Chapter 1 : THE CALL

The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting a golden glow across the training grounds. Elric swung his sword in a fluid arc, his muscles tensing and relaxing in perfect synchrony. Sweat dripped down his brow, but he paid it no mind. Each strike was executed with precision—years of practice evident in his every movement. This was his sanctuary, his place of peace where the burdens of the kingdom and the crown melted away, leaving only the thrill of the fight.

His mind wandered briefly, thinking of the kingdom’s future, of the weight that would soon fall on his shoulders. He was no stranger to responsibility, yet the idea of ruling one day still felt distant, something not yet within his grasp. He didn’t have time to worry about that now. Not when there were skills to master, techniques to perfect. Today, he was practicing a move he had recently developed, a blend of agility and power that his tutors had often said was unconventional. But Elric preferred to create his own style, one that suited him, rather than relying solely on tradition.

Suddenly, a figure sprinted across the courtyard. Elric barely had time to register the panicked look on Kael’s face before his brother skidded to a stop, his breaths ragged and uneven.

“Elric,” Kael gasped, clutching his side. “You… you have to come. It’s Mother.”

Elric’s heart dropped into his stomach. His sword slipped from his hand, clattering onto the stone floor. “What happened?” His voice was calm, but his eyes searched his brother’s face for any clue, any indication of what could possibly be wrong.

Kael shook his head, his gaze filled with a deep, unspoken fear. “She’s asking for you. Now.”

Without another word, Elric was running toward the castle, his mind racing faster than his feet. His mother had been sick for months, but this… this urgency in Kael’s voice was different. He felt a knot forming in his chest, tightening with each step he took toward her chamber. The hallways blurred as he passed through them, his feet barely touching the ground as he hurried through the castle corridors.

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When he reached the door to her chambers, he hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering above the handle. He wasn’t ready for this, for whatever awaited him behind that door.

Kael, still catching his breath, came to a stop beside him. “She… she asked me to stay out here. Guard her,” Kael said quietly, his voice trembling slightly.

Elric looked at his brother, his heart aching for him. Kael was trying to be strong, trying to do what was asked of him, but the fear was evident in his eyes. Elric nodded silently and pushed the door open.

Inside, the room was dimly lit by candles, their soft glow casting long shadows across the walls. The scent of burning herbs filled the air, a sharp contrast to the cold, sterile atmosphere of illness that had permeated the space for months. Queen Seraphina lay in her bed, her skin pale and her body frail. She seemed smaller than he remembered, as though the sickness had drained not just her strength, but the very essence of who she was.

“Elric…” Her voice was soft, barely a whisper, but it held a strength that belied her condition. Her eyes flickered open, and when she saw him, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Elric crossed the room in three quick steps, kneeling beside her bed. “Mother, I’m here.” His voice cracked slightly, but he swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay composed. “What do you need?”

Seraphina reached out with a trembling hand, her fingers brushing against his cheek. “My son… my brave, beautiful boy. There’s something you must know before I leave this world.”

Elric shook his head, his heart pounding in his chest. “Please, don’t say that. You’re going to get better. You—”

“No.” Her voice, though weak, was firm. “Listen to me, Elric. There’s no time. I need you to hear this.”

He fell silent, his throat tight with emotion.

Seraphina took a shallow breath, her eyes closing for a moment before she opened them again, locking her gaze with his. “Your father… your father is alive.

The words hit him like a physical blow, his mind reeling in disbelief. “What? But… they told us he was dead. Everyone said—”

They lied,” Seraphina whispered, her voice growing fainter. “They all lied. Your father… he was taken. Forced into hiding. You must find him, Elric. Save him before they kill him, just as they’re killing me.”

Elric’s heart pounded in his chest. “Who? Who are they?”

Her breath was growing more labored, her strength fading with every passing second. “The ones who seek power… the ones who betrayed us.” She paused, her chest rising and falling with difficulty. “Promise me, Elric. Promise me you’ll find him.”

“I promise,” Elric whispered, his voice breaking. “I’ll find him, I swear.”

A weak smile crossed her lips. “My brave son…”

She was slipping away, her life draining from her as she reached out one last time, her fingers barely brushing his before her hand fell limp. Her final breath escaped her lips, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

Elric knelt there, his heart shattered, his mind numb. He had lost her. The only person who had ever truly understood him, the one who had protected him all his life. And now, she was gone.