Chapter 1: The Last Dawn of Eldoria

Eldoria was a village that seemed untouched by time. Nestled at the edge of a vast forest and bordered by gentle hills to the east, it was a place of tranquility. Cobblestone streets crisscrossed through wooden houses with thatched roofs, their chimneys releasing soft plumes of smoke that carried the comforting aroma of baked bread and roasted meats. The air was crisp, tinged with the earthy scent of moss and the floral sweetness of blooming marigolds that lined every pathway.

Leo darted down the main street, his feet barely touching the ground. He was a wiry boy of twelve, with sun-kissed skin and hair the color of burnished copper that glimmered in the sunlight. His hazel eyes, flecked with gold, held a mischievous sparkle, though they bore the subtle shadow of someone wiser than his years. He wore a simple tunic and breeches, patched in places by his mother’s careful hands, and a wooden pendant hung around his neck—a small carving of a wolf, his father’s parting gift.

“Leo, slow down! You’ll trample the flowers again!” an elderly woman called from her porch, shaking her head but smiling as she saw him.

“Sorry, Miss Anya!” Leo called back, barely slowing as he rounded a corner and sprinted toward the village square.

The square was alive with activity. Farmers set up stalls laden with fresh produce, their voices raised in cheerful banter. Children played tag, their laughter mingling with the melodic strumming of a bard’s lute. The village bell tower loomed overhead, its ancient stones covered in ivy, and the sun cast long shadows that danced across the square like spirits celebrating the day.

Leo’s best friend, Finn, was waiting for him by the well. He was a stocky boy with dark hair that perpetually stuck out in all directions and a grin that seemed permanently etched on his face. He waved as Leo approached, holding up a small loaf of bread.

“Got it from the baker! Told her it was for my ma, but we both know it’s for us,” Finn said with a conspiratorial wink.

Leo laughed, grabbing a piece. “You’ll get caught one day.”

“And that day isn’t today. Come on, let’s head to the stream.”

The two boys dashed out of the square, weaving through the trees until they reached a bubbling stream on the outskirts of the village. The water sparkled like liquid crystal, and the boys sat on its bank, dipping their feet into the cool flow.

“One day,” Leo began, gazing at the water, “I’m going to leave this place. I’ll become someone important, maybe even a Knight.”

Finn snorted. “You? A Knight? You can barely carry a bucket of water without spilling half of it.”

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“I’ll prove you wrong,” Leo said, throwing a pebble at Finn, who ducked and retaliated with a splash of water.

The light-hearted banter carried on as the sun began its descent, painting the sky with hues of gold and crimson. It was a perfect day, one of many in Eldoria. But perfection, as fleeting as it is, was about to shatter.

The first sign of trouble came with the setting sun. A plume of black smoke rose in the distance, curling into the twilight sky like a dark omen. Leo and Finn stood frozen by the stream, their laughter dying in their throats.

“What’s that?” Finn whispered, his voice trembling.

“I don’t know,” Leo replied, a pit forming in his stomach. “It’s coming from the direction of the village.”

They ran back, their feet pounding against the forest floor. As they neared the edge of the trees, the sound of screams reached their ears. It was a sound that would haunt Leo for the rest of his life.

The village was in chaos. Flames licked at the rooftops, turning the once-cozy homes into infernos. Soldiers clad in dark armor bearing the sigil of the Beirut Kingdom swarmed the streets, their swords and axes gleaming in the firelight. They cut down anyone in their path, sparing neither the old nor the young.

Leo stood frozen, his body paralyzed by the sight. Finn grabbed his arm, pulling him behind a stack of barrels.

“We have to find our families,” Finn said, his voice barely audible over the cacophony.

Leo nodded, his legs shaking as they moved through the shadows, avoiding the soldiers. The air was thick with the stench of burning wood and blood. Bodies littered the streets, their lifeless eyes staring up at the heavens as if seeking answers.

They reached Leo’s house, or what was left of it. The roof had collapsed, and the front door hung off its hinges. Inside, the kitchen table was overturned, and shattered pottery lay scattered across the floor. Leo’s mother was nowhere to be found.

“Mom!” Leo called out, his voice cracking. “Mom, where are you?”

There was no answer, only the distant roar of flames and the cries of the dying. Finn tugged at his sleeve.

“Leo, we can’t stay here. We have to go,” he urged.

“Not without my mom,” Leo snapped, pulling away.

Before Finn could respond, a soldier appeared in the doorway. He was a hulking figure, his armor splattered with blood. He grinned, revealing yellowed teeth, and raised his sword.

Leo’s heart stopped. He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. But then, like a storm descending from the heavens, she appeared.

Valeria, the White Knight of Aurelius.

She was a vision of fury and grace, her silver armor gleaming despite the soot and ash in the air. Her hair, a cascade of platinum, billowed behind her like a banner, and her azure eyes burned with righteous anger. She wielded a massive greatsword, its blade glowing faintly with an ethereal light.

With a single swing, she cut through the soldier as if he were made of paper. Blood sprayed across the walls, and the soldier’s body crumpled to the ground. Valeria turned to Leo and Finn, her expression softening.

“Get to the outskirts,” she commanded, her voice firm but kind. “There’s a safe passage through the woods. Go, now.”

Leo wanted to argue, to tell her about his mother, but the look in her eyes silenced him. She wasn’t asking. She was ordering, and disobedience wasn’t an option.

Grabbing Finn’s hand, Leo ran. The last thing he saw before disappearing into the forest was Valeria standing amidst the carnage, her sword raised high, a beacon of hope in a sea of despair.

The survivors gathered at the edge of the woods, a small group of women and children huddled together. Their faces were pale, their eyes hollow. Some sobbed quietly; others stared into the distance, their expressions numb.

Leo sat on the ground, his arms wrapped around his knees. Finn was beside him, silent for once. The village was gone. Everything they had ever known was gone.

“What do we do now?” Finn asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Leo didn’t answer. He didn’t know. All he knew was the image of Valeria, standing against the darkness, and the fire that now burned in his chest. It wasn’t the warm, comforting fire of home but a searing, relentless blaze fueled by rage and loss.

One day, he vowed, he would become like her. He would become a Knight, not for glory or honor but for vengeance. The Beirut Kingdom had taken everything from him, and he would make them pay.

As the night deepened, the forest around them came alive with the sounds of crickets and owls. But for Leo, the world had never felt quieter. This was the beginning of his journey, a path forged in blood and fire.

The boy who had once laughed by the stream was gone. In his place stood the ember of something new, something fierce and unyielding.