Asier wakes up in a small home with rags covering his body and a musty smell filling the air. Confused and disoriented, he struggles to remember how he ended up in this unfamiliar place. As he looks around, he notices the dilapidated furniture and cracked walls, realizing that someone must have found them and brought them to their home. He starts to piece together the events of the previous night, trying to recall who might have discovered him and brought him here, but he can't remember anything.
He gets out of bed and quietly opens the door, looking down at a staircase, which he cautiously walks down. As he does, he sees a small, dimly lit hallway leading to other rooms. The air feels stale and musty, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the place. He hesitates for a moment, debating whether to explore further or try to find a way out. He opens one of the doors and sees a short, old man with very pointy ears who seems to be enjoying a cup of tea. The old man looks up, startled by the sudden intrusion, and a mischievous smile spreads across his face. He invites him in with a friendly gesture, offering him a seat at the small wooden table. Curiosity getting the better of him, he decides to accept the invitation and cautiously takes a seat, hoping to find some answers.
The old man speaks up in a soft, raspy voice: Ah, you're finally awake. Good. I've been hoping you would soon. Please, have a sip of this tea; it might help clear your mind."
He passes a delicate porcelain cup filled with steaming liquid toward him. Intrigued and slightly skeptical, he takes a hesitant sip, feeling a warm sensation spreading through his body. He takes another sip, feeling his thoughts becoming more focused and clarity washing over him.
Asier: Thank you for the tea, Old Man. Um, sorry, but can I perhaps get your name?
Old Man: Of course, my name is Hoark, and I'm a dwarf who has lived in this broken-down and ruined village for years. I have been waiting for you to wake up for quite some time now. My friend Omar found you on the beach and brought you here. You were unconscious, and we were unsure if you would ever wake up. Now that you're awake, can you tell me anything about yourself, son? What happened, ya lad?"
Asier wakes up in a small home with rags covering his body and a musty smell filling the air. Confused and disoriented, he struggles to remember how he ended up in this unfamiliar place. As he looks around, he notices the dilapidated furniture and cracked walls, realizing that someone must have found them and brought them to their home.He starts to piece together the events of the previous night, trying to recall who might have discovered him and brought him here, but he can't remember anything.
He gets out of bed and quietly opens the door, looking down at a staircase, which he cautiously walks down. As he does, he sees a small, dimly lit hallway leading to other rooms. The air feels stale and musty, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the place.
He hesitates for a moment, debating whether to explore further or try to find a way out. He opens one of the doors and sees a short, old man with very pointy ears who seems to be enjoying a cup of tea. The old man looks up, startled by the sudden intrusion, and a mischievous smile spreads across his face.
He invites him in with a friendly gesture, offering him a seat at the small wooden table. Curiosity getting the better of him, he decides to accept the invitation and cautiously takes a seat, hoping to find some answers.
The old man speaks up in a soft, raspy voice: Ah, you're finally awake. Good. I've been hoping you would soon. Please, have a sip of this tea; it might help clear your mind."
He passes a delicate porcelain cup filled with steaming liquid toward him. Intrigued and slightly skeptical, he takes a hesitant sip, feeling a warm sensation spreading through his body. He takes another sip, feeling his thoughts becoming more focused and clarity washing over him.
Asier: Thank you for the tea, Old Man. Um, sorry, but can I perhaps get your name?
Old Man: Of course, my name is Hoark, and I'm a dwarf who has lived in this broken-down and ruined village for years. I have been waiting for you to wake up for quite some time now.
My friend Omar found you on the beach and brought you here. You were unconscious, and we were unsure if you would ever wake up. Now that you're awake, can you tell me anything about yourself, son? What happened, ya lad?"
Asier tries to think, but even after finally getting his head on straight, he can't really recall much after being arrested and thrown into the cell. He rubs his temples, struggling to piece together the fragments of his memory.
Asier vaguely remembers the sound of clashing swords and shouts of chaos, but the details remain hazy. He wonders if his memory loss is a result of the arrest or something more sinister.
