THRONE OF ASHES

Aureliana City, Year 984 After the Founding of the Empire The sky over Aureliana burned a deep crimson. Flames consumed the slums, while the cobbled streets, thick with mud and filth, lay strewn with corpses. Starving beggars clawed at rotting scraps in the alleys, while armored soldiers dragged men and women from their homes. There was no justice in this era. Only the sword held authority. Amidst the chaos, a man in battered armor moved cautiously. Aldric Valerian, a former soldier of the Empire’s Third Legion, was now nothing more than a fugitive. His sharp eyes scanned every shadowed corner of the alley, searching for a way to escape the Black Legion, the elite force of the new regime tasked with eliminating all who posed a threat. He knew this city better than anyone. He had been born on these very streets, now slick with blood. As a child, he had run through these narrow alleys, dodging the brutal hands of tax collectors who never hesitated to lash those who failed to pay their dues. But today was different. Today was not about hunger or taxes. Today was a m******e. In the city’s central square, hundreds stood in eerie silence. An old man, clad in the robes of a priest, knelt before a masked executioner. A nobleman in golden armor stood atop the execution platform—Prince Darius, the new ruler of the Aurelian Empire. "A traitor to the crown," his voice rang out in the cold air. "A spreader of lies who dared defy the will of the throne." The old priest lifted his gaze, his eyes burning with defiance. "You are no rightful emperor. You are a murderer." The sharp clang of steel followed. The priest’s head tumbled to the ground, blood pooling at the executioner’s feet. There were no screams. No weeping. The people knew—if they spoke, they would suffer the same fate. Aldric clenched his fists. He had never cared for the politics of the nobility. He was neither a revolutionary nor a warrior of justice. He was merely a soldier trying to survive. But as he turned to leave, a hand grabbed his arm. A woman, draped in a black hooded cloak, her green eyes gleaming in the flickering torchlight. "Come with me if you want to live," she whispered. Aldric stared at her for a moment, then heard the sound of approaching footsteps. He had no other choice. He had to run. Aldric had no time to think. The sound of iron-clad boots from the Black Legion echoed through the back alley. The hooded woman yanked him into a narrow passage between two crumbling wooden buildings. "Do you want to die here?" she whispered sharply. Aldric eyed her warily, but the footsteps behind him grew closer. He gave a quick nod and followed the woman into an abandoned, decrepit house. As soon as they were inside, she swiftly shut the nearly rotting wooden door. Through a small gap in the door, Aldric could see the Black Legion soldiers marching past the alley. They carried torches, their swords still dripping with blood. One soldier stopped, turning his gaze toward the dilapidated house where they were hiding. Aldric held his breath. The soldier narrowed his eyes as if sensing something. His hand moved to the hilt of his sword, ready to strike the door— The woman beside Aldric slipped a small dagger from beneath her cloak, preparing for a sudden attack. But then, a distant shout broke the silence. "We found him! Toward the marketplace!" The soldier immediately turned and ran after his comrades. The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance. The woman exhaled slowly and looked at Aldric. "We don’t have much time. They’ll be back." Aldric crossed his arms, still skeptical. "Who are you?" The woman pulled back her hood, revealing long, disheveled brown hair and a hardened face. Her sharp green eyes were filled with secrets. "My name is Selene Valtora. I can help you escape this city, but you have to trust me." Aldric let out a cynical chuckle. "Trust hasn’t existed in this city for a long time." Selene stepped closer, locking eyes with him. "Trust me, or die. The choice is yours, soldier." Aldric hesitated for a moment, then sighed heavily. "Fine. But if this is a trap, I’ll make sure you die first." Selene smirked slightly. "If this were a trap, you wouldn’t even have time to reach for your sword." A cold chill ran down Aldric’s spine. This woman was no ordinary person. And now, his life was in her hands.