In the grand dining hall of the Blackwood Keep, a large wooden table groaned under the weight of an extravagant feast. The air was filled with the tantalizing smell of roasted venison, freshly baked bread, and sweet mead. Yet, the atmosphere was far from celebratory; it was stifling, oppressive, and heavy with sorrow.
At the head of the table sat Sir Garret Balmore, the patriarch of the family. His usually vibrant eyes were dulled with grief, the lines on his face deepened by worry. His broad shoulders, which had carried the weight of his household, seemed to sag under the burden of the recent events.
To his right sat his wife, Lady Isolde Balmore, a woman of exceptional beauty and grace. Her face was pale, her usually radiant eyes red and puffy from countless nights of weeping. The vibrant woman who was once the heart of the household had been transformed into a ghost of her former self.
Their two younger children sat across from them. The younger son, Percival, was a mirror image of his father in his youth, with his fiery red hair and sharp features. His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white with the strain. His eyes, usually filled with laughter, were now cold and hard.
Next to him was his sister, Rose, the youngest of the Balmore children. Her delicate features were set in an expression far too solemn for her tender age. Her sparkling blue eyes were clouded with confusion and fear, her lower lip quivering as she glanced at the empty chair at the table.
That chair belonged to Eldric, the eldest son, who was nowhere to be found. The echo of his absence filled the room more than any sound could. He had been the life of their household, his laughter and energy a constant source of joy and warmth.
A few days prior, an imperial decree had arrived, bearing the seal of the second prince and the crown prince of the kingdom. It read that Eldric Balmore, the pride of the Blackwood Barony, was sentenced to death for stealing the second prince's horse, an act he had no memory of committing.
The news had struck the household like a bolt of lightning, leaving them stunned and reeling. The decree had been passed to the Balmores, a chilling reminder of the power the royals held over their lives. However, the crown prince intervened, resulting in Eldric's sentence being commuted to exile and the damage to his core. When Eldric was younger, he had the honor of saving a wounded crown prince and thus gained his favor which led him to being spared.
The day the decree arrived was etched into their memories. Sir Garret had read the decree aloud, his voice shaking with suppressed anger and despair. Lady Isolde had fainted, the parchment slipping from her limp hand. Percival had roared in disbelief, while Rose had burst into tears.
In the gloomy silence of the dining hall, the Balmore family sat around the table, the untouched feast a stark reminder of their loss. They stared at the empty chair, their hearts heavy with the absence of Eldric, their lives forever marked by the shadow of the decree. Ethan, although spared, was a great relief, the thought of the son of Balmore being exiled and with no way able to protect himself left the family in tatters.
< Somewhere a few thousands of kilometers away >
It had been a week since Eldric Balmore was banished from the warmth of his family, his core damaged and his world turned upside down. He had journeyed beyond the borders of Naloria, passed through the kingdom of Stormwatch, and had now ventured into the western region of Oretheon - the mountainous expanse of Montania. His journey had been hard, every step a reminder of his fallen status.
The money his family had given him was dwindling, with only a few coins left in his pouch. To conserve his remaining funds, Eldric had decided to scale the Stormfire Range, a rugged, untouched stretch of land known for its inhospitable environment and treacherous terrain.
The mountain lay before him like a beast, its jagged peaks piercing the sky. The wind howled around him, whipping his hair and coat as he began his arduous ascent. The rocky terrain was rough under his hands and feet, every crevice and ledge a challenge to overcome.
"I would've been able to climb this dumb mountain easily if I still had my core," he muttered to himself, frustration seeping into his voice. His breath came out in ragged gasps as he pulled himself up the mountain, his muscles screaming in protest.
Seeking a momentary respite, Eldric spotted a rock large enough to sit on. As he moved towards it, a sudden rustle from the underbrush startled him. A mountain goat-like creature sprung out, its eyes wild and startled. Startled, Eldric staggered back, his foot slipping on the loose gravel.
With a cry, he found himself sliding down the mountain side. Desperately, he reached out and his hand closed around a sturdy looking branch. His heart pounded in his chest as he dangled precariously over a gaping ravine. One slip, one mistake, and he would plunge into the abyss.
Eldric Balmore awoke with a start, his body drenched in sweat and aching all over. He groaned in pain, his battered body protesting as he tried to sit up. As his senses returned, he realized something that made his heart leap - he was alive.
"I'm... I'm alive," he gasped, a wave of relief washing over him. Tears welled up in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks, the stark realization of his survival overwhelming him. He thought of his family, a glimmer of hope sparking in his heart that he might see them again.
After a few moments, Eldric managed to calm himself, wiping away his tears and taking a deep breath. His eyes, now clear, took in his surroundings.
He found himself in an expanse of unparalleled beauty - a cavernous arena sculpted by nature herself. Towering rocks reached upwards, forming a natural dome. A hole in the top let in a stream of sunlight, bathing the cavern in a warm, golden glow. A river flowed gently through the cavern, its crystal-clear water glimmering under the sun.
