The kingdom of Sylmora was a land of breathtaking beauty-vast valleys, towering mountains, and a shimmering ocean stretching beyond the horizon. A place of wealth, power, and prosperity. But a decade ago, it was a land drowned in blood and suffering.
The tyrant who once sat on the throne, King Edric Valtoria, was a man consumed by greed. His crimson-red eyes burned with cruelty, his blonde hair was slicked back like a golden crown, and his lips curled in a perpetual smirk of arrogance. He ruled with an iron fist, reveling in the suffering of his people. Pain was his pleasure, and the screams of the innocent were his music.
But from the ashes of despair, one man rose.
His name was Reiner Caelum, the leader of the rebellion. His ocean-blue eyes held the fire of vengeance, and his jet-black hair fell in messy waves around his face. A warrior forged in suffering, he was no noble-born hero-just a man who had seen too much, lost too much, and could no longer stand by.
At first, the people hesitated. Who would dare defy a king who could end their lives with a mere whim? But as Reiner raised his sword against tyranny, the fear in their hearts turned to rage. One by one, they joined him. The rebellion was born.
King Edric mocked him at first.
"A nameless insect dares to challenge me?" he had scoffed.
But when Reiner struck down noble after noble, assassinating corrupt officials who had feasted on the kingdom's misery, the king's amusement turned to fury.
"Bring me his head!" Edric roared to his soldiers.
The manhunt was relentless. No matter how many times they failed, the royal army never ceased its pursuit-until, at last, they succeeded.
Reiner Caelum was captured.
Bound in chains, bloodied but unbroken, he was dragged before the king. His blue eyes did not waver. He stood tall, even as Edric sneered down at him.
"You should have known your place, worm."
Without hesitation, the king ordered a public execution at high noon-a spectacle to remind the people who held true power.
But fate had other plans.
As the executioner prepared to end Reiner's life, a deafening explosion shattered the silence. Flames erupted across the square, and chaos ensued. People screamed, soldiers scrambled. And in that moment of madness, Reiner was free.
Through the smoke, a figure emerged. Cloaked in black, moving like a shadow.
King Edric turned to flee-but before he could, a blade pierced his back.
His body jerked in shock. Pain seared through him. He turned, red eyes wide with disbelief, as Reiner twisted the dagger deeper.
"This is for the people you slaughtered."
With those final words, he drove the blade into the king's heart.
The tyrant was dead.
With their ruler gone, the soldiers faltered. The castle fell without a fight, and by nightfall, Reiner Caelum sat upon the throne.
The nameless rebel had become the new King of Sylmora.
The warm glow of a lantern flickered softly, casting long shadows across the small wooden room. Outside, the night wind whispered through the streets of Aquarius, the capital city, while inside, a mother and child sat nestled together on a simple yet cozy bed.
Lyssara, her golden eyes filled with warmth, gently brushed her daughter's soft white hair as she spoke.
"And that, my little star, is how the tyrant king fell, and a new era began."
The five-year-old Zyrelia, tucked under a thick blanket, clutched her stuffed toy tightly. Her blue eyes sparkled with fascination, yet her small lips formed a tiny pout.
"But Mama… what happened next? Was the new king kind?" she asked, tilting her head.
Lyssara chuckled, placing a soft kiss on her daughter's forehead. "That, my dear, is a story for another night."
Zyrelia groaned dramatically, burying her face into the pillow. "Not fair!" she mumbled.
Beside them, Kaelith, Zyrelia's father, leaned against the doorway with an amused smile. His black hair was slightly messy from a long day's work, and his blue eyes twinkled with mischief.
"You always complain, but you know you love Mama's stories," he teased, crossing his arms.
Zyrelia peeked out, puffing her cheeks. "Hmph! Maybe just a little..."
Lyssara laughed and pulled the blanket up to her daughter's chin. "Sleep now, my love. One day, you'll have your own story to tell."
Zyrelia blinked, her young mind swirling with dreams of adventure. As her mother blew out the lantern, she whispered into the dark:
"Maybe one day… I'll be in a story too."
And with that thought, she drifted into sleep, completely unaware that her journey had already begun.