The Weight of Forgotten History

Samuel's POV

The sun hung low in the sky as I sat atop a broken stone pillar, gazing over the desolate expanse of the Forsaken Lands. The wind carried the scent of ancient dust, whispering across the ruins like ghosts telling forgotten tales. My fingers traced the cold surface of the Forgotten King's Relic, a small ornate ring pulsing faintly in my palm.

The knowledge I had just uncovered sat heavy in my mind. It wasn't just history—it was the truth about this land's destruction, a truth buried beneath centuries of silence.

I exhaled, leaning back slightly. "So, this is what it all led to."

My gaze flicked to the three records I had collected, the words still fresh in my memory.

---

The King's Fall – Betrayal and Ruin

The first record had spoken of the last Forsaken King, a ruler who had trusted his council, only to be betrayed. They had abandoned him, stolen his power, and left the kingdom to rot.

"Typical," I muttered to myself. "Greedy bastards, always thinking they can seize power for themselves."

But their treachery didn't just kill a king—it had doomed an entire civilization. Without leadership, the Forsaken Lands crumbled, its people scattered or consumed by the darkness creeping in from the Abyss.

"I wonder… if he knew it would end this way."

Had the Forsaken King fought until the last moment? Or had he accepted his fate, watching his kingdom fall apart with rage burning in his heart?

I clenched my fist. "Guess it doesn't matter. He's gone, and this land's been dead ever since."

But then, why did his throne remain? Why had the system offered me the chance to claim it?

A smirk played at my lips. "Would be ironic if I took the throne they tried so hard to steal."

---

The War of Shadows – A Battle Erased from Time

The second record told of a war between the Forsaken and an unknown enemy. No names, no details—just whispers of a battle lost to time.

"Who the hell were they fighting?" I frowned. "And why was it wiped from history?"

Wars didn't just disappear. Someone had gone to great lengths to erase any trace of it. Had the Forsaken lost so badly that history had simply forgotten them? Or had their enemy made sure no one would ever know the truth?

I rolled the relic between my fingers. "If their enemy was strong enough to wipe out an entire kingdom and its records… then maybe they aren't completely gone."

That thought sent a chill down my spine. What if whatever destroyed the Forsaken is still out there?

"Tch. One problem at a time, I guess."

---

The Abyssal Pact – A Deal with Darkness

The final record had been the most disturbing. It spoke of a pact—an agreement between the Forsaken and the Abyss itself. A deal made in desperation, meant to save the kingdom… but ultimately, it had been their undoing.

I let out a low chuckle. "So they struck a deal with the very thing that ended up destroying them."

Classic mistake. Power always came with a price, and if you weren't strong enough to pay it, then it would consume you instead.

"But what exactly did they gain?"

Had the Forsaken used Abyssal power to fight their war? If so, then it meant the Abyss had been their ally… before it became their doom.

I tightened my grip on the ring. "And now it's offering me a throne."

The Abyss doesn't give things for free.

I wasn't some foolish king who'd be lured in by empty power. If the Abyss thought it could manipulate me into becoming its next puppet, it had another thing coming.

But still…

If I could control it instead of letting it control me… then maybe I could rewrite this land's fate.

---

I exhaled deeply, shaking my head. "All this history, all this power… and I'm just sitting here thinking about it like some scholar."

I pushed myself off the stone, stretching my arms. The sun was setting, painting the sky in deep oranges and purples, the shadows of the ruins stretching across the land like phantoms of the past.

"So what's my next move?"

I could chase the main quest, find the Forsaken Throne, and see what claiming it really meant.

I could investigate the Abyssal Gate, if I wanted to get some real answers about this deal they had made.

Or, I could do something completely different—explore, make some money, and live like a free man.

For the first time in a long time, I felt the weight of choice.

No chains, no masters, no orders.

I smirked. "Yeah. This world's got a lot left for me to see."

And I was going to carve my own damn path through it.