The next day at the palace, Morfrey requested an audience with his father, Emperor Mordret, as soon as possible. During the audience, Morfrey asked his father to help the poor people living in the slums of Alnuum and, especially, the family he had been helping. Mordret was once again amazed by his son's altruism; however, for him, it would not be possible to grant this request, as if he helped one family, he would have to help many, and the crown could not afford to provide so many benefits, since the wars against Volkaron had resumed and all funds were being directed to the war.
Morfrey left saddened, but had not given up yet. That night, he returned to that family's house and once again did what he was accustomed to; however, this time he saved a little more gold and, waiting for the parents to leave the house, he returned and gave the gold to the girl so she could buy food and not have to go through what she went through again. That afternoon Morfrey was leaving, when he overheard some people commenting about a new drug being distributed in the slums and making people insanely addicted to it, but as his mind was focused on helping that family he did not pay much attention.
The next day, Morfrey went on his heroic adventures through the capital with Sebastian, and that day they came across smugglers and knocking them out, they discovered they were carrying something different, a strange pink powder, Morfrey understood that must be some kind of drug and that maybe it was the new drug he had heard some people commenting on the night before, so he called Sebastian to investigate what was happening. Morfrey believed that if he found the source of distribution of this drug he could free not only the parents of that girl, but many poor people who were trapped in it. Morfrey and Sebastian spent 12 days trying to find clues about it, but were not getting anywhere, and when they were about to give up they heard rumors that this distributor used a small village north of the capital for production of this drug and so Morfrey and Sebastian went there to check it out.
Morfrey and Sebastian arrived at the village at night and went to spy around the small houses and noticed that in one of them some people were working surrounded by some men carrying swords. Sebastian noticed that the people's faces did not look happy and told Morfrey that maybe they were being forced to work. Morfrey thought that could be why they set up this distribution center in a small village rather than in the capital, because in the village they could easily force the locals to work non-stop. Morfrey then, driven by a sense of justice, invaded the house to save the people there, with Sebastian only accompanying him. Inside, the two defeated the thugs with some difficulty and while the thugs were on the floor, Morfrey called for the people to leave as fast as possible, but no one wanted to leave.
Some of the men and women there told Morfrey that they had kidnapped some relative of theirs and that they could not leave otherwise that relative would be killed. At that moment, a different man arrived on the scene, a man with short black hair holding a blood-stained sword. At that moment, quickly the people returned to working while Morfrey and Sebastian took fighting stances; the man continued walking calmly and drew his sword - the blade was reddish and bright - and pointed the sword at the boys saying: "I am Luck, the bleeding blade and you will die here!".
In the remote village, under the cloak of night, Morfrey and Sebastian find themselves face to face with Luck, the Bloody Blade. The atmosphere is tense, the air heavy with the promise of an imminent confrontation. Morfrey, determined to end the drug distribution operation and save the hostages, confronts Luck with an iron resolve. Sebastian, by his side, prepares to support Morfrey with his blood magic, a skill inherited and refined over the years.
Luck, with an imposing presence, draws his reddish-bladed sword, which shines under the weak moonlight. The confrontation begins with a quick exchange of blows, where Luck's combat skill is evident. Morfrey and Sebastian fight bravely, but it is clear that Luck has an advantage thanks to his unusual experience and dexterity.
The battle intensifies, with Morfrey and Sebastian trying to find an opening in Luck's defense. However, Luck is relentless, and his counterattacks are precise and deadly. Morfrey, despite his strength and training, begins to realize the difficulty of overcoming Luck. At a critical moment, when Luck is about to strike a blow that could be fatal, Sebastian intervenes with his blood magic, creating a protective shield that saves Morfrey from a grim fate.
With Morfrey in danger and the situation becoming increasingly desperate, Sebastian makes a quick decision. Using his arcane abilities, he creates a magical portal and pulls Morfrey out of the house, narrowly escaping the clash with Luck.
Outside the house, in the silence of the night, Morfrey finds himself desolate. He had promised to free those hostages and end the drug distribution, but now, defeated and frustrated, he realizes his mission is far from over. With a determined look and a heavy heart, Morfrey promises himself that he will return with more soldiers, resolved to put an end to Luck's operation and free all those suffering under the yoke of that village.
