Prologue

|Agrona|

I glared down at Vritra, his arrogant demeanor and irritating smile fueling my frustration. King's Force surged within me, a manifestation of my undeniable superiority over the being standing before me. Yet, despite my overwhelming power, his confident facade remained unshaken.

"Enough with your games, Jezebeth," I seethed, my voice laced with anger and impatience. "Why would you jeopardize our chances of defeating Kezess by breaching the treaty with the Asuras? Have you no regard for our collective strength?"

Jezebeth's smirk widened, his purple eyes glinting with a dangerous glimmer. "Oh, Agrona, you worry too much," he taunted, waving his hand dismissively. "I simply added a little twist to the plot. It won't affect our ultimate goal."

His nonchalant response only fueled my frustration further. How could he be so reckless, so indifferent to the consequences of his actions? The fate of our entire campaign against Kezess hinged on maintaining alliances and strategic manoeuvring, and Jezebeth's brazen disregard for diplomacy threatened to undo everything we had worked for.

"Don't underestimate the repercussions of your actions," I retorted, my voice dripping with determination. "Using Alistair's presence as an excuse will not absolve you of the consequences."

Jezebeth emitted a derisive snort, his arrogance palpable in every contemptuous word. "Alistair is a mere half-ling, hardly a threat," he scoffed dismissively. "No, Agrona, I speak of another dragon, a full-blooded Asura who aided the Lessers. Although she was rather weak, her allegiance with them constitutes a breach of the treaty."

I sank deeper into my throne, absorbing the gravity of Jezebeth's revelation. A sense of unease crept over me as I realized the implications of my daughter's involvement in this treacherous affair.

"So, you were aware," Jezebeth remarked, his eyes fixed upon me. "Why then, did you attempt to wrongfully implicate me?"

I disregarded his accusatory tone, my mind preoccupied with the turmoil that enveloped my thoughts.

I shifted my focus to a more pressing matter. "Did you encounter anyone of interest?" I inquired, my voice laced with cautious curiosity.

Jezebeth's eyes gleamed with intensity, relishing the opportunity to share his findings. "Indeed," he responded, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I have come across two beings who possess the potential to disrupt our plans. Their presence cannot be taken lightly, but now that you have secured the other two Legacies, it shouldn't be much of a problem."

My gaze shifted toward the two individuals present in the chamber, their auras seemingly unremarkable to the untrained eye. However, I could sense the weight of their souls, a formidable presence despite their seemingly ordinary facades.

Jezebeth's assessment of their significance struck a chord within me. The fate of our grand design rested upon identifying and neutralising any threats that could undermine our carefully orchestrated plans. While their power may not rival Jezebeth's own, their latent potential and the uncertainty they brought to the table demanded my immediate attention.

I pondered the intricate puzzle before me, mapping out strategies to counter any unforeseen challenges that these individuals might present. The road ahead was treacherous, but my resolve remained unshaken. I would fortify our position, leveraging the newfound Legacies we had secured, and ensure that no force, however formidable, could derail our pursuit of ultimate triumph.

With determination in my eyes, I rose from my throne. It was time to devise a comprehensive strategy, one that accounted for every possible contingency and paved the way for our inevitable victory.

|Vicht|

Leaning back against my regal throne, a heavy sigh escaped my lips. "Even I did not anticipate such a twist," I admitted, my voice filled with a tinge of surprise.

Jezebeth had made his move prematurely, almost succeeding in his sinister mission to extinguish the blossoming talents that would pave the path to Dicathen's greatness. Furthermore, Agrona's command over fate exceeded my earlier estimations. He managed to acquire two additional formidable pawns, who, by the time the war engulfed us, would undoubtedly pose a significant threat.

A subtle smile played upon my lips, a reflection of the intricate game of chess unfolding before me—a battle of wills among three distinct powers. Kezess, the unchallenged king of Epheotus and the Asuras, Agrona, the reigning king of Vritras, and myself, the enigmatic shadow queen of Dicathen.

In the face of relentless power dynamics, my unwavering dedication to safeguarding Dicathen emerged as an unyielding flame within me. As the shadow queen, I embraced the challenge with resolute determination, knowing that the fate of the realm depended on my unwavering resolve.

