Allevatore_dicapre

Bound in chains yet yearning for freedom, Alpheo, a modern historian, finds himself enslaved in a land on the brink of chaos.

As the empire of Rolmia plunges into civil war following the death of the emperor ,  his three ambitious sons  vie for the throne. In the midst of this turmoil, Alpheo finds the chance to break his chain and escape, leading his companions into the ashes of war, trying to thrive in it,  selling their swords to the highest bidder  .

But beyond the borders of Rolmia, hungry eyes watch  as the empire's grip loosens. The Sultanate of Azania, ever the opportunist, sees a chance to expand its domain and influence , while to the south, neighboring principalities breathe a sigh of relief as the once-dominant giant stumbles and falters.

In the sea, the confederation of the Free Isle finds their chance to restore their old maritime power , denied to them by an empire that is now crumbling beneath  itself , lacking the strenght to stop them.

In this crucible of conflict, where dynasties crumble and empires fall, Alpheo find his call and the chance to  forge his own destiny amidst the ashes of empires.

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Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Torghan sat straighter, his fingers drumming once against the metal of his breastplate before stilling. He met his father's gaze without hesitation. "I swore fealty to him."

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, Varaku threw his head back and laughed—a deep, booming sound that filled the hut, shaking the walls as though mocking the very foundation they stood upon. He laughed long and hard, his shoulders shaking, his breath coming in short gasps as he clutched his stomach.

Torghan did not speak. He simply sat there, letting his father laugh as much as he wanted, waiting for him to finish. He had expected this reaction. He had prepared for it.

Finally, Varaku wiped at the corner of his eye, shaking his head in disbelief. "A month," he said, exhaling sharply, amusement still thick in his voice. "A single month away from home, and already you have forgotten where you come from." His gaze hardened. "You are willing to kneel to an outsider—to become his slave?"

Among the ants(3)