Chapter 1: The King's Game
Over the vast, sprawling city of Lycaris lay the crimson sun, its rays casting across the jagged spires of the Iron Keep. King Aldrin Valcorsis sat at the head of a massive obsidian table, surrounded by his heirs, advisors, and generals. Their faces, full of tension and ambition, created a heavy atmosphere in the room that had nothing to do with the flickering heat of the torches but the weight of unspoken truths.
On the table lay one odd artifact: a cube, no bigger than a man's fist. Its surface shimmered with faint, shifting lines, as if it were alive. It was a Block-one of the ancient relics said to carry the power to remake the world. For centuries, kingdoms rose and fell, battles were fought and empires destroyed, all for these mystical artifacts. Now, here was one of the most formidable, in the hands of a king who no longer trusted his own blood.
"I will not see Lycaris torn apart when I am gone," Aldrin began, his voice gravelly but commanding. "The Block will decide."
A murmur spread through the room, disbelief and outrage dancing on the edge of every tongue.
"Father, this is madness!" shouted Prince Cael, the eldest and of the king's children. His eyes burned with fury. "You would gamble the throne on this relic?"
"Better the Block than your scheming hands!" Aldrin barked, slamming his fist on the table. His once-great frame, now diminished by illness, trembled slightly.
Across the table, Princess Elara smirked, her green eyes gleaming like poisoned jewels. "The Block doesn't choose blindly, brother. Perhaps it will favor one who knows how to rule."
"Enough!" Aldrin's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Tomorrow, the game begins. Fight, scheme, betray-do what you must. But the one who holds the Block by week's end will rule Lycaris.
In the silence that followed, the heirs exchanged cold, glances. Each knew what was at stake, and none would hesitate to spill blood for the throne.
As the meeting dissolved, Aldrin turned his weary gaze to the Block. It shimmered faintly, almost mockingly. It would not only decide the ruler but would ignite a fire that could consume the entire kingdom.
The King's Game had begun.