The wind swept through the stone corridors of Stormrider Castle, carrying with it the chill of the sea and the weight of sorrow. Soren Lucian Stormrider stood in the grand hall, his eyes fixed on the portrait of his parents. The pain of their loss was a constant, dull ache in his heart. It had been only a few months since they were brutally taken from him, leaving him to inherit the county at the age of sixteen.
"I never even got a chance to grieve properly". Soren muttered to himself, his voice echoing off the cold, stone walls.
Stormrider County was a bustling region, its economy driven by the trade of imports and exports, fishing, and the unique goods produced by the Mystic isles which were near the county. The county's coastline was a crucial point for commerce in the kingdom of Ardentia.
The Starweaver family which had been loyal vassals for generations, had played an important role in the absence of the former count. With their help, Soren had managed to stabilize the county, but the burden of leadership still weighed heavily on his shoulders.
In the months following his parents' death, Soren had been consumed with stabilizing the county. There was no time for personal vengeance, no room for the luxury of mourning. He had to ensure the livelihood of his people and the continuation of his family's legacy. But amidst the chaos, strange memories began to surface, memories that didn't belong to this world.
Soren clenched his fists, a wave of frustration washing over him. "Why now? Why am I remembering this only now?"
Flashes of another life, another world, bombarded his mind. He saw images of a game—"Elysium's Echo"—a world he knew intimately from his past life on Earth. The realization hit him like a sledgehammer.
"Ah..., this world is from 'Elysium's Echo.'"
He paced the hall, the weight of his discovery sinking in. "I'm screwed, aren't I?"
In the game, the kingdom of Ardentia faced inevitable destruction at the hands of a late-stage boss and the one's responsible for his parents deaths—the Bloodmoon Cult. Soren's heart pounded as he recalled the details. The similarities were too clear to ignore. His parents' deaths, and the rising tensions in the kingdom—all aligned with the events that happened in the game.
Soren paused, gazing out of the window at the port town below. Possessing knowledge of the future was both a curse and a blessing. If he didn't act wisely, everything his parents built would come crashing down on him.
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