Chapter 1: The Prophecy
The city of Alerith was a place of grand spires, stone streets, and ancient secrets. It had long stood as a symbol of power and wealth in the kingdom of Elethar. But beneath its beauty, a dark history simmered, one that only a few knew about.
Amara, a young noblewoman, lived within the city’s walls, shielded from the unrest of the world outside. Her family, the House of Aris, had held a position of power for generations. But on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, everything changed.
Amara awoke to an urgent knock on her door. Startled, she rushed to open it, revealing her father’s most trusted servant, Lyra, pale and breathless.
“My lady, it is time,” Lyra whispered, her eyes darting nervously. “Your father has ordered you to the tower.”
The tower, a place Amara had been warned to avoid, had always been off-limits. It was said to house the family’s darkest secrets, and no one, not even the most loyal servant, dared to speak of it.
Confused and frightened, Amara followed Lyra to the tower, where her father, Lord Alistair Aris, stood waiting. His expression was grave, and his usual composure was shattered.
“Amara,” he said softly, his voice tight. “You have come of age, and the time has come for you to learn the truth. A curse has haunted our bloodline for centuries. And now, it is your turn to bear it.”
