The morning air carried a chill, sharp and bracing, but Edric Halvorn barely noticed. He stood on the docks of Halvorn Keep, watching the waves lap against the hull of The Iron Falcon, the ship that would carry him across the Sea of Trials. The sun was rising behind the jagged cliffs, painting the harbor in gold and crimson, yet it could not warm the tension in his chest.
His father, King Aldric Halvorn, approached, his heavy cloak billowing in the wind. The king's gaze was stern, and for a moment, Edric felt the weight of every expectation he had ever been burdened with.
"Edric," King Aldric said, his voice deep and commanding, "today you leave as a boy, but you return as a man—or you do not return at all."
Edric straightened, meeting his father's gaze. "I understand, Father. I will not fail Halvorn."
The king's eyes flicked to the young woman standing beside him, poised and graceful even in the wind: Princess Serenya, betrothed to Edric by alliance, not by choice. Her amber eyes held a mixture of pride, worry, and something softer—hope, perhaps, that Edric would survive the voyage and become the man he was meant to be.
"Remember this," King Aldric continued. "Your station is not yours to gamble. You sail not just for glory, but for our kingdom, for its future. Every step, every decision, will be watched, and judged. You carry the weight of our people with you."
Edric bowed his head, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I will honor our house, Father. I swear it."
Princess Serenya stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm. "Edric, promise me you will not act recklessly. Power is tempting on such a voyage. Patience, strategy… these will keep you alive far longer than courage alone."
He forced a wry smile. "I will remember, Princess. But I cannot let caution rule my ambition forever. The Shrouded Continent will not wait for me to hesitate."
King Aldric's hands clenched into fists at his sides, a mixture of pride and fear crossing his weathered features. "Then go, my son. Make your mark. And return with honor—or not at all."
With a deep breath, Edric turned toward the ship. The crew bustled about the deck, hauling supplies and securing sails. The scent of salt and tar filled the air. He stepped aboard, feeling the plank sway beneath his boots as if the sea itself were testing him.
From the docks, he could see his father and Serenya standing together, watching. Their gazes held a silent weight: a mix of expectation, hope, and fear. Edric clenched his jaw, swallowing the knot in his stomach. He would not fail. He could not fail.
As the ship cast off, Edric raised his chin, eyes fixed on the horizon. The Sea of Trials lay before him, gray and endless, with the promise of danger and glory shimmering just beyond the waves. Behind him, the world he knew—the world of duty, alliances, and expectations—receded. Ahead lay the unknown.
And Edric Halvorn, son of Halvorn, prince, and future king, would face it all.