1 The curse of Altria

For centuries, the land of Altria had been plagued by an ancient curse. Every hundred years, on the night of the winter solstice, the kingdom was plunged into darkness, and a monstrous creature known as the Shadow King rose from the depths of the earth to wreak havoc and destruction.

The people of Altria had tried everything to break the curse, but nothing had worked. The most powerful sorcerers and warriors had joined forces to fight the Shadow King, but they were always defeated, and the curse continued.

But hope was not lost. In a small village in the north of the kingdom, a young sorceress named Isadora had discovered a way to break the curse. She had spent years studying ancient texts and practicing powerful spells, and finally, she had found the answer.

Isadora's plan was risky, but she was determined to save her kingdom. She would create a powerful spell that could transport a chosen hero back in time, to the moment just before the Shadow King awakens. With the knowledge of what is to come, the hero could stop the Shadow King before it was too late.

Isadora searched the kingdom for the perfect candidate to travel back in time. She needed someone brave, skilled, and willing to risk everything to save their people. And she found him in a young warrior named Aric.

Aric was from a small village in the south of Altria. He had always dreamed of becoming a great warrior and defending his kingdom from its enemies. When Isadora approached him with her plan, he didn't hesitate to accept. He knew the risks, but he was willing to do whatever it takes to save Altria.

Together, Isadora and Aric traveled to the site of the curse, deep in the heart of the kingdom. They waited for the winter solstice, the night when the curse would strike again. As the sun set and the darkness enveloped the land, they prepared themselves for the battle to come.

Suddenly, the ground shook beneath their feet, and a deafening roar echoed across the land. The Shadow King had awakened.

Aric drew his sword and charged towards the creature, but Isadora held him back.

"Not yet," she said. "We must wait for the right moment."

They watched as the Shadow King rampaged across the land, destroying everything in its path. But as they waited, Isadora felt a strange sensation. It was as if time was bending around them, like a river flowing backwards.

Suddenly, everything went black.

When Isadora opened her eyes, she was back in her laboratory. Aric was nowhere to be seen.

"What happened?" she muttered to herself. "Did the spell work?"

She hurried outside and looked around. The sun was rising, and the village was just starting to wake up. Everything seemed normal.

But Isadora knew that something was different. She could feel it in her bones.

She spent the day experimenting with her spells, trying to figure out what had happened. As the night fell again, she felt the same sensation as before. Time was bending around her, and she knew that she had to act quickly.

She rushed to the site of the curse, hoping that Aric was there. And he was.

"Isadora, what happened?" he asked, looking confused.

"I think we did it," she said. "I think we broke the curse."

But as they watched, the ground shook again, and the Shadow King rose from the earth once more.

Isadora and Aric tried to fight the creature, but they were quickly overwhelmed. As they lay on the ground, the Shadow King looming over them, Isadora realized what had gone wrong. They had only gone back in time to witness the curse being broken, but they had not stopped the Shadow King from rising.

With no other options left, Isadora knew what she had to do. She would sacrifice herself to create a spell that would destroy the Shadow King once and for all. Aric tried to stop her, but she knew it was the only way to save Altria.

Isadora drew on all her power and created a spell that engulfed the Shadow King in a blinding light. The creature roared and thrashed, but Isadora held firm, pouring all her energy into the spell.

Finally, the light faded, and the Shadow King was gone. Isadora had sacrificed herself, but she had saved her kingdom.

Aric mourned the loss of his friend, but he knew that her sacrifice had not been in vain. He returned to his village in the south, but he never forgot Isadora and her bravery.

Years passed, and the curse was broken. Altria flourished, and Aric became a renowned warrior, defending his kingdom from all who threatened it.

But every winter solstice, as he looked up at the sky and remembered Isadora, he knew that none of it would have been possible without her. She had been the one to break the curse and save their kingdom, and her memory would live on forever.