*Year: 18900, Month: 16 February, Day: Friday Morning*
I awoke with the silence of Havenwood forest pressing against the walls of my chamber. The sun had not yet crested the horizon, but its hesitant glow hinted at the dawn. My room, once a part of a grand mansion, now stood alone—a solitary testament to Aric's wrath that had razed everything else to the ground.
Lifting myself from the embrace of the bed, I ran a hand through my brown hair, feeling the weight of yesterday's turmoil settle on my shoulders like a leaden cloak. As the Ruler of this realm, the destruction wrought upon my home was a stark reminder of the fragility of power and the constant vigilance it demanded.
A knock disrupted my contemplation; firm, yet respectful. "Enter," I called, steeling myself for whatever news awaited.
