The morning sun broke through the tattered clouds, with faint golden light falling on the ground. The once-great city of Dawn loomed ahead—now a fortress of crumbling stone, faded banners, and glimpses of former glory.
Eli rode through the parched road that led to the main gates, his red eyes calm yet observant. The path was lined with weary farmers, stray dogs, and broken wagons, each a sign of a city that had long since fallen from its glory. Dawn City was no longer the shining beacon it had once been in the Empire's western frontier—it was a dying flame, flickering faintly, on the verge of being snuffed out by neglect .
The guards at the gate—two men clad in dented armor, their spears dulled from years of disuse—were chatting as they didn't see Eli approaching. One of the soldiers said "The city's almost damaged it is better to migrate and stay at another city."
The other soldier said "Yeah. The markets are empty, the wells half-dry, and the folk whisper of leaving. I've half a mind to join them. Lord Brenton's lands are said to be fertile still — plenty of work for a man who can wield a blade."
The first soldier said "Hmph. Yes , I know but leaving Dawn feels like abandoning a dying family. Still, a man's got to live. If things keep on like this, the gates will be shut for good — no guards left to hold them.
But both of them hear a faint sound of hooves is heard along the barren road. The soldiers straighten, peering into the road
"Hold on. Someone approaching."
They both see a lone child riding a dark horse emergeing from the dust — a young man on a dark horse, cloak marked with travel stains. He reins in before them and dismounts, his bearing composed yet resolute.
"I seek entry into Dawn" Said Eli
"You'll find little here, traveler. Dawn is not what she once was. State your name and business." said one of the soldiers.
Eli reaches into his cloak, drawing forth a small silver emblem — a star engraved upon a crescent moon and holds it forth
I am Elias Starborne, rightful heir of Starborne Duchy and the new Lord of Dawn. By this crest, I claim my passage.
The two soldiers exchange startled glances. One steps closer, eyes widening as he studies the crest.
By the gods… the Starborne sigil. Their eyes widened at the sight of the silver Starborne crest he showed them, though the shock that once accompanied the name was dimmed by confusion and exhaustion. One of them, older and grizzled, stepped forward and bowed stiffly
My Lord You honor us with your arrival . Dawn has long awaited a guiding hand.
"Then lead me to the steward. I would speak with whoever still tends the City." said Eli
"At once, my lord. Miss Cryella Dawn has held this city together as best she could. She will wish to see you immediately."
They open the heavy gate, the sound of rusted hinges echoing across the empty streets. The soldiers gesture for him to enter. The iron gates creaked open, and the sight beyond made Eli's chest tighten.
"Welcome to Dawn City, my lord… to what remains of Dawn City."
Elias walks his horse through the gate, the city of fading glory awaiting him beyond.
Houses leaned against each other like tired beggars, their roofs sagging beneath years of neglect. The once-paved roads were cracked and uneven, littered with broken stones and overgrown weeds. Merchants hawked meager wares in makeshift stalls, their faces hollow from hunger. Children darted between alleys, barefoot and pale, their laughter brittle as glass.
This was the city he had been exiled to rule—the forgotten Dawn.
He rode slowly through the main street, taking it all in: the dilapidated homes, the frightened glances, the silent despair that clung to every corner. Yet amidst the ruin, there was life—fragile, trembling, but not extinguished. The people still tried, still endured. That alone was enough to stir something deep in him.
A faint voice called from the steps of a small manor near the plaza.
"Lord Elias Starborne."
Eli turned. Standing there was a woman dressed in a faded but neatly kept butler's uniform, her auburn hair tied back into a modest braid, her golden eyes sharp despite the weariness beneath them. She bowed deeply, one hand placed across her chest.
"I am Cryella Dawn," she said, her voice steady though heavy with emotion. "Daughter of the late Baron Sebastian Dawn. I have been assigned as your personal butler, as per the Empire's decree."
