The Torok army entered the royal palace in triumph.
Twenty days had passed since the battle. Because the roads were long and rugged, the great army had only been able to travel from the Valley of Greeneye to the Palace of Torok in twenty days.
Joy filled the palace. Servants prepared a grand feast for the evening, courtyards were being decorated, and musicians were rehearsing.
Prince Mazir had withdrawn to his chambers.
In his hands was an old history book. It spoke of his favorite ruler, Great Kris. Great Kris was a legendary king who had conquered the entire continent of Erras. He had ruled the continent under a single banner for years. But after his death, the heirs of the old defeated kingdoms had risen in rebellion, and Erras had fractured once more.
In the north: Rodom, Veram, and Rodok…
In the south: Junyan and Destranya…
In the central lands: Harmon and Detran…
In the west: Turom and Lantro…
In the east: Torok and Monah…
For centuries, no one had been able to unite the continent again.
Mazir fell into thought.
If I become king one day… what kind of king would I be? Could I achieve such great ambitions?
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
The youngest prince, fourteen-year-old Visroz, entered. He had not been present at the battlefield, but he was overflowing with excitement.
"Brother!" he said breathlessly.
"They say we won the victory because of you! Brother Krenes told me. He tries not to show it, but he's proud of you. Of course, as usual, he's full of himself."
Mazir smiled.
Visroz was one of the few people in the palace who truly cared for him.
Visroz's mother, Alya, was from the noble House of Tre. She was intelligent, beautiful, and extremely ambitious. Her greatest desire was for her son to become king one day. Like the others, she looked down on Mazir and his mother Krilin.
Mazir told his brother about the battle.
"We were about to lose when I received intelligence from Erner. He told me about a hidden mountain path. We used it to strike the enemy from behind."
Visroz's expression tightened.
Erner…
A mysterious spy sung about in songs. A master of disguise, rumored to change his face, said to meddle in cursed magic.
Visroz wondered how his brother had managed to make such a man his ally.
Just then, the door opened again.
Mazir's mother, Krilin, entered.
She embraced her son.
Mazir was twenty-one years old, but whenever his mother held him, something inside him softened.
"My son," Krilin said, "I am proud of you."
Mazir's voice trembled slightly.
"If I have made you proud, mother, that is enough for me."
Krilin told him the feast had begun. Together they went downstairs.
In the grand dining hall of the palace, a massive table had been set. King Alazar sat at the head, laughing and speaking with his advisors and ministers.
Visroz went to sit beside his mother and her counselors.
Mazir and Krilin sat next to each other.
At that moment, the doors opened.
The eldest prince Harzar and his mother Klara entered.
Klara carried the cold elegance of House Dota. Blonde, blue-eyed, breathtakingly beautiful. For a moment, those in the hall nearly forgot their meals while looking at her.
But Mazir thought differently.
That woman was the most cunning and ambitious soul in the palace. If Harzar's claim to the throne were certain, she would be capable of poisoning even the king.
After half an hour, the feast ended.
Everyone gathered in the main hall.
King Alazar rose and rewarded the commanders who had shown bravery in battle. Applause filled the chamber.
Then the king's voice echoed through the hall:
"Prince Mazir."
Mazir stepped forward and knelt.
King Alazar looked at his son.
"You changed the course of the battle. You saved Torok."
Murmurs spread among the nobles.
The king continued:
"For this reason, I grant you one of the highest knightly titles of the kingdom — the Moon Blade."
This title was given only to commanders who changed the fate of wars.
Mazir had earned it.
But the nobles began whispering.
"The son of a peasant woman…"
"That title given to him?"
Mazir ignored them.
At that very moment…
The great doors opened with a heavy sound.
A man entered with one eye covered by a black patch.
He had long hair and sharp features. Handsome — yet terrifying.
The air in the hall instantly froze.
The man spoke:
"Greetings, my dear brother… King Alazar."
Everyone froze.
Brother?
The man stepped forward slowly.
"I have come to show you what I found beyond the Eastern Sea. You will be very surprised."