A Forgotten Servant Claimed the Mythical Sword, Unleashing a Kingdom's Darkest Secret

The Betrayal of the Light

The moment Arthur’s fingers tightened around the hilt, the canyon fell into a deathly silence. The mocking laughter of the soldiers died in their throats. With a single, effortless motion, Arthur pulled. The legendary sword slid from the split boulder as smoothly as if it were drawn from water, unleashing a blinding golden light that illuminated the dark ravine.

Borin gasped, his face draining of color as he fell to his knees. The power radiating from the blade was undeniable. But awe quickly turned to dark envy. Borin realized that if the world learned a lowly servant was the true heir to the throne, his own dreams of power would vanish.

"Seize him!"

Borin roared, his voice trembling with rage.

"He uses dark magic! He has stolen the sacred blade through witchcraft!"

Before Arthur could defend himself, three heavily armored guards tackled him to the ground. They wrested the glowing sword from his hands and bound his wrists in cold iron chains. Dragged back to the capital under the cover of night, Arthur was thrown into the deepest, dampest dungeon beneath the royal palace, sentenced to hang at dawn.

Hours before his scheduled execution, the heavy iron door of his cell creaked open. An elderly man in hooded robes slipped inside, carrying a dim lantern. It was High Priest Zacharias. He knelt before Arthur, tears in his eyes as he looked at the boy's shoulder.

"The royal birthmark,"

the priest whispered, revealing a silver medallion that matched a mark on Arthur's skin.

"You are King Alden's lost son, Arthur. They know who you are, and that is why they must destroy you."

Before they could plan an escape, the sound of marching boots echoed down the stone corridor.