The struggle for the nation's independence had lasted for over the thirty years.
The Legion of Knights had failed to bring an end to the royal bloodline in a swift campaign. What was supposed to be a quick rebellion turned into a devastating war - one that took the lives of countless civilians and soldiers.
This world, once blessed by the power of magic - that was supposed to bring order and improvements through advancements in medicine, agriculture, and daily life - had instead become a stage for sorrow, death, the ruin of cities and villages.
Magic was meant to be a tool - but instead, it became a weapon. A weapon that destroyed million of lives, cities... entire countries. Magic could enhance the speed of an arrow — or a person. Some possessed powerful abilities, like cloning or explosive magic.
Now, a knight stood at the gates of the capital - the home of Tyrant King. Beside him walked a woman known as The Guide, who had led him through a land of ruins and broken dreams.
The capital itself was no longer a place of pride. The buildings were crumbling, worn by time and war. Its people no longer lived - they merely survived. Their clothes were old, torn, and filthy. Food was a luxury only the rich - those loyal to the royal family - could afford. For the common people, even plain rice was a rare treasure.
And at the city's centre stood a great palace with golden columns, guarded by hundreds of soldiers. It was here that the monstrous royal family lived - the ones who had brought this land to ruin, the monsters who had destroyed countless dreams and hopes for a future of this country.
"Are you ready for your final trial? Do you truly understand what lies ahead?"
"Yes."
"Then I shall leave you further alone. But allow me to grant you a special gift - a reward for the distance you've traveled, and for your willingness to fight for a kingdom that has all but lost its future."
With a graceful wave of her hands, the woman summoned a sword from the void itself. A faint smile appeared on her face as if she had finally found a worthy successor.
"This sword carries a history back from twenty years ago. It once belonged to a man much like you, one who fought for this land's freedom.
Let me place my hand upon your head and show you his story... A journey of courage, sacrifice, and unyielding spirit."
The knight silently lowered his head in acceptance. As her hand rested gently atop his hair, a white light consumed his vision, like the final image seen before death.
And in that moment, the knight was no longer in the present. He had been transported twenty years into the past to witness the story of the warrior who once held the sword.