crown of self-interest

The night draped its heavy veil over Verathen, shadows creeping into every corner as Zaros sat alone in his dimly lit chambers. The remnants of the battle lingered in his mind, but it was not the bloodshed that haunted him; it was the haunting memory of a face long lost to the currents of time.

He leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, willing the memories to rise to the surface like bubbles in still water. The flickering flames of the candles cast dancing shadows across the walls, momentarily warping the room and pulling him deeper into his thoughts.

Her name had been Lyra. He could still hear it whispered in the wind, a soft melody that played through the corridors of his mind. Lyra had possessed an ethereal beauty, her eyes shimmering like the stars that adorned the night sky. In those days, before the weight of his ambitions had buried him beneath layers of darkness, Zaros had known warmth, laughter, and love. She was everything he had ever desired, and the light she brought to his life was blinding.

The memory of her laughter echoed in his ears, a sweet sound that contrasted sharply with the somber silence of his current reality. He could still picture her standing before him, her long hair flowing like a cascade of silk, framing her delicate features. She had looked so much like Rielin—fierce yet gentle, a warrior in her own right.

Zaros had met Lyra during his early years of study in the arcane arts, long before he became the feared sorcerer he was today. She had been a healer, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos that surrounded them. While he delved into dark magics, seeking power and control, she had devoted her life to saving others, reminding him of the goodness still present in the world.

But fate had other plans. In his relentless pursuit of strength, Zaros had unwittingly invited danger into their lives. A rival sorcerer, jealous and ambitious, had targeted him through Lyra, seeking to destroy what he held dear. He could still recall the night it happened—the shadows had whispered warnings he chose to ignore, his arrogance blinding him to the impending threat.

Zaros had returned home late that evening, the air charged with an unshakable sense of foreboding. As he entered their modest dwelling, he found it in ruins. The once vibrant home was now a scene of destruction, the echoes of violence hanging thick in the air.

“Lyra!” he had shouted, panic clawing at his throat. He felt his heart pounding as he searched every corner, every shadow for any sign of her. The sight of her lying motionless, her beautiful face marred by blood and betrayal, had shattered him.

In that moment, he had felt the weight of his own failure crash down upon him. He was powerful, feared, and yet utterly helpless to save the one person who mattered most. He had cradled her in his arms, the warmth of her life slipping away like sand through his fingers. The bitter taste of guilt burned in his throat as he realized he had become the very monster he sought to conquer.

“Forgive me,” he had whispered, his voice cracking as tears streamed down his cheeks. “I was not strong enough.”

That night had marked the end of the man he once was. The warmth of love and laughter faded into the cold embrace of despair. The spark of hope that Lyra had ignited within him had been extinguished, replaced by a relentless drive for power and dominance. He would never allow himself to be weak again.

As the years turned to decades, Zaros transformed himself into the dark sorcerer the world now feared. He buried his past, walling off the memories that threatened to unravel him. But even in the depths of his ambition, Lyra's visage remained—an unyielding ghost that lingered at the edges of his mind.

With every victory he claimed, he felt her absence like a gaping wound. He had sought to build a legacy that would surpass his own mortality, a desire to wield power that would ensure no one could ever threaten him or his loved ones again. Yet, in that pursuit, he had isolated himself, pushing away those who dared to come close.

Rielin had become a reflection of what he had lost, her fierce spirit reminding him of Lyra in ways that terrified him. The fierce loyalty and strength she displayed ignited a longing within him, but the shadows of his past loomed larger.

He opened his eyes, the flickering candlelight illuminating the dark corners of his soul. The walls he had erected to protect himself had become his prison, and in his quest for strength, he had forgotten the warmth of connection.

“Lyra…” he whispered into the silence, the name barely escaping his lips.

It was a name laden with sorrow, a reminder of his failures. As he stared into the depths of the night, he resolved to honor her memory not through isolation but through the bonds he forged with those around him. Rielin, with her fierce heart, was a chance to rewrite the narrative that had consumed him for so long.

With determination solidifying within him, Zaros rose from his chair, the shadows dancing around him as he made his way to the door. He had faced the specters of his past; now, he would embrace the future. He would not let fear dictate his path any longer.

As he stepped into the dimly lit corridor, a new purpose coursed through him. Zaros Valen would rise again, not just as a sorcerer of great power, but as a man who would protect those he cared for. The echoes of his past would guide him, not bind him, and this time he would ensure that no one else would suffer the fate that had befallen Lyra.