The battle may have been lost, but the war is far from over. With the loyalty and support of Sebastian, Morfrey knows he has a lot of work ahead. They will return, more prepared and stronger, ready to face any challenge Luck and his forces may present.
After a frustrating journey, Morfrey returns to the palace, carrying with him the gravity of recent events. His entrance is tempestuous, marked by a maelstrom of emotions he can barely contain. The palace, a place of ostentation and superficial joys, seems even more alienating at that moment, especially when witnessing his father, Emperor Mordret, entertained with guests, distant from the afflictions of his people.
Morfrey's anger flares up like an uncontrollable flame. "How can there be so much indifference? While the people suffer, here you toast to ignorance?" Morfrey vents, his voice echoing through the ornate corridors, a stark contrast to the reality outside. His protest is visceral, born of a sincere desire for change, but is met with looks of rebuke.
The confrontation with his father reaches a climax when Morfrey, in a symbolic gesture, knocks over a glass of wine, an act of defiance that transcends the gesture itself, questioning the foundations of a system that privileges few while many suffer. Mordret's response is severe, a slap that echoes not only on the young prince's face, but in his spirit, marking the beginning of a forced isolation in his chambers.
During his days of seclusion, Morfrey received only the company of his younger brothers, Lilla and Relon, whose visits were beams of light amidst the darkness of his thoughts. The confinement became a period of reflection, a test of patience and strategy for the young prince, who realized that to fight injustice from within, sometimes one must wear the mask of conformity.
After a week, Morfrey opted for diplomacy, presenting his apologies to the emperor before the court. His words were carefully chosen, a calculated performance to ensure his freedom. But inside, the seed of discontent had already germinated, nourishing a growing desire for meaningful change, a silent commitment to challenge and eventually transform the system he so despised.
After leaving the audience with his father, Morfrey felt frustrated and forsaken by the situation of the less fortunate in Alnnum. With a heavy heart but determined to make a difference, he donned his usual disguise and wandered the shadowy streets of the capital. Each step reinforced his silent oath to improve the lives of those under his future reign.
As he passed a beggar, Morfrey, moved by compassion, extended a silver coin, a simple gesture he hoped would alleviate some of the man's suffering. What happened next, however, left Morfrey perplexed. The beggar, firmly grasping his arm, whispered words that echoed deeply in the prince's heart: "Death is the only freedom for suffering." Shocked by the intensity of that encounter, Morfrey swiftly freed himself and sought out passersby who might have witnessed the strange scene. However, when he turned to show them the beggar, he had disappeared, leaving Morfrey alone with his turbulent thoughts.
Confused and still trying to digest the beggar's words, Morfrey decided to visit the family he had been helping, hoping to find some comfort and clarity. Upon arriving at the house, he was greeted with warmth and gratitude, a tangible reminder of the positive impact his actions had on the lives of those around him. The visit renewed his spirit and reaffirmed his resolve to fight for a better future for all in Alnnum, one in which the beggar's grim words were not the only truth.
With his heart a little lighter but his mind full of determination, Morfrey bade farewell to the family and departed back to the palace, promising himself he would do all in his power to change his people's fate.
The next day, Morfrey returned to the family's house, called for the people, and no one came to receive him. Reaching the slightly ajar door, he realized something was wrong, and pushing it open was met with an overwhelming stench of blood inside. He raced in as fast as he could and found the family's parents dead on the floor, but continued further to discover the girl and all her siblings had also been killed, seemingly a tragedy that shattered the joy and hope he'd felt just the day before. Seeing it, he felt his spirit burn with fury. "What kind of hero am I?" he asked himself angrily. Realizing there was nothing more he could do for the family, Morfrey left the house that afternoon. As he departed, he saw the same beggar standing ominously outside, and in his enraged state thought the man responsible.
In an overwhelming state of fury, Morfrey found the beggar who had grabbed his arm days prior, now standing eerily before the house where tragedy had unfolded. With his heart ablaze and fists clenched, Morfrey advanced on him, demanding to know if he had been responsible for the horrible act.
The beggar remained silent, his expression unchanged in the face of Morfrey's threats and shouts. Even being pushed to the ground and confronted with more threats, the beggar kept calm, uttering not a single word.
