On the day of Lysara's coronation, the ancient Crown of Aelthar shatters before it can be placed on her head. A violent tremor shakes the palace, and a dark omen spreads across the sky. Without the crown, the kingdom's magical balance is broken, and whispers of doom spread through the court.
The high priests reveal that the crown was not just a symbol of power—it was a binding force that kept ancient energies in check. With its destruction, the kingdom's prosperity begins to unravel. Crops wither overnight, rivers begin to dry, and creatures long thought extinct are seen near the borders.
Lysara rides out to the fields, only to find that entire farms have turned to dust. People are starving, and neighboring lords begin to question her rule. Meanwhile, rumors spread that the shards of the crown may still hold power—if they can be found and reforged.
In the capital's underbelly, a cunning thief, Riven, overhears talk of the shattered crown and claims to have stolen one of its shards years ago. He offers to sell it back to the queen—for a steep price. But before Lysara can decide, assassins strike, forcing her to flee into the night.
A rogue scholar, Vaelin, arrives at the palace with urgent warnings. He has studied the crown's origins and believes it was never meant to be reforged. He insists that something darker lies beneath its power. Lysara is torn between his warning and the growing desperation of her people.
Needing protection on her journey, Lysara seeks out Sir Garran, a former knight exiled after being accused of treason. He agrees to help her track the shards—but only if she promises to uncover the truth about his disgrace. Together, they prepare to leave the capital.
As Lysara and her companions journey to recover the first shard, they come across a village abandoned overnight. Strange markings cover the ground, and eerie whispers fill the air. Something ancient is waking, and it is searching for the broken crown.
They reach the ruins of an old fortress where Riven hid the shard. But retrieving it awakens a monstrous guardian, a creature bound to protect the pieces of the shattered crown. Lysara barely survives the battle, but the first shard is now in her possession. As she holds it, she feels a dark force stirring within her.
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