Chapter 1,
The king's call echoed through the throne room, a command no knight dared to ignore. Azrodyl knelt, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "The queen has vanished," the king said, his voice thick with worry and anger. "She was last seen in the underground chambers. Find her, knight, and bring her back."
Azrodyl bowed deeply and turned, his gaze filled with determination. The palace corridors were deserted at this late hour, candles flickering and casting long shadows against the stone walls. The guards looked away as he passed, as if they knew what awaited him. No one spoke of the chambers beneath the castle, and yet he had to descend there, alone.
At the entrance to the ancient stairs, he held his breath. The air smelled stale, thick with dampness and something else… something that unsettled him. He descended, step by step, the sound of his boots echoing through the narrow hallway. The deeper he went, the colder it grew. Above him, the door slammed shut. Azrodyl drew his sword. The darkness seemed alive, breathing, like an invisible presence watching him. He couldn't help but wonder if this was a trap… For this wasn't a choice; this was his received command.
Before him loomed a massive pillar, adorned with ancient inscriptions. He read the words aloud: "Whoever passes this pillar leaves behind hope."
With one last glance back—at the darkness that enveloped him—he passed the pillar. A cold wind slid across his face. What lay beyond, he couldn't yet know. But he knew one thing for sure: there was no turning back.
