Hey everyone,

Hope you guys will enjoy the start of this journey! I wanted to give you a heads up before we dive in: while this first chapter has been softened a bit for a lighter entry, in the upcoming chapters, we'll be exploring some more intense. moments.

Stick around, though! I'll be dropping new chapters weekly (or even take longer).

Until next time!

THE SACRIFICE OF INNOCENCE

In the kingdom of Veridian, darkness reigned supreme. Under an Emperor, the land groaned under the weight of oppression. Villages, once vibrant with life, now cowered in fear as conscription and tyranny ravaged the land. But beneath the surface, dissent simmered, a silent anger waiting for the right moment to explode.

Aric and Elara, humble farmers, knew all too well the impact of the emperor's tyranny. They refused to hand over their children to the emperor's cruel conscription, clinging to the hope of a better future. In their possession, they held an ancient relic, a portal passed down through generations, a beacon of hope in the darkness.

With desperation as their guide, Aric and Elara called upon the magic of an old friend in a last-ditch effort for salvation.

Eric manages to summon the last ounce of strength he has left. With a scream, he unleashes a final burst of energy, his veins bulging and pulsating with power. The intense pain courses through his body, his vision blurring from the sheer agony of it all.

But he cannot stop now; he must push through the pain. With every ounce of determination he possesses, Eric forces himself to keep going, gritting his teeth as blood continues to seep from his eyes. The room spins around him, the walls closing in, but he ignores it all, focusing only on his goal…

As he reaches the limit of his physical endurance, Eric collapses to the ground, gasping for air.

The portal came to life. His children were shining. But tragedy struck her with a cruel blow. In the chaos, one child disappeared, while the other was left behind.

The portal glowed with an unearthly light as Aric and Elara watched one of their children disappear into the unknown. Tears welled up in Elara's eyes She let out a piercing scream of despair as she shook Eric, willing him to wake up. Tears streamed down her face as she rushed to the portal, hoping against hope to catch a glimpse of her son. But all she saw was a torn piece of his favorite shirt, a painful reminder of his absence.

"Our children," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "What did we do?"

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"We had no choice," Aric murmured, his voice filled with sadness. "We had to do whatever it took to keep one of them safe."

"But now..." Elara's voice trailed off, a sob catching in her throat.

Aric hugged her tightly, his heart breaking with despair. "We will find him" he promised, his voice full of steely determination. "No matter what happens, we will bring our children home."

Meanwhile, in a distant land, untouched by the emperor's reach, a man stumbled upon a baby with a mysterious symbol engraved on its forehead. The symbol glowed with an ethereal light, a beacon of hope in the darkness.

The old man had seen a lot in his life, but nothing could have prepared him for what was before him. The baby, just a few months old, was abandoned on the floor, its screams echoing through the night. as The old man advanced, the weight of the baby in his arms a constant reminder of the danger they faced.

"Shh, little one," he whispered, his voice almost breathless against the howling wind. "We'll keep you safe, I promise."

The baby's cries softened, as if he understood the man's words, as if he found comfort in his promise.

"Listen, citizens of Veridian!" The Governor Thalos proclaimed in a high-pitched, high-pitched voice. "The great Emperor Malachai is not a tyrant, he is working for the good of us all! His actions are necessary to maintain order and prosperity in our kingdom!

The refugees' eyes turned to the men, some with expressions of curiosity, others with suspicion.

"How do you dare!" a woman shouted from the crowd. "My son was torn from my arms by the hands of the Emperor's soldiers! Tell me, how is this for our good?"

Governor Thalos shook its head sympathetically, its button eyes twinkling with mischief. "You only see one side of the story, my dear. The Emperor works day and night to make sure we all have what we need. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good."

"This is nonsense!" A man interrupted, his voice thick with anger. "Nothing good can come from kidnapping innocent children!"

"Ah, but you are mistaken, good sir," replied Thalos, his shrill voice echoing across the square. "If the price of peace is a few lives, then it is a price we must be willing to pay. But in exchange each of you will become gold coins for the losses of your children, don't worry you all will get your children back"

The refugees began to murmur among themselves, some seeming convinced by the words, others still uncertain.

"I'm doing this for all of you! Don't you see? If you just give me control, I can protect everyone's property. I can keep you all safe!"

The people exchanged uneasy glances, uncertain whether to trust Thalos or not.

"You can't trust it!" someone shouted from the back of the room. "It's just trying to manipulate us!"

But Thalos persisted, its voice growing more desperate with each word.

"No, please! I promise I'll take care of everything. You just have to let me help you!"

The tension in the room was palpable as the people struggled with their decision. Some were swayed by the doll's words, while others remained skeptical.

Finally, one brave soul stepped forward, shaking their head in defiance.

"We won't be fooled by you," they declared, their voice unwavering. "We'll protect our own property, thank you very much."

With that, Thalos facade crumbled, revealing the malicious intent behind its words. Desperation turned to anger as it realized it had been thwarted.

"You'll regret this! You'll all regret this!"

At the same time Aric and Elara were ambushed by the Emperor's soldiers.

"Please don't take my baby!" Elara's voice sounded full of despair.

The soldiers showed no mercy, tearing the baby from her arms as she screamed in anguish. Aric tried to fought with all his might to protect his family, but he was no match for the emperor's warriors.

"They took our baby," Elara sobbed, her heart shattered into a million pieces.

"We will find him," Aric promised, his voice full of steely determination. „No matter what happens, we will bring our baby back"