MidReal Story
Chapter One Prologue The King is dead. Or so the rumors say. Whispers and half-truths drift through the corridors of the castle, carried on the wind like leaves in a storm. The palace guards speak of little else, their voices hushed and their faces grim. Yet I cannot believe it. My lord, King Alaric, was a strong and noble man who loved his people. He would sooner die than let harm befall them. And yet harm has come. The Queen and her children have been locked away in the tower for their own protection, while the King's loyal followers prepare for war. The nobles jockey for position and power, each one vying to be the first to press their claim to the throne. And in the shadows, dark forces gather. I am Aric Shadowblade, Ranger of the King's Guard. It is my duty to protect the royal family, but I fear that my time is running out. The enemy is at the gates, and they will stop at nothing to seize the throne. I can only pray that I am strong enough to stop them. Chapter One Aric Shadowblade slipped silently through the night, his dark armor blending seamlessly with the shadows. The moon was full and bright, casting a pale glow across the forest as he moved. The forest was quiet, with only the rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl to break the silence. Aric paused, his sharp eyes scanning the underbrush. He had heard something—a faint sound that was barely audible over the wind. He waited, his hand on the hilt of his sword, but there was no further noise. He sighed and continued on his way. It was probably just an animal. There were many strange creatures in these woods, especially at this time of year. Aric was a Ranger—a member of an elite group of warriors who defended the kingdom from its enemies. He had been patrolling the borderlands for days, searching for signs of trouble. These were dangerous times, and King Alaric had ordered increased patrols along the border to keep the peace. Aric had been a Ranger for as long as he could remember. He had been orphaned as a child, and had been taken in by Captain Roderick Blackthorn—the commander of the King's Guard. Roderick had trained him in the ways of the Ranger, teaching him to track and hunt, to fight with a sword and a bow. And Roderick had also taught him about honor and loyalty—about what it meant to be a true warrior. Aric's thoughts drifted back to his mentor as he walked. Roderick had always been like a father to him—stern and demanding, but fair. Aric had tried hard to please him, to live up to his expectations. But it had never been enough—not after what had happened. He shook his head, pushing away the memories. Now was not the time to dwell on the past. He had a job to do—to keep the kingdom safe from its enemies. He glanced at the sky. It was almost dawn—the time when most creatures sought shelter for the day. But Aric knew better than to let his guard down. There were still several hours of darkness left, and anything could happen. Another sound reached his ears—a low growl that seemed to come from all around him. He stopped and listened, his hand going to his sword hilt again. The growl came again—louder this time—and Aric recognized it as a wolf. He glanced around nervously. Wolves were common in these parts—in fact, they were one reason why these woods were so dangerous.
Scenario: Based on The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire, and using the Ranger's perspective as the theme, create a story that must be coherent and reasonable.
Create my version of this story
Chapter OnePrologueThe King is dead.Or so the rumors say. Whispers and half-truths drift through the corridors of the castle, carried on the wind like leaves in a storm. The palace guards speak of little else, their voices hushed and their faces grim. Yet I cannot believe it. My lord, King Alaric, was a strong and noble man who loved his people. He would sooner die than let harm befall them.And yet harm has come.The Queen and her children have been locked away in the tower for their own protection, while the King's loyal followers prepare for war. The nobles jockey for position and power, each one vying to be the first to press their claim to the throne. And in the shadows, dark forces gather.I am Aric Shadowblade, Ranger of the King's Guard. It is my duty to protect the royal family, but I fear that my time is running out. The enemy is at the gates, and they will stop at nothing to seize the throne.I can only pray that I am strong enough to stop them.Chapter OneAric Shadowblade slipped silently through the night, his dark armor blending seamlessly with the shadows. The moon was full and bright, casting a pale glow across the forest as he moved. The forest was quiet, with only the rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl to break the silence.Aric paused, his sharp eyes scanning the underbrush. He had heard something—a faint sound that was barely audible over the wind. He waited, his hand on the hilt of his sword, but there was no further noise.He sighed and continued on his way. It was probably just an animal. There were many strange creatures in these woods, especially at this time of year.Aric was a Ranger—a member of an elite group of warriors who defended the kingdom from its enemies. He had been patrolling the borderlands for days, searching for signs of trouble. These were dangerous times, and King Alaric had ordered increased patrols along the border to keep the peace.Aric had been a Ranger for as long as he could remember. He had been orphaned as a child, and had been taken in by Captain Roderick Blackthorn—the commander of the King's Guard. Roderick had trained him in the ways of the Ranger, teaching him to track and hunt, to fight with a sword and a bow.And Roderick had also taught him about honor and loyalty—about what it meant to be a true warrior.Aric's thoughts drifted back to his mentor as he walked. Roderick had always been like a father to him—stern and demanding, but fair. Aric had tried hard to please him, to live up to his expectations.But it had never been enough—not after what had happened.He shook his head, pushing away the memories. Now was not the time to dwell on the past. He had a job to do—to keep the kingdom safe from its enemies.He glanced at the sky. It was almost dawn—the time when most creatures sought shelter for the day. But Aric knew better than to let his guard down. There were still several hours of darkness left, and anything could happen.Another sound reached his ears—a low growl that seemed to come from all around him. He stopped and listened, his hand going to his sword hilt again.The growl came again—louder this time—and Aric recognized it as a wolf. He glanced around nervously. Wolves were common in these parts—in fact, they were one reason why these woods were so dangerous.
