Three years after the founding of Haven’s Reach, the city stood as a beacon of hope. Life, while still harsh, had gained a rhythm. Crops grew in the reclaimed fields, traders moved along newly established routes, and the city’s walls held firm against the occasional monster raid.
Emmet Fischer, now 25, stood atop those walls, the sea breeze tugging at his cloak. His serpent summon rested nearby, its sleek, coiled form blending into the stone like a sentinel. Haven’s Reach had flourished, but Emmet’s mind was elsewhere.
“Another sighting of those black banners,” one of the scouts reported, their voice tinged with unease. “They’re patrolling closer to the reclaimed lands.”
Emmet nodded grimly. The remnants of the old empire—the so-called Crown’s Wrath—were becoming bolder. He had heard the stories: brutal executions, burned-out villages, and people forced to flee the lands they tried to rebuild.
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In the heart of Haven’s Reach, the council met to address the growing crisis. Emmet, now a respected leader, stood before the gathered elders and captains, his spear resting against the table.
“We can’t keep ignoring this,” he said. “Every day we hesitate, more people are dying. Those lands fed us once; they can do so again, but only if we reclaim them.”
An elder shook his head. “Do you understand the risk? Those lands are overrun with monsters—and now this... empire. Their forces are well-armed and organized.”
“Better armed than us?” Tabitha spoke up, her calm tone cutting through the room. The mage stood beside Emmet, her presence commanding attention. “We’ve faced worse with far less.”
Doramm, standing like a silent shadow, said nothing, but his presence alone was a reminder of their strength.
The debate raged on, voices rising and falling like waves. Finally, one of the elders spoke. “If you’re so determined, then you lead the expedition, Emmet. But don’t expect us to rebuild the city if you fail.”
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Emmet’s jaw tightened. “I never expected anything less.”
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The next two days were a flurry of activity. Emmet’s group—thirty warriors strong—gathered supplies and weapons. Tabitha studied maps of the reclaimed lands, her fingers tracing potential routes and choke points. Doramm, ever stoic, inspected their gear with an unyielding eye.
Before they left, Emmet visited Haven’s central square. Children played under the watchful eyes of their parents, the sound of laughter bittersweet. He thought of Theo and Mila, of the family he had lost and the city they had never seen.
“You’d have liked it here,” he murmured to himself, his hand brushing the pommel of his spear.
As the sun rose on the third day, the group set out, their path leading them into the unknown.
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The journey was slow and grueling. The forest gave way to open plains, the once-fertile farmland now a wasteland of ash and broken soil. They passed abandoned villages, their buildings crumbling under the weight of years.
At one such village, they found the remains of settlers who had tried to rebuild. The sight of their broken bodies, marked by clean sword strikes, turned Emmet’s stomach.
“Not monsters,” Tabitha said grimly. “This was the work of men.”
Emmet knelt beside a black banner fluttering in the wind. The sigil of the old empire—a crowned lion—glared back at him.
“They’ve claimed this land as theirs,” he said.
Doramm’s skeletal hand tightened around his blade. “Then we take it back.”
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They encountered the first patrols at dusk. The soldiers of the Crown’s Wrath were disciplined and heavily armed, their black-and-gold armor gleaming even in the fading light.
Emmet’s group fought with precision and fury. His spear moved like a living thing, striking down foes with brutal efficiency. Tabitha’s magic scorched the battlefield, her spells leaving trails of fire and ice in their wake. Doramm tore through the enemy ranks, his presence a nightmare given form.
When the battle ended, Emmet stood among the bodies, his breathing steady. He surveyed the fallen soldiers, their faces frozen in defiance even in death.
“They’ll know we’re here now,” Tabitha said, wiping soot from her brow.
“Good,” Emmet replied. “Let them come.”