Aldwin had been only a minor noble's son when he started his journey in life. A man like any other with wants and needs. Yet he had a dream. He didn't wish to simply become king of Buri, his home kingdom.
No, he wished to unite all Kingdoms together as to rule all of Estrelia! He was ridiculed by many for his great ambition. A lowly minor noble's son believing he could become the highest of kings, truly laughable.
But in the face of all this, Aldwin would simply laugh and say "High King? I like the sound of that!" As he roared with laughter that came straight from the belly.
And so the young noble strove hard on his path, learning all he could to reach ever higher levels of attainment. It was on one such day, where the now knight was on a dangerous mission hoping to hone his swords skill, that he met Merlin.
Merlin was a social recluse, a druid of sorts, thats thirst for knowledge outweighed any and all who came before. He, and his younger sister, where living in a forest as Merlin conducted his research. Aldwin stumbled across them at just the right time to save Merlin from a sneakily hidden direwolf that had been ready to pounce.
Aldwin had proclaimed his great deed and had asked for no compensation as it was 'a knights duty to protect the weak'. Only Aldwin never expected an angry Merlin to chastise him for that saying he had been training his situational awareness.
The two had spent time after that in the forest as Aldwin felt he owed Merlin an apology for 'interupting his training' as Merlin had put it. He had also started to talk to Merlin's sister and was said to enjoy those simple days where they could frolick in the woods and talk for hours about the tiniest of things, feelings had started to form amongst the two.
As the weeks past the two became closer and soon became friends. Merlin, hearing Aldwin's dream was the first to not laugh at him and decided from then on he would help the young Aldwin achieve his dream as he too longed for peace amongst the realms.
With the two by each others side Aldwon made fast progress quickly becoming King of Buri before starting his conquest of the neighboring realms. He met many fellow knights along the way, 12 in total who became his closest friends and advisors after Merlin.
They spread through Estrelia and soon 50 years had passed and Aldwin only had one Empire left to beat. This was the largest and most powerful Empire of Estrelia, holding one third of her land and power altogether on its own! It was the Sowiel Empire. 50 years of hard fought war between the two powerful realms broke out that shook the very earth of Estrelia itself.
After many battles and the losses of countless friends and allies, Aldwin emerged victorious. He rose from a minor noble from a small kingdom of no great import to the High King who ruled all of Estrelia!
After he fought his last battle, Aldwin returned home to Buri and proclaimed his undying love for Yelena, Merlins sister. Merlin whilst shocked to see his greatest friend and younger sister in each others arms, only felt a great warmth in his heart as he saw the embers of a truly great live burning fiercely in both their eyes.
And so he gave them his blessing, the catalyst for what is now thought of as one of the greatest loves ever known. For they were truly happy and faithful for the entirety of their centuries long reign.