Eli dismounted his horse and approached her, his gaze gentle but assessing. "Cryella Dawn… daughter of the late baron. Then, the previous lord of Dawn is…"
Her lips trembled slightly, though she maintained her composure. "My father passed two years ago, my lord. The plague took him before the healers could arrive. Since then, I have done what little I could to maintain order, but…" She looked around at the desolate streets, her voice breaking faintly. "My power was limited. I was young, and the council would not listen to me. I have failed this city."
Eli studied her for a long moment. There was sincerity in her tone, and behind the carefully maintained calm, there was guilt—heavy and consuming. Yet he saw no malice, only exhaustion and regret.
"You did not fail," he said quietly. "You endured. That is more than most can claim."
Cryella blinked, clearly taken aback by the gentleness of his words. She bowed again, more deeply this time. "You are too kind, my lord. If you would follow me, I shall guide you to the manor. It is not what it once was, but I have kept it… habitable."
Eli nodded, following her through the streets. As they walked, he observed the people—the way they stopped to watch, whispering softly among themselves. There was curiosity in their eyes, but also disbelief. A young Starborne noble had arrived, and yet there was no pomp, no escort of knights or carriages—only a solitary figure with crimson eyes and quiet steps.
The Dawn manor stood near the city's heart, a once-proud structure of white stone now dulled to gray. Its gardens were overrun with weeds, the gates rusted, and the fountain at the center long dried up. Still, Eli could see traces of its former grandeur—the architecture spoke of a time when Dawn had been alive, vibrant, and strong.
Cryella opened the doors for him, leading him through a hall lined with dust-covered portraits. The scent of neglect hung heavy in the air.
"I kept this place maintained as best I could," she said quietly. "But without the money or people, it was impossible to preserve it fully."
Eli nodded, his gaze softening as he turned toward her. "You did well, Cryella. It is not the state of the walls that matters, but the will that keeps them standing."
The words made her chest tighten. In that moment, she realized this was no ordinary noble—there was something in Eli's presence that felt… different. Not arrogance or disdain, but calm resilience. As though he carried with him the quiet resolve of one who had already been broken.
She was about to speak again when a sound split the stillness.
The sharp ring of metal against stone.
Eli turned, his reflexes honed by instinct more than training. A shadow darted across the courtyard, a blur of black cloak and silver glint. The air split with the sound of a rapier drawn from its sheath, followed by the echoing hiss of intent.
"Cryella Dawn!" a voice roared, sharp and venomous. "You think you can hand my inheritance to an outsider? You think I will let you sell my bloodline's honor for scraps?"
Eli's hand moved toward his side, summoning the Magic Shield instinctively. The translucent barrier flickered into existence before him just in time—the rapier struck with a screech of metal and light, its impact rippling through the shield's surface before dispersing harmlessly.
The assailant landed lightly on the cobblestones, their cloak billowing in the wind. Eli's crimson eyes narrowed as he observed the attacker—slender build, precise movements, the stance of someone well-trained.
Cryella gasped, her hands trembling. "No… it can't be…"
The cloaked figure's voice was trembling with rage. "You betrayed us, Cryella! You betrayed me! You think this exiled lord from the Starborne family can rule what belongs to the Dawns?"
Eli did not move. His expression remained calm, though his shield shimmered faintly with energy. "You speak as though this city belongs to you alone. Who are you to challenge your lord?"
The figure laughed bitterly, voice laced with disdain. "Lord? You are no lord of mine, Starborne! You're just another vulture sent to feed on the corpse of Dawn!"
Cryella took a hesitant step forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "Stop this madness! Put your weapon down—before you shame yourself further!"
The figure turned sharply, rapier still pointed toward Eli. "You call this man your master, Cryella? After all our father fought for?"
Eli's gaze flicked between them, realization dawning slowly. There was familiarity in Cryella's trembling tone, in the way her golden eyes filled with sorrow rather than fear.
The attacker lunged again, swift and precise. The rapier gleamed like lightning as it struck toward Eli's shoulder. The Magic Shield responded instantly—flaring to life, absorbing the blow and dispersing it with a shockwave of energy that threw the assailant backward. The figure landed roughly but rolled to their feet, eyes burning with frustration.
