The flames danced and crackled in the small hearth, casting flickering shadows on the rough-hewn walls of the cottage. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, sweat, and poverty.
Elara, a frail but fiery woman in her sixties, sat huddled in a threadbare cloak, her eyes fixed on the fire as she poked at the embers with a charred stick. Her grandson, a wide-eyed boy of ten winters named Eryndor, sat beside her, his gaze fixed on her face with an eager intensity.
"Tell me a story, Grandma," Eryndor begged, his voice trembling with excitement. "A story of adventure and bravery."
Elara's eyes clouded, and she glanced nervously around the small cottage, as if fearful of being overheard. The wind outside seemed to howl in response, causing the wooden beams of the cottage to creak and groan.
"Very well, child," Elara whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling of the fire. "But you must promise me you would go to bed early when it's time.Remember we have a lot of farm work to do tomorrow"
"Yes grendma, i promise"
Eryndor's eyes grew wide with excitement, and he nodded solemnly, his heart racing with anticipation.
"A very long time ago," Elara began, her voice barely above a whisper, "when the world was still young and mysterious, our kingdom of Everia was a land of prosperity and peace."
Eryndor's eyes grew wide with wonder, and he leaned in closer to his grandmother, his heart pounding with excitement.
"But that was before the darkness fell," Elara continued, her eyes clouding over with a deep sadness. "Before the King of Galvia, with his black heart and his pagan ways, laid siege to our kingdom and brought us under his cruel rule."
Eryndor's face scrunched up in confusion. "Why did he do that, Grandma?" he asked, his voice trembling with concern.
Elara's eyes flashed with a fierce anger, and she spat into the fire, as if to rid herself of the very thought. "He did it because he sought to crush our spirits and destroy our faith," she hissed. "He sought to make us bow down to his false gods and worship him as a deity."
The fire crackled and spat, casting eerie shadows on the walls as Elara's words hung in the air like a challenge. She continue with the story.
"In the annals of history, there lived a great king named Peter the Great, son of King Philip of Marlenia. King Peter ruled from his capital city, Argentum, a majestic fortress city nestled in the heart of the Marlenian Mountains.King Peter's conquests began when he marched out of Argentum and attacked King Gawian of Calonia, defeating him in battle and seizing his throne. This victory marked the beginning of King Peter's relentless campaign to conquer the southern and western hemispheres.
For years, King Peter fought battles against kings and warlords, expanding his empire with each victory. His military prowess and strategic brilliance earned him the respect and fear of his enemies. As his empire grew, so did his pride and arrogance. He built a formidable army, dominating nations and forcing them to pay him taxes.
King Peter's reign lasted for twenty years, during which he brought a measure of stability and prosperity to his vast empire. However, his later years were marked by increasing tyranny and oppression.
As King Peter's health began to decline due to a debilitating case of stone kidney, he realized that his time on this earth was drawing to a close. Summoning his generals, noblemen, and childhood friends, he divided his empire among them, granting each a portion of the realm.
Two days later, King Peter passed away, surrounded by his loved ones and loyal subjects. After his burial, the generals and noblemen took control of their respective territories, each crowning himself king.
The descendants of these kings would go on to rule their kingdoms, bringing great misery to the world. Their greed, ambition, and lust for power would spark wars, famines, and suffering, leaving deep scars on the world that would take centuries to heal.
And so, the stage was set for the struggles of the kingdom of Everia, which would soon find itself caught in the midst of this turmoil.
Eryndor's eyes sparkled with excitement as he gazed into the flames. "I want to be like King Peter the Great," he declared, his voice filled with determination. "I want to surpass him and become the emperor of the world!"
Elara's eyes crinkled at the corners as she laughed, a warm, throaty sound. "Ah, child, you have big dreams," she said, shaking her head. "But it's not going to be easy. To achieve such greatness, you'll need patience, strong prowess, and a heart full of courage."
Eryndor's face set in a determined expression, but Elara could see the faintest glimmer of doubt in his eyes.
"Tell me more, Grandma," Eryndor urged, his voice filled with excitement. "What happened after King Peter's death?"
Elara's eyes seemed to cloud over, as if the very memory of King Alexander Ephiphanes and his influence on Everia was a painful one. "King Alexander Ephiphanes, son of King Alexander the Third of Galvia, was a descendant of one of King Peter's generals," she began, her voice low and measured. "He had been a hostage in Valdoria for twelve long years, only to be released and crowned king of Galvia at the age of twenty-seven."
Eryndor's eyes were wide with wonder, and he leaned in closer to his grandmother, eager to hear more.
"At that time, there lived a rebellious group of Everians who had no regard for God Almighty and His laws," Elara continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "They had a bad influence on many of the people of Everia, and they often said to one another, 'Let us come to terms with the pagans, for our refusal to join them has caused us nothing but trouble.'"
"These wicked Everians went to King Alexander Ephiphanes and pleaded with him to allow them to follow his pagan customs," Elara said, her voice heavy with sorrow. "And to their shame, King Alexander Ephiphanes was pleased with their request and granted them permission to worship the pagan god Ramas, just as the people of Galvia did."
Eryndor's face scrunched up in distaste. "Ramas?" he repeated. "Who is that?"
Elara's eyes flashed with anger. "Ramas is a false god, a deity of darkness and evil. And those rebellious Everians built a great stadium in our land, just like the one in Galvia, and they forced their families and friends to join them in their wicked worship. They even influenced others to join them, and soon our land was filled with the sounds of pagan rituals and sacrifices."
King Alexander Ephiphanes, emboldened by his newfound power and influence, set his sights on the neighboring kingdom of Balimas. He was determined to add Balimas to his growing empire, and he would stop at nothing to achieve his goal.
With a formidable fleet of warships and a powerful army at his command, King Alexander Ephiphanes launched a surprise attack on the kingdom of Balimas. His army was a force to be reckoned with, boasting chariots, elephants, and cavalry, all of which were instrumental in breaking through the defenses of Balimas.
King Edward of Balimas, realizing that the battle was turning in favor of King Alexander Ephiphanes, turned tail and fled, leaving many of his soldiers to face the enemy alone. The army of King Alexander Ephiphanes swept through the kingdom, capturing the fortified cities and plundered the land.
The people of Balimas were subjected to untold suffering and hardship as King Alexander Ephiphanes' army rampaged through their kingdom, leaving destruction and despair in its wake. The once-peaceful kingdom of Balimas was now nothing more than a conquered territory, forced to bow to the will of the mighty King Alexander Ephiphanes.
Eryndor's eyes were wide with wonder as he listened to his grandmother's tale. "What happened next, Grandma?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Elara's eyes seemed to cloud over, as if the memories she was about to share were painful ones. "King Alexander Ephiphanes' conquest of Balimas was only the beginning," she said, her voice low and ominous. "He would go on to conquer many more kingdoms, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in his wake. And Everia, our beloved kingdom, would soon find itself in the crosshairs of the mighty King Alexander Ephiphanes."