บท 1: Chapter 1: The Scars of Memory

Kael Draven stood atop the crumbling tower of his citadel, staring out at the twisted landscape below. The once fertile lands of the empire were now a barren wasteland, shrouded in perpetual twilight. The sun's light was muted, barely breaking through the thick clouds of dark magic that permeated the sky. This was Kael's domain, his creation, and his burden.As he surveyed his kingdom, memories of his childhood flickered in his mind—flashes of the village that had cast him out, the faces of those who had feared and despised him. He remembered the cold nights spent alone in the wilderness, the hunger, and the terror of being hunted by those who saw him as a monster. They had never understood his power, his potential. But now, he was the master of his fate, and they were nothing more than ashes scattered by the wind.Yet, despite his achievements, a hollow emptiness gnawed at his soul. Kael had everything he had ever wanted—power, control, dominion over life and death—but the price had been high. He had sacrificed his humanity for this power, and now he felt more like a vessel for the dark magic than a man. The malevolent force he had awakened during his experiments with necromancy whispered to him in the dead of night, feeding his ambitions but also his doubts.His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of his most trusted lieutenant, Seraphine Nightshade, a formidable sorceress who had been with him since the early days of his rise to power. She was one of the few who had remained loyal, though Kael often wondered if her loyalty was to him or to the power he wielded."My lord," Seraphine said, bowing slightly as she approached. "The council awaits your presence. There is news from the southern provinces—another rebellion is brewing."Kael sighed, his expression darkening. "Let them rebel. They will be crushed like the others."Seraphine hesitated, her piercing blue eyes searching his face. "This rebellion is different, Kael. The leader is someone you once knew—Aeron Blackthorn."At the mention of the name, Kael's eyes narrowed. Aeron had been his closest friend, a fellow sorcerer who had shared his vision of a world remade in their image. But where Kael had embraced the darkness, Aeron had turned away, repulsed by the lengths Kael was willing to go to achieve their goals. Their friendship had ended in a bitter confrontation, and Kael had not seen Aeron since."Aeron," Kael muttered, his voice tinged with both anger and sadness. "I should have killed him when I had the chance.""He's gathering followers, my lord," Seraphine continued. "Those who see you as a tyrant, not a savior. He's promising them a return to the old ways, a world free from your rule."Kael turned away from the view, his cloak billowing around him as he walked towards the grand hall where the council waited. "Let him come," he said coldly. "I will remind him why he should have stayed hidden in the shadows."