Ever since his parents died, Eldrin had been consumed by thoughts of revenge against Queen Elara. From childhood to adulthood, he fixated on how to exact his vengeance, but the opportunity never came—until one day, whispers about a mysterious child reached him. Quietly, Eldrin began to monitor the situation, unnoticed by the kingdom of Eldoria.
He soon learned that Sanctia Gratia had taken a keen interest in this child. As more whispers reached him, Eldrin pieced together a dark revelation: to dismantle Queen Elara's reign, he must forge an unholy alliance with Sanctia Gratia.
His old loyalties were gone, replaced by a burning desire for vengeance. He had become a man driven by a singular purpose, every action calculated to bring about Queen Elara's downfall.
When word came that Queen Elara was preparing to act, Eldrin knew it was time to strike. The very day the Archbishop received news of Eldoria's interference, Eldrin set his plan in motion.
As the Archbishop's carriage rolled along the path, with a swift gesture, massive tree roots erupted from the ground, coiling around the carriage wheels and bringing it to an abrupt, jarring halt. The Archbishop was thrown forward as the carriage jerked to a stop.
"Damn it! Why did you stop?" the Archbishop shouted angrily, turning to the driver.
Before the driver could stammer a reply, Eldrin emerged from the shadows, his figure almost ghostly in the dim light.
"I'm sorry, Your Eminence," Eldrin began, his voice steady but urgent. "I have a proposition for you."
The Archbishop's eyes widened with anger at the sight of Eldrin.
"Who do you think you are, you filthy druid?" the Archbishop yelled, his face twisted with rage.
"I'm not your enemy. I'm here to offer you information about the child," Eldrin stated, his voice even and composed as he met the Archbishop's angry gaze without flinching.
The Archbishop's anger gradually faded as he considered Eldrin's words.
"What kind of information?" the Archbishop asked, his eyes now focused intently on Eldrin.
"Any information you want. You can use me as a spy inside Eldoria," Eldrin said seriously, his eyes locked on the Archbishop's.
A slow, almost unsettling grin spread across the Archbishop's face.
"And what do you want in return?" he asked, his tone thick with suspicion.
"I ask for nothing but to see those who wronged me fall. Let her feel the pain she's caused," Eldrin answered, a sly smile creeping onto his face.
"That's it?" the Archbishop asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Eldrin nodded and handed the Archbishop a talisman. They exchanged knowing smiles, both men slightly on edge. Eldrin then removed the tree roots blocking the carriage, allowing it to pass.
Eldrin vanished as quickly as he had appeared, like a wisp of smoke.
The Archbishop's face lit up with a sinister smile that refused to leave his lips. He ordered the driver to speed up so they could reach the Mahargical Kingdom quickly.
When Castiel's family arrived in Eldoria, Eldrin wasted no time befriending them. It wasn't out of genuine interest but part of a carefully crafted plan to keep them close without raising suspicion. He wove himself into their lives, each gesture and word designed to earn their trust.
What they saw as kindness was actually the work of a masterful deceiver. Discreetly, he observed Castiel's training sessions, gathering information to pass along to the Archbishop.
Eldrin maintained his facade, while Helene and Arthur remained completely unaware of his true intentions. They assumed he was naturally kind and friendly, quickly placing their trust in him. They even treated him like family, often sharing meals with him in their cottage.
Months passed, and Eldrin grew even closer to the family, solidifying their trust, especially from Arthur and Helene. They became very comfortable around him.
Then, one day, the Archbishop decided it was time to take the mysterious child. This was the moment Eldrin had been waiting for. He quickly devised a plan to create chaos within Eldoria.
He returned to Sanctia Gratia to meet with the Archbishop. They had a serious discussion about the upcoming turmoil. Eldrin proposed several plans.
"Gather your forces outside Eldoria, and I'll give you a signal before you enter," Eldrin said, a smile spreading across his face.
The Archbishop laughed loudly, then fixed Eldrin with a serious look.
"Make sure you don't fail," he warned. "You know what will happen if you do."
Eldrin grinned and replied, "You can count on me, Your Eminence."
After their brief meeting, Eldrin quickly returned to Eldoria. The entire kingdom remained unaware of his betrayal.
The next day, the Archbishop went to the Mahargical Kingdom with thousands of his followers to announce that it was time to act. Upon their arrival, the King quickly gathered his soldiers. Every member of their forces was an extraordinary warrior.
Once both sides were ready, their combined forces headed swiftly toward Eldoria. Eldrin began executing his wicked plan.
Queen Elara sensed the impending danger, but it was already too late.
Eldrin's hand did not waver as he took the lives of Arthur and Helene, his heart hardened against any flicker of remorse. Then, he carefully disguised himself as Tristlebranch, understanding that the only thing more devastating than losing family was being betrayed by a trusted protector.
In this cruel deception, he sought to take away the child's last bit of hope. Once his plan was in place, he signaled the waiting forces outside Eldoria.
The combined forces of the Mahargical Kingdom and Sanctia Gratia stormed into Eldoria, starting a bloody battle that the druids hadn't anticipated. Eldrin joined the fray, disguised as one of the enemy.
He killed his fellow druids, reveling in the carnage. To him, it was a celebration—he had finally avenged himself against Queen Elara.
"Die, all of you! Hahaha! Die!" he shouted, laughing like a madman, unable to contain the joy he felt.
The agonized cries of his fallen brethren were like a twisted symphony, each note fueling the satisfaction that burned inside him.
The relentless assault by the combined forces of the Mahargical Kingdom and Sanctia Gratia shattered Eldoria's defenses, leaving the druids scrambling in disarray. Eldrin played a significant role in this victory. He felt no remorse, only immense satisfaction from the outcome.
The remaining druids, including Queen Elara, were forced to flee to avoid being wiped out completely.
The allied forces of the Mahargical Kingdom and Sanctia Gratia searched desperately for the mysterious child. As the chaos of the battle began to fade, frustration turned to fear when Castiel stepped out of the shadows.
His aura, fueled by anger, buzzed with raw power, so intense it flung some of the soldiers around him like leaves in a storm.