Aric's eyes narrowed. The wolf was still some distance away, but it was moving fast. He could see the glint of its eyes in the darkness as it approached.Aric drew his sword and waited. The wolf was almost upon him now, its sharp fangs bared and its eyes fixed on him. Aric crouched down, ready to spring. The wolf stopped a few paces away and snarled, its hackles raised. Its eyes flickered between Aric and something behind him.Aric glanced over his shoulder. There was nothing there—just a tangle of roots and bushes. He turned back to the wolf, puzzled. Why was it so agitated? And then he heard it—a faint noise, like the sound of someone breathing heavily.He looked down and saw a small shape huddled in the underbrush. It was a child—a little girl with dark hair and frightened eyes. Aric's heart skipped a beat. What was a child doing out here in the middle of the night? And why was she hiding from him?He took a step forward, but the wolf growled and bared its fangs again. Aric hesitated. He didn't want to hurt the child, but he wasn't about to let her get eaten by a wolf, either. He raised his hand in a placating gesture and took another step forward, keeping his eyes on the animal.The wolf's growl grew louder, but it didn't move. Aric took another step, and another, until he was almost within arm's reach of the child. The wolf's eyes blazed with fury, but still it held back.Aric knelt down and held out his hand. "It's all right," he said softly. "I won't hurt you. Come here."The girl hesitated for a moment, then crawled out from her hiding place and took Aric's hand. He pulled her to her feet and wrapped his cloak around her shivering shoulders.
"It's all right," he said again. "You're safe now." He glanced at the wolf, still waiting a few paces away. "Thank you for looking out for her," he said quietly. The beast sniffed the air and turned away.The girl clung to Aric's hand, her eyes wide with fear. He managed a reassuring smile, though he knew that he must look terrifying in his dark armor and hooded cloak.He led her back to the path and sat her down on a fallen log. Then he crouched down in front of her and asked gently, "What are you doing out here all alone?"The girl shrank back, her eyes brimming with tears."It's all right," Aric said softly. "I'm not going to hurt you."The girl sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve."I'm sorry," she said in a small voice.Aric smiled kindly. "There's no need to be sorry," he said. "I just want to make sure you're all right." He glanced at her bare feet and added, "You must be freezing." He shrugged off his cloak and draped it around her shoulders.She smiled shyly and wrapped the cloak tightly around herself. "Thank you," she said. "I'm not really supposed to be here. My mother told me to stay inside, but I heard something in the woods and I couldn't sleep. I thought it was my friend, but it was a wolf. It tried to eat me, but then you came." Her voice trailed off as she looked up at him with wide, dark eyes.Aric frowned. "Your friend?" He glanced around. "Where is he?"The girl shrugged. "I don't know. He ran away when he saw the wolf."Aric held out his hand. "Come on," he said gently. "Let's get you home."
She took his hand and stood up, her tiny hand barely reaching past his armored gauntlet. Aric could see that she was no older than five or six years old, and she looked pale and thin, as if she hadn't been eating properly.He led her through the forest, keeping a close watch for any more wolves. The child walked beside him, her hand firmly clasped in his, her dark eyes shining with curiosity."What's your name?" Aric asked after a while.She hesitated for a moment, as if she weren't sure of the answer."Lyra," she said at last, giving him a shy smile."That's a beautiful name," Aric said, returning her smile. "Do you live near here?"Lyra nodded. "My mother and I have a little cottage by the river. My father used to live there too, but he's gone now.""I'm sorry," Aric said softly. "Where did he go?"Lyra shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "He just left one day and never came back." Her face fell, and her eyes filled with tears. "I miss him so much."Aric squeezed her hand gently."I'm sure he misses you too," he said softly.They walked on in silence for a while, until Aric heard the sound of running water ahead.He stopped and held back a low-hanging branch, motioning for Lyra to go through first.The child laughed and skipped ahead, her dark hair shining in the pale moonlight as she ran towards the river.Aric followed more slowly, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger.
