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Chapter One: The Heirs to the Throne and the Hidden Shadow
In the heart of the vast Kingdom of Valdorin, where green plains stretched beneath clear blue skies and ancient stone castles stood tall like eternal guardians, Princes Amatris and Edward lived under the care of their father, the great King Theodore. The royal palace, with its grand gates and lush gardens, served as the stage for their shared childhood, where laughter and games echoed through its wide halls.
Amatris, the eldest son, possessed a noble heart and eyes that reflected intelligence and insight. He was inclined toward contemplation and reading, yet never shied away from physical training and the art of war alongside his brother. Edward, on the other hand, was characterized by a more impulsive and passionate nature, with a strong physique and a restless competitive spirit. Despite their apparent differences, the two brothers were bound by a deep fraternal bond, sharing secrets and dreams of a bright future for their kingdom under their joint leadership.
One sunny afternoon, the princes were training in the palace's wide courtyard. Their wooden swords clashed with rhythmic precision, a testament to years of continuous training. Edward pressed with greater force, while Amatris relied on agility and quick reflexes to dodge and parry.
Edward called out with a grin as he launched a flurry of strikes, "Where is that fire I saw in your training before? You're slacking today, brother!"
Amatris stepped back lightly, parried a heavy blow, and replied with a matching smile, "I'm not slacking, Edward. I'm saving my strength for the real battle that awaits us one day."
"The real battle?" Edward chuckled. "I see no battles on the horizon. Our kingdom is at the height of its power and peace, thanks to our father's rule."
"Peace is fragile, brother," Amatris responded seriously. "We must be prepared for anything. That's what Father taught us."
At that moment, King Theodore arrived at the training ground, accompanied by his royal guard. The king carried an aura of majesty and dignity, his deep eyes holding years of wisdom and experience.
"This brings joy to my heart," the king said in a commanding voice as he watched his sons with pride. "Unity and strength are the foundation of our kingdom. I see you two are as competitive as ever."
Edward approached his father with a wide smile. "We were talking about the future of the kingdom, Father, and how to preserve this peace."
"A worthy topic, my son," the king replied, placing a hand on Edward's shoulder. Then he turned to Amatris and asked, "And what do you think, Amatris? What is your vision for Valdorin's future?"
Amatris sighed softly before answering, "I see a prosperous and safe future, Father. But I also believe in the necessity of caution and vigilance. We must learn from the past and be prepared for any threat, whether from outside or within our borders."
The king exchanged a meaningful look with Amatris, as if his words had stirred a buried memory. "Your wisdom surpasses your years, my son," the king said slowly. "There are things you do not yet know—secrets our family has carried for generations. Secrets that could change how you see the world."
The brothers didn't fully grasp the meaning behind their father's words, but they sensed a hidden weight surrounding their family. They didn't know that this "hidden thing" had a physical, tangible presence—hidden deep in the royal cellar: the Stone of Velor.
The Stone of Veler was an ancient relic, dark black in color and coarse to the touch. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable. But it had been crafted two centuries ago by a group of sorcerers who craved absolute power. These sorcerers had sealed part of their dark energy and malice into the stone and bound it with a powerful curse—one that could only be activated through a blood sacrifice from the lineage of the stone's owner. It was a ticking time bomb, threatening the kingdom's peace without anyone suspecting.
As the days and months passed, the princes continued their routine lives—learning from the finest scholars in the kingdom and participating in state affairs under their wise father's guidance. Yet the king's final words lingered in Amatris's mind, stirring his curiosity and making him question the secrets that had been hinted at.
One moonlit night, as silence blanketed the palace, Edward crept through the dark hallways. He wasn't heading to his room, but rather moving purposefully toward the royal cellars, a lit candle guiding his way.
He had overheard faint whispers among trusted servants about a hidden chamber in the cellars that contained forbidden and ancient objects. His burning curiosity pushed him to see for himself.
After a strenuous search through the damp and shadowy corridors, Edward finally found a concealed door behind an old woven curtain.
He pushed it open hesitantly and stepped into a small, dust-filled room that smelled of forgotten ages. The chamber contained locked wooden chests and worn leather scrolls, and in its center, on a simple stone pedestal, lay the Stone of Velor.
