In a time long forgotten, whispers echoed of dragons, ancient magic, and perilous adventures filled with untold treasures. Yet, this tale diverges from the familiar; its shadows conceal truths darker than any fable. In a majestic kingdom surrounded by towering walls, a stunning princess resided. These barriers protected the realm from any who would dare to invade. Countless suitors, knights, and scholars from distant lands sought the princess's hand in marriage, yet all attempts to breach the formidable walls failed. Among those who watched was a woman consumed by envy, her heart heavy with betrayal—bitterness stemming from her husband’s abandonment as he sought to conquer the very walls that now held the princess. Fueled by rage and despair, she directed her resentment toward all men and the kingdom itself, seeking vengeance for the love she had lost. In her quest for retribution, she approached a reclusive archmage, offering her life savings in desperation for a powerful ally. Upon arriving at the archmage's humble abode, she found it desolate, but her eyes fell upon a mysterious black grimoire brimming with devastating spells. Without hesitation, she claimed the tome and returned to her solitary dwelling, each step igniting her dark resolve. For twelve grueling years, she toiled over the intricacies of the grimoire, her once-lovely features twisted by neglect and despair. She barely tasted sunlight, her body growing frail from starvation and thirst, and her mind consumed by vengeance. Yet, with unwavering determination, she unraveled the mysteries within the ancient pages, mastering each spell with relentless fervor. While she sank deeper into darkness, life unfolded differently outside her window. The princess, in her pursuit of love and happiness, found a suitor and ultimately ascended to the throne as queen. As the kingdom celebrated her newfound joy, the vengeful woman prepared to unleash her devastating power. A reckoning was at hand, and the princess’s reign would soon be threatened by the wrath of an envious heart. Years passed, and the woman finally completed her dark work. With her newfound power, she unleashed a brutal assault on the kingdom, her vengeance sharp and unyielding. Fire and shadow engulfed the land; the once-proud walls crumbled, and the people, defenseless, scattered in terror. Amidst the chaos, a young boy watched as his father, a noble knight and protector of the realm, fell in the defense of the kingdom. His father’s last words—a promise to protect his family and kingdom—faded into silence as life left his body. Grief turned to fury within the boy’s heart, and as he grew older, he trained tirelessly, consumed by the desire to avenge his father and restore his homeland. He learned the ways of the sword, mastered ancient spells, and honed his mind, fueled by a single purpose: to hunt down the woman who had robbed him of everything. Years of isolation and rigorous training transformed him into a formidable warrior. His once-bright spirit dulled, his only companions were the memories of the life he had lost and the father he could never forget. He followed whispers, traveled vast lands, and scoured ancient ruins, convinced that vengeance would free him from his suffering. Finally, he discovered a cold truth: the woman he sought had died years before, her vengeance complete, her life ending in obscurity. The weight of this revelation crushed him. Everything he had fought for, all the sacrifices he made, amounted to nothing. He had dedicated his life to pursuing a ghost, and now, his purpose was gone. Bitterness filled the hollow spaces within him, and he retreated into a life of solitude, haunted by regret for the years he had lost. Time became a blur as seasons passed unnoticed, each day echoing with the hollow ache of what might have been. He grew old, his body bearing the marks of battles he’d fought in vain, his mind burdened with memories of a life unfulfilled. One cold winter’s night, as he lay in his desolate home, he whispered his final thoughts to the silent shadows around him.
“Life is but a fragile ember, meant to warm, to burn bright—not to smolder in the ashes of things that cannot be undone. Chase not the shadows of the past, for they vanish at dawn, leaving only the chill of loneliness.” –Sam Keever