The Kingdom of Vallis lies at the southernmost tip of the continent of Aetherion, bordered by deserts on one side and forests and mountains on the others, making it naturally fortified against external threats. Its land is fertile in some regions and barren in others, creating a significant disparity among social classes. Despite being one of the oldest kingdoms on the continent, it lives in a state of silent chaos, with its political power eroding from within, not from outside.
In the capital, Vallisia, the walls of the royal palace rise above the hills, proud as if defying time itself. Yet behind those walls, tension resides, and conspiracies unfold in secret among the nobles and court officials. The people in the markets coexist with high prices, while the gap between classes becomes increasingly apparent in every corner of the kingdom.
The Beginning
On a foggy morning in the winter of the year 1289, the city of Vallisia awoke to the sound of market bells and the cold breezes that slipped through the stone alleys. Layers of fog covered the rooftops and walls, flowing through the streets like white ghosts. The city, as usual during this season, appeared calm on the surface, but beneath it, everything was boiling.
In one of the noble districts, Biran stood on the balcony of his family's palace, gazing at the gray horizon with sharp eyes that held a trace of worry… and a trace of determination. Biran was not an ordinary young man; he had grown up among the walls of politics and the hidden corridors of influence, yet he was not among those who accepted corruption as a given reality.
Within him, he carried a different dream, and a will forming in silence. It was not the sword that drove him, but a deep sense of injustice, and the belief that the kingdom, with all its beauty and history, deserved something better. This morning was not an ordinary one for him; rather, it was the beginning of a long path… a path toward confronting those who manipulate the fate of the kingdom from behind the curtain
Inside the Royal Palace of Vallisia
Unrest was spreading like wildfire. Rushed footsteps echoed through the corridors, tense whispers passed from mouth to mouth, and soldiers with stern faces moved in charged silence. In the private council chamber, several of the kingdom's most senior figures gathered around a wide table, at the center of which lay a large map covered in markings and interwoven lines.
At the head of the table sat Lord Darius, the High Counselor. Fatigue was clearly visible in his eyes, yet the tone of his voice remained sharp:
"The messages are being sent, and no reply comes. Not from Tihan, nor from kingdoms we once considered allies. Something is being plotted in secret."
The military commander, Garon, replied. He was a tall man, broad-shouldered, with an uncompromising gaze:
"The movements along the western border are real. Our reports are accurate, but we were late to respond."
One of the younger advisers stepped closer to the map and pointed at several red-marked spots:
"We have indications of small military movements, but they are consistent… perhaps tests, or an indirect threat."
A moment of heavy silence followed, then Darius spoke in a low tone:
"The markets are seething with discontent, taxes have weighed heavily on the people, and the king… no longer shows the same firmness."
The door suddenly opened, and one of the guards entered with hurried steps, whispering into Garon's ear. Garon took the paper in his hand, read it quickly, then raised his head with clear concern:
"This is from the south… unusual signals. We may be one step away from total chaos."
Darius closed his eyes for a brief moment, then said:
"Inform the king immediately. We cannot afford to wait."
Garon nodded with a swift gesture and left the chamber with resolute steps.
The corridors were silent, the air charged with hidden tension.
He reached the king's wing and knocked on the door three quick times.
After a moment, the door opened slowly.
He entered without hesitation, his eyes searching for him at once.
Upon seeing him, he moved toward him quickly, without waiting for permission.
The king was seated, his eyes fixed on a distant point, as though he were hearing a voice no one else could hear.
Garon stopped before him and bowed his head briefly.
He spoke in a low but firm voice:
"Your Majesty… we have a matter that requires your immediate intervention."
Chapter One: The Turbulent Beginning(1289)
The Kingdom of Vallislies at the southernmost tip of the continent of Aetherion, bordered by desertson one side and forests and mountains on the others, making it naturallyfortified against external threats. Its land is fertile in some regions andbarren in others, creating a significant disparity among social classes.Despite being one of the oldest kingdoms on the continent, it lives in a stateof silent chaos, with its political power eroding from within, not fromoutside.
In the capital,Vallisia, the walls of the royal palace rise above the hills, proud as ifdefying time itself. Yet behind those walls, tension resides, and conspiraciesunfold in secret among the nobles and court officials. The people in themarkets coexist with high prices, while the gap between classes becomesincreasingly apparent in every corner of the kingdom.
The Beginning
On a foggy morning in the winter of the year1289, the city of Vallisia awoke to the sound of market bells and the coldbreezes that slipped through the stone alleys. Layers of fog covered therooftops and walls, flowing through the streets like white ghosts. The city, asusual during this season, appeared calm on the surface, but beneath it,everything was boiling.
In one of the noble districts, Biran stood onthe balcony of his family's palace, gazing at the gray horizon with sharp eyesthat held a trace of worry… and a trace of determination. Biran was not anordinary young man; he had grown up among the walls of politics and the hiddencorridors of influence, yet he was not among those who accepted corruption as agiven reality.
Within him, he carried a different dream, and awill forming in silence. It was not the sword that drove him, but a deep senseof injustice, and the belief that the kingdom, with all its beauty and history,deserved something better. This morning was not an ordinary one for him;rather, it was the beginning of a long path… a path toward confronting thosewho manipulate the fate of the kingdom from behind the curtain
Inside theRoyal Palace of Vallisia
Unrest was spreading like wildfire. Rushedfootsteps echoed through the corridors, tense whispers passed from mouth tomouth, and soldiers with stern faces moved in charged silence. In the privatecouncil chamber, several of the kingdom's most senior figures gathered around awide table, at the center of which lay a large map covered in markings andinterwoven lines.
At the head of the table sat Lord Darius, theHigh Counselor. Fatigue was clearly visible in his eyes, yet the tone of hisvoice remained sharp:
"The messages are being sent, and no replycomes. Not from Tihan, nor from kingdoms we once considered allies. Somethingis being plotted in secret."
The military commander, Garon, replied. He wasa tall man, broad-shouldered, with an uncompromising gaze:
"The movements along the western border arereal. Our reports are accurate, but we were late to respond."
One of the younger advisers stepped closer tothe map and pointed at several red-marked spots:
"We have indications of small military movements, but they areconsistent… perhaps tests, or an indirect threat."
A moment of heavy silence followed, then Dariusspoke in a low tone:
"The markets are seething with discontent,taxes have weighed heavily on the people, and the king… no longer shows thesame firmness."
The door suddenly opened, and one of the guardsentered with hurried steps, whispering into Garon's ear. Garon took the paperin his hand, read it quickly, then raised his head with clear concern:
"This is from the south… unusual signals. Wemay be one step away from total chaos."
Darius closed his eyes for a brief moment, thensaid:
"Inform the king immediately. We cannot affordto wait."
Garon nodded with a swift gesture and left thechamber with resolute steps.
The corridors were silent, the air charged withhidden tension.
He reached the king's wing and knocked on thedoor three quick times.
After a moment, the door opened slowly.
He entered without hesitation, his eyessearching for him at once.
Upon seeing him, he moved toward him quickly,without waiting for permission.
The king was seated, his eyes fixed on adistant point, as though he were hearing a voice no one else could hear.
Garon stopped before him and bowed his headbriefly.
He spoke in a low but firm voice:
"Your Majesty… we have a matter that requiresyour immediate intervention."