He found himself surrounded by a lush meadow, the grass a vibrant green, dotted with wildflowers in a riot of colors. Vegetation thrived all around, the air fresh with the scent of leaves and damp earth.
The sound of cascading water drew his attention to a breathtaking waterfall, its water plunging down from a high cliff and pooling into the river. A rainbow flickered in the mist, adding to the ethereal beauty of the place.
Staggering to his feet, Eldric tried to take in the enormity of his situation. He traced his fall, his eyes following the waterfall upwards, realizing that he had fallen from those very heights. His heart pounded in his chest, the gravity of his luck sinking in.
He slowly walked towards the waterfall, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. "I guess this is where I came down from. It seems I fell into a river and flowed downstream to here," he thought, a shiver running down his spine. For all the beauty around him, it was a stark reminder of the danger he had faced.
But for now, he was safe. He was alive. And as he gazed at the waterfall, the sun casting a heavenly glow around him, Eldric Balmore dared to hope once more.
Eldric spent the rest of the day exploring the cavern. He noticed how its walls were covered in a variety of moss and lichen, creating an intricate tapestry of greens and yellows. The fertile soil, enriched by the river, was perfect for cultivation. He found fruit-bearing trees and bushes; their branches heavy with ripe fruit. The river was teeming with fish, their scales glistening under the sunlight.
"This place," Eldric thought, his eyes surveying the serene beauty around him, "is a paradise. Why not make it my home, it's not like I can go anywhere from here on. I have no place to wonder to."
He ventured towards the other end of the river, which flowed out of the cavern and into an open mountain region. The region was teeming with small animals, scurrying about in the undergrowth and darting between the rocks. A large lake filled with clear water lay beyond the river, surrounded by towering mountains. It was a picturesque place, untouched by man.
However, Eldric was no fool. He knew that this beauty could also harbor danger. He decided to stay close to the mouth of the cavern, not daring to venture too far into the mountains.
He remembered the seeds in his pocket. A spark of hope ignited within him. With these, he could start a small farm. Food wouldn't be a problem here.
But he needed shelter, and for that, he needed tools. He spent the next few hours crafting a crude axe from a sturdy branch and a sharp stone. With this, he felled a few trees and began to build his hut.
Hours of hard labor later, Eldric stood back to admire his handiwork. It was no architectural marvel - just a simple structure made of logs and leaves. But it was his. His sanctuary in this beautiful, yet unforgiving wilderness.
He was exhausted, his body screaming for rest. But as he looked at his cozy little hut, a wave of satisfaction washed over him. He had survived the fall, discovered paradise, and now, built a home. Eldric knew that he had a long way to go, but for now, he was content. As the sun set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, he stepped inside his hut and prepared to rest, eagerly awaiting the dawn of a new day in his newfound home.
Eldric collapsed onto the floor of his makeshift shelter, his body aching from the exertion of the day. Just as the sweet embrace of sleep was about to claim him, a deafening sound echoed in his mind, causing him to bolt upright.
*Ding* "Congratulations for building your Keep and awakening the Knight Household system."
His eyes widened in shock as a translucent screen appeared before him. The screen, which seemed to float in mid-air, displayed several categories:
[Name: Eldric Balmore]
[Household Name: None]
[Power: None (Core damaged)]
[Household Power: None]
[Army: None]
[Quests: None]
After a moment of stunned silence, Eldric's face split into a wide grin. He let out a triumphant yell, his voice echoing through the cavern. "Twenty years! I've waited a full twenty years for this!"
Eldric's life hadn't started here. He was originally from a different world, where he died tragically in a car accident. His soul was then reborn in this world, where he was taken in by a loving family. Despite the different world, he was content. Now, after two decades, he had finally unlocked his system.
Taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart, Eldric turned his attention back to the system. He read the descriptions of the system's functions, which were surprisingly straightforward: summon knights and undertake quests.
"Summon knights...and quests. Interesting," Eldric murmured to himself. The thought of commanding his own army of knights filled him with both excitement and trepidation. It was a lot of responsibility, but it also held immense potential. The knights he summoned could grow into formidable forces, shaping the destiny of his household according to the system.
The rest of the interface was self-explanatory. The [Name] section was his own name, Eldric. [Household Name] was the name of his new knight family, which he hadn't decided on yet. [Power] displayed his personal strength, while [Household Power] showed the collective strength of his knight family. [Army] showed the number of knights under his command.
The last column, [Quests], was currently empty, but Eldric could imagine the challenges and rewards it would soon offer.
As he lay back down, Eldric couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. His life had just become far more interesting. The system held promise, potential, and a world of opportunity. And Eldric couldn't wait to explore it all. Yet he slowly drifted asleep too tired to do anything other.
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