Nearly giving up, exhausted by his own useless rage, Morfrey stopped. It was then the beggar slowly rose, and with a low, piercing voice, repeated the phrase he had said before: "Death is the only freedom for suffering." Touching Morfrey once more, the beggar revealed a vision of that family - no longer marked by tragedy, but restored and radiant with happiness. Morfrey saw the house filled with laughter and love, the girl sharing the stories he had told, and her parents and siblings enjoying a bountiful meal.
Tears flooded Morfrey's eyes, and a sense of despair and loss enveloped him completely. He asked the beggar with a trembling voice for the meaning of that vision, only to receive the same answer: "Death is the only freedom for suffering!"
This revelation shook Morfrey to his core. He realized the heroism and adventures he had dreamed of did not match the cruel, harsh reality of those he wished to save. The true enemy was not some dark creature or giant dragon, but the poverty and oppression suffocating the people he so wanted to protect.
With a heavy heart, Morfrey understood that the path to true justice and heroism would be much more difficult and complex than the stories he had read. He would need to fight not just against monsters and villains, but against the structures that kept people trapped in cycles of misery and desperation.
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And so, with new determination but a sharper sense of reality, Morfrey distanced himself from that scene, carrying with him the painful truth and weight of his new purpose.
A week after that, Morfrey seemed different; his brothers noticed him more distant and withdrawn, only training and strengthening himself - he wanted to at least be able to face Luck again and defeat him. When Sebastian returned to the capital excited for their next adventure, Morfrey simply said: "Our time of adventure will soon come to an end, Sebastian." Perplexed by this sudden statement, Sebastian asked Morfrey what he meant. Morfrey continued, saying that after his defeat to Luck, he had done a lot of thinking and realized they were too weak to be heroes, as they had failed to save almost anyone in the many months they had been trying. He told Sebastian he would not return to that life until he was stronger, and advised Sebastian to do the same training.
Sebastian saw Morfrey as a great leader and would follow him to hell if needed. Though saddened to have to stay away from his best friend, he understood he must train more to keep up. And so he simply heeded his friend's advice and returned to Bloodhome to improve his blood magic skills. That night, resolved to leave things in the past, Morfrey took all his collection of fantasy books and returned them to the imperial library, forever leaving behind his dreamy side.
Lilla and Relon noticed a significant change in Morfrey. The cozy moments where he shared fantastical stories and tales of heroic adventures had become rare. Morfrey, who once illuminated their rooms with tales of courage and justice, was now enveloped in silence and determination.
Meanwhile, Sebastian, far away in the land of Bloodhome, dedicated himself to rigorous training. He knew the time when he would need to be by Morfrey's side again was approaching, and he wanted to be prepared for any challenges they might face together. Each day of training was a step to strengthen his blood magic, a valuable skill that could prove crucial in supporting Morfrey.
At 15 years old, Morfrey became a captain in Alnnum's armies, a position that put him directly on the front lines of the war against Volkaron. This new responsibility not only tested his strategic abilities but also confronted him with the harsh reality of armed conflicts. The war, with its horrors and sacrifices, disgusted Morfrey. He saw up close the destruction and loss, scenes that starkly contrasted with the heroic stories of his childhood.
Leading a contingent to the battlefield front, Morfrey faced challenges that tested his leadership and morality. The reality of war was not as the books described. There was no glory in violence, only suffering and despair. These experiences shaped Morfrey, hardening his heart and mind, preparing him for the challenges he would face in the future as a leader and warrior.
During this period of transformation, both Lilla and Relon missed the cheerful, dreamy brother Morfrey used to be. However, they also understood that circumstances had changed, and Morfrey was doing what he believed was necessary to protect his people and kingdom. As Morfrey walked this new chapter of his life, Lilla and Relon hoped that somehow he would find the peace and justice he so eagerly sought in his stories.
In the penumbra of the royal armory, where the past of the empire mingles with the present, Morfrey, with his iron determination, enters the sacred space. The walls, adorned with relics of kings from past eras, seem to whisper stories of glory and sacrifice. With every step, the air grows thick with a palpable expectancy, as if destiny were about to be rewritten.
