In the shadows of history, beyond the reach of mortal eyes, the Immortals have waged their secret wars, bound by the sacred code: *There can be only one*. "Eternal Duel: Untold Chronicles of the Immortals" brings to light the hitherto unseen sagas o...
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Starring SolesOfWonder as Hannah with Sarah as rival immortals.
Prologue
The streets of Rome were alive with celebration. Garlands of flowers adorned the columns of the Forum as throngs of citizens cheered the triumphant legions marching through the city. At the head of the procession rode Emperor Marcus Aurelius, resplendent in his golden armor, his face a mask of solemn pride.
Amidst the revelry, a cloaked figure watched from the shadows. Hannah, an Immortal who had seen the rise and fall of empires, knew that beneath the façade of power and glory, dark currents stirred. As she turned to leave, her eyes met those of another across the crowded square—eyes filled with a sorrow and longing that echoed through the ages. Sarah, her eternal nemesis and lost love. Then as quickly as she had appeared, Sarah vanished into the throng, leaving Hannah with a sense of unease. The wheels of fate were turning, and an ancient game was afoot once more.
Chapter 1
The sun had barely crested the hills when Hannah strode into the imperial palace, her cloak billowing behind her. She nodded to the Praetorian guards who saluted as she passed. Though few were privy to her true role, she had earned the respect and trust of those who protected the emperor.
She found Marcus Aurelius in his study, poring over maps and dispatches. He looked up as she entered, his eyes betraying a weariness that his regal bearing concealed.
"Hannah, my old friend. I am grateful you have come," he said. "I fear storm clouds are gathering at our borders."
Hannah examined the map, her brow furrowed. "The Parthians grow bold. And I hear whispers of unrest in the northern provinces as well."
Marcus nodded grimly. "I have always sought to rule with wisdom and restraint, as a philosopher as much as an emperor. But there are those who mistake this for weakness. They circle like vultures, eager to tear at the empire."
"You are an enlightened ruler, Marcus. But even the greatest empires must sometimes bare steel to survive."
The emperor sighed. "I dread the prospect of war. The suffering, the waste of human potential. Is this not the bitter irony of power - that we must sometimes commit violence to preserve a greater peace?"
"With your wisdom to temper it, Roman strength can be wielded as a shield, not just a sword," Hannah counseled. "But you must remain vigilant. I fear not all enemies of Rome march under foreign banners."
Marcus frowned. "Surely you don't suspect treachery from within? I have sought to win loyalty with justice and reason."
"And you have, among most. But ambition and envy are black seeds that can take root even in the most orderly garden." Hannah thought of Sarah and a shadow passed over her ageless face. "I have seen it before, more times than I care to remember."
