Chapter:1

In former times, when the world was untouched by the hand of technology,
life moved with the slow rhythm of the sun and the seasons.
people lived by farming, trading, and guarding their kingdoms.
Yet simplicity did not mean peace.
For even in those unshaped ages,
the clash of kingdoms and the thunder of great wars
echoed across valleys and deserts.
It was an age both humble and violent—
where the ordinary and the extraordinary coexist with eachother.
In that era, there was a prosperous realm known as the Southeast Kingdom.
It flourished in every way — wealth, culture, and power — so much that many neighboring kingdoms could only gaze upon it with envy, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
But nothing lasts forever.
That moment finally came. One by one, the other kingdoms joined forces, uniting with a single goal — to bring down the mighty Southeast Kingdom.
The emperor had long foreseen that this day might arrive.
In secret, he had ordered the construction of a vast underground tunnel — a sanctuary for his people should the worst come to pass.
Even knowing this was a battle they could not win, he showed no fear.
Standing tall before his soldiers, he smiled and said,
“Thank you for everything. If any of you wish to return to your families, go without hesitation. I will hold no grudge.”
But his soldiers shouted back as one,
“We would rather die beside you than live knowing we left you to die alone!”
The emperor lifted his gaze toward the sky.
“What a day to die,” he murmured, his voice calm and resolute.
Then, sword in hand, he stepped forward — the first to face the approaching enemy.
And just like that, a furious battle erupted — one so fierce that no one truly knew what became of it afterward.
The people of the kingdom believed everyone had perished.
They mourned deeply, grieving for their fallen emperor and soldiers.
But little did they know…
Amid the chaos, a small boy’s voice echoed through the smoke and screams.
“Run, soldiers! Run!” he shouted with all his strength.
Fear filled the hearts of the survivors. Some froze, trembling before the advancing enemy.
Yet a few, accepting their fate, gripped their weapons tightly and stood firm — determined to fight to the very end, buying some time for the others to escape.
When the remaining soldiers rushed out to fight, they spotted a distant group approaching through the haze.
At first, everyone tensed, ready for another clash. But as the figures drew closer, they realized — those were their soldiers.
Cries of relief filled the air as everyone ran toward them.
They surrounded the returning warriors, voices overlapping with desperate questions —
“What happened?!” “Are you all right?” “Did anyone survive?”
Then someone finally asked the question that froze them all:
“Where is His Majesty?”
Silence fell.
From among the weary men, a few soldiers emerged — carrying the emperor in their arms. He was gravely wounded, his armor shattered, his robes soaked in blood.
No one had ever seen him like that before. The sight struck them harder than any blade.
In a panic, the soldiers rushed him to the royal physician. The entire camp buzzed with anxiety and fear, every heart trembling at the thought of losing their emperor.
Days passed in uneasy silence.
Every hour felt like an eternity as the soldiers waited outside the shelter, their hopes flickering like dying embers.
At last, the physician stepped out. His face was pale and weary.
“The emperor is alive,” he said quietly, “but… don’t hold your hopes too high. I’ve done everything I could, yet he still suffers from the aftermath of his wounds. What he needs most now… is rest.”
With those words, the physician left the shelter.
He walked aimlessly until the noise of the camp faded behind him. Reaching the forest’s edge, he sat beneath a great tree and leaned against its trunk.
From his robe, he took out a bottle of liquor, uncorked it, and drank in silence.
Then, as the first raindrops began to fall, tears rolled down his face — mingling with the rain that poured from the darkened sky.
To him, the emperor was everything — the sole reason for who he had become, the guiding light of his life.
As he slowly closed his eyes, a familiar voice called out:
“Hey, Morvyn! You brat! Stealing again, huh?”
Morvyn blinked in confusion. It sounded like the emperor… but he was a teenager in this memory.
“You haven’t changed much,” the emperor laughed, the sound warm and teasing.
Suddenly, Morvyn felt the impulse to pull back, a strange unease creeping over him. That’s when he realized — it wasn’t real. He was dreaming.
Beside him, a soldier’s voice broke through the haze.
“Morvyn! Wake up!”
His eyes snapped open, the dream fading, replaced by the cold reality of the camp and the emperor’s suffering.
At the same time, the emperor’s eyes fluttered open.
He found himself lying on a bed, surrounded by his loyal soldiers. The remaining survivors slept nearby, keeping watch like silent guardians.
A warmth spread through him — happiness, relief — for he was alive.
Slowly, he rose from the bed, careful not to disturb their rest, and stepped outside the shelter to draw in a deep breath of the cool morning air.
Meanwhile, the soldiers and the physician arrived at the shelter, only to find… the emperor standing in the doorway.
The physician’s eyes widened, and he ran forward, joy overflowing from his chest.
“You’re alive! You’re really alive you bastard!” he shouted, almost trembling with relief.
the emperor said “don’t shout you idiot they are sleeping” Morvyn said “let every one know your alive”
For a moment, the tension of the past days melted away.
The emperor, Morvyn, and the soldiers all shared a quiet, heartfelt smile — a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos.
When the people heard the shouting, they rushed outside.
Their eyes widened in disbelief — the emperor was standing before them, alive.
Tears flowed freely as they ran to him, hugging him tightly.
Cries of joy and relief echoed through the air.
For a moment, sorrow and fear melted away, replaced by the overwhelming happiness of seeing their emperor return.