In the soft glow of dawn, Vindhor returned to a deceptive calm. Kaelen, still haunted by the shadows of the Solar Twilight, awoke with a newfound weight upon him: the Black Crown, resting beside the Key of Eternal Breath, vibrated with an unsettling energy.
That tranquility lasted but a moment. In the grand hall, a breathless messenger arrived bearing grave news from distant lands: three other crowns of power, each echoing the Black Crown's ominous presence, had been discovered. Each bore a deadly name: the Crown of the Void, the Crown of Lunar Chaos, and the Crimson Abyss Crown.
Kaelen realized that his was not the only crowned artifact—but one of four shards of a broken, ancient power. Now the legend was clear: to restore peace, they would either have to unite these crowns… or destroy them all.
---
I. The Scouts' Report
1. The Crown of the Void
The first report came from the kingdom of Sombreval, in the east, where a storm of ash was consuming the forests. Villagers spoke of a black crown floating above the ruins of an ancient altar.
> Scout
"Those who approached it returned mute… their minds devoured by the void."
2. Lunar Chaos
To the north, beyond the Silver Mountains, purple auroras painted the sky. The Crown of Lunar Chaos lured out the darkest passions, turning men into shadow-wolves.
> Scout
"The nights are filled with howls… and crowns made of mist."
3. The Crimson Abyss
In the south, beneath the Sunken Cities of the Crimson Delta, a scarlet crown carved with blood-runes lay submerged, corrupting the sea and drawing abyssal creatures.
> Scout
"The sailors fear the tides—whenever the crown stirs, the deep rips open."
---
II. The Council of the Four Crowns
Within the Council Tower, Kaelen gathered Lys, Ceylen, Maelis, Aurora, Serin, and Shirut to determine the fate of these artifacts.
> Kaelen
"We cannot ignore these crowns. They threaten not only Vindhor, but the entire world."
Opinions clashed: some proposed uniting the four and sealing their power; others argued for their total destruction.
> Maelis
"Ancient writings speak of a necessary fusion—four crowns, one Scepter of Judgment."
> Aurora
"Or complete destruction… at the risk of shattering elemental balance."
---
III. A Division of Paths
To act swiftly, the Circle split into three expeditions:
1. Sombreval (Lys and Shirut) — to retrieve the Crown of the Void.
2. Silver Mountains (Aurora and Serin) — to confront the Lunar Chaos.
3. Crimson Delta (Ceylen and Maelis) — to claim the Crimson Abyss Crown.
Kaelen remained in Vindhor to reinforce the city's defenses and prepare the Judgment Ritual.
> Kaelen
"May the Key's light guide our paths. We shall meet again at the Altar of Crowns."
---
IV. Epilogue — The Dark Challenge
At the next dawn, each expedition departed Vindhor, carrying the weight of hope—and fear.
> Four crowns. Four fates. The quest to master them has only just begun.
Kaelen watched the banners vanish into the horizon, unease tightening in his chest. The future of his kingdom—and perhaps the world—now depended on a fragile balance between light and shadow.
To be continued...