Druvan'hal'or, once known as the crown of the world, is now merely a memory erased by the winds of war. This land was once adorned with the majestic kingdom of Kaelvoria—a realm with green fields, clear-flowing rivers, and a peaceful people living under a wise king. But that peace was shattered when the Orcs arrived from a distant part of the world, bringing an inevitable destruction. They burned, attacked, and toppled everything in their path, turning this land into the Plain of Despair.The remnants of Kaelvoria's descendants hid, secretly fighting to protect their legacy. Among them, a royal couple concealed their baby, Ardan, in a secluded village called Erindor. The village was peaceful, far from the chaos of war. Ardan grew up unaware of his true heritage, but his instinct for justice always drove him to act.However, that peace was fragile. The Orcs expanded, conquering villages one by one. When Ardan dared to defy them to protect his friend, he was captured and thrown into a dark and stifling mine cave.That evening, outside the cave, Eira watched from behind the trees, her eyes sharp as she observed a group of Orcs surrounding two injured humans. In the center of the circle, a young man stood weakly, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth."Cowardly humans!" one of the Orcs snarled, swinging a large mace down. "You think you can fight us?"Despite his injuries, the young man stood tall. "Let him go. He's innocent."Mocking laughter followed his words, and the Orc leader stepped forward, a sly smile on his face. "You want to be a hero? Fine, we'll give you a chance."Eira held her breath, her body stiff, knowing that to resist now meant death. The Orc leader swung his mace, striking the young man hard. But even though he nearly fell, the young man remained standing, protecting the elderly man behind him."Ardan! Stop!" the old man cried weakly. The name echoed in Eira's ears."Do you want to take his place?" the Orc asked, a grin on his face. "Alright."Without warning, the Orcs began beating the young man, who could only endure. After their amusement, the Orc leader waved his hand. "Throw him into the cave."Ardan was roughly tossed into the cave, his body crashing into the rocks. The bright afternoon turned dark, as if the sky itself refused to bear witness to the cruelty.Eira waited a moment, ensuring the Orcs were gone before moving toward the cave entrance.
Inside the mine, Ardan lay weakly on the cold floor. The torchlight Eira carried illuminated his battered face.
"Hey... are you still alive?" Eira's voice broke the silence.Ardan slowly opened his eyes. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice hoarse. Eira sat beside him, examining his wounds. "Just someone passing through." Ardan tried to move, but his body was too weak. "I don't need your help," he whispered. Eira sighed. "Of course. Lying in an Orc mine is part of your plan, right?" Ardan couldn't respond, too exhausted. "Why are you here? This cave is full of Orcs...""I have my own business here," Eira replied briefly. "But it looks like I found you first." She extended her hand, her palm glowing softly in green. Ardan was taken aback. "Is that... magic?" "Sort of," Eira answered, focusing on healing. "Stop asking and stay quiet. If you keep moving, you'll die."The green light enveloped Ardan's body, easing his pain little by little. But his curiosity hadn't faded. "Why are you doing this?"Eira smiled faintly, not answering. "Maybe I just don't want to find a corpse here."Ardan closed his eyes, his body starting to feel lighter. When Eira finished, she stood up. "Rest. You need your strength to get out of here."
Ardan opened his eyes, hesitating. "Why don't you ask who I am? Aren't you curious?"Eira shrugged. "I don't need to know who you are. You're just someone who happens to need help."
They remained silent in the cave for a while. Eira finally began to speak."This place... how did it end up like this?" she asked softly, her eyes empty as she stared into the small fire. Ardan lifted his head slightly. "It's an old story. The Orcs came from the north. They started attacking, conquering one by one. They took everything."Eira was silent, thinking. "No one fought back? No kingdoms or armies tried to stop them?"Ardan smiled faintly. "There were, but they lost. Over time, those who remained could only survive. Like Erindor... all of that is gone."
Eira lowered her head, feeling heavy. "I didn't know the world could be this bad." Ardan nodded slowly. "You survive because you have no other choice. That's all."Silence enveloped them, the torchlight flickering on the cave walls. Morning would soon come, bringing an unexpected fate for both of them.