Edward felt a strange pull toward the stone. He reached out slowly and touched it. A faint pulse ran through his veins—a bizarre, thrilling sensation he had never experienced before. As he examined it, he found an old manuscript lying beside it. He opened it with curiosity and began reading the faded text.
The more Edward read, the wider his eyes grew in shock and horror. The manuscript revealed the dark history of the Stone of Veler, its dormant power, the curse bound to it, and the only way to activate it—a blood sacrifice from the stone owner's bloodline.
A wave of disbelief and awe overcame Edward. But soon, something else crept into his heart: an overwhelming thirst for power.
He imagined himself wielding that immense power—becoming stronger than anyone, ruling Valdorin unchallenged. He ignored the manuscript's warnings about the dire consequences of using the stone, focusing only on the immense potential it promised.
At that moment, King Theodore entered the chamber. He had noticed Edward's absence and felt a strange sense of unease. When he saw his son standing before the Stone of Veler, holding the ancient manuscript, a chill ran through his veins.
"Edward! What are you doing here?" the king cried out, his voice trembling. "Step away from that stone at once!"
Edward flinched and turned to his father, his face a storm of shock and greed. "Father… I know the truth now. I know the power of this stone."
"My son," the king pleaded, "this stone is cursed! You must never go near it! I hid it here to protect our family and the kingdom from its evil."
But the king's words no longer reached Edward's heart, already tainted by ambition. He looked at his father with new eyes—eyes gleaming with a dark light.
"But Father, imagine the power we could possess!" Edward said. "We could make Valdorin the greatest kingdom in the world!"
"No, Edward!" the king implored. "That power will corrupt you and destroy everything!"
But Edward had made his choice. He no longer saw his father as the wise and loving king, but as an obstacle in his path. In a horrifying moment, driven by ruthless ambition, Edward raised his dagger and stabbed his father in the chest.
King Theodore collapsed to the ground, his eyes staring at his son in disbelief and heartbreak. He tried to speak, but blood filled his mouth. His last words were a muffled groan.
Amatris witnessed the horrific scene. Awoken by the commotion, he had followed his father to the cellars—only to be struck dumb by what he saw. He stood frozen, speechless, as his brother committed the ultimate betrayal.
Finally, Amatris screamed, his voice shaking with horror and fury. "Edward! What have you done?!"
Edward looked at him, the signs of transformation already etched on his face. His eyes burned with a strange glow, his features sharper and colder.
"I did what had to be done, brother," Edward said in a chilling voice Amatris had never heard before. "I've opened the path to true power."
A dark force erupted from the Stone of Veler, mingling with the spilled blood of the king, and surged into Edward, wrapping his body in a black aura.
Edward felt an overwhelming surge of power, accompanied by an eerie chill that crept deep into his soul.
Amatris tried desperately to stop his brother, now possessed by dark power, but Edward had already changed. His strength now far surpassed his own. A brutal and desperate battle broke out between the brothers in that cursed chamber. Amatris fought with a shattered heart, while Edward was driven by madness for power. In the end, Amatris could not endure. He suffered a devastating blow that severed his left hand and fell to the ground, bleeding and broken.
Edward, voice rough and cold, looked down at him with contempt. "I'll let you live, brother," he said. "So you can witness the glory of my new reign. When I conquer the world, perhaps I'll grant you a place in my service."
Amatris didn't wait for another word. He summoned what strength remained and crawled away, leaving behind the brother he no longer knew, his fallen father, and the curse that had descended upon the kingdom. By some miracle, Amatris escaped the palace under cover of darkness, leaving behind everything he had ever known and loved.
The next day, Edward declared himself King of Valdorin. He spread a false tale claiming that Amatris had betrayed the kingdom and murdered the king in an attempt to seize the throne, and that Edward had bravely stopped him and saved the realm. Many believed the lies, while a few questioned the motive behind such a crime—but fear of Edward's growing power quickly silenced any dissent.
And so, a new era began in the history of Valdorin—an era shrouded in darkness and greed, while Amatris, the rightful heir and sole survivor of that horrific night, fled wounded and heartbroken toward an uncertain fate, carrying with him the memory of bitter betrayal and a vow of vengeance.
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