Long ago, on the distant continent of Marcia, there was a kingdom called Avonland, named after the forest goddess Avon. It was a land renowned for its peace, justice, and harmony. Avonland was a symbol of hope and freedom, a place where people thrived in abundance. The fertile lands provided plenty of crops, and the rivers were full of fish. The climate was mild, and the fields received the best sunlight, allowing farmers to grow abundant crops twice a year, once before winter and once during spring.
The kingdom was filled with lush greenery full of forests, trees, and grasslands. The people respected their nature and were blessed by the forest goddess in return. There was plenty of food, and the people lived a simple, happy life under the rule of their wise King Promeli and kind Queen Elizabeth.
When King Promeli was just a young prince, he traveled to Heinzenworth, a distant coastal kingdom to the east, where he met Princess Elizabeth. The King of Heinzenworth, an old ally of Promeli's father, invited him to a harvest celebration. During the festivities, the King fell ill and, on his deathbed, made a final request to secure his lineage.
"What is your wish, my lord?" asked prince Promeli.
"I am dying, my lord. My daughter is still a maiden. Marry her, make her your queen. This is a father's last wish," the King said weakly.
King Promeli did not want to marry someone he barely knew, but his advisors urged him to agree, seeing the potential to unite the two kingdoms. Reluctantly, both Promeli and Elizabeth accepted their fate. Not long after, the King passed away, and Promeli married Elizabeth in a quiet ceremony at the Royal Castle Bridge.
At first, the two were strangers, but over time, they grew closer. Eventually, they fell in love. Three years later, they had a son, Alan, and their happiness seemed complete. However, their peace was about to be shattered.
Queen Elizabeth had a habit of drinking nectar made from the flowers she grew in her garden. One day, while picking flowers, she mistakenly consumed a wildflower, believing it to be one of her usual nectars. Soon after, she became gravely ill, her body covered in reddish-brown rashes, and her weight began to drop rapidly. No one in the kingdom could find a cure, and the people grew desperate.
King Promeli sent word to neighboring kingdoms, offering a great reward for anyone who could cure his queen. Many physicians came, but none succeeded. Just when all hope seemed lost, a mysterious old ogre appeared, claiming to have the power to heal the queen but only if the king sacrificed nine newborn children and gave their blood to him.
The king was horrified. "This is a kingdom of peace," he said. "I will not sacrifice my people for a cure. Ask for gold, silver, anything else, but not lives."
The ogre grew angry. "If you refuse, darkness will come to your kingdom and destroy all that you love."
But King Promeli stood firm. "I would gladly give my life for this kingdom and its people, but I will not allow injustice to reign here. Leave at once, or I will remove you myself."
The ogre, furious at the king's defiance, left, cursing the kingdom. However, despite the king's best efforts, Queen Elizabeth's condition worsened. She became bedridden, unable to speak or eat. Days before the harvest season, she passed away, leaving the kingdom in mourning. The people's joy vanished with her, and the once-thriving kingdom began to fall into despair.
As winter arrived early, the cold winds destroyed the crops, and the land, once fertile, became barren. The farmers were unable to grow food, and a famine began to spread. The walls that protected Avonland began to weaken. King Promeli sent his knights to repair the fortifications and offered fruits to their goddess Avon, but nothing seemed to help.
One fateful night, the warning bell rang out across the kingdom. An army led by the ogres had come, bringing with them terrible creatures from the otherworld beyond the Dark Forest. These monsters, was created with dark magic, they were stronger than the wind and fiercer than fire. The kingdom's men fought bravely, but they were no match for the ogre army. Many were killed, while others were taken captive, and some were eaten alive.
The magistrates advised the king to flee with his son, but Promeli refused. "What kind of king would I be if I abandoned my people? I will not run. I will stand and fight for my kingdom."
He donned his armor and commanded the royal priest and wizard, Behek, to take Alan to safety. Though Alan did not want to leave, the king insisted, and Behek escorted the young prince away.
As the battle raged, King Promeli fought valiantly, saving as many people as he could. In the end, the king fell, as did many of the kingdom's brave soldiers. The last stand of Avonland was over.
Behek and Alan managed to escape, taking refuge on a distant coast. But Alan would never forget the horrors he had witnessed, the destruction of his father, the fall of his kingdom, and the slaughter of his people. The wizard, Behek, vowed to guide Alan, to train him in the ways of magic and combat, so that one day, the young prince could avenge his kingdom and take back what was lost.
And so, Alan's journey began.