Peace, like morning mist, faded too soon from Eldaris. In the quiet that followed Zevrak's fall, strange omens plagued the realms. Rivers reversed their flow. Stars blinked from the night sky. And across the forgotten places of the world, people spoke in tongues not heard since the dawn of time.
From the cracked Ebon Mirror, the true enemy awoke.
It was not demon nor beast, but something far older, the Shadow of the Creator, a remnant of the god who had shaped Eldaris and sealed away his darker half. That darkness now sought to return, to remake the world in his own image.
And this time, there were no kings strong enough to stop him alone.
The Four Kings convened once more in Solhaven. Though they had fought side by side against Zevrak, old wounds reopened.
King Thalorien demanded the Ebon Mirror be sealed in Sylvaran, guarded by elven magic. King Durgan insisted it be destroyed, even if it meant risking the mountain's collapse. Leonhart, weary of endless war, sought to hide it from all. And Nyxara, struggling to lead her fractured people, feared that doing nothing would doom them all.
Tensions rose, words turned sharp, and for the first time since the Titan's fall, swords were drawn in the Council of Kings.
Only Selene, standing between them, called for unity.
"If we do not stand together now, there will be no realms left to rule."
As the rulers debated, the Shadow sent forth his Heralds—corrupted beings born of men, elves, dwarves, and demons. Once heroes, now twisted into nightmarish forms, they struck across Eldaris, spreading fear and madness.
In the mines of Ironspine, dwarves were turned to stone. In Sylvaran's groves, trees wept blood. In Solandria, nightmares took form, stalking the streets at dusk. And in Netherhollow, the fragile peace unraveled as ancient demon clans rose in rebellion.
It became clear: the war was no longer for power or pride. It was for the soul of the world itself.
Selene and Nyxara, guided by visions of the Creator's true history, discovered the only way to defeat the Shadow: an ancient ritual that could reforge the Creator's Seal.
But the ritual came at a terrible price—it required the life force of all four royal bloodlines. Each king and queen would have to sacrifice a part of their essence to restore balance.
Thalorien, still grieving his people's isolation, agreed first. Durgan, hardened by loss, accepted next. Nyxara, seeking redemption for her people's sins, did not hesitate.
But Leonhart, now a father and ruler of a broken kingdom, struggled. Would he sacrifice his future for a world that might never know peace?
Before the ritual could be completed, the Shadow itself rose from the depths of the Ebon Crater. It towered above the mountains, a formless horror of void and hunger. Its mere presence turned light into darkness, hope into despair.
The armies of Eldaris rallied for one final stand. Elves, humans, dwarves, and demons stood shoulder to shoulder against the tide of oblivion.
Leonhart, at last resolved, led the charge, his sword blazing with the combined light of the Four Realms.
The battle shook the heavens.
As the armies held the line, the four rulers performed the ritual.
Each spoke the words of their people, wove the magic of their bloodlines, and poured their life force into the shattered mirror. The power of the Creator surged forth, sealing the rift and binding the Shadow once more.
But the cost was grievous.
Thalorien faded into the wind, returning to the forests he loved. Durgan turned to stone, his spirit forever guarding the northern halls. Nyxara vanished into flame, a spark of light in the darkness.
Leonhart, broken but alive, awoke beneath a sky of dawn, the only king left to witness peace.
In the days that followed, Eldaris began to heal.
Selene became Queen of Sylvaran, guiding her people into a new era of openness. Freya Stonefist took her brother's throne, forging Ironspine into a kingdom of peace and strength. The demons, led by a council instead of a single ruler, sought a fragile truce with the mortal realms.
And in Solandria, King Leonhart rebuilt his kingdom, raising his children with the lessons bought in blood and sacrifice.
But even in peace, legends whispered of the day when the Shadow would stir again—and whether the world would be ready when it did.