Forest Andosen – Outskirts (Two Days Later)
Kabul knelt in the soft earth.
The world felt quieter now.
Emptier.
Carefully, he planted a young fig tree, pressing the soil firmly around its roots.
It was small.
Fragile.
But alive.
A symbol.
"To honor his mother," he whispered to himself, tying her bracelet gently around one of its branches.
The wind stirred softly, brushing against his face like a quiet blessing.
The Passing Years
Time moved forward.
As it always does.
Under King Liam's rule, Taytozena flourished.
Its walls expanded.
Trade routes opened.
Alliances were forged with distant lands.
Even as threats rose from beyond its borders, the kingdom stood strong—unshaken, united.
But darkness…
Darkness never truly disappears.
It lingers.
In shadows.
In silence.
In the unseen cracks of even the strongest kingdoms.
Castle Training Grounds – Day
Steel clashed against steel.
Kabul trained relentlessly, his movements sharp and disciplined.
Around his neck hung his mother's necklace.
A constant reminder.
A promise he refused to break.
Abandoned Ruins – Night
Far from the castle…
Far from the light…
Abenator stood alone.
Ancient ruins surrounded him, their stones etched with forbidden symbols.
Dark runes glowed beneath his feet.
The air trembled.
Red and violet lightning crackled violently, dancing around his body.
Power surged through him.
Twisted.
Unnatural.
"More…" he whispered.
His eyes burned with a dangerous light.
As Kabul grew in honor…
Abenator grew in darkness.
He sought knowledge where others feared to look—learning forbidden spells from rogue mages, cursed relics, and even whispers of ancient deities long forgotten.
And with each passing year…
His cruelty deepened.
His power grew.
Until one truth became impossible to ignore—
He was no longer just a prince.
Abenator smiled.
A wicked, chilling smile.
Kabul's Chamber – Three Days Before the Knighting Coronation (Night)
Darkness clung to the chamber like a silent watcher.
Prince Kabul lay restless upon his bed, his body shifting uneasily beneath the sheets. Sweat gathered along his brow, his breath uneven, his legs twitching as though trying to escape something unseen.
"No… stop…" he murmured weakly. "No…"
His voice trembled even in sleep.
Then—
"NO!"
Kabul jolted upright, gasping for air.
His chest heaved violently as he struggled to steady his breathing. His eyes darted around the room, searching… fearing… as though the nightmare still lingered in the shadows.
"How…?" he whispered, his voice shaking. "How could Abenator become King of Taytozena…?"
His hands trembled as they rose to his chest, gripping tightly onto his mother's necklace.
"And I…" His voice faltered. "I become… an evil sorcerer?"
Silence answered him.
Only the faint whisper of the night remained.
Was it just a dream?
Or something more?
Kabul couldn't tell.
But deep within him, unease settled like a storm waiting to break.
Something was coming.
And he could feel it.
Castle Courtyard – Morning
Morning arrived with a golden glow.
A gentle breeze swept through the grand courtyard of Taytozena, carrying with it the sound of chirping birds and distant anticipation.
The castle walls were adorned with golden banners and portraits that shimmered under the rising sun. Trumpets rang out across the kingdom, their echo blending with the deep toll of ceremonial bells.
Today… was no ordinary day.
Today marked the long-awaited Knighting Coronation.
Yet beneath the splendor, beneath the celebration…
A question lingered.
Unspoken.
Unseen.
Would this be the day the seed of destruction took root?
Guests began to arrive from distant lands.
Horses neighed as nobles dismounted, their attire rich with culture and pride. Soon, the courtyard filled with the people of Taytozena—humans and magical beings alike.
Witches and wizards stepped forward, staffs glowing faintly with contained power.
Dwarfs marched in with steady, grounded presence.
Fairies floated gracefully through the air, leaving trails of shimmering dust behind them.
Each carried their own magic.
Their own identity.
Their own place in the kingdom.
Then—
The Royal Guards entered.
Clad in gleaming armor, they moved as one—disciplined, precise, unshakable.
At their head stood General Kio.
He planted his feet firmly, raising the royal flag high as it waved proudly in the morning light.
"Order!" he bellowed. "Guards of Taytozena…!"
"Selfless leadership, our passion!" the guards roared in unison.
Again—
"Guards of Taytozena…!"
"Selfless leadership, our passion!"
Kio slammed his sword against his shield.
CLANG!
The guards followed.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
A thunderous rhythm filled the courtyard.