The Kingdom of Lysoria and the Undead Plague (Part 3: The Eternal War)
13Chapter One: A Storm on the Horizon
Years had passed since the defeat of Selara, the shadowy woman who sought to use Princess Elira as a vessel for ancient darkness. Lysoria had begun to rebuild, enjoying a fragile peace. King Aric, though weakened by age, continued to rule with wisdom, and Elira, now fully embraced as the heir to the throne, had become a symbol of hope and resilience for the kingdom.
But the peace was not destined to last. Though Selara had been defeated, her cryptic words, "The gates to my true power," haunted Elira’s dreams. The darkness that had plagued Lysoria for generations was still lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike again.
One stormy night, as lightning split the sky over the kingdom, the earth trembled. In the far north, a forgotten tower that had stood in the shadow of the ancient mountains collapsed, revealing a hidden catacomb beneath it. From this abyss, a new power emerged—one older and more insidious than Malgath or Selara.
Sira, Archmage of Lysoria, felt the tremor in the magical fabric of the world immediately. She had been researching the lingering remnants of the shadow curse, hoping to find a way to destroy it once and for all. But this new disturbance was something entirely different. Gathering her scrolls and summoning her power, Sira sought an audience with Princess Elira.
“Elira,” Sira said gravely, “The darkness has returned, and it’s worse than we imagined. Selara and Malgath were merely the first wave. Something far more ancient stirs in the north.”
Elira felt a chill run down her spine. “What is it, Sira?”
Sira opened one of her ancient tomes, revealing an illustration of a massive, swirling vortex of shadow. “The Necrothar—the First Shadow. A being that predates humanity itself. It was once imprisoned in the Abyss of Aetheron, an ancient rift between worlds, but it seems Selara’s defeat has weakened the barrier. The storm has begun.”
Chapter Two: The Broken Seal
Elira wasted no time. She called for the remnants of her father’s council, the heroes who had saved Lysoria time and again. Sir Gavain, older now but still as resolute, led the royal guard. Lady Cerys, having become a legend in her own right, once again joined them. Sira stood ready with her arcane knowledge, but this time, her role would be even more crucial.
“What can we do?” Gavain asked after hearing the dire news. “We’ve faced undead before, and even defeated Malgath and Selara. But if this… Necrothar is older than them, how do we even fight it?”
Sira looked gravely at the group. “This will not be like the battles we’ve fought before. The Necrothar’s power is beyond our comprehension. It does not just raise the dead; it consumes the very essence of life. It will turn the land itself into a wasteland if we don’t act quickly.”
Lady Cerys, sharpening her blade, asked, “What are our options?”
Sira closed her eyes, struggling with the weight of her words. “There’s only one way to stop it. We need to reforge the Aether Blade—a sword of pure light forged in the celestial flames of the gods. It’s the only weapon that can sever the Necrothar’s connection to our world.”
Elira looked at Sira, her determination solidifying. “Where do we find it?”
Sira hesitated. “It doesn’t exist anymore. It was shattered ages ago, after the first war between light and shadow. The fragments are scattered across the world. We’ll need to find them and reforge the blade before the Necrothar reaches full strength.”
Elira clenched her fists. “Then we have no time to waste. We ride at dawn.”
Chapter Three: The Shattered Fragments
The first fragment of the Aether Blade was said to be hidden in the Sunken Ruins of Valoria, a once-great city swallowed by the sea. Legend told of the Blade’s tip being hidden in an underwater temple, guarded by the spirits of ancient warriors.
Elira, Sira, and the rest of the group sailed to the ruins, navigating treacherous seas and battling the fierce creatures that lurked in the depths. As they descended into the sunken city, they encountered ghostly figures—warriors of Valoria, long dead, but still bound to protect the temple.
Sir Gavain, ever the leader, faced these spectral guardians with bravery. “We seek the Aether Blade, to save Lysoria from a greater evil,” he declared, his voice echoing through the water-filled halls. The ghostly warriors, recognizing the righteousness of their cause, allowed the group to pass.
Within the temple’s innermost chamber, they found the first fragment of the blade, its tip glowing faintly with celestial light. But as Sira lifted the fragment from its pedestal, a deep rumble shook the temple.
“The Necrothar knows what we’re doing,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “It’s waking faster than I thought.”
As the group escaped the collapsing ruins, they knew the real battle had only just begun.
Chapter Four: The Midnight Forge
The second fragment was hidden in the Ashen Peaks, a volcanic range where fire spirits roamed. T