oddeye

Astra stands on the brink of ruin. Prince Kai Voss, the rightful heir, has been cast into the shadows, forced to watch as the ruthless Arlic seizes the throne and tightens his grip on the kingdom. With the powerful House Valerius and a network of corrupt nobles backing Arlic’s reign, Astra descends into a state of fear, deception, and silent rebellion.

Determined to reclaim what was stolen, Kai assembles a band of outcasts and warriors—Mira Solvane, a fierce fighter with a past steeped in blood; Anya, a cunning rogue who knows the city’s darkest corners; and Rolf, his steadfast guardian. Their mission is clear: expose Arlic’s schemes, dismantle his power, and ignite a revolution before Astra is lost forever.

But as the rebellion gains ground, the battle becomes more than just a fight for the throne. Secrets buried deep in Astra’s past begin to unravel—ancient alliances, hidden betrayals, and forces far more sinister than politics. Every move Kai makes pushes him closer to victory, but also closer to a truth he may not be ready to face.

In a world where loyalty is fragile and power is won in the dark, Kai must decide not only how to reclaim Astra—but what kind of ruler he is destined to become.

The war for the kingdom has begun. And the greatest enemy may be the one no one sees coming.

The Crown’s Gambit

The rain-slicked cobblestones of the Imperial Quarter reflected the fractured glow of the gas lamps, turning the narrow alley behind the Azure Palace into a treacherous, watery mirror. Emperor Theron of Astra, once the steadfast heart of the kingdom, now lay crumpled against the cobblestones, crimson blooming against the rich velvet of his royal robes. His breath came in ragged gasps, each exhale mingling with the frigid night air as if to draw one last breath of life from the world around him."

A figure stood over him—a shadow within shadows. The assassin's blade, a wickedly curved stiletto still slick with imperial blood, gleamed in the dim light. For a fleeting moment, their eyes met. Theron searched for something—remorse, hesitation, even a flicker of doubt. There was nothing. Just cold finality. Then, without a word, the assassin turned and vanished into the labyrinthine alleys, his footsteps swallowed by the rain.

Theron exhaled, a wet, shuddering breath. His knees buckled. His back hit the stone wall as he slid downward, legs giving out beneath him.

A name tore from his lips, half a whisper, half a curse.

The word hung in the air, heavy with betrayal. He had trusted Aric above all others, raised him to the highest rank, and now—this.

Fast, frantic, splashing through the rain. A figure burst into the alley—Prince Kai.

His breath hitched. His body went rigid.

"F-Father?" The word barely left his lips before he lurched forward, crashing to his knees beside the dying Emperor. His hands pressed against the wound, desperate, shaking, useless.

Theron's hand shot out, seizing Kai's wrist with surprising force. His fingers were ice-cold, yet his grip was unrelenting. His lips parted, words scraping from his throat.

"Keysight…" His grip tightened slightly. "You must…" A shallow breath. "Aric…"

A violent shudder. His fingers twitched. Then—stillness.

The light in Theron's eyes flickered. Faded. Died.

His father's final words lingered, distant yet unsettling. Keysight. He knew the word. He had always known it. But why mention it now? Why with his final breath?

The world blurred, the pounding rain a deafening roar in his ears. His father—his iron-willed, unbreakable father—was gone.

Yet somehow… he did not feel alone.

The alley stretched before him, empty except for the dying glow of the gas lamps. But the darkness between them felt heavier, as if something unseen had stirred. The shadows pooled thick against the walls, shifting just beyond the edges of his vision, pressing in like a silent, waiting audience.

Kai swallowed hard. The night felt different now. The world had changed.

The throne lay open, vulnerable, and the darkness was no longer just the absence of light.

The Assassination