Chapter 1: The Forgotten Kingdom
Three months had passed since the warriors of Brambleford marched to the blood-soaked plains of Zephra Field. The battle had claimed countless lives, staining the earth crimson beneath the weight of shattered armor and broken swords. Though victory had come at a terrible cost, Brambleford had emerged triumphant. The army had returned only yesterday. Exhausted from months of relentless fighting, Kaidus Merrow remained asleep inside his small cottage, his body resting while his mind wandered into a dream unlike any he had ever known. He stood upon the edge of a towering cliff, overlooking a kingdom consumed by chaos.
Dragons filled the sky.
Their deafening roars echoed across the land as rivers of fire poured from their jaws, reducing magnificent buildings to ash. Thick black smoke swallowed the heavens while frightened children ran through the burning streets, their cries piercing the air. Some stumbled over the bodies of their loved ones. Others collapsed into pools of blood before they could escape. Everywhere Kaidus looked, death followed then he saw it. A dark figure hovered above the ruined kingdom like a living shadow. It possessed no clear face, only an overwhelming presence that radiated malice. It raised one hand, and the dragons obeyed without hesitation.
Leave no one alive. The creatures descended once more. A small group of survivors fled toward the cliff where Kaidus stood, their faces filled with terror and desperation. Hope flickered in their eyes as though they could somehow see him. But the shadow noticed them. With a single gesture, it commanded the dragons to attack. Flames rained from the sky. One by one, the fleeing survivors fell until only an elderly man remained. Wounded and barely able to stand, he staggered forward before collapsing into Kaidus's arms. His trembling hand reached into his tattered robe and produced an ancient key.
It was neither gold nor jeweled. Time had worn its metal dull, and strange symbols were engraved across its surface—letters from a language Kaidus had never seen before. Though old and ordinary in appearance, the key carried a presence that felt impossibly heavy. The old man pressed it into Kaidus's palm."You must... save Valthorion..."His voice was barely more than a whisper."If you fail... the kingdom... will be forgotten..."The old man's hand rested gently upon Kaidus's forehead."My blessing... goes with you."His body grew still. Silence swept across the ruined land. No one remained alive Kaidus slowly lifted his eyes toward the distant kingdom. Its enormous gates, carved from ancient black stone, began to close. The thunderous sound echoed across the world like the final heartbeat of a dying empire. Boom. The gates sealed shut. Kaidus jolted awake. His breathing was uneven, and cold sweat covered his forehead. Standing beside his bed was Seris Valenne, her emerald eyes filled with worry."You were struggling in your sleep," she said softly. "It looked as though you were fighting someone."
For a brief moment, Kaidus stared at her, the dream still vivid in his mind, then he forced a faint smile."It was nothing," he replied. "Just another nightmare from the battlefield."Seris wasn't convinced, but she chose not to press him. Instead, she held out a wooden tray."You haven't eaten since we returned last night. I thought you might be hungry."The aroma of warm stew filled the cottage only then did Kaidus realize how empty his stomach felt. Seris has always been like this. They had grown up together since childhood, sharing every hardship life had thrown at them.
Years ago, Seris's father had sacrificed his life defending Brambleford. His bravery had saved countless soldiers, yet the royal family rewarded his loyalty with little more than empty words. Not long after, King Eldrik turned his attention to Seris's mother, Elena. Though still grieving her husband, Elena's beauty caught the king's eye. He demanded that she become his seventh wife, believing no one would dare refuse a monarch.
But Elena did. She valued her dignity far more than the riches of the palace. Humiliated by her rejection, King Eldrik swore to make both Elena and Seris suffer. That was until Kaidus stepped forward. No one knew exactly what frightened the king about the young warrior, but from that day onward, Eldrik abandoned his schemes against them. Kaidus had been an orphan for as long as he could remember. The Valenne family became the closest thing he had ever known to a home. Seris was the only person capable of drawing a genuine smile from him, and because of that, he had made a silent promise long ago. No matter what happened...He would protect Seris and Elena with his life and everyone in Brambleford knew that promise and no one was foolish enough to test it.