Morfrey, whose journey had transformed him from a dreamer imbued with noble intentions to a warrior consumed by the thirst for vengeance, now stands before the relics of the last hero. These weapons, immortalized in songs and legends, awaited a new master. When he extends his hands, the relics, sensitive to the hearts of those who seek them, recognize in Morfrey a spirit still bound to ideals of heroism and justice. A subtle light emanates from the pieces, sealing the silent pact between the ancestral weapons and their new bearer.
Meanwhile, Sebastian, summoned hastily to the capital, crosses the palace corridors with a mixture of anxiety and expectancy. Upon meeting Morfrey, he cannot help but notice the transformation in his old friend. Clad in the relics of the last hero, Morfrey is no longer just the young, idealistic hero Sebastian knew, but an almost mythical figure, chosen by greater forces to lead and protect.
"Sebastian," Morfrey begins, his voice carrying a new weight, "Luck marches with the mercenaries of Vermilion. On the battlefield, we will have our chance to repay every blow, every evil deed." The determination in his eyes is unshakable, and Sebastian, witnessing his friend's conviction, feels a renewed faith in the cause that brought them together.
And so, armed with purpose and wielding relics of incalculable power, the two depart alone for the battlefield. Their shadows lengthen under the moonlight, heralding an imminent confrontation that will echo through the annals of history. Destiny, now more than ever, weaves its tapestry with threads of courage, betrayal, and hope.
On the horizon, the dawn of battle announces itself with the glint of swords and the clamor of armies. Morfrey and Sebastian, guided by a destiny forged in promises of vengeance and redemption, advance. The battlefield awaits, stage for a confrontation that will decide not only Luck's fate, but the legacy of a hero reborn from the ashes of the past.
Here, Morfrey's story intertwines with those of heroes and villains, each carrying their dreams and demons. In the weaving of destinies, the true measure of a hero will be revealed, not only by the battles won but by the legacy left behind.
As Morfrey and Sebastian approached the border, the landscape began telling a story of devastation. The village lying before them, now little more than ruins and memories, stood as silent witness to the price of war. Focused on their mission of vengeance, the two rode through the desolation, driven by the need to confront Luck and all he represented.
However, on the village outskirts, an unexpected sight challenged Morfrey's resolve. A child, oblivious to the chaos around her, smiled as she ran toward the forest. This image of innocence and joy amid despair deeply caught Morfrey's attention. Within him, the fire of an old desire - to be a hero for all in need - was rekindled. Instructing Sebastian to wait, he followed the child into the woods, guided by an impulse beyond reason.
In the forest, Morfrey witnessed a scene of pure happiness: a father playing hide-and-seek with his daughter, both immersed in a moment of joy forgotten by the outside world. Morfrey tried to communicate, seeking to understand what had become of them, but his words seemed unable to reach them. It was as if they existed in different worlds, separated by an invisible barrier.
Frustrated and confused, Morfrey remembered the words spoken by a beggar he had encountered days before: "Death is the only freedom for suffering." The reality of the situation struck him with the force of a blow: he stood before souls who had been freed from the horrors of war through death. They did not respond because they were beyond the reach of his voice, existing now on a plane where the war and his vengeance could no longer touch them.
This revelation was a moment of deep introspection for Morfrey. The vision of these peaceful souls, finding joy even after death, contrasted sharply with the path of vengeance and pain he had chosen. For a brief instant, the desire to be a hero, to protect and save, clashed with the reality of his own actions and the choices that had led him there.
Returning to where Sebastian waited, Morfrey carried with him not only the determination to confront Luck, but also a deeper understanding of the complexity of suffering and redemption. The journey to the battlefield was no longer just a quest for vengeance, but also a quest for meaning and the true nature of the freedom promised by death. As they rode in silence, Morfrey pondered the weight of his future actions and the legacy he wished to leave behind.
In the dust and chaos of the battlefield, where every moment hung between life and death, Morfrey confronted Luck with a fury that consumed his being. His challenge echoed in the tense air, a long-awaited promise of vengeance. Luck, with his characteristic disdain, did not recognize Morfrey, whose identity had been concealed by a disguise on that fateful day. The irony of his ignorance only further inflamed Morfrey's determination.