As he emerged from the trees, he saw a small wooden cottage nestled among the willows by the riverbank.A sudden rush of fear and anger surged through him as he recognized the place where Lyra had come from.It was the very same cottage where he had found the dead woman with the ruby ring, the one that had haunted his dreams ever since.He spun around, but Lyra was already gone, disappearing into the night like a wisp of smoke.Growling with frustration, Aric tried to pursue her, but she was too quick for him and soon vanished among the shadows.He swore loudly and kicked at a rock in his path, sending it skittering away into the underbrush.What the hell was going on? One minute, he was talking to the little girl and the next minute she had disappeared. She couldn't have gone far. He'd only turned his back on her for a second. Aric glanced around wildly, but there was no sign of Lyra anywhere. He cursed loudly and raked his fingers through his hair. He'd lost her. Again.It was as if she'd been nothing more than a figment of his imagination. But he knew that wasn't true. He had seen her with his own eyes, felt the touch of her hand on his skin. She had been real. She had to be real.Scowling with frustration, Aric turned back to the cottage and began to make his way towards it. The place looked deserted now, the only light coming from the window at the side of the house. It was still quiet inside - too quiet - and Aric felt a sudden chill run down his spine."Wake up," he hissed under his breath.
He drew his sword and made his way to the front door. It stood ajar, creaking softly on its hinges as the wind blew gently over the threshold. Aric slipped inside, keeping his sword ready in his hand. He called out, but there was no reply. The place seemed eerily deserted. There was no one there, no sign of life anywhere.Aric searched the place from top to bottom, but there was no sign of Lyra or anyone else. There were no footprints in the dust, no signs of struggle. It was as if the little girl had simply vanished into thin air. He cursed loudly and slammed his fist against the wall. He'd let her get away from him again, and now there was no chance of finding her.He turned to leave, but stopped in his tracks when he saw a small wooden chest sitting on the table by the door. It wasn't much to look at - not much more than a battered old crate - but there was something about it that caught his eye. There were strange symbols carved into the wood, symbols he could not understand. The lid of the chest was locked tight with a brass latch, but something told him that whatever lay inside it might hold the key to solving this mystery.
With a quick twist, he broke open the lock and threw open the lid. Inside, he found a number of strange odds and ends: a handful of gold coins, a ruby ring, a silver brooch and a blood-stained piece of parchment with arcane symbols written on it, symbols which seemed to pulse with an inner light whenever he looked at them.There were also several letters, written in elegant script and sealed with wax. He broke open one of the seals and read the letter inside.My dearest love,It seems our child has found you at last. I've sent her to you along with this letter and all I have left to give you. I know it isn't much, but it's all I have. I wish we could have been together, just once, before the end. But we can't. I wish we could have been a family, just once, before we go our separate ways forever. But we can't. I wish things could have been different between us, that we could have shared our lives together like a real family.But it is not to be.Despite everything, I still love you. And if you ever have need of my help, my friendship or my loyalty, all you need do is call me and I will come.Yours forever,RoderickAric read the letter through once more and then set it aside. He opened another letter and read that one too before moving on to the next and the next after that.They were all the same.Each letter was written in the same elegant script and each was signed with the same name - Roderick.The name sent a shiver down Aric's spine.Lord Roderick of Leithfield.The very man who had been behind the plot to overthrow King Hektor.The very man who had tried to kill him back at the castle.The very man who had ordered Lyra's father to be murdered.Aric's gut clenched as he realized what must have happened here.Lyra's father must have been murdered by his own people when he tried to warn us about Roderick's treachery. And Lyra must have seen it happen.That must be why she had run away.That must be why she had come looking for me.
Eric's mind is racing. If he finds Laila, he may be able to get more key information about Lord Roderick's rebellion. Before it's too late, he can inform the loyalists of the information and form a coalition to attack the traitors. When Eric When he left with the key information, he heard something moving outside. He immediately blew out the candle and put it against the wall. Through the window, he observed a group of orcs walking towards this side.He grabbed his weapons and walked out of the hut quietly.As he approached the orcs, he found that they didn't notice him at all.They kept walking towards the cottage without even looking in his direction.Aric frowned in confusion.What could they possibly want with the place?He thought back to what Lyra had said about her father being taken by orcs and all of a sudden it hit him.Of course!The orcs weren't on their way here because they wanted something from the cottage.They were trying to lead him away from the place so that someone could sneak inside while he was gone.Someone like Lyra, perhaps?It all made sense now.Aric cursed loudly and turned back towards the cottage, but it was already too late.The door was open and he could see the flickering light of a single candle burning away inside. He knew that he had been played for a fool. He knew that he had let Lyra slip through his fingers again. He knew that he had failed in his duty and that the kingdom was doomed. All because he had trusted her. All because he had allowed himself to believe that a child could be anything other than what she seemed.
