**Narrator:**
Later that evening, as the sun dipped beneath the horizon and shadows stretched across the town square, the people of Zarador began to gather. A murmur rippled through the crowd, like the rustling of leaves before a storm. Families stood huddled together—farmers with dirt-stained hands, merchants with furrowed brows, soldiers with swords at their hips, and children clinging to their mothers' sides. Elders leaned on their canes, whispering in hushed tones, while everyone—men, women, and children—waited anxiously. The air was thick with unspoken questions and the weight of old fears.
---
**Villager 1:** (leaning in close to his companion, voice hushed but urgent)
**"Why did he gather us here? What could this speech be for?"**
---
**Narrator:**
The question, though whispered, echoed through the crowd like a ripple in water. The people of Zarador had learned to be wary of unexpected gatherings, especially under the shadow of the curse. Their eyes darted to the mansion, a dark silhouette against the setting sun, and a quiet dread filled the air.
---
**Villager 2:** (glancing around nervously, shifting on his feet)
**"I don't know... It's strange. No lord has ever summoned us like this before."**
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**Villager 3:** (wrapping her arms around herself, casting a wary glance toward the mansion looming in the distance)
**"Do you think it's about the curse? Could the rumors be true?"**
---
**Narrator:**
The word "curse" lingered in the air like an uninvited guest. The people shuffled uncomfortably, their collective breath held in the tense silence that followed. Every glance exchanged was filled with a mix of trepidation and hope. Then, from the edge of the stage, **he** appeared.
The crowd fell silent as Sai Aelith emerged—his jet-black hair catching the last rays of the setting sun, his golden eyes glowing like embers in the twilight. He stood tall, commanding the attention of every soul in the square. For a moment, they did nothing but stare, as if unsure whether to trust or fear this young Duke. Then, as if an unspoken signal had passed between them, they bowed, acknowledging their new lord.
---
**Narrator:**
Sai paused at the edge of the stage, his gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd. He could feel the weight of their expectations—the collective hopes, fears, and suspicions of the thousands who stood before him. He inhaled deeply, steadying himself, before raising his hand. The crowd rose in unison, their silence thick with anticipation.
---
**Sai:** (voice clear, carrying with the authority of his lineage)
**"People of Zarador, I am Sairen Aelith, the new Duke of this land. I stand before you tonight with a purpose, a promise. I will end the curse that has plagued your home for generations."**
---
**Narrator:**
A ripple of gasps passed through the crowd, like the first crack of thunder before a storm. Sai could feel the shift in their energy—hope blossoming in some, doubt clinging stubbornly to others. Yet all eyes remained fixed on him, as if searching for a glimmer of truth in his words.
---
**Sai:** (tone firm, eyes scanning the sea of faces)
**"For too long, you have lived under the shadow of this curse. Crops have withered, families have starved, and your once-great mines have become the lair of beasts. But no more. I carry within me the power to break this curse."**
(Sai's aura flickered subtly, a brief pulse of his power reaching out over the crowd, stirring the air around them.)
---
**Narrator:**
There was a shift in the atmosphere, a tremor in the hearts of the people. Sai's power was no mere boast—it rippled through the air like a quiet storm, unseen but unmistakable. His next words landed with the weight of ancient promises.
---
**Sai:**
**"I am not just a Duke. I am of dragon blood. By that legacy, I swear—I will reclaim this land and restore Zarador to its former glory."**
---
**Narrator:**
A stunned silence followed, broken only by the faint murmurs of disbelief. **"Dragon blood?"** The phrase whispered from one villager to another, disbelief turning to awe, awe turning to hope. In their eyes, Sai saw the flicker of something new—a spark that had not been there for years.
---
**Sai:** (voice steady, filled with conviction)
**"This curse was born from the wrath of dragons, and it will be undone by the strength of their descendant. No longer will we bow to fear. No longer will we suffer in silence. Together, we will rise, and together, we will break this curse."**
---
**Narrator:**
His final words hung in the air like a declaration of war. For the first time in years, the people of Zarador stood taller, their shoulders a little less burdened. They had been promised many things in the past, but Sai's words carried something the others had lacked—power.
---
**Narrator:**
Later that night, after the crowd had dispersed and the town settled into an uneasy quiet, Sai turned to Hana. The flicker of torches still lit the mansion grounds, casting long shadows across the walls. The weight of his speech hung over him, but there was no time to dwell on words. Action was needed.
