crown of self-interest

As Raelan and his companions moved toward the volcanic plains, his mind drifted to memories he could never share with them—truths too dark, too damning. The weight of his past settled over him, as it did on nights when the world grew silent, forcing him to remember who he truly was, and the monster he had been.

In another time, another world, he had been known as Zaros.

He could still feel the echoes of that power in his bones. A ruthless emperor, a tyrant who had sought absolute control over life and death. Like this Zaros, he had held no compassion, no mercy. His obsession had driven him to conquer not only cities but the essence of life itself. He had wielded ancient relics and dark sorcery, bending entire factions to his will. His strength had been unmatched, and his ambition had known no bounds.

But in that world, Zaros had found only ashes at the end of his conquests. He remembered the turning point vividly, the night when his closest allies—the very generals he had raised to greatness—had betrayed him. They had grown disillusioned, fearful of his growing thirst for power, and in a desperate act, they had banded together to overthrow him. Their weapons, once loyal to his cause, were turned against him, and in the end, he fell to the very magic he had so carefully woven into their souls.

Yet, he hadn’t died. Instead, he had felt his spirit ripped from his body, cast into the void. There, he drifted for what felt like an eternity, trapped between life and death, burdened by the horrors he had unleashed upon the world.

It was then that he encountered her—a being beyond understanding, a figure woven from starlight and shadows, her form shifting with the ethereal grace of the cosmos itself. She called herself the Keeper, the guardian of realms, the watcher of lives and fates. She regarded him with a piercing gaze, her expression unreadable.

"Zaros," she had said, her voice resonating in his mind. "You sought to control all, to break the natural balance of life. But tell me, was it worth it?"

In the timeless void, Zaros had found himself stripped of all his defenses, forced to confront his choices. He had destroyed everything he touched, reduced lands to ruin, taken lives with no remorse. For the first time, he felt a pang of regret—not for his suffering, but for the countless lives he had trampled underfoot.

He had bowed his head. “No. I see now that it was not worth it. I wanted peace, but I brought only darkness.”

The Keeper watched him in silence before nodding, as though she had seen a glimmer of something redeemable in him. "Then I offer you a chance—a test, a journey. I will give you another life, in another time. But if you fall to darkness again, there will be no mercy, and you will be cast into the void for eternity."

Thus, he had awoken in a new world, his past shrouded in the guise of Raelan, his memories blurred at first, until each piece returned, haunting him like specters from a dream. He had kept his true identity hidden, trying to mold himself into something more than what he had been, seeking a way to undo the harm he had once inflicted.

But fate had a cruel sense of humor. Here, he had come to learn of this world’s Zaros, a mirror of his former self, who sought the same path he had once walked. Zaros, with his armies and his hunger for power, was a reflection of the man Raelan could still become if he ever let himself slip.

Raelan’s hand clenched around the hilt of his sword as he pushed these thoughts from his mind. He was not that man—not anymore. He would not become the monster he once was. And if it meant putting an end to this Zaros to protect this world, to protect his people, then so be it.

"Raelan," Eryndra’s voice broke through his reverie, and he turned to see her watching him with concern.

"You’ve been quiet. Are you well?" she asked, her eyes searching his face.

He forced a small smile. "Just… reflecting. The road we’re on—it’s familiar in ways I wish it weren’t."

Eryndra nodded, her gaze softening. She was one of the few people he trusted, the one who had witnessed the depths of his remorse and the weight he bore. But even she did not know the full truth.

“It’s normal to feel that way, Raelan. All of us have things we regret. And if we’re to stop Zaros, perhaps those regrets are what give us the strength to keep going.” She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t carry it alone. We’re with you.”

Her words struck him like a blade of light through darkness. Raelan nodded, grateful for her support, though he knew he could never share his true past with her. Yet, perhaps that didn’t matter. In this life, he had people beside him, people who believed in his cause. And that was something Zaros had never possessed.

As they reached the plains where the Emberfang lurked, Raelan felt his resolve solidify. This journey was a chance at redemption, a path laid before him to right the wrongs of his past. He had the opportunity to become the protector he had once pretended to be, to fight for peace in ways he never had before.

When they stood before the Emberfang—a massive beast, its hide like molten rock, its breath a torrent of fire—Raelan moved forward with purpose, his eyes cold with determination. He would face every threat, every trial, if it meant atoning for the sins of his past.

As the battle commenced, the fiery clash of steel and flame was nothing compared to the storm that raged within him. Raelan fought not only to win allies, but to become worthy of the second chance he had been given. The sins of Zaros would haunt him no longer.

And in that moment, as he struck down the creature and the embers settled around him, Raelan felt, for the first time, that he might one day find peace—not through conquest, but through protection, through sacrifice, and through building a world that needed neither Zaros nor Raelan to bring order.

With every step forward, Raelan vowed to leave his former self further behind. This time, he would not fail.