Empyrean Legacy

Chapter 3: The Betrayal

Zephyr arrives back at the castle, exhausted but elated. He rode into the courtyard and dismounted, carrying the wrapped Empyrean Legacy in his hands.

As he walked towards the castle entrance, he was greeted by a group of guards. They looked at him suspiciously, and one of them stepped forward.

"Prince Zephyr, what are you doing here?" the guard asked.

Zephyr was taken aback. He had expected to be greeted with open arms, but instead, he was met with suspicion.

"I have returned from a quest," Zephyr replied. "I have found the Empyrean Legacy."

The guard narrowed his eyes. "The Empyrean Legacy? What do you mean?"

Zephyr explained the story of the artifact, and how he had found it in the cave. But the guards were not convinced.

"Prince Zephyr, we cannot allow you to bring an unknown object into the castle," the guard said. "We must report this to the King and Queen."

Zephyr hesitated. He knew that his parents would be proud of him for finding the Legacy, but he also knew that they would be wary of its power. He didn't want to cause any trouble, but he also didn't want to give up the artifact.

Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him. "What's going on here?"

Zephyr turned to see his father, the King, approaching. He breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that his father would understand.

"Father, I have found the Empyrean Legacy," Zephyr said. "It's a powerful artifact that can help us protect the kingdom."

The King looked at his son with a mix of pride and concern. "Zephyr, you have always been an adventurous soul," he said. "But you must be careful with this Legacy. It has the power to destroy as well as to protect."

Zephyr nodded, understanding the weight of his responsibility. He handed the wrapped Legacy to his father, and the King carefully unwrapped it.

As soon as the Legacy was revealed, a bright light filled the courtyard. Zephyr shielded his eyes, and when the light faded, he saw something that he could never forget.

The King and Queen were lying on the ground, motionless. The Legacy was gone.

Zephyr was in shock. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. He looked around and saw that the guards were closing in on him.

"Seize him!" one of the guards shouted.

Zephyr realized that he had been set up. Someone had betrayed him, and now he was being accused of a crime he didn't commit.

He drew his sword and fought off the guards, but there were too many of them. He was outnumbered and outmatched.

As he fell to the ground, surrounded by the guards, he could only think of one thing: who had betrayed him?