Chapter 1
The kingdom of Alderan lay nestled in a valley, its rolling hills and sparkling lakes a sight to behold. With its bustling market squares and grand architecture, it was a place of wonder and magic. At its heart was the castle, a imposing structure of stone and steel that served as the seat of the kingdom's power.
On this day, the kingdom was abuzz with excitement. Everyone rejoiced. The old king had passed away, and his son, Arin, was to be crowned the new ruler. Everyone knew Arin would be a good ruler. For years, people have wanted him to take the throne.
The market square was filled with people from all corners of the kingdom, eager to catch a glimpse of the new king.
But amidst all the rejoicing and celebration, one person was noticeably absent. Kael, the illegitimate son of the old king, was nowhere to be found. Rumors swirled among the crowd, speculating about his whereabouts and why he had chosen not to attend his brother's coronation. Where they at odds with each other? Kael had always been supportive of his brother. Choosing to take a step back, to be the irresponsible one while his brother took charge. Could it be that things were now different? People wondered.
Kael, however, was very much present in the kingdom. Although he wasn't at the castle where the enthronement was taking place. He stood in the market square, surrounded by the sights and smells of the vibrant stalls. He laughed and joked with the vendors, sampling their wares and buying delicious treats. This was the life he wanted. A life free of worries where he could spend his money without worries.
The sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the square, Kael found himself dancing in the midst of the celebrating crowd. He spun and leaped with the others, feeling carefree and alive. Laughing with the children who had huge smiles on their faces.
As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Kael gazed up at the castle, a wistful smile on his face. He wished his brother happiness, truly he did. But he couldn't stop the silver of doubt in his mind.Would Arin be the king their father had been? Or would he be better?
Kael shook his head. "Nah, those thoughts aren't for me." He said with a smile.
Besides there was a reason why Arin was king. There was a reason why Kael and everyone in the Kingdom rejoiced as Arin took over. And complicated thoughts were not Kael's forte. That was for his brother.
---------------------------------------------------
Years passed, and the kingdom of Alderan began to change. The once-peaceful land was now plagued by strife and unrest. People spoke in hushed tones of the king's failures, of the suffering and hardship that had become all too common.
Children went missing, and the people lived in fear. A rival group, determined to bring the king down, began to gain momentum. The kingdom teetered on the brink of chaos, and Kael found himself wondering if his brother was truly fit to rule and what was going on.
Kael knew it was time to meet his brother. He needed to understand what was going on. He was sure there was a reason why things were the way it was. Faces that had been smiling were not laced with sadness and hunger. Greed was the motto of the people who were barely surviving. Kael did as much as he could with the little money he had saved but given the fact that he always used it on women and to travel, there was only little he could help with, hence why he needed to meet with Arin.
Kael was just back from a neighbouring Kingdom, a kingdom that was a stark difference to what his was.
Determined to get to the bottom of things, Kael made his way to the castle. He was greeted by the familiar face of the castle's steward, who looked relieved to see him.
"Prince Kael, thank the gods you're here," the steward said, his voice low and urgent. "The king is...indisposed. He's been like this for days, and I fear for his health."
"What is going on here Matthew?" Kael asked him with a frown.
"Whatever do you mean?" Matthew asked him with a frown.
The castle looked beautiful, nothing out of place. A stark contrast to how the rest of the kingdom was.
Kael's brow furrowed in concern as he followed the steward to the throne room. When they arrived, he was shocked to see his brother slumped on the throne, a half-empty bottle of wine clutched in his hand.
"Arin," Kael said, trying to keep his tone neutral. "What's going on? The people are suffering, and I've heard rumors of a rival group seeking to overthrow you."
Arin's eyes snapped open, and he glared at Kael with a mixture of anger and resentment. "And what business is it of yours?" he slurred, his words dripping with malice. "You've always wanted my position, Kael. Don't think I don't know it."
Kael's eyes widened in shock as he took a step back. This was not the brother he knew. Something was terribly wrong.
"Arin, stop," Kael said, trying to reason with him. "I'm just trying to help. The kingdom is falling apart, and—"
But Arin cut him off, his voice rising to a shout. "Get out! Get out of my sight, Kael! You're just like all the others, waiting for me to fail so you can take my place!"
As Kael turned to leave, he heard his brother's voice crack with emotion. "I never thought it would be like this," Arin whispered, his words barely audible. "I never thought I'd be fighting a war on two fronts..."
Kael's heart went out to his brother, despite the anger and resentment that had just been directed at him. He knew that Arin was struggling, and he wanted to help.
"What war?" Kael asked his brother with a frown on his face.