Prologue

Do you know the story?

The old tale of a young girl who wears a red cloak with a wicker basket in hand. The girl embarks on a journey to visit her grandmother's secluded cottage. In the deepest part of the forest. Unbeknownst to her, a predator lurks in the shadows, watching her every move, and waiting for its prey. As she walks deeper into the woods, eerie whispers fill the air, warning her to turn back. Ignoring the foreboding, the girl continues, clutching her wicker basket tightly.

Suddenly, a loud roaring sound was heard, and there in the heart of the forest, a dark figure lurked behind the trees – the Big Bad Wolf, with his eyes gleaming with hunger and malice. The wolf tricks the young innocent girl into revealing her destination and goes ahead. And you know the next part of the story, inside the grandmother's little cottage. The girl is met with a scene of horror – the door hangs off its hinges, the windows shattered, and bloodstains smeared across the floor. Trembling with fear, she cautiously steps inside, only to find the wolf disguised as her grandmother, lying in wait. In a terrifying ordeal, the girl didn't escape her gruesome end.

However, this story diverges significantly from that familiar tale. It revolves around a young girl cloaked in red, intertwined with elements of wolves, empires, witches, curses, and an ancient prophecy.

The story begins in the faraway land of Aurelia, a country steeped in ancient legends and untold history. The land was divided into five distinctive empires, each ruled by its own sovereign kings and governed by its own laws.

The Empire of Carthage in the west, or the storm empire, has always experienced fierce winds and raging storms, yet its people remained resilient even in the face of climate adversity.

The Empire of Sunaria in the east, also known as the golden empire, basked in the warm glow of the sun, its golden fields stretching as far as the eye could see. Its people thrived amidst bountiful harvests and flourishing trade.

The Empire of Winteris in the north or the snow empire, a land of long-lasting winter which results in a frozen wasteland. The Winterians experienced extensive winters and rare summers, resulting in a widespread famine due to the frozen fields.

The Empire of Skotos in the south, or the dark empire, shrouded itself in darkness and mystery. Very little is known in this empire , and they say that its lands were haunted by whispers of forgotten sorcery and forbidden magic.

And finally, the Empire of Verdantia or the heart and center of Aurelia, a lush paradise teeming with life and vitality. It was here that the five empires converged, their borders marked by towering walls and guarded by vigilant sentinels.

These empires had long coexisted in peace, their alliances forged through diplomacy and mutual respect. Yet beneath the surface, tensions simmered, and shadows lurked in the corners of the realm. As the winds of change began to stir and ancient secrets were unearthed, the fate of Aurelia hung in the balance. It began with an ancient prophecy, originally expressed in a song that had been passed down through generations. The prophecy's origins remain unknown, its true significance veiled in mystery, lost in time. While some dismiss it as mere superstition, others anxiously wait for its unfolding, pondering its potential implications.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a remote town situated on the mountainside, a small cottage stood on the outskirts. Adjacent to it, a water wheel turned gently, while a collection of ducks and chickens roamed in the backyard. Smoke rose from above the cottage roof, and the soft strains of a lullaby drifted through the air. A mother, clad in worn garments, tenderly sang her daughter to sleep while combing her auburn hair.

In an empire cursed by ancient lore,

Where shadows whisper of a fate in store.

A prophecy foretold in whispers old,

Of a girl in red, brave and bold.

The girl bathed in blood.

Marks of the curses flood.

Beware the wolf with eyes of night,

In the forest deep, where darkness bites.

The villagers must fear and fled,

Leave their towns, for their head.

The wolf's howl echoed in their head,

Started by the girl in red.

With despair in her heart and reddened eyes,

A bringer of death and obscenities.

The girl in red dared to defy, ventured into the unknown,

To face the wolf king and consume it whole.

The wolf king, he roamed with hunger keen,

Together with the girl who intervene.

With a swift strike and a fearless cry,

The empire was vanquished beneath the sky.

The girl in red come to destroy,

With a bunch of monsters in tow.

In the empire deep, fright was steep,

To shed a blood, the wolf king vowed.

Oh, sing this tale of curses old,

Of death, the red, and a prophecy foretold.

To break the curse, a sacrifice must hold,

And kill the enemy that was foretold.

"What are you singing, mother?" the little girl asked. "Nothing dear, just an old lullaby to help you sleep", the mother answered. The girl's eyes fluttered closed as she drifted into a deep slumber, while her mother smiled tenderly as she sang. The melody of prophecy, familiar to most people in Aurelia, yet often overlooked in its significance. Many remained unaware of the looming calamity that threatened to alter the very landscape of their land mentioned in the song.