Terror swept through the city like a creeping tide, surging from house to house in invisible waves.
The curfew had long since blanketed Valthorn City under its heavy hand. Citizens' movements were completely restricted—no one dared step beyond their doors. Those who once scoffed at danger now sat trembling in locked rooms, their hearts pounding with regret for not fleeing when the roads were still open.
In a dimly lit home tucked within the heart of the city, a mother sat in the corner of a small room, clutching her child to her chest as if to shield her from a world crumbling apart. Her tears fell silently, carving trails down her dirt-smeared cheeks.
"Hu-hu… Mother, why are you crying?"
The soft voice of a little girl, barely five years old, broke through the oppressive gloom. Her large, innocent eyes shimmered with confusion and heartbreak.
