Long ago, in the nation of Gosnar, there lay a city shattered by time and despair. Rendlewood, once a beacon of prosperity, now languished in decay, a ghost of its former self. The people, lost and aimless, drifted through crumbling streets, their minds numbed by trivial distractions. The city's rich history, filled with conquest and splendor, lay buried beneath its decline, leaving only faint whispers of glory.
Rendlewood nestled in a cove at the edge of a crimson abyss, its blue lake mirroring the sorrow of its inhabitants. The nobles, their eyes hollow and lifeless, wandered the shores, their misery palpable. A foul stench permeated the air, and the light at dawn and dusk cast an eerie glow, deepening the city’s gloom. Even the stars and clouds seemed to conspire against the city's joy. The streets decayed with the relentless cycle of suffering.
In Castle Frost, a looming fortress on the city's edge, Sir Teri Frost lived with his parents, Brun and Catice Frost. The castle's towering spires and shadowy halls mirrored the city's desolation. Teri was born on Timestep 29th, in the ninth year of the Age of Man, in the northeastern tower. Their calendar, with its sixteen months, marked him in the twelfth year of his life, in the third year of the Age of Aidon.
Teri’s life was one of the unending struggle. His parents, stern and distant, often spoke of the futility of resistance. "There is no way out of this," his father, Brun, would say. "It’s unavoidable," his mother, Catice, echoed, their words a constant reminder of his entrapment. Trapped in a cycle of despair, Teri felt the weight of his helplessness.
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He spent his days wandering the dim halls of Castle Frost, where shadows seemed to whisper secrets. The library, a vast room filled with ancient tomes, became his sanctuary. It was there he first read about Wraith Heart, a legendary artifact said to control dreams. The specters of dreams, or wraiths tied to this artifact, constantly reminded him of the past's grip on the present. Even as a child, Teri felt an inexplicable pull towards the ancient relics and the ethereal whispers that filled the air. The wraiths, unseen but felt, seemed to watch over him, their presence a constant reminder of the mysteries yet to be uncovered.
As Teri approached his twelfth year, the sense of destiny grew stronger within him. The disasters of an ill-omened day marked the beginning of a journey he knew he must undertake. The wraiths whispered cryptic messages that hinted at trials to come. His parents, though stern, reveal fragments of the truth, their eyes a mix of fear and hope.
One stormy night, as lightning lit up the castle's stone walls, Teri stood before the hearth in the great hall, feeling the pull of an unseen force. His parents watched from the shadows, their faces etched with concern. "You must become the master of dreams," Brun said, his voice a low rumble. "Only then can you break free from this cycle," Catice added, her tone softer but no less urgent.
Teri looked into the flickering flames, determination hardening within him. The journey ahead was unknown, but the call to uncover his fate and master the dreams that haunted him was clear.