The morning air was cold and biting as Leonard Eldridge stood in the royal stables, watching the servants load his meager belongings onto a carriage. The grand palace loomed behind him, its golden spires piercing the dawn sky, a constant reminder of the life he had lost. He had spent eighteen years within those walls, but now, they felt like a prison he was finally escaping—or perhaps being cast out of.
Leo adjusted the scarf around his neck, Selene's parting gift. The fabric was coarse, but its warmth was more comforting than the finest silk. He traced the edges absentmindedly as his thoughts drifted to the past, to the moments that had brought him here.
His mother's face came to mind first, soft and kind, with a voice that could calm even his worst fears. He remembered sitting by her side in the palace gardens, listening to her hum lullabies as she tended to the flowers. She had loved those gardens, especially the lilacs, which bloomed in shades of purple as vibrant as her eyes.
But the flowers had withered after her death.
She had passed away when Selene was born, leaving Leo at just five years old. Her absence left a gaping void in his life, one that was soon filled by Queen Isolde. The new queen had wasted no time asserting her dominance, turning the once-warm palace into a den of cold scheming and silent battles.
Leo had tried to be strong for Selene, who was too young to remember their mother. But with each passing year, the divide between him and the rest of the royal family grew wider. His father grew distant, his brothers became cruel, and Isolde—always watching—ensured that Leo never forgot his place as the weakest among them.
"Still daydreaming, Leonard?" a familiar, mocking voice broke through his reverie.
Leo turned to see Victor leaning casually against the stable door. His older brother wore a tailored riding cloak, its crimson fabric embroidered with gold. Darius stood beside him, smirking as always, his arms crossed.
"Enjoying your last moments here, are you?" Victor continued, strolling closer. "I hope you're prepared for your grand new title—'Lord of Dust.'"
Darius chuckled. "Don't be so generous, Victor. Even dust won't want to serve him."
Leo bit back a retort, knowing it would only feed their cruelty. He turned away, focusing on the carriage as if inspecting its wheels was the most important task in the world.
Victor clicked his tongue in mock disappointment. "No witty comeback? No tears? I expected more drama from our forsaken brother."
"Enough," a sharp voice cut in.
The brothers turned as Selene stepped into the stable, her violet eyes blazing with anger. She stood defiantly, her small frame dwarfed by their towering figures, but her presence was fierce enough to make them pause.
"Haven't you humiliated him enough?" she demanded, her voice trembling with barely restrained fury.
Victor raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "We're just saying goodbye, little sister. No harm in that."
"Save it," she snapped. "You've done nothing but mock him for years. You're both pathetic."
Victor's smirk faltered, but before he could respond, Selene turned to Leo, her expression softening. "Are you ready?" she asked quietly.
Leo nodded, grateful for her presence. "I'm ready."
Outside the stables, the carriage was waiting, its horses stamping impatiently against the cobblestones. Eldric, the ever-faithful butler, stood by the driver, overseeing the final preparations. His silver hair caught the light, and his posture was as straight as a soldier's.
Selene clung to Leo's arm as they walked toward the carriage. "I still don't understand why I can't come with you," she said, her voice wavering.
Leo sighed. "Selene, you belong here. This is your home."
"It's not a home without you!" she exclaimed, tears brimming in her eyes. "You've always been there for me. How am I supposed to stay here with them?"
Leo stopped and turned to her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "You're stronger than you think," he said. "Stronger than me. You'll be fine."
Selene shook her head, her tears falling freely now. "You don't know what it's like when you're not here. They treat me like—like I'm nothing."
Leo's chest tightened. He knew all too well how cruel their family could be. "Then prove them wrong," he said, his voice steady. "Show them you're better than they'll ever be."
She stared at him for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Promise me you'll write," she said. "Every week."
"I promise," Leo said, pulling her into a tight hug. He held her for a moment, committing the feeling to memory, before finally letting go.
As Leo climbed into the carriage, Eldric approached, bowing deeply. "Young master," he said, his voice calm as ever. "If I may, I would like to accompany you to Aridale."
Leo blinked in surprise. "Eldric, you don't have to do that. I know how much you've given to our family already."
Eldric straightened, his gray eyes meeting Leo's. "Your mother entrusted me with the care of her children," he said firmly. "That is an oath I intend to keep."
Leo felt a lump rise in his throat. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Eldric nodded and climbed onto the driver's seat. As the carriage began to move, Selene ran alongside it for a few steps, waving until she disappeared from view.
Leo sank back into his seat, clutching the scarf around his neck. The capital was behind him now, but the weight of what lay ahead was only beginning to settle.
The journey to Aridale was long and grueling. The lush countryside of the central kingdom soon gave way to rocky plains and dry, cracked earth. The further they traveled, the more desolate the landscape became.
Eldric kept the silence at bay with quiet conversation, sharing stories of his youth and musings about the gods. "You know," he said one evening as they camped under the stars, "the gods are not so different from people. They have their preferences, their rivalries. Some are generous, others cruel."
Leo stared at the fire, his thoughts dark. "Then why do they abandon people like me?"
Eldric paused, his expression thoughtful. "Perhaps it is not abandonment, but a test," he said finally. "The gods value strength, yes, but not just the strength of mana. Perhaps they wish to see what you can achieve without their help."
Leo didn't respond, but the words lingered in his mind.
When they finally reached Graythorn Keep, Leo felt his heart sink. The fortress stood on a barren hill, its walls crumbling and overgrown with weeds. The village below was little more than a collection of ramshackle huts, with a single dirt road winding through the center.
A few villagers gathered to watch the carriage roll in, their faces a mix of curiosity and wariness. Most looked malnourished, their clothes patched and worn. There was no cheer, no celebration—just silent observation.
As Leo stepped out of the carriage, a man approached. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a grizzled beard and a permanent scowl. "You must be the new lord," he said, his tone flat.
"I am," Leo said, doing his best to sound confident. "And you are?"
"Garret," the man replied. "I run what's left of the militia."
Leo nodded. "Thank you, Garret. I'll need your help to understand the situation here."
Garret snorted. "Situation's simple. Nothing grows here. People are starving. Previous lords didn't last more than a few months."
Leo's resolve hardened. "Then I'll be different."
Garret raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.
As Leo entered the keep, the reality of his new life began to sink in. The walls were cracked, the furniture covered in dust. The air was damp and cold, carrying the faint scent of mildew.
Eldric stepped beside him, his expression calm but observant. "It's not much," he admitted, "but it can be rebuilt."
Leo turned to him, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Then we'd better get started."
Despite the weight of his circumstances, Leo felt a flicker of hope. Aridale was barren, desolate, and forgotten by the world. But it was his now, and he would make it more than just a land of dust.
He would make it home.