Year 1 pc

Vale, second Emperor of Empril, and his brother, The Cloudbreaker, stood on the cliff’s edge, surveying the vast empire that stretched out below them. The early morning sun cast a golden light over Empril City, its towering spires and grand structures gleaming in the dawn, reflecting the power and glory of the empire that Vale’s father, Helio, had worked tirelessly to built. It was a sight of immense pride, yet today, the burden of leadership weighed heavily on Vale’s shoulders. This was not a time for savouring victories; the threat that loomed over their world did not allow for such luxuries.

Behind them, the enormous carcass of a beast lay dented and battered, its massive form a testament to the struggle it had taken to bring it down. Vale’s brother, Gemral, known as The Cloudbreaker, removed his helmet, his dark hair sticking to his sweat-drenched forehead. His ruggedly handsome face, admired by many across the empire, looked exhausted, though his eyes still held the fierce determination that earned him his name.

“Two of us is not enough,” Gemral said, his voice heavy with concern as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “If we want the capital to feel truly safe, we’ll need more than just the two of us. There are much more of these beasts out there.” He glanced back at the corpse behind them, the metallic scales of the creature gleaming dully under the rising sun. Vale removed his own helmet now, revealing a face that matched his brother’s in beauty. His expression, however, was far more burdened. The responsibilities of ruling an empire, especially in these perilous times, were etched deeply into the lines of his brow. “I know, Gem,” he replied, his voice soft yet resolute. “I stay awake at night, thinking of how to protect what we as a family have built. I wonder if Father felt this way, carrying the weight of so many lives on his shoulders.”

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The mention of their father, the late Emperor Helio, stirred a familiar ache in Vale’s chest. Their father had been a great man, a ruler whose legacy would be remembered for all time, but he had never faced the horrors that now threatened the empire. Vale found little comfort in the comparison, though his brother’s presence was a steadying force.

Gem slapped Vale’s shoulder with a smile, his gauntleted hand clanging lightly against the Emperor’s armour. “Father didn’t have to deal with these monsters,” Gem remarked with a grin, kicking at the beast’s metallic hide. “This,” he gestured to the enormous carcass, “is a new kind of threat.” Vale allowed himself a brief smile, his brother’s light-heartedness offering a momentary relief from the heavy thoughts swirling in his mind. Gem was right—no ruler before them had faced anything like this. The beasts were unlike anything their people had ever seen, elusive, deadly, and nearly unstoppable. Yet Vale knew that despite this overwhelming threat, he had to remain steadfast. His people depended on him to keep the empire standing, no matter the cost.

“Whatever may come, the Empril Empire must endure,” Vale said with quiet conviction, his eyes fixed on the distant city that represented all they had fought for. “It will endure.” Gem nodded in agreement, his usual bravado tempered by the seriousness of the situation. But despite their determination, both brothers felt the chill of uncertainty creeping in. The future was uncertain, and the beasts were only one part of the darkness that seemed to be closing in on the empire. Fear was there, lurking beneath their resolve, but neither man would let it show. The empire demanded strength, and so they would give it.