Ten years had passed since the fall of Nexarium.
Ten years since the House of Faleria was overthrown and Junior Ronehard placed a crown of iron and blood upon his head. A new kingdom had been forged, yet it still lay in the shadows of hidden threats and betrayals.
The continent of Arcatra was now under Junior’s rule.
Once merely a warlord, Junior had become not only a king but also a father. He and Selena Toragan had four children:
Armin Ronehard, the eldest son, 14 years old, with cold and piercing eyes. He had been trained from childhood to be both a warrior and a ruler.
Rainer Ronehard, the second son, 7 years old, cunning and observant, always walking in the shadows, learning the arts of politics from his father.
Graham Ronehard, the third son, 5 years old, energetic and restless, yet possessing a kind heart that set him apart from his brothers.
Catherine Ronehard, his only daughter, merely 3 years old, yet already showing signs of pride and strength.
The House of Ronehard had taken root. Their power had spread across the continent, and no Faleria prince remained to claim the throne. But was this peace real?
No.
For no kingdom is forged in war and maintained in peace.
The End of War and the Rise of Indulgence
During Junior’s decade-long rule, most noble houses had bent the knee. But among them, one house remained the most loyal—House Walderin. Izehard Walderin, its leader, had fought alongside Junior in the early wars, aiding him in seizing the throne.
The bond between the two houses had grown so strong that the Ronehards held their grand feasts in the Walderin capital. Their alliance was now bound by blood as well, as Lady Maria Walderin, Izehard’s sister, had married one of Junior’s cousins.
It was at one such grand feast that corruption and weakness slowly crept into the heart of the kingdom.
The Feast at Walderin’s Capital – A Night of Moral Decay
The Walderin Palace was illuminated by hundreds of torches that night. Musicians played, minstrels sang, and goblets were filled again and again.
Junior Ronehard, conqueror of Arcatra, sat upon his throne, a goblet of crimson wine in hand.
Around him, noblewomen and maidens danced. Aristocrats and warlords laughed, boasting of their past victories. Yet amid all this joy, one figure sat in silence:
Selena Toragan, the queen.
Her gray eyes burned with anger and contempt.
For she knew better than anyone that Junior was never satisfied with just one woman.
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The King of Iron and Blood was now sinking into indulgence and lust.
He had lain with many women—noble daughters, handmaidens, and even courtesans. He was invincible in battle but powerless against his own desires.
That night, as the music softened and the torches flickered in the grand hall, Junior Ronehard rose to his feet. With another sip of wine, he extended his hand toward a young maiden from House Carcilia, a girl with raven-black hair and eyes as dark as the night.
This was the final straw for Selena Toragan.
The Wrath of a Queen – A Crack in the Wall of Power
Selena suddenly stood up. Silence fell upon the hall.
All eyes turned toward her.
"Do you truly believe these feasts and women will strengthen your rule?"
Her voice was calm yet seething with rage.
Junior, drunk on wine, cast a glance at her and smirked.
"You are always so serious, my wife. Perhaps you should learn to enjoy life more."
But Selena stepped forward, her tone dangerously low as she whispered in his ear:
"Kings who drown in corruption do not live long."
Junior, still intoxicated, laughed. Yet for a brief moment, in her eyes, he saw something that made his blood run cold.
A real threat.
Without another word, the queen turned and left the hall.
That night, for the first time, Junior realized that perhaps his greatest enemy was not another noble house—but his own wife.
A War Yet to Begin...
As time passed, the relationship between Junior and Selena grew colder. She no longer attended the royal councils. She spent most of her time in her private chambers, and whispers among the servants hinted that the queen was plotting her husband’s downfall.
Meanwhile, external threats were stirring:
Small uprisings had begun to spark in the lands of Eisonehart.
Rumors spoke of Faleria princes returning from the shadows.
The nobles had grown disillusioned with Junior’s descent into debauchery.
Was the reign of Iron and Blood nearing its end?
Could anyone save this empire from its impending downfall?
Or, as history has always shown, would fate be written in betrayal and blood once more? \*\*King Orian Faleria , the last king of this dynasty, had accepted his fate.\*\*
He knew that if he remained in the palace, death would be his only destiny. But more important than his own life was the future of his children.
\*"You must take them away from here, Arthur."\*
Sir Arthur, the great knight and the most loyal man to House Faleria , knelt and swore to take the royal heirs out of this land.
That night, as the flames of war engulfed the palace, Sir Arthur took the three children and led them through the dark alleys of the capital, escaping the eyes of their enemies.
Outside the city, in a remote forest, there was a hidden dock.
A dock that only the kings of Faleria knew about.
In this abandoned place, a small but sturdy boat, built years ago for emergencies, remained intact and ready to sail.
They boarded the boat and set out to sea.
Their destination was an unknown continent: \*\*Blasteria.\*\*
\### \*\*The Land of Savages – Blasteria\*\*
After days of sailing, the small boat of the Faleria reached the shore of a new land. \*\*Blasteria.\*\*
But this was no great kingdom.
There were no cities, no walls, no palaces. Only dense forests, towering mountains, roaring rivers, and tribes of wild men who saw every outsider as an enemy.
When the Faleria princes set foot on this continent, no grand welcome awaited them.
They were alone.
One boy, two girls, and a knight.
\- \*\*Prince Alreus Faleria \*\*, heir to the throne, was only 12 years old, but the pride of past kings burned in his eyes. \- \*\*His older sister, Liliana Faleria \*\*, a 14-year-old girl, intelligent and cautious, yet harboring a deep hatred for the treacherous houses of Arcathra.
\- \*\*And their youngest sister, Selene Faleria \*\*, only 8 years old, yet seemingly possessing mysterious powers within her.
\- \*\*And Sir Arthur\*\*, their sole protector, who had sworn to lay down his life for these children. ;
\### \*\*Among Strangers – The Struggle for Survival\*\*
Life in Blasteria was not easy.
The people of this land were savage and ruthless. They had no civilization, but they were skilled in fighting both nature and invaders. Numerous tribes were scattered across the continent, and none were willing to shelter newcomers.
In the first few weeks, Alreus and his family were attacked multiple times. But each time, Sir Arthur defended them with his legendary sword.
But for how long?;
They needed to adapt to this land.
They needed to learn the ways of survival.
They needed to... \*\*rule this continent.\*\*
\---
\### \*\*The Birth of a New Empire\*\*
Years passed.
The royal children, once fugitives and helpless, had now grown.
\*\*Alreus Faleria was now 22 years old.\*\*
A warrior, a leader, and the sole legitimate survivor of Arcathra’s throne.
Over the years, he had not only learned how to survive in the land of savages but also how to make them bow before him.
One by one, the tribes—either by his sword or his words—fell under his command.
He built the first city, a fortress of stone and wood, and named it \*\*Azgaria\*\*.
The exiled prince had now become the king of a new land.