Andrew_Nickene

In a war torn continent ruled by tyrants and legends, Kael a young swordsman with a myserious back story departs into a journey that will uncover secrets buried deep within the history of past empiers,kingdoms and bloodlines of kings. Raised in the shadow of a forgotten legacy Kael is thrust in to a repeated never ending story.

Ashren

Chapter Sixty-Seven : The Year Before the Fall

The air was still, no longer heavy with power. Just… silent. And warm.

He sat up with a jolt, his hand reaching for his sword, eyes darting around the chamber.

"Lira?" he called out, his voice echoing strangely off the walls.

"I'm here," came her soft reply. She was sitting against one of the now crumbling stone pillars, rubbing her temples. "What happened?"

The chamber was no longer pulsing with energy. The walls were cracked and overgrown, the pedestal gone, and in the center—no dagger. No aura. No trace of shadow or light. Just an ancient ruin, long-forgotten by time.

"The artifact…" Kael muttered. "It's gone."

They didn't speak much as they climbed their way out. The staircase that once spiraled into shadow now crumbled in places, vines growing between the stone. When they emerged into the sunlight—

"What… is this?" Lira whispered.

They stood on a hillside overlooking what should've been a wasteland—scorched earth, shattered cities, haunted skies. But instead…

Birds flew above. Crops swayed in fields. A caravan of traders passed on a cobbled road. The ruined city they had known—once drowned in ash and silence—now stood tall and whole, its market alive with people.

Kael and Lira approached the square slowly, as if in a dream. They passed bakers, smiths, laughing children. The scent of sweet bread filled the air.

Kael grabbed the arm of a merchant arranging fresh apples. "What year is it?" he asked, his voice more commanding than intended.

The merchant blinked. "What kind of question is that?" he chuckled. "It's the 14th year of the Flame Reign. Still got ten years before that rebellion stirs up the east."

Lira clutched his arm. "Kael… what is he saying?"

Kael looked at her, disbelief sinking into his bones. "We're in the past," he said, barely able to hear himself speak. "Before it all happened. Before Andrew became what he was. Before Andreas died."

He didn't answer. Instead, he searched his pouch. Gold coins still jingled—the currency of the old kingdoms. He flagged down a traveler and bought them passage on the next ship heading east. To Ashren—or rather, the land that would become Ashren. Its name was different now, a name lost in the flames of history.

That night, as their ship set sail across the tranquil sea, Kael stood at the bow, eyes locked on the horizon.

Lira came beside him. "Do you think this is a second chance?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know," Kael said. "But something pulled us here. And I don't believe in accidents anymore."

Far above, hidden among the clouds, a presence watched them. Silent. Patient.

A flicker of dark aura curled in the wind, unseen.

Andrew was overseeing everything he got transported along Kael and Lira in to the past.

This was part his plan to rescue Natalia before beeing brainwashed and his parents and only interest in love killed by Andreas.