Tales of Eldrheima: The Sword of Freedom

Chapter One: The prophecy (ENG)

An ancient legend speaks of the creation of the continent of Eldrheima, born from the blood of war and violence. The continent, once a single territory, became the scene of a bloody and long-lasting war between races of all kinds, each fighting for the territorial supremacy of the continent itself. Only the intervention of an ancient people, called Nomads, bearers of wisdom and knowledge, saw the conclusion of the hatred and the partition of the continent, similar more than ever to what currently persists today. After the conclusion of the war, the Nomads founded cities, only to then disappear almost immediately, causing the lands they founded to become uninhabited, which disappeared from the human eye like fog. Since then, despite minor internal wars, Eldrheima knew almost mainly peace and prosperity, with the leaders of the various territories signing a pact of alliance and non-aggression, to avoid repeating the mistakes made in the past again. Five centuries after the birth of "modern" Eldrheima, an ominous omen suddenly began to spread:

-  WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

yelled a tall, middle-aged man, luxuriously dressed from head to toe and wearing a royal crown:

- IS WHAT YOU SAY TRUE, COURT SEER?!

He bellowed again, pounding his fist on the throne he was sitting on.

The poor seer, a woman with long white hair, a bent back, and a faded and time-worn air, had the eyes of one who feared to utter a word, but her duty required her to inform the man whenever she perceived a prophecy.

- His Majesty Theodore Karl Sinzendorf IV, noble ruler of the Kingdom of Eldrheima, I can only repeat to you what this humble court seer has already made her royal ears hear. My crystal ball propitiated a terrible calamity destined to strike this same realm, subsequently involving the entire continent of Eldrheima.

Explained the old seer, with the voice of someone trying to hide their fear and insecurity.

The king remained for a few minutes staring into space, curling his long hair, which was beginning to acquire a whitish color. His eyes widened and with his pupils he looked for the royal advisers, who in the face of this news had the same look as the King himself, if not more like that of the poor seer.

- Umpf, is it possible that the first calamity that will touch Eldrheima after a long time must strike on these lands? Have the High Elves cursed us?

King Theodore thought to himself, while tapping the most precious crown set with beautiful and brilliant red gems, the color symbol of the Kingdom of Eldrheima, the kingdom of humans.

- If I may, your majesty...

A royal advisor gasped, waiting for the king's order to continue, an order that came after a few seconds:

- I have heard that your daughter will return today from her exile, and that in these years of confinement she has grown into a girl of great intelligence and wit...

The poor adviser did not have time to finish the sentence that the sound of the fist that his majesty gave to the arm of the throne echoed throughout the sumptuous room, making all those present even more intimidated.

- HA! And so, the time has come, huh?! Asking that girl for help is the last thing I intend to do, should it cost me my own life!

exclaimed King Theodore, with grim face.

Suddenly, the immense doors of the throne room flung open and from them appeared the figure of a rather short girl, with long bright red hair and eyes as blue as the sea. She wore a rumpled white toga over which hung a black corset, the skirt of the same color as the corset contrasted with the sumptuous air of the room, and the leather shoes did not at all suit one who had the privilege of treading that floor covered with royal carpets. The girl had on her face, in addition to the mocking smile of one who had heard something very funny, a series of faint freckles, barely visible. The girl made her way through the surprised and hostile expressions of the guards and royal advisers, who watched her with distrust and hesitation, until she approached the court seer who, for some reason, turned out to be the only one delighted by her sudden arrival.