Eli stepped forward, his voice cold but even. "You've made your point. Now remove your hood and face me properly."
For a long moment, the cloaked figure said nothing. Only the sound of labored breathing filled the courtyard. Then, slowly, trembling fingers reached up and pulled the hood back.
Cryella's breath hitched.
A young man stood before them, his hair the same deep auburn as hers, his golden eyes alight with fury. Though his features were sharper, his jaw more angular, there was no mistaking it—he bore the unmistakable Dawn bloodline.
Eli's eyes flicked between them, understanding dawning.
Cryella's lips parted, her voice breaking. "Cyrus…?"
The young man's expression hardened. "You still recognize me then, sister. Good. It'll make this easier to understand." He raised the rapier once more. "Dawn City belongs to the Dawn family. Not to the Starborne. Not to any exiled noble desperate to prove his worth."
Eli's fingers twitched near the hilt of his sword, though his voice remained calm. "So this is a family quarrel, then."
Cyrus sneered. "Call it what you want. But I will not kneel before an exile. I'd rather see this city burn than watch a Starborne wear the Dawn crest."
The words struck like venom. Cryella stepped forward, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "Cyrus , please! This is not the way! Father entrusted the city's future to the Empire before he died—this was his wish!"
"Lies!" Cyrus spat. "You've always been weak, Cryella. Always hiding behind titles and decrees. You let them strip us of everything—our pride, our home, our legacy!"
Eli's gaze darkened, though his tone remained composed. "Pride will not rebuild these streets, boy. Nor will anger feed your people."
Cyrus turned toward him with venom in his eyes. "And what will you do, exile? Buy our peace from your little 'Shop'?"
The words stung deeper than Eli cared to admit, though the young lord betrayed no reaction. His shield flickered faintly, still glowing in readiness. "Perhaps," he said evenly. "At least I have the will to try."
The two locked eyes for a long, tense moment—Eli's calm, unflinching stare meeting Cyrus 's smoldering fury.
Cryella could bear it no longer. Her voice broke, trembling between grief and anger. "Enough!" she cried, stepping between them. "Stop this, both of you! This is not what Father wanted! Cyrus , he—he believed in peace! And you, my lord… please, lower your shield. You're not each other's enemies!"
The courtyard fell silent, the tension thick as fog.
Eli slowly let the shield dissipate, the blue shimmer fading into nothingness. Arden's grip on his rapier faltered, the rage in his eyes flickering uncertainly.
Cryella turned toward her brother, voice soft but firm. "Cyrus … please. For Father's sake."
Arden's jaw tightened. He glanced at Eli once more, then turned sharply, his cloak flaring behind him as he leapt toward the outer wall. Within seconds, he was gone—vanishing into the shadowed streets of the ruined city.
Cryella stood frozen, her hands trembling. Then, realization hit her like a thunderclap. She turned toward Eli, her golden eyes wide with dread.
"My lord," she whispered, voice shaking. "That was… my twin brother. Cyrus Dawn. The rightful heir of this barony before my father's death."
Eli's expression did not change, though his eyes gleamed faintly, reflecting the golden morning light. "So that is the truth," he murmured.
Cryella fell to her knees, tears spilling freely now. "He must have been hiding all this time… I thought he left for other barony ."
Eli stepped forward, his gaze unreadable. "Then your city hides more shadows than I was told."
He turned slightly, his red pupils glinting as he looked toward the distant rooftops where Cyrus had disappeared.
"Stop right there!" he called out, his voice ringing through the courtyard like a command that echoed from the depths of the earth.
But the only response was silence.
Cryella froze where she knelt, her breath caught in her throat. Eli stood tall beside her, his expression calm yet heavy with unspoken thoughts.
The morning light caught his features, painting his pale face in shades of gold and scarlet. And in that moment, as the wind swept through the broken courtyard, the new Lord of Dawn City stood at the threshold of mystery, burden, and destiny alike.
His crimson eyes narrowed faintly, not with anger—but with purpose.
For in the shadow of ruin, power always lurked unseen. And now, Elias Starborne intended to uncover every last piece of it.