1365 - Sargal Empire

Under the cover of a raging thunderstorm, chaos descended upon the Sargal Empire. What was once an invincible, untouchable force now lies engulfed in flames, mirroring the brilliance and menace of the one who set it ablaze—Calendula, a woman with hair as red as blood and eyes that burn with a crimson fire. She was once celebrated as "the mightiest archmage across the continent," "the empress who bestowed unparalleled glory upon Sargal," and simultaneously condemned as "the empire's ultimate traitor."

Calendula steps into the emperor's chambers, where the dimly lit bedroom carries an air of heavy secrecy. The heavy curtains hang tightly, veiling the depths of what was once a somber and oppressive authority. As she walks further inside, the room stirs memories of the past. Twenty-five years ago, these very walls bore witness to Calendula's nights in the tender embrace of Trias, her beloved, the ruler of Sargal.

"Your majesty, I wish I was powerful enough to stop time, so I can be with you forever," Calendula says while laying next to Trias, the man she has been married to for four years—a handsome man with hair as black as the night and eyes as blue as the ocean.  Every time Calendula looks at her beloved, she would find herself lost in his gaze.

Trias gently pulls her in and holds her, "Time does not matter, my empress. I will never leave your side. This I can promise you."

Calendula smiles, "I know, my love. I know you will never leave me. I, too, will never leave your side."

Overwhelmed by a wave of distant memories, Calendula lets out a wistful sigh. She continues to explore the chamber and soon finds herself seated on the very bed where she and her husband once shared their first and final moments of intimacy. A bittersweet expression graces her face as she recalls those cherished memories, and she finds herself laughing, but it's not long before her laughter morphs into a cascade of tears.

As her tears flow, Calendula can't help but question her own emotions. She reflects inward, wondering, Why is my heart filled with sorrow when it should be celebrating in joy? After all these years and the pain you've inflicted upon me, I believed I'd purged every ounce of love, replacing it with hatred. So why do I find myself feeling like this?

Reclining on the bed, she nestles her head into the soft pillow, her ears catching the approach of familiar footsteps in the distance. Her heart quickens; the moment had arrived. With determination, she wipes her tears away.

From the side of her vision, a shadow emerges. She turns her gaze to find a man, slowly advancing. In his right hand, he clutches a steel sword, its blade adorned with the blood of his enemies. He comes to a halt beside the bed, sinking to one knee.

"Mother, it's done. The emperor is dead," he solemnly declares.

Calendula closes her eyes, her voice wavering as she responds, "You've done well, my son, Karl."

Karl's uneasy blue eyes meets her gaze as he rises and settles beside her on the bed. Gently, he extends his hands, softly caressing her hair. "It's alright, Mother. Despite his betrayal and the adversity he brought upon you, he was once your husband and the man you loved. It's alright to mourn. It's alright to shed tears."

He spoke the truth. Though Trias had betrayed her and attempted to kill her, he was a figure she'd loved for many years, and it was only natural for her to grieve those moments, finally finding the closure she'd yearned for. Tears streams down her face, as she allows the emotions, suppressed for over two decades, to flow freely. She slowly recalls her past once again and starts to reminisce the beginning of this story.