Prologue

Night was an ink-black canvas over the realm of Wisteria, and the wind, a freezing whisper that caressed the castle towers.

​In the heart of the capital, upon his giant golden throne, King Heyster waited. His brown beard could not hide the deep line of worry cutting across his forehead. Tall, with fixed and tense brown eyes, he was the ruler of Wisteria, a kingdom where magic and diverse races coexisted. His commitment to peace now felt like a heavy, cold iron.

​Royal soldiers, in gleaming armor, were stationed at the corners. It was not a guard of honor; it was a sign of alert.

​The great doors of the hall opened with a heavy screech.

​Finally, Captain Leonard of the cavalry had arrived.

​The king's expression shifted, blending momentary relief with pre-existing terror. Leonard bowed quickly and, without wasting a second, began his report with a steady voice.

​"Thank you very much, Knight Leonard. Excellent news," Heyster praised, though his voice sounded hollow. He went straight to the point: "Regarding the mission I entrusted to you, what can you tell me?"

​Leonard lowered his head again. His tone was solemn, devoid of his usual boldness.

​"I'm afraid, my lord, that they have begun their move."

​The news struck like a frozen blow. Heyster clenched his fists against the golden armrests. He had feared the existence of the Zarions, but fearing this moment was not the same as being ready.

​"How many are there?"

​"They are estimated to be in the thousands," Leonard replied. His pale face telling the whole story. "They are heading north, laying waste to everything in their path and leaving no survivors."

​The king jumped to his feet. The throne screeched loudly. His mind raced with the stories of the Zarions.

​"We must mobilize our troops!" he ordered, his voice echoing with sheer determination. "We cannot allow them to reach the capital!"

​Leonard nodded, but his eyes remained restless. Something else lingered in them beyond terror.

​"My king, there is something else..."

​BOOM!

​He could not finish the sentence. A devastating explosion shattered the doors. Wood and debris flew across the room like projectiles, forcing the soldiers to scramble for cover.

​Amidst the dust, an imposing figure emerged: the Zarion chieftain. A tall, muscular warrior, clad in dark armor that reflected the dim light with a sinister sheen. His eyes... burned with a blood-curdling ferocity.

​"Lord Heyster," he roared, his voice a deep thunder. "The time has come to surrender. I am sorry for destroying your hall, but it will belong to me very soon anyway."

​The tension in the air was thick enough to chew. Heyster, still standing, faced the intruder. Around him, the soldiers drew their swords.

​"Who do you think you are to enter my kingdom and hurl such threats?" the king replied in an authoritative voice. He did not back down.

​The Zarion leader smiled. A cruel grin revealing dagger-sharp teeth.

​Leonard stepped forward, his hand on the hilt, determined to protect his sovereign.

​"I will not let you touch my lord!" he declared.

​The enemy simply laughed with contempt, a dry and hateful sound.

​"Do you think your swords can stop me? We Zarions are more than warriors; we are your worst nightmare."

​The pressure emanating from his body was palpable. Heyster felt it. They could not afford to lose the battle right there.

​"If you have come to fight, then you shall have what you wish," said the king. "Wisteria is a free kingdom, and we will defend it to our last breath!"

​The intruder frowned, surprised for an instant. Then, he smiled again.

​"You foolish fool. Today, history will be rewritten with your blood."

​With lightning speed, the Zarion chieftain unsheathed his sword: a dark blade that seemed to devour all the light in the room.

​"For Wisteria!" Leonard shouted, and lunged forward with his sword raised.

​The battle began.

​The soldiers followed Leonard with brutal force. But it was useless. The Zarion chieftain moved like a dark lightning bolt among them, a blur of death. A fleeting moment later, only Leonard remained standing.

​Bodies. Blood. Silence.

​Anger clouded Leonard's mind. His comrades had been massacred. He gripped his sword tighter and lunged without thinking, seeking vengeance.

​It was his final mistake.

​The Zarion chieftain simply brought his hands together.

​KABOOM!

​A purple shockwave swept across the hall. Leonard and King Heyster were hurled backward by the blast, slamming into the wall with the force of a meteorite.