A Throne in Ruins

The whispers hadn't left.

Even as the Rift-spawned creature vanished into the night, its words clung to Aric's mind like a curse.

"You do not belong here, Emperor."

The village had fallen into an uneasy silence, the people shaken, afraid. Some whispered of omens, dark prophecies. Others wondered if Aric had doomed them all.

But Aric knew one thing for certain.

They couldn't stay here.

Eldermere was too exposed. Too weak. If Lord Vallis's army arrived tomorrow, they wouldn't stand a chance.

They needed a fortress.

And somewhere in his bones, he knew where to find one.

----

The next morning, as the sun cast long golden light over the valley, Aric stood at the village gates, a small group gathered behind him.

Lira. Kael. A handful of trusted scouts.

And the mercenary captain, Seraya.

The dark-skinned warrior leaned against her horse, arms crossed. "So, let me get this straight. You have no idea if this place actually exists, but we're riding into the mountains anyway?"

Aric nodded. "Correct."

Seraya sighed. "I like you. You're an idiot."

Kael chuckled. "Finally, someone who sees it."

Lira rolled her eyes. "Are we going or not?"

Aric turned toward the northwestern ridge. Beyond the forests and rolling hills, the silhouette of jagged mountains loomed like ancient sentinels. Somewhere within them lay the ruins.

He had seen them in his visions.

And now, it was time to claim them.

They rode out at dawn.

----

By the time they reached the first cliffs, the air had changed.

The forests below had been alive with birdsong, but here, everything was still. Even the wind felt muted, pressing against them like unseen hands.

Lira shivered. "I hate this already."

Ahead, carved into the rockface, the ruins finally emerged.

A vast, crumbling fortress—half-buried in stone, half-consumed by time. Blackened banners still hung from the broken towers, their insignia faded, forgotten.

But Aric recognized the shape.

The crest of a two-headed serpent intertwined with a sword.

His fingers twitched.

Because he had seen it before.

Not in this life.

But in the memories of Aelthar.

Kael let out a low whistle. "Well. That's ominous."

Seraya dismounted, running a hand over one of the carved pillars. "This place is old. Older than any of the noble houses still standing."

Lira frowned. "Which means?"

Seraya met Aric's gaze. "Which means this is a kingdom that shouldn't exist anymore."

Aric gripped his sword and stepped inside.

----

The great hall was cavernous, silent.

Massive stone pillars stretched toward a ceiling cracked with time. Shadows curled in the corners, thick and unmoving.

And at the very end of the hall—

A throne.

Carved from blackened bone and gold, it stood untouched, waiting.

Aric felt his breath catch.

His heartbeat slammed against his ribs.

Because this was his.

He had sat upon that throne before.

"Aelthar."

The whisper wasn't just in his head this time.

It came from the walls.

From the stone itself.

And as Aric took a step forward, the past consumed him.

----

Fire.

The city was burning.

From his throne, he watched as his empire crumbled.

Below, armies clashed, banners torn, bodies littering the stone streets.

The sky above bled with golden lightning.

And before him, a figure approached.

A man in shining silver armor, his sword dripping with blood.

"You have ruled for too long, Aelthar."

Aric felt his past self's fury.

His hands clenched the armrests of the throne. "You betray me, Iskar."

The man's expression was unreadable. "The world was never meant to belong to one man."

Then the sword came down.

And everything went black.

The Choice of a New King

Aric staggered back, gasping.

His vision snapped back to the present.

Lira grabbed his arm. "Aric? What the hell just happened?"

His breathing was ragged. His fingers still felt the weight of a crown that no longer existed.

Kael watched him carefully. "You remembered something, didn't you?"

Aric swallowed hard. "This was my throne."

Silence.

Seraya's gaze darkened. "Then I hope you're ready to fight for it. Because Vallis won't wait much longer."

Aric exhaled, straightening.

Then, slowly, he stepped forward.

And sat upon the throne.

The stone beneath him rumbled.

As if, after centuries of silence, it had finally recognized its master.

And far away, in the forests beyond Eldermere, something stirred.

The war for the kingdom had begun.