly against his chest, he hurried through the winding corridors of the manor until they reached an old bookshelf carved directly into the stone wall. He reached out and pressed against one of the hidden carvings. A soft rumble echoed through the space as the shelf slowly swung inward, revealing a concealed room.

At the center of the dark room rested two objects upon a weathered stone pedestal. A small golden dragon sat on the stone, its scales shimmering faintly despite the darkness. Beside it lay an ancient scroll wrapped in faded crimson silk, known to the family as the Dragon Scroll.

Ethan gently lowered Angela onto the floor before helping Akira inside. He picked up the golden dragon and placed it carefully into Akira's hands.

"Stay here," Ethan said. His voice was calm, but urgency hid beneath every word. "Protect Angela. And whatever happens, do not come out."

Akira looked up at him and frowned. "But Mother said you were supposed to stay here with us. If you leave, who is going to protect us?"

Ethan managed a small smile despite the fear weighing heavily on his heart. "If I stay here, then who protects Mother and Father? I will bring them back. I promise."

Akira hesitated before giving a small nod. "Okay."

Ethan smiled one last time. "I will be back for both of you."

The hidden door slowly closed, sealing the two young girls inside the silent chamber.

Outside, the battle grew much fiercer. Alexander's sword crashed against Dimitri's again and again, sparks bursting between their blades with every strike.

At that moment, Elena emerged from the manor. Alexander caught sight of her, and his eyes widened in panic.

"Elena!" he shouted. He forced Dimitri backward with a powerful swing before turning toward her. "I told you to leave with the children!"

Elena stopped right beside him, her stance strong. "I could not. I will not abandon my family."

Alexander shook his head, his expression filling with dread. "No. You have spent years suppressing the Dragon Spirit. If you release it now, you know what will happen. You will lose yourself. You will die."

Elena looked at him with deep tenderness, and a faint smile touched her lips. "I know. But this is the only way."

Alexander opened his mouth to argue, but Dimitri interrupted with a loud laugh. "What a touching family." He twirled his sword lazily in his hand. "Do not worry. After I kill you, I will send your wife after you. Then your family can be reunited in the afterlife."

Alexander stepped forward, fury blazing in his eyes. "You will never touch them."

Their swords collided once more, the sound of steel ringing through the burning estate. Alexander fought with everything he had left, forcing Dimitri backward one strike at a time.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle sliced through the air. An arrow struck Alexander squarely in the back. His body lurched forward from the impact. Before he could recover, more arrows rained down toward him from the surrounding rooftops. He swung his sword desperately, knocking several arrows aside before they could reach Elena. Another struck him, and then another.

Dimitri saw his opening and lunged forward, his blade shooting straight toward Alexander's exposed side.

"Alexander!" Elena screamed.

Without thinking of the consequences, Elena released the seal. A brilliant golden light erupted from her body, and a deafening roar shook the entire estate. The Dragon Spirit burst forth behind her in a magnificent blaze of fire and light, wrapping its enormous wings around Alexander to shield him.

Dimitri was blasted backward by the sudden explosion of dragon fire. The protective barrier shimmered brightly around Alexander as the flames surged outward, forcing every nearby soldier to retreat in terror.

Alexander stared at his wife in pure horror. "No. Elena, no!"

Blood trickled from the corner of Elena's lips, and then more followed. Her body staggered under the immense strain, but she refused to lower the barrier. The dragon's wings remained spread wide, shielding Alexander from every incoming arrow while torrents of blazing fire drove Dimitri farther away into the courtyard.

More blood poured from Elena's mouth, and her breathing grew shallow. Yet she kept smiling through the immense pain. "I am sorry," she whispered before coughing violently.

Alexander reached out toward her desperately. "Stop! Please! You have done enough! Stop!"

Another wave of blood spilled onto the stone ground. The golden light surrounding her began to flicker, and her knees buckled. The dragon's roar weakened significantly.

"Ethan," her voice was barely more than a whisper. "Protect Akira and Angela."

The brilliant dragon dissolved into countless golden embers, and Elena collapsed onto the ground as the barrier shattered completely.

"Mother!" Ethan yelled as he rushed out from the manor. He dropped to his knees beside her and gathered her limp body into his arms, his hands shaking as her blood stained his clothes. "Mother! Please! Stay with us!"

Alexander's concentration faltered completely. For the first time since the battle began, his eyes left Dimitri as he looked at his fallen wife.

Deep beneath the manor, Akira hugged little Angela close to her chest. The golden dragon rested quietly in her lap while the ancient Dragon Scroll lay on the floor beside her. She waited anxiously as the minutes passed, and then more minutes.

The silence inside the small room became completely unbearable. There were no footsteps, no voices, no sign of Ethan, and no sign of her parents.

Angela stirred softly against her shoulder, whimpering quietly. Akira swallowed the lump of fear in her throat. "They are taking too long."

She stood up, carefully setting the dragon down. With one last glance at the dark room, she pushed against the concealed stone door. It creaked open slowly.

The hallway beyond the bookshelf was eerily silent and empty. Holding Angela's tiny hand, Akira stepped out into the dark corridor.

"Brother?" her small voice echoed off the stone walls. "Father?"

No one answered her call.