Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Aeron snapped awake with a jolt, his eyes flying open as he found himself lying on the damp forest floor. A sense of disorientation washed over him as he took in his surroundings. The dense forest stretched out before him, the towering trees casting long shadows that danced in the soft light filtering through the canopy above. He recognized the place immediately; it was just outside the borders of his kingdom, a place he often retreated to for solace and contemplation.

As he tried to recall how he had come to be there, a sharp, piercing pain throbbed in his temples, causing Aeron to wince. He pressed a hand to his head, willing the headache to subside. Slowly, the pain began to ease, and memories flooded back into his mind with startling clarity.

Augustine, his beloved wife, and their sweet daughter, the light of his life. His heart ached at the thought of them. And then, the betrayal of his own brother, Oswald, who had orchestrated a plot against him in a bid for power. A