---
**Sai:** (voice low, commanding)
**"Hana, we need to go where the curse lies."**
---
**Hana:** (nodding, sensing the urgency in his tone)
**"Yes, my Lord."**
---
**Narrator:**
Without hesitation, she moved beside him, her elven senses sharp, guiding them through the dimly lit corridors of the mansion. The air around them seemed to hum with tension, as if the very walls held their breath. Their steps echoed through the stone halls as they made their way to the rear of the estate, toward the heart of the curse.
When they arrived, a cold wind swept through the air, biting against their skin. Before them stretched a small mountain, its rocky surface jagged and uneven, casting an ominous shadow in the moonlight. The mountain's face seemed unnatural, twisted and warped by the curse that lingered in the air. At its base stood two massive, ancient doors, carved into the stone itself. The doors were cracked and worn, their surfaces etched with faded symbols that pulsed with a faint, sickly glow, as though the curse had seeped into the very rock. A strange, unnatural mist clung to the ground, swirling around their feet, and the atmosphere was thick with malice. Darkness seemed to pulse from the doors themselves, as though whatever lay beyond them was alive, waiting.
---
**Hana:** (eyes narrowing, hand instinctively moving to her dagger)
**"This place... it feels wrong."**
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**Narrator:**
Just as Hana opened her mouth to speak, her sharp senses flared. The wind shifted, and in a split second, she felt the unmistakable presence of danger. Without hesitation, her hand shot out, and her dagger gleamed in the moonlight. An arrow whistled through the air, aiming straight for Sai. But before it could reach its target, Hana's dagger sliced through it mid-flight, shattering it into splinters.
---
**Hana:** (voice filled with fury, eyes scanning the shadows)
**"Who dares attack my Lord?"**
Her voice echoed off the walls of the mountain, cutting through the night like a blade.
---
**Narrator:**
From the dense shadows of a nearby tree, a figure stepped out—a man in a black robe, his face partially hidden beneath a hood. He moved with the silence of a predator, his gaze locked on Sai and Hana. There was an eerie stillness about him, as if he was more shadow than man.
---
**Hana:** (voice sharp and demanding)
**"Who are you? Answer me!"**
She took a defensive stance, her dagger gleaming, ready for the next move. The man remained silent, his expression unreadable.
---
**Narrator:**
Hana's eyes narrowed in frustration. Something felt off. His presence—or rather the lack of it—confused her. It was as though he had concealed himself completely, yet she had sensed his aura just moments before.
---
**Sai:** (calmly, stepping forward, his golden eyes locked on the man)
**"You live here, don't you?"**
His voice carried the weight of authority, as though the man's answer was inevitable.
---
**Mysterious Man:** (hesitant but unflinching)
**"And what if I do? What business is it of yours?"**
His tone was defensive, though he did little to hide the hostility in his stance.
---
**Sai:**
**"I am the new Duke of this land."**
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**Mysterious Man:** (sneering)
**"So, you've come to die here too."**
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**Sai:** (smirking)
**"Quite the opposite. I've come to destroy the curse."**
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**Mysterious Man:** (laughing harshly)
**"Hahaha! What a joke! Do you have any idea how many have tried? I couldn't even pass those doors."**
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**Sai:** (curious)
**"Why?"**
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**Mysterious Man:** (shrugging)
**"Go see for yourself."**
---
**Narrator:**
Sai turned to Hana, giving her a silent nod. She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, her hand reaching for the doors. But as soon as her fingertips brushed the surface, a pulse of energy shot through her, and she was thrown back. Sai's eyes widened in shock.
---
**Hana:** (breathless, voice trembling)
**"My Lord... I can't touch these doors. It's as though they reject me."**
---
**Sai:** (calmly, stepping forward)
**"It's fine. I'll try."**
---
**Hana:** (worried)
**"But Master—"**
---
**Narrator:**
As Sai approached the doors, the artifact around his neck began to glow, and the ancient symbols etched into the stone responded. The air crackled with unseen power as the doors came to life.
---
**Doors:** (deep, echoing voice)
**"Welcome, challenger. Are you ready to face the Wraith?"**
---
**Sai:** (calmly)
**"Not yet."**
---
**Narrator:**
The doors fell silent once more, the ominous aura receding slightly, though the tension remained thick in the air.
---
**Mysterious Man:** (scoffing)
**"Why not now? Afraid?"**
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**Sai:** (eyes narrowed)
**"No. But I don't rush into the unknown. We must prepare for the dangers that await."**
---
**Narrator:**
The night grew colder as the mountain loomed over them, but Sai's resolve remained unshaken. The challenge had been laid before him, and soon, he would face it—on his terms.