The sun was high in the sky. Steel swords glimmered in the light, and the neighing of horses echoed across the valley. The armies of Harland and Dronya faced each other on the open plains, ready for a deadly confrontation.
King Visernes of Harland, known for his wisdom and justice, rode at the front. His ancestors had faced weakness, but he had restored the kingdom's glory, defeating rebellious states one by one. Now, only the eternal rival, Dronya, remained.
Dronya was no ordinary enemy. Harland's ancestors had once been a blacksmith clan under Dronya's rule. The first king, Ostomas, fought countless wars to establish Harland as an independent kingdom, defeating Dronya in the process. Since then, the two nations had been bitter rivals.
The Princes and the Army
Visernes' three sons were present on the battlefield:
The eldest, "Long Harlax", commanded the right flank. Harlax was arrogant, spoiled, and irresponsible, widely disliked by the people.
The second prince, "Boğaboğan" Kren, led the left flank. Strong, muscular, and an unbeatable warrior with sword, spear, and bow.
At the rear was the third prince, Mamir. Calm, intelligent, and strategic, he was often underestimated because his mother was a commoner. Yet he had secretly trained the kingdom's weakest unit, the Orange Cloaks, turning them into an elite force—without anyone knowing.
The Clash Begins
Visernes raised his sword to the sky and shouted:
"Forward! Crush Dronya! Make their lands ours!"
The flanks surged forward. Kren's troops on the left charged like lions, clashing with the enemy. Steel rang against steel; blood soaked the earth. Kren led from the front, cutting down enemies with every strike.
But on the right, chaos reigned. Harlax watched in shock, unable to give orders. His troops faltered, and Dronya's forces began breaking through. Visernes' plan was failing; victory seemed on the brink of slipping away.
Mamir's Move
At that moment, Mamir acted. Guided by last-minute intelligence from his spies, he led the Orange Cloaks through a hidden path behind the valley.
While the main army battled head-on, they emerged from the shadows and struck Dronya from behind.
The so-called undisciplined militia moved like a tide of steel, arrows and spears raining down on the enemy. Dronya's soldiers were caught between two fires, unable to resist.
The tide of battle turned instantly. Kren's fierce assault on the front, combined with Mamir's rear strike, shattered the enemy. Even Harlax could only watch in stunned silence.
Victory and Reverberations
Dronya's king fell on the battlefield, his head brought to King Visernes. The army erupted in victory cries.
Visernes approached Mamir, his eyes shining with pride.
"This victory is yours, my son. Without your mind, we could not have won."
Soldiers chanted in unison:
"Mamir! Mamir! Mamir!"
Kren raised his cup in laughter and pride, but Harlax's gaze burned with jealousy and hatred.
That day, Harland reclaimed dominion over the entire continent. The golden age had begun.
Yet, nobody noticed… that night, the royal sorcerer Artheon awoke in a cold sweat, whispering into the dark:
"This victory is only the beginning… the promised darkness is approaching."
Visernes clenched his fists.
"No… I am king. No one will threaten my throne."
But deep in his heart, a spark of fear ignited.