In the grand dining hall of the Blackwood Keep, a large wooden table groaned under the weight of an extravagant feast. The air was filled with the tantalizing smell of roasted venison, freshly baked bread, and sweet mead. Yet, the atmosphere was far from celebratory; it was stifling, oppressive, and heavy with sorrow.
At the head of the table sat Sir Garret Balmore, the patriarch of the family. His usually vibrant eyes were dulled with grief, the lines on his face deepened by worry. His broad shoulders, which had carried the weight of his household, seemed to sag under the burden of the recent events.
To his right sat his wife, Lady Isolde Balmore, a woman of exceptional beauty and grace. Her face was pale, her usually radiant eyes red and puffy from countless nights of weeping. The vibrant woman who was once the heart of the household had been transformed into a ghost of her former self.
Their two younger children sat across from them. The younger son, Percival, was a mirror image of his father in his youth, with his fiery red hair and sharp features. His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white with the strain. His eyes, usually filled with laughter, were now cold and hard.
Next to him was his sister, Rose, the youngest of the Balmore children. Her delicate features were set in an expression far too solemn for her tender age. Her sparkling blue eyes were clouded with confusion and fear, her lower lip quivering as she glanced at the empty chair at the table.
That chair belonged to Eldric, the eldest son, who was nowhere to be found. The echo of his absence filled the room more than any sound could. He had been the life of their household, his laughter and energy a constant source of joy and warmth.
A few days prior, an imperial decree had arrived, bearing the seal of the second prince and the crown prince of the kingdom. It read that Eldric Balmore, the pride of the Blackwood Barony, was sentenced to death for stealing the second prince's horse, an act he had no memory of committing.
The news had struck the household like a bolt of lightning, leaving them stunned and reeling. The decree had been passed to the Balmores, a chilling reminder of the power the royals held over their lives. However, the crown prince intervened, resulting in Eldric's sentence being commuted to exile and the damage to his core. When Eldric was younger, he had the honor of saving a wounded crown prince and thus gained his favor which led him to being spared.
The day the decree arrived was etched into their memories. Sir Garret had read the decree aloud, his voice shaking with suppressed anger and despair. Lady Isolde had fainted, the parchment slipping from her limp hand. Percival had roared in disbelief, while Rose had burst into tears.
In the gloomy silence of the dining hall, the Balmore family sat around the table, the untouched feast a stark reminder of their loss. They stared at the empty chair, their hearts heavy with the absence of Eldric, their lives forever marked by the shadow of the decree. Ethan, although spared, was a great relief, the thought of the son of Balmore being exiled and with no way able to protect himself left the family in tatters.
< Somewhere a few thousands of kilometers away >
It had been a week since Eldric Balmore was banished from the warmth of his family, his core damaged and his world turned upside down. He had journeyed beyond the borders of Naloria, passed through the kingdom of Stormwatch, and had now ventured into the western region of Oretheon - the mountainous expanse of Montania. His journey had been hard, every step a reminder of his fallen status.
The money his family had given him was dwindling, with only a few coins left in his pouch. To conserve his remaining funds, Eldric had decided to scale the Stormfire Range, a rugged, untouched stretch of land known for its inhospitable environment and treacherous terrain.
The mountain lay before him like a beast, its jagged peaks piercing the sky. The wind howled around him, whipping his hair and coat as he began his arduous ascent. The rocky terrain was rough under his hands and feet, every crevice and ledge a challenge to overcome.
"I would've been able to climb this dumb mountain easily if I still had my core," he muttered to himself, frustration seeping into his voice. His breath came out in ragged gasps as he pulled himself up the mountain, his muscles screaming in protest.
Seeking a momentary respite, Eldric spotted a rock large enough to sit on. As he moved towards it, a sudden rustle from the underbrush startled him. A mountain goat-like creature sprung out, its eyes wild and startled. Startled, Eldric staggered back, his foot slipping on the loose gravel.
With a cry, he found himself sliding down the mountain side. Desperately, he reached out and his hand closed around a sturdy looking branch. His heart pounded in his chest as he dangled precariously over a gaping ravine. One slip, one mistake, and he would plunge into the abyss.