Asier: No, no, I I don't remember anything; all I remember is being from the Kingdom of Steeldrop and I lived alone. I got arrested and thrown in a cell, and it all became a blur from there. I can't even recall how long I've been in that cell or what led to my arrest. It's as if a thick fog has settled over my mind.
The dwarf Hoark tries to reassure and comfort Asier. He may not know the boy well, but he believes that memory loss can sometimes be a natural response to traumatic events. He must have really gone through something serious.
Hoark: It's understandable that you're feeling confused and disoriented. Sometimes, our minds protect us from painful experiences by blocking out the memories. We'll try to piece together what happened and find a way to help you regain your memories.
In the meantime, give himself time and space to heal so that his memories may slowly start to resurface. Just remember, healing takes time, so be patient with yourself. You said you were from the Kingdom of Steeldrop, right?
It's possible that your memory loss might have come from the attack on the Kingdom of Steeldrop. I heard it was brutal, and the kingdom was almost left in ruins.
Asier just looks a bit shocked hearing this: The Kingdom of Steeldrop attacked. That's impossible; it's one of the most fortified kingdoms. What could possibly have happened to cause such a devastating attack?
It's important to consider that even the strongest fortresses can fall under unexpected circumstances or strategic maneuvers. Perhaps there was a hidden vulnerability or a betrayal from within that led to the Kingdom of Steeldrop's downfall.
Asier: No way, someone almost managed to bring my home to ruin. I can't believe the Kingdom of Steeldrop was on the brink of destruction. It must have been a terrifying experience for its citizens. I wonder how they managed to repel the attack and restore their defenses.
Hoark chimes in, explaining more about the Kingdom of Steeldrop's downfall, claiming that it was a dragon that had attacked their city, leaving a path of destruction, but the dragon was not alone.
Hoark: This is just from what Omar has told me; they've been told by outside sources that the dragon had been commanding a group of seven powerful monsters.
Their combined forces overwhelmed the kingdom's defenses, causing widespread panic and devastation. The dragon and its monsters were not only physically powerful but also possessed extraordinary magical abilities.
This made it even more challenging for the Kingdom of Steeldrop to mount a successful defense against such a formidable enemy. The dragon and its monsters were relentless, targeting key strategic locations and taking advantage of the chaos. The people of Steeldrop fought valiantly, but ultimately, they were unable to withstand the overwhelming force.
Asier: So how was the kingdom able to recover from such a devastating defeat? Did they devise a new strategy to counter the dragon's attacks? How exactly did the fight end?
Hoark, stroking his beard, is hesitating to speak about how it all ended because, even to him, he doesn't even fully know how to feel about how the battle ended.
Hoark: Now that's the even stranger part about it. From what Omar told me, the Steeldrop lucked out because the Dragon had somehow lost control of the creatures it used to rampage upon the city, and once that happened, the creatures left the kingdom on a rampage in the wilderness.
The dragon, seeing that it had lost control of the monsters, left right afterwards; no one fully knows why. After this, the kingdom was a ruin of its former self, with all of its achievements and advancements over other villages and neighboring towns gone in just one day. The people of Steeldrop were left devastated, struggling to rebuild their lives amidst the wreckage.
The once-thriving kingdom now stood as a stark reminder of the chaos that ensued, leaving its inhabitants with a long and arduous journey towards recovery. The Kingdom is now back to where it started, and who knows how long it will take them to get back to their former glory, especially after the Kingdom decided to cut off from its neighboring allies.
Hearing this, something begins to jog inside Asier's memory as he recalls some of his own personal time within the kingdom.
Asier: I do remember something. I was a guard for the kingdom, a soldier. I wasn't the best guard in the world, but I knew how to use a sword and helped maintain the kingdom's security. During conflicts, I was sent out to defend the land. but it hurts to think further.
The dwarf stops Asier before he gives himself a serious headache. The boy seemed to be pushing himself a bit too hard to connect the dots of his shattered past.
Hoark: Take your time, boy. It's important to pace yourself when recalling memories that may be painful. In the meantime, let's get you some proper clothes so you can feel more comfortable, and I can introduce you to Omar.