Aetheris, an expansive realm divided into seven great regions, each tied to one of the mythical crystals that form the crown of life.
The land is steeped in magic, ancient ruins and power struggles, where kingdoms rise and fall, according to the will of prophecy and ambition.
At the heart of Aetheris, lies the Osric Kingdom, once haunted by a mysterious prophecy, but now blessed by the seven celestial gods, the creators of the Crown of life.
The Osric royal family rules from Caelumspire Castle, an imposing fortress that overlooks sprawling lands, yet its throne is cursed with whispers of betrayal and destruction.
Across all seven great regions, lies each of the mythical crystals before it was sought after by the great prince Geralt, the hero of Osric kingdom.
The Temple of Eternal flames, The underworld, the Oceanic abyss, the celestial city of light, skyward spire, Cavern of roots, Radiant citadel, and the Frozen crown, forming the location of the seven mythical crystals respectively.
These locations cut across all the seven great regions in Aetheris, each having a history and a hidden story.
The seven mythical crystals were once used by the seven celestial gods before they ascended into the celestial realm, when the immortal realm could no longer contain their immense power.
Together, they bestowed their crystals unto humanity, to serve the destined ones who were going to hold humanity together in their stead.
Their blessings became a curse when the crown of life brought greed, lust, disorder and discord unto humanity they wanted to protect.
The heavenly lord, who was appointed by the seven celestial gods before their ascension, decided to destroy the crown of life when evil sprouted in the dark.
Now, history repeats itself as the fate of humanity remains bleak.
......….
The battlefield outside the castle was in chaos and total destruction. The crown of life was destroyed as everything, including the dark warriors were in debris.
On the devastating battlefield, only two figures remain, that of Hilda's and Gerald's.
Their bodies were in a pitiful state, especially Hilda as she was mostly affected by the shockwave of the crown's destruction.
The crown was nowhere to be seen, neither were the seven mythical crystals. Gerald nearly survived the shockwave but he was not unscathed either.
He was just as pitiful as Hilda only that he was much better compared to Hilda, with the little strength he could muster, he stood up from the ground, his eyes fixed on Hilda who was unconscious.
He took a step towards Hilda to confirm if she was alive, his hands still shaking as a result of the devastating shockwave.
His dry mouth called out to Hilda. "Hilda!, Hilda!!, Hilda!!!,". He knelt before her staring into her blank eyes, still wanting to confirm if she was dead.
Hilda's elegant figure was covered in debris, her beautiful and peerless face was pale, while she laid on the ground lifeless.
"She is dead." Gerald exclaimed, as he closed Hilda's eyes which were wide open.
He continued "You brought this upon yourself, you caused this."
Gerald was relieved that Hilda was dead, because there would be no one to go against him in his quest to conquer the throne.
But he was disappointed by the fact that the crown was destroyed, which could have easily made him the Overlord of Aetheris.
He confessed, still staring at Hilda's corpse. "Our father caused this, he should have known better, he should have known that this would happen when he decided to choose you over me."
Oblivious to him, tears dropped from his eyes as he continued to stare at Hilda's lifeless body.
He stood there for some minutes before deciding to return to the dark dungeon.
Meanwhile, Leofric and Edith took Olivia as they journeyed towards Sylvan Reach, a deep forest located north central of Osric kingdom and relatively the closest and the safest compared to other locations.
Sylvan Reach is a serene woodland close to Osric Kingdom, filled with silver- leafed trees and crystals streams. It's often called the 'Heart's rest' by travellers who find peace in its quiet beauty.
As they were journeying to Sylvan Reach, Gerald was seen kneeling on the cold floor of the dark dungeon, his head slightly bowed waiting for the Devil Lord's punishment.
"So, you mean you lost all my dark armies?" His voice vibrated through the entire dungeon, filled with anger.
The temperature in the dungeon rose greatly, as he stood up from his majestic throne, which made Gerald worry for his life.
By the time the devil lord stood before him, he was shaking like a helpless chicken. The dark lord continued, his voice full of dread. "Do you know the plan I had for those dark armies you destroyed?."
Without waiting for his reply, the Devil Lord walked towards his throne, his dark robe dancing with the winds.
"I didn't destroy them, it was my foolish sister who destroyed them. All I wanted was the throne and the crown of life." Gerald blurted out.
The Devil Lord suddenly halted his step, he changed his stance, looking back at Gerald, whose body was shaking and covered in sweat.
"What do you just say?". His voice filled with interest and curiousity.
Gerald was dumbstruck for some minutes before replying. "I said all I wanted is the throne and Crown of life."
"Tell me more about this crown and I may pardon your sins." The Devil Lord said, comfortably seating on his throne.
Gerald was both surprised and relieved, at least he would not be punished.
"Centuries ago, while our Royal Majesty, King Geralt was still a prince, he encountered an ancient map, which had the location of seven mythical crystals capable of defying the heavens. He journeyed across the seven regions of Aetheris in the quest to merge the crystals. With his determination and vision, he managed to get the crystals into his possession, becoming the Overlord of Aetheris. The crown of life was passed down to other generations, and now it was passed down to my sister instead of me. That's why I came to request for powers to collect what is rightfully mine." He explained.
"Ahhhh, it seems I'll be leaving this place very soon." The devil lord said.
"Yes, if you can forgive me, I can still give you a body." Gerald proposed with a sneer, his plan was to look for how he was going to escape and never come back again.
"Don't worry, I've got someone else in mind." The Devil Lord replied with a relaxed tone.
Some minutes later, Gerald's voice vibrated throughout the dungeon, his cry twisted with whispers of a dark power, as though two souls fought for dominance in one breath.
To be Continued...