**The Fall of Nexarium and the Dawn of the Dark Era**
The grand hall of Nexarium, the capital, burned under the glow of torches, their flames flickering in hues of blue and red. Once a symbol of unity, it had now become the stage for heated debates and fierce power struggles among the great houses. Men clad in gleaming armor and adorned in opulent robes stood side by side, their eyes filled with ambition, hatred, and fear. Here, in the heart of a city that once belonged to House Valeria, they were shaping the fate of Arcatra.
The houses of Eisenhart, Forsmark, Karsilia, Wallengarde, Scarmond, Finroth, Toragan, and Valdrin all fought for the throne. But in the end, only one name emerged victorious: Junior Ronhard.
A man forged in war and blood, a ruthless commander who had crushed the armies of rival houses on the battlefield. He had not ascended by inheritance but by sheer strength and power.
But there was one problem: legitimacy.
He did not have the blood of kings in his veins. The people, the nobility, and even some of his own commanders still saw him as nothing more than a warlord, not a true king.
And that is where Selena Toragan entered the story.
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**The Bloody Wedding and the Coronation of the Conqueror**
Selena Toragan, the last daughter of House Toragan, stood beside Junior Ronhard, clad in a gown of pure silk. Her long golden hair shimmered like flames in the torchlight. Her gray eyes, bearing the mark of her house’s cold intellect, scanned the grand hall of Nexarium.
Among all the nobles and warlords, only she understood that this marriage was not just an alliance—it was a strategy.
When the High Priest raised the silver sword above them, a deathly silence filled the hall. Then, his voice rang out:
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"With this union, a new kingdom is born!"
Junior took Selena’s hand and, before the eyes of thousands of nobles and commanders, kissed her fingers. The crowd erupted in cheers, but amidst the celebration, eyes filled with resentment and hidden plots lurked.
That very night, an attempt was made on Junior’s life.
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**Conspiracies and Betrayals**
At midnight, when the torches in the royal hall had been extinguished, an assassin, disguised as an Eisenhart soldier, slipped into the royal chambers. Holding a short sword laced with poison, he crept toward the king’s bed.
But suddenly—
"I was expecting you."
Before the assassin could react, Junior emerged from the shadows and, with a swift strike of his dagger, slit the man's throat. The assassin collapsed silently, and Junior calmly dropped the lifeless body onto the floor.
He had known this would happen.
With a commanding shout, the royal guards stormed into the chamber, arresting all nobles and commanders who had remained in the palace that night. At dawn, the executions began. Dozens of members of opposing houses were beheaded in Nexarium’s main square. The streets ran red with the blood of traitors.
From her chamber window, Selena watched the executions unfold, a faint smile on her lips.
As she had expected, Junior was no fool. But could he truly hold the throne forever?
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**The King of Iron and Blood**
Junior was now the undisputed ruler of Arcatra. But his reign was anything but peaceful.
- House Eisenhart, nearly annihilated, was rallying an army in the north.
- House Forsmark, still powerful, was orchestrating rebellions on the eastern borders.
- House Finroth, savage and relentless warriors, refused to acknowledge Junior’s rule.
- And above all: the Phoenix Egg.
The legendary relic that House Faleria had protected for centuries was now in the hands of Sir Arthur and the Faleria heirs. If they returned, Junior’s throne would be in peril.
There was only one solution: the complete eradication of any surviving Faleria heir.
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**The Beginning of a New War**
As winter approached, Junior sent spies across the continent. Anyone who provided information on the whereabouts of the Faleria heirs would be rewarded with a castle and thousands of gold coins.
Selena stood beside her husband and whispered:
"You have won the war, but you are not yet a true king. As long as the Phoenix flies, the shadow of Faleria will haunt you."
Junior’s eyes burned with fury as he turned to Selena.
"Then I will set the sky ablaze."
And so, the bloody reign of the King of Iron and Blood began.