Alongside Sebastian, whose blood magic wove deadly spells, Morfrey pressed Luck, cornering him against the rocks. The battle was about to culminate in a definitive outcome when Luck's men intervened, a bitter reminder of war and its endless tides of fortune and misfortune. Despite frustration at seeing his enemy escape, Morfrey channeled his anger into strength, repelling Volkaron's soldiers and inspiring Nannu's with legendary bravery. Though marked by hatred, his performance on the battlefield forged his image as an honored warrior, potentially the greatest emperor Nannu could want after the last hero.
But victory and adulation did not warm Morfrey's heart; on the contrary, they plunged him into an abyss of self-loathing. He hated himself for having killed, for having given in to rage, for being part of a privileged lineage while innocent people were dragged into conflicts triggered by corrupt rulers. The song sung in his honor by the soldiers found no echo in his tormented spirit.
Seeking some redemption, Morfrey returned to the desolate village, a solitary specter among the shadows of night. He searched for any sign of the father and daughter he had seen before, a memory of the joy and innocence the war had usurped. In his search, Morfrey longed not only for a glimpse of happiness that might relieve the weight on his soul, but also for a deeper understanding of his own purpose and the true nature of leadership and sacrifice.
In this nocturnal journey, Morfrey faced not only the consequences of his choices, but also the dilemma of any leader: how to balance the pursuit of justice with the preservation of innocence? How to be a leader who not only conquers but also protects and inspires? The village, with its silent ruins, offered no answers, only reflections - a mirror for the internal struggles of a man torn between the desire for vengeance and the aspiration to be the hero he once dreamed of being.
As night swallowed the desolate village, Morfrey, driven by a mix of despair and search for understanding, followed the mysterious beggar who seemed to appear from nowhere, a ghost among the shadows of the twisted trees. The beggar's words, "Death is the only freedom for suffering," echoed in his mind, a grim refrain promising revelations and, perhaps, a path to the redemption Morfrey so eagerly sought.
Led by a force he could not comprehend, Morfrey entered the dark cave, where the air was saturated with an energy he did not recognize but somehow felt familiar. The hole he found seemed an invitation and, at the same time, a warning. Descending through the earth, moved by the need to unveil the mysteries this beggar seemed intent on showing him, Morfrey found himself before an ancient door whose carved symbols spoke of a forgotten time, of ancient magics and pacts sealed with the very fabric of destiny.
The words on the lintel, written in a language few still knew, revealed themselves to Morfrey, who, with his erudition, deciphered their meaning. The door opened to reveal a black stone whose presence was both attractive and repulsive, emanating an energy that seemed to touch Morfrey's very essence. The voice that echoed in his mind - "He who controls death, controls Freedom!" - promised power, but at what cost?
It was at this critical moment that Sebastian, following the trail of his friend and prince, reached the cave. His blood magic, a unique ability allowing him to feel the currents of life and death, screamed in alert against the stone. He begged Morfrey to retreat, but Sebastian's words found a Morfrey torn between despair and the seductions of the power the stone promised.
Morfrey's decision to reach for the stone, ignoring his friend's pleas, was the breaking point. In a desperate attempt to save Morfrey from himself, Sebastian's blood magic paralyzed him - but it was not enough. Morfrey, in a final act of betrayal against the companion who had always stood by his side, freed himself and with a mortal blow sealed Sebastian's fate.
The moment of Sebastian's death was a point of no return for Morfrey. The sacred artifacts he carried, symbols of his bond to nobler ideals, lost their shine, becoming mere objects in the hands of someone who had renounced his path as a hero. By touching the stone, Morfrey unleashed a force that would change not just his destiny, but the destiny of the whole world.
Morfrey's eyes, once symbols of his determination and nobility, now reflected a dark depth, an opaque gleam hiding secrets and powers few could understand. And when Sebastian's spirit, trapped in a limbo between life and death, was called back to his body by Morfrey, something had irrevocably changed. Sebastian rose, no longer the loyal, brilliant friend of before, but a shadow of his former self, still loyal to Morfrey, but marked by a darkness that reflected the transformation of his prince.
Morfrey, now standing in the cave holding the stone with Sebastian at his side, contemplated the path he had chosen. A path promising power and control over death, but at what cost? Would the freedom the voice promised be a blessing or a curse? Morfrey and Sebastian, bound by a choice challenging the natural order, now stood on the threshold of a new world where the definitions of hero and villain entwined in a complex tapestry of power, loyalty and destiny.