Yet, unbeknownst to me at the time, another player had silently joined the game, transcending the role of a mere pawn. He refused to succumb to manipulation or be a pawn in our grand scheme. Instead, he emerged as a master of his own destiny, capable of shaping not only his fate but also the destiny of the entire continent.

|Gary|

A surge of shock coursed through me, causing my features to contort with disbelief. The familiar shield of Monarch's Indifference, my emotional fortress, remained dormant, unable to shield me from the overwhelming waves of guilt and despair crashing upon me. My body quivered involuntarily, unable to bear the weight of the revelation that had just unfolded.

Words escaped me, caught in the suffocating grip of my remorse. I struggled to articulate the thoughts that swirled within me, desperately yearning to express my profound regret. But the weight of my failures pressed upon me, rendering me silent and unworthy.

In the presence of the woman who stood before me, radiating love and understanding, I couldn't help but feel an agonizing sense of undeserving. How could I possibly deserve her affection when I had failed her, and everyone else, so miserably?

The weight of my shortcomings enveloped me, suffocating any semblance of self-assurance or confidence that remained. I had let down those who depended on me, casting a shadow of disappointment over their lives.

With a heavy heart, I acknowledged the depths of my failure, knowing that mere words could not rectify the damage I had caused. It was a burden I would carry, a constant reminder of my shortcomings and the unrelenting need to strive for redemption.

Kathlyn's voice, filled with sincerity, cut through the haze of despair that engulfed me. Her hand clasping mine offered a lifeline amidst the tumultuous sea of my self-condemnation.

"You must understand, Ren... no, Gary," she spoke, her words carrying a gentle reassurance, "You didn't fail me in our past life. You fought valiantly, even vanquishing Jezebeth."

"But you... you perished," I choked out, my voice laden with sorrow and regret, unable to shake the pain of that loss.

Her grip tightened, a testament to her unwavering resolve. "Yes, I did," she acknowledged, her tone soft yet resolute, "But now, we have been granted a precious second chance. The past is a chapter closed, and the future remains shrouded in mystery. But in this present moment, right here, right now, we have been given the gift of life. We must cherish this opportunity and embrace the present, rather than being consumed by the weight of the past. Together, we can seize this chance and live our lives to the fullest."

Her words pierced through the lingering shadows of despair, infusing me with a newfound glimmer of hope. In her perspective, I saw the wisdom and resilience that she embodied. The scars of the past would always remain, but they need not define our future. We had the power to shape our present, to forge a path of redemption and happiness.

With Kathlyn by my side, her unwavering belief in our shared journey, I found solace. The past would forever be a part of us, but the present was an opportunity to create a brighter, more fulfilling future. And together, we would seize that opportunity, cherishing each precious moment as the gift it truly was.

In the embrace of Kathlyn's comforting presence, a renewed determination surged within me, propelling my words forward with unwavering conviction. I held her tightly, seeking solace in the strength of our connection.

"This time," I vowed, my voice resolute, "I will not falter. Neither Jezebeth nor the confines of the Akashic Records shall impede our journey. I am prepared to dismantle the very fabric of the Universe itself if necessary, for I am resolved to pave a path towards our shared happiness."

Kathlyn's response was silent but profound. With a tender touch, she gently patted my back, her silent reassurance echoing the depths of her understanding and unwavering support. In that moment, our connection transcended words, and we found solace in the warmth and security of each other's embrace.

Together, we stood as a force against the trials and tribulations that lay ahead. With unwavering determination and the strength of our bond, we embarked on this journey, fueled by the unyielding pursuit of our own joy and fulfillment. No obstacle, no matter how formidable, would deter us from forging a destiny that defied all odds.

Unbeknownst to me at that moment, a daunting reality unfolded before us. Not only did Jezebeth pose a formidable threat, but now two additional adversaries of immense power emerged, their very existence casting a foreboding shadow over the future of Dicathen. Little did I realize that their convergence would unleash catastrophic consequences, leaving our beloved land shattered in its wake.