[The Great Sorcerer of Light]
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In ancient times, two opposing legends were born in the East and the West. Old tales spoke of two brothers who possessed power unlike any known to mankind.
The first carried light in his palms, so he was called the "Great Sorcerer of Light," and people saw him as a symbol of salvation and hope.
As for the other, he drowned in darkness and gained control over the shadows, until he became known as the "Great Sorcerer of Darkness."
The brothers had been inseparable from the beginning, but their paths diverged. One chose to protect humanity, and the other chose to enslave them. Since then, the conflicts between light and darkness, and between the followers of the two brothers in every land, have never ceased.
But as the years passed, their mention became mere tales told to children before bedtime. No one remained who believed they truly existed... except for a few old folks who whispered that:
"The day the light meets the darkness again will be the beginning of a new era."
In this land shrouded in mystery, simple people lived while kingdoms quarreled amongst themselves. And in a tall palace surrounded by a gray wall, lived an orphaned girl named Eleanor.
She had come to the palace years ago, after being adopted by Countess Veria from the orphanage. In her childhood, Eleanor thought she had found a real family and mother, but she soon discovered the painful truth. The Countess never saw her as a daughter, but as a means to an end. She had never married, nor had she borne a child to carry her name, and her position without an heir made her vulnerable to greed and threats. Therefore, she adopted Eleanor to show people the image of a virtuous mother.
But behind closed doors, the girl found nothing but humiliation and degradation.
The maids treated her with condescension, and the Countess saw her only as a tool. Yet, whenever a guest came to the palace, the Countess would change her tone and say with feigned affectionate features:
"This is my dear daughter, Eleanor."
As for Eleanor, she would smile coldly and whisper in her heart:
"Your dear daughter? How far is the truth from your words."
Then, one day, her fate changed.
Baron Robert arrived, a short, old man with thick mustaches, carrying a letter from the Emperor himself. He sat with the Countess in the tea room and requested Eleanor's presence.
The Countess said with a fake smile:
"Come, my dear, we have an important guest today."
Eleanor approached with hesitant steps, then bowed respectfully. The Baron replied politely:
"An honor to see you, Miss Eleanor."
She had barely sat down when the Baron announced the news:
"I came today with an official letter from the Emperor... He wishes for you to become the wife of the Crown Prince, the future Emperor."
Eleanor was frozen in place, blood running cold in her veins. Everyone knew the Crown Prince's reputation; cruel, arrogant, said to be merciless. In her heart, she screamed:
"I will never agree to such a thing! Impossible!"
But when she raised her head, she found the Countess's eyes staring at her with a deadly look. That look alone was enough to tell her: "If you refuse, consider your end today."
She swallowed hard and replied with a forced smile:
"It would be an honor to be the Crown Prince's wife."
A satisfied smile appeared on the Countess's face, and she said:
"You have made the right decision, my daughter."
But in her heart, Eleanor realized her life would turn into a nightmare. She did not yet know that the real reason for her being chosen was neither the marriage nor the palace, but something else... something sleeping inside her heart, a hidden jewel connected to the light itself.
A jewel that made the Emperor and the Crown Prince covet her, and made her fate intersect with an ancient legend... the legend of the two brothers: the Sorcerer of Light and the Sorcerer of Darkness.