The rumble of our soldiers’ steps grew louder, the formation tightened, and for the first time since everything began, it felt like the situation was under control.
Even the goblins retreating toward the city center looked confused.
We almost smiled…
Almost.
Until Norris said:
“Quiet. Don’t расслабляйтесь. The main thing is to retake the center.”
He stopped, staring straight at the black mass of the castle rising above smoke and ruins. Heavy towers, scorched walls, and inside —
movement of shadows.
“The demons have entrenched themselves in the castle,” he continued.
“They want to hold it as a fortress. If we don’t reclaim the center — the city is lost.”
Elinia lifted her head.
“But… the guard? The Royal Guard? They should—”
Norris looked at her strangely, almost with pity.
“Princess… they’re long gone. All killed.”
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She stepped forward as if struck.
“No. The kingdom’s guard… isn’t human.”
We all turned toward her.
“What?” Norris asked.
Elinia rubbed her temple, as if trying to catch her breath.
“Stone guardians.”
“You mean the statues by the castle?” Finn clarified, frowning.
“Not just statues,” she said.
“They are ancient protectors. They’ve stood in the center for a hundred years, since the founding of the capital. They were meant to be activated if something like…”
She paused.
“…this ever happened.”
We exchanged glances.
I remembered those figures — stone knights, mages, spearmen, and one enormous statue of a man in a cloak, nearly the height of a three-story building.
We had thought they were just decoration.
“Why weren’t they activated?” Siren asked.
Elinia shook her head.
“There wasn’t time.
The demons attacked too fast.”
Norris tightened his grip on his sword and asked sharply:
“How do we activate them?”
The princess exhaled.
“We need to reach the castle’s basement. There’s a door there, behind which stands… a special statue.
A knight without a sword.”
“And next to it,” she continued, “is the sword itself.
It must be placed into the statue’s hands.”
“And then?” I asked.
“Then the ‘Codex of Defense’ will activate.
Every stone guardian will awaken.
And the city will stand until the last stone.”
Silence fell.
Norris slowly turned toward us.
“Is this true?”
Elinia nodded.
“It was a crown secret. My father told me when I was still little. I thought… it was just a legend. But now… it’s our only chance.”
Norris took a deep breath.
“Then we go.
Straight to the commander.”
He turned and shouted:
“Stay tight! We’re moving to the center!”
We followed.
And for the first time all day, something appeared in my chest — something nearly forgotten amid smoke and blood:
Hope.