In the middle of the continent, there''s this country ruled by a King. This King was loved by many for he was just and wise, but sadly, he perished.


    A knight clad in red armor stared at the gloomy, gray sky. He was like a mountain, big and powerful, but he rode like a weak child. He slouched even as hepulled the reins;he barely kept control. The trees swung by in his background, a quiet forest if not for the hooves of his horse, Azio. Weird name for a horse, but he loved him. As much as he loved his countrymen.


    He spoke to himself as if telling a story. Of the days of the glory of their country Eins, and how they adored thatwise king.


    He lived a great life, as we all did in Eins, this big country of ours. It was as big as the Pas Range, a mountain range that keepsus safe from the Rorldon Empire, just west of our borders. Passtretches over whatwe call the Great Arm, the large uninhabitable area around itthatspans one end of the continent to the next. A natural defense against theenemy of all nations.


    The colossal Rorldon Empire squandered their men and aimed to conquer ours;with the wise king''s guidance, the blessing of Pas, and a turn of fate, we made it out alive.


    He shook his head, and focused himself as looked forward. He thought about the gloomy skies, and how it started to blanket the region. He needed to find out what happened. They survived, and yet they paid too much. It was not enough that they lost the lives of their people, they still had to take their King.


    And it wasn''t the empire, that truly was our bane. It was the factions within. The invasionhad reaped many talented men but we still bought time. Time that was used to wage a civil war that killed many more talented men.


    Our faction lost. It was inevitable.


    He was loyal to his country if ruled only by the trueRoyal Line. Not this incomingreplacement.


    He arrived at an old shack, in the middle of a small bald part of the forest. He dismounted beforehe slowly approached a dilapidated door. The house could seem to be abandoned - but the door was open.Someone''s waiting for him.


    But we still have some time. The civil war is overand while we lost many talents, there are still good men out there. Men ready to take action. I believe I''m one of them.


    He needed to do this before they could crown that fool of a right-hand. It all began with him. He spouted bullshit to thousands of men, he gained the support that he needed to overthrow and murder their King, and the First Prince.


    He entered the shack, and observed. There was nothing worth of note inside, apart from the creaking wooden walls, and rottingtableware. Upon what appears to be a rotten countertop, stood a woman of averageheight, pale as a rose, an almost glowing, pinkish complexion.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    She had silvery hair snaked up to her neck, some almost coiled around it. Her purple, observing almond eyes followed the Knight''s movementsashe approached her cautiously. She had thin, red lips and asmall, smooth diamondface. She exuded a femininity that exceeded her seemingly young age.


    He stopped a few steps away from her, and rest his hand ona weak table. He was careful not to drop his guard just because he towered over her.


    She wore some hazel mage''s robe, adorned with lines of crystal-like gems along the neckline. A small necklace sat on top of the robe''s crystals.The necklace would be considered plain, if not for a faint blue glow around a small azure ruby.


    A curse, as they call it, manifests itself as jewelry, tattooes, or small keepsakes; unremovable and indestructible by anyone, except for special curse mages or conditions. Who knew that such small magic could be so powerful? Still, a necklace won''t reveal anything about the curse, so for now it remains a mystery to Laurin.


    We''ve still got a lost heir. He left to see the world when he was just 12 years old. That was 14 years ago. We''ve never heard from him since, but right now we''ve got a lead. Truth be told, it''s been a year since our faction got in contact with someone who knows his whereabouts.


    They just wouldn''t tell us where. Back then though, he was a complication, so I guess we never really thought much about it... Now, things are simpler.


    He took a deep breath. What he was going to do was going to shake Einsto its core. It is as frail now as it could be, and this might just be selfishness against the people''s desires to just leave it be. They probably did not want another war, but he wanted to believe in their conviction. He decided to do this long ago, anyway.


    He shook his right hand through the cold air eating away at his gloves, while he grabbed his wrists with his other. To Laurin, it was an unusually freezing, summer night.He took an icy gulp of airto focus his determination.


    "Did you find him?" The woman fashioned a thin smile.


    It was as if she''s expected what was to happen, and that her conjectures preceded even the death of the King. Laurinwas starting to realize that Madea has more hands in this conflict that anybody else. If she''s planned for this, then she was on the right trac. This heir is Laurinand his allies'' last hope, and once the traitor has been crowned, there''s no turning back.


    He reminded himself to be careful. This woman had always beendangerous. As the head of an underground organization, who sneaks and plays around within nations, she altered the balance of power to her whims. Her organization is part of the reasons why they got through the invasion of Rorldon; why theyhad to lose theirKing.


    They wouldn''t have the events play out in any other way, he reckoned.


    For whatever reason, this woman''s suddenly decided to help them find their prince. She was an enigma, to say the least. But Laurin and his allies can''t do anything about herand theorganization that furthers her agenda. It was frightening to think that this is just as she wanted,but that''s not what''s important. Right now, it''s that they havea chance.


    "You''re lucky, Laurin Haeusl. We''ve contacted the Foolish Prince."


    He pushed his worries asideashe took another deep breath while straightening his posture. She''s expected this to happen; he''ll think about it when the time comes.


    His men had always been ready, now that he thought about it. They''ve probably seized the Castle by now, preparing for their chosen King''s arrival. They should be able to hold it out for a bit more.


    He betrayed a soft smile, a faint desire to reveal that they''vegot schemes of their own.


    We have to do our best to come out of it alive.It''s all part of the plan.