Zeph’s POV

We stepped outside the portal in our realm. Xin Li, Ralph, Sarim, and Lavaria Sensei were with us. Rest had decided to stay back including Alvene. Most of the seniors were staying back to defend The Institute.

Royal Carriages with Royal guards were waiting to transport us safely to our houses. Xin Li had sent the message ahead and made sure that everything was taken care of before we arrived.

Royal Guards ensured our Senseis that they will drop us safely at our homes.

"Be careful, boys and stay safe. I know you people can handle yourselves. Keep your families safe as well. We will call you back once the situation is bit settled and we have ensured it’s secure to be back." Lavaria Sensei instructed us. We nodded as they bid us farewell and went back through the portal.

"You people are always welcome at my house and the castle. If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask." Xin Li told us as he embraced both of us.

"We will," I replied.

He got in his carriage and the one he had arranged for us with two royal guards; a coachman and a warrior. It was a white carriage that was being pulled by four sturdy white horses. We started the journey to our homes and hoped it remained uneventful.

Ralph seemed on edge today, he didn’t want to leave Alvene behind but she said The Institute needed her. I was worried about Serene too. She was at her lowest but Fae had strong magic and she would be safer in her realm.

One hour into the journey and we heard howling from the distance. Ralph and I quickly glanced in the direction of the voices and saw a pack of Dark hounds. Their black and red fur glistened under the sunlight as they bounded toward our carriage, their ruby eyes shone in the sun.

Guards had spotted them too and the coachman sped up. The hounds were faster and they were quickly lessening the distance between us. The guards had prepared their weapons.

"We are going to be attacked," Ralph whispered to me and my hand was already on the hilt of my sword. They were already neck to neck with us, almost as large as a small horse, their legs were lean which gave them the edge over our horses. There were a total of seven of them.

The coachman swerved the carriage to the left, and the horses neighed and galloped faster, trying to outrun the approaching danger but they relentlessly followed.

Getting closer one of the hounds jumped on the horses with its claws stretched outwards but the guard sitting with the coachman was alert and had anticipated the attack. He swerved his sword and sliced the hound in two before it could pierce its claws into the horse.

It shrieked as its body split into two and fell in a heap of intestines and fur. The blood splattered on the guard, horses and carriage. Another one jumped and lodged itself to the carriage door, with its outstretched claws, its mouth collided with the glass pane in the carriage door, shattering it. We instantly jumped away from the window. I unsheathed my sword, carefully. There was very less space inside the carriage and hauling a sword was not easy in a cramped space within a moving carriage with a hound hanging from the window, to rip your head off.

It snarled with its sharp teeth, trying to reach us. Its red eyes focused on us, I stared into them and quickly moving forward plunged my sword deep into its head. The fountain of blood erupted from its head and splashed everywhere. I let its lifeless body fall by kicking it out of the window.

"Phew, what a bloody bloodhound." Ralph sighed with relief, his hand on his chest.

"You guys alright back there?" The royal guard shouted from the front.

"We are," Ralph called back.

The growls of the remaining hounds grew louder as they still chased after us. The carriage screeched on its hinges as it sped away on the desert terrain of our realm. I cleaned my sword with my handkerchief and we waited in anticipation of a further attack.

"Sit tight, the situation is about to get worse." Royal Guard shouted from the front as we heard a snarl and the shrieks of the horses, they neighed and the front two horses lost their balance as multiple hounds attacked them from both directions.

The carriage skidded to one side, Ralph and I held onto the seats tightly to steady ourselves as it toppled and landed on its side. A storm of dust rose all around us from the impact and we began to cough from inhaling it.

The horses were frantic as they fell with the carriage. Ralph had landed on the top of me and hit his head which began to bleed instantly. My leg got twisted and I could feel a sharp pain where a stone had pierced the skin and it was bleeding. I winced in pain while Ralph held his head.

"We have to get out of here and see if the guards need our help." I shook Ralph taking him out of the daze he had been stuck in. The bellowing of the horses and shouts of the guards mingled with the howls of the hounds creating an eerie atmosphere around us.

I kicked open the carriage door and both of us assessed the situation before jumping out. The hounds had gathered in the front and were tearing the horses apart. The royal guard was fighting alone with two hounds while the coachman lay face down, his body mangled.

I rushed towards the nearby hound which had just taken out a huge chunk from one of the horses. It snarled as I got closer and swung my sword at it, making it step back, instantly. The tip of my sword grazed its fur making a gnash near its neck but it wasn’t deep enough.

I whirled my sword again aiming at its lower belly, it tried to dodge but the sword ripped it open. Spilling its internal organs and blood on the ground, making it fall lifeless. Ralph was fighting another hound with his sword while the royal guard was losing his battle against the two hounds so I rushed to help him.

Before I could reach him, one of the hounds aimed for its throat and ripped it open with its sharp teeth. I almost screamed at the sight as the blood gurgled out and the guard clutched his throat before falling to the ground.

The hounds pounded on him but my sword moved with a mind of its own as I slaughtered them left and right. Extreme anger seeped into me for not being able to help him and letting him die like that.

The hounds were dead but so were our horses and the two royal guards, one being the coachman.

I fell to my knees seeing the carnage in front of me. Was this how life was going to be from now on? People dying left and right and leaving us unable to do much about it. Ralph placed his bloodied hand on my shoulder while I held the sword dripping with blood, staring at it in disbelief. So much blood it was making me sick.

"Zeph, we have to go. The scent of blood will attract more creatures. There is nothing we can do about them right now." I knew he was right, so I got up and we cleaned the blood from our clothes, faces and swords with the help of handkerchiefs.

"We can’t leave them here like that." I turned to Ralph and he wore a solemn expression.

"We have to Zeph, we are in the middle of nowhere and the journey back home will take hours on foot. The night will soon fall and we will be left more vulnerable. This is not ideal but this is the reality of our world now." He took hold of my arm and pulled so I won’t make my way to the guards.

We salvaged our luggage from the carriage and began to head in the direction of our home. The reality of the situation we had witnessed began to sink in and we hoped that our families were still safe. Ralph spoke as if reading my mind: "They will be alright. Father will make sure of it. He may be a drunkard but he would have taken some necessary measures by now to keep the monsters at bay."

"I hope you are right Ralph because the world we knew is about to significantly change, and that too for the worst." I sighed as we kept walking on the dusty trail. My mouth was parched but we had no drinking water. My leg ached too making it difficult for me to walk. Ralph had temporarily bandaged it with a piece of his shirt.

The shadows of evening were soon upon us as we trudged along slowly, remaining vigilant of our surroundings and making sure we weren’t suddenly attacked or ambushed.

A shrill sound echoed through the air making us both jump and instantly turn in its direction.