An abandoned-looking library found in the corner of Ecrax.

An elderly librarian escorted a young man who had a scholarly air to him. The young man had well-kept long auburn hair, a slim build, and clean robes he wore.

“Here you go, Taen. I believe this is where you’ll find the records about your family’s House Marthas.”

The librarian led Taen to the back of the library. Though the elderly man could have just pointed Taen in this direction instead of slowly shuffling his way looking like he may collapse any second, Taen didn’t mind. He was here to find answers to the questions that plagued the previous generations of his family.

“Thank you. I may take quite a while here and I don’t wish to impede on your job. So please, return to your post,” said Taen as he tossed a gold coin to the old man.

Impressed by the young man’s politeness and generosity, the elderly librarian gave a quick nod and shuffled his way back to his workplace without worrying Taen of dying on the spot.

“Hmm…Where do I start?”

The back of the library that Taen was led to didn’t look like it was well maintained. A few single candles were placed here and there to help brighten this dreary looking place. Cobwebs were found across the shelves and drawers containing information of the distant past. Layers of dust covered the single table that looked lonely in such an environment. Considering there was only one old man looking after this whole library, Taen didn’t hold it against him for neglecting this small area.

He spent most of his time going through each shelf and drawer, looking for his family’s name, Marthas, and another preceding it, Tabrim.

Tabrim Marthas, his grandfather.

Taen never knew much of his grandfather. He never got to meet him and make happy memories like the other children when he was younger. Whenever Taen asked his father about him, he would dodge the subject or outright refuse to speak about him. However, this changed recently. Taen obtained information from his father about Tabrim and it was that, like Taen, he too was a historian. A historian that apparently lived through a dramatic time while he was alive.

Though, strangely enough, Taen couldn’t find any of his grandfather’s works anywhere. How could a historian from the Marthas House not produce any works, especially ones containing any history on the Era of Darkness that his grandfather “supposedly” lived through?

Determined, he set out to every library, archive and annals he could find, hoping to find anything written by his grandfather.

That was until he came here.

His head was down a drawer, searching through scrolls, records, and documents aggressively. A book on a shelf high up began to wobble from his movements until it fell from its place, hitting Taen on the head.

Bang!

“Ow! What was that–Hm?”

He picked up the book that struck his head and felt something ominous from it. Wiping the dust off the old tattered book, Taen managed to make out the title and author.

“A Body to Hold Dear” by Tabrim Marthas

“At last! Something from Grandfather! Though, a title like this sounds a little embarrassing, no? Surely my Grandfather wasn’t that much of a romantic, was he? I hope he wasn’t some perverted old fool.” Taen asked himself, questioning his grandfather’s taste in naming. Little did he know that what he would find here will lead to things much bigger than he imagined.

Excited, Taen sat back onto a lonely table and brought a lit candle close to him. Resolute in finding what happened to his grandfather or at least any information on him, Taen opened to the first page of the book.

“My name is Tabrim Marthas. A historian from the Country of Ecrax.”

“I’ve few works during my life featuring men and women, across different paths in their journey. The stories they hold and the truths that’ve been hidden away from the public’s eye.”

“Though many knew me to be a tempered, hard-working historian, in my younger years I was quite the adventurer traveling to different lands. Born from a noble house, I felt confined following the ideals and practices of nobility. With father’s permission and promising to one day return to tell him of my many encounters, I would travel to different countries and meet new and exotic people. I would listen to their experiences of hardships and rewards while writing them down to one day write stories from them and the history they entail.”

“However, in my later years, I’d decided to dedicate my time to one truth in particular. One that would leave a great mark on history’s page.”

“If you’re reading this, I presume you are familiar with the Era of Darkness, yes? It was a time that many shadows overlooked the different kingdoms. The rulers across the lands wore masks of majesty, claiming to protect their people. But corruption and greed were just scratching the surface of those who were in power during this time.

“Whether it was good luck or bad, I had no choice but to live through such an era. Yet, it is as they say. Times during peace make a man complacent and naïve. It is only during times of great difficulties do heroes reveal themselves.”

“The Era of Darkness was a cruel and brutal time. Unrest and worry spread throughout the different continents. And with that, many heroes emerged, making their names known across the lands through their commendable acts of bravery and heroism.”

“One such story is that of the Hero King, Royland Everette. Bold, fearless, and gallant were just some words to describe such a man. Many people knew of his story, from the upper-class nobles to the ears of the slum children. A young poor boy found on the cold, dark alleyways begging and stealing for food, would later become a king ruling over his nation, respected by all. For such a man is one who would put an end to the Era of Darkness.”

“A young man shattered the shackles of fate, taking his life into his own hands. A hero who raises a righteous blade in the name of justice. His story, known by all.”

“Ah, but is what we hear from others genuinely the whole truth of the matter? No, no. For in his story lies another hero. He who hailed as the second son from House Nightwell. A family well known for their leadership, aptitude, and diversity.”

“There is no definitive evidence of the appearance of such a person making a mark on history.”

“However, that is why I, Tabrim Marthas, have decided to record the events of what truly happened during the Era of Darkness. What has been hidden away from the public’s eyes and ears will be revealed in this chronicle of books I will author.”

“What you are about to read has been concealed by the Church. The certainty of that young man is, in fact, the true hero of this fable.”

“But why has such a hero with the grand deed of protecting mankind gone down as an unsung and forgotten ghost, never to be rewarded?”

“Once again, it was the Church’s act of branding the young man as a heretic for his actions and beliefs. A ‘Troublemaker of Disharmony and ‘Disruptor of Order’ they’d call him.”

“Now tell me, what can be called ‘real’ when everything is surrounded by so many lies?”

“Read on, my friend. Let your mind witness what really occurred so many years past and let the truth be revealed.”

“It shall all be uncovered in the Tale of the Forgotten Heretic.”