It had been centuries since the departure of the seven dark lords of Eldir who each had ruled

over their
respective realms. The seven lords had created the known world and had agreed to meet again at the
Ewer, but they never did as they had other matters to attend to. Before the lords had departed Eldir, they
entrusted Eldir to the strongest among them, Lord Cael, who remained sealed within his palace along
with his trusted servants. As one of the Seven, Lord Cael, had commanded absolute power among his
servants and army being the undisputed ruler of Ewer, the Realm of Twilight and Dusk. In the throne
room, Lord Caelus had assembled his most loyal followers as he sought to conquer the realm in earnest.

“You called me my Lord?” a Raven-haired woman knelt before Lord Cael’s throne.

“Selena, I’d like you to raze the town of Delmond and bring me their leader to my throne,” Lord Caelus
ordered. “You may take whomever you like,” “Now go,”

“Yes, my Lord,” Selena respectfully nodded before departing the palace keep. “Consider it done,”

Selena Nightingale was Lord Cael’s most loyal and trusted attendant who had been created by Lady
Corwen, one of Lord Cael’s fellow lords and good friend as a memento of their friendship. Among Lord
Cael’s servants, Selena’s power was ranked as the second most powerful being other than Lord Cael
himself and was named as Leader of the Dark Triad, an elite force serving directly under Lord Cael.
Though Selena was strikingly beautiful, her powers as a sorceress made her very formidable in combat
against her enemies. Furthermore, Selena was Lord Cael’s lover and queen and considered to be his
other half.

“Ah, has Lord Cael given you another order?” a loyal underling and member of the Dark Triad smirked as
Selena came into his chamber. “Well, what did he ask?”

“We are to destroy the town of Delmond and drag their leader back here,” Selena replied simply. “In
order to do that, we’ll have to take the enemy by surprise,” “I believe that’s where you come in, Romu,”

“Ah, so it will be a surprise attack, eh?” Romu smiled eagerly. “Leave it to me,” “I’ll handle the diversion
while you meet with the leader,”

“Sounds good, I’m counting on you,” Selena nodded. “One more thing, while I meet with Duke Igor
Valentine, I’d also like you to …..” “Did you get that?”

“Of course, my lady,” Romu chuckled lightly. “Very well, shall we be off to Delmond?”

“Yes, let’s be off,” Selena nodded before heading outside the castle gates where she boarded a carriage
to Delmond.
 Chapter 1

Selena’s Gambit

As Selena’s carriage entered the vicinity of Delmond, the immortal sorceress knew the reason why her
lord had wanted to raze the town to the ground. Many years ago, Duke Thorolf Archibold, Duke Igor
Valentine’s uncle had graciously offered Lord Cael to partake in the pleasures of his domain. However,
when Lord Cael’s emissary had arrived in Delmond, the Archduke had instead tricked him and broke the
trust of Lord Cael who did not take kindly to his trickery. Moreover, the Archibold Family had been a
thorn in the side of the Seven Lords and did not sought to pledge their loyalty to them considering them
to be a mere myth. As for Duke Igor, he was not unlike his uncle who had been known for his greed and
selfishness, but a man of his word and of noble heart. Lord Cael had wanted to punish the young duke
for inheriting his uncle’s legacy, but had wanted to negotiate with the duke which was why he had sent
Selena to meet with him in his stead.

“Here we are, my good lady,” the Carriage Driver spoke as he stopped the carriage at the entrance to the
town. “Have yourself a pleasant evening,”

“Thank you,” Selena graciously thanked her driver before stepping out of the carriage and beginning her
mission. The manor in the distance must be where Duke Igor resides.

As Selena made her way through town, Romu had followed close by within the shadows waiting for the
signal to raze Delmond. A pair of young off duty knights who had too much to drink spotted Selena in her
formal dress and were immediately smitten by her beauty.

“Hey, where you headed, my good lady?” one of the knights tried hitting on Selena. “Woah, not only do
you smell nice, but you look so good!”

Selena paid the two lecherous men no mind, but as soon as they tried to lay a hand on her, she glared
menacingly as she effortlessly broke their hands as punishment.

“Arrrhhhh!” “My hands!” one of the Knights screamed in agony.

“I didn’t ask you to lay your dirty hands on me,” Selena spoke darkly. “Next time, I will not show you any
mercy got it?” “Now get lost,”

The men scurried off like rats as Selena continued on her way to Igor’s residence overlooking the town.
When Selena finally reached the hilltop overlooking Delmond, she was personally greeted by Duke Igor
who had been expecting her arrival.

“Ah welcome, I have been expecting your arrival my lady,” Igor chivalrously took Selena’s arm and kissed
her hand much to her surprise. “I trust that your trip was pleasant?”

“Yes, on behalf of my lord, I have much to discuss with you about your town’s future,” Selena replied
cordially.

“Lord Cael could not make in person?” Igor asked curiously.

“Yes, please follow me then,” Igor led the way to his private quarters.

“Has Lady Selena given the order yet?” Cecil asked eagerly. “It looks as though she’s already speaking
with the duke,”

“We will remain close by until she does,” Romu answered.

“Hey!” “You shouldn’t be up here!” a patrolling guard spotted Romu and Cecil on the guard post.
“Urgghh!”

“That was a close one,” Romu immediately knocked out the guard. “It seems we have our work cut out
for us,”

Back in Igor’s manor, Selena and Igor discussed the benefits of commerce and trade between Ewer and
Delmond as Lord Cael had wanted to expand his influence across his realm. However, not everyone was
on board with Selena’s negotiations.

“Should you agree to this proposition, then Delmond will be occupied as Ewer territory though you will
be granted a voice in my lord’s court,” Selena concluded her meeting.

“But that’s preposterous!” a Nobleman scoffed at the idea. “Delmond has remained neutral since the
beginning!” “If you say that Lord Cael wishes to take control of our ports and charge us unreasonable
taxes, then the answer is no!”

“Please I ask you all to carefully reconsider the alternatives,” Selena pleaded with Igor’s council to think
hard about the proposal. “My lord only wishes to continue your town’s long-standing traditions in good
faith,”

“Just who is this Lord Cael anyway?” an Arrogant Nobleman doubted Selena’s lord. “If he sent a woman
as emissary, then he truly must be a weak coward!”

As the noblemen laughed mockingly, Selena grew very livid but remained properly composed as befitting
her station before giving an ominous warning.

“You have some nerve to mock my lord whose very existence is the reason why you still exist!” Selena
spoke harshly. “Lord Cael is one of the Seven Great Lords who built this very world with nothing but a
single thought!” “Yet you try to besmirch his name in front of his emissary?” “You impudent worms will
know your place soon enough!”

Selena then rose from her seat and walked out of the manor having dealt enough with the arrogant
stupor of men and politics as Duke Igor sank into his seat realizing what his council had just done. Within
moments of leaving the talks, Selena ordered Romu and Cecil to lay siege to the town’s wealthiest
districts as a warning to those who would cross Lord Cael’s authority even when he had attempted
diplomacy. Ultimately, just as Lord Cael had foreseen, Duke Igor, was brought before Lord Cael’s throne
and forced to submit while Lady Selena watched beside her master. Once the matter was resolved, Lord
Cael had Igor return home humiliated to tell the other nobles to fall in line with the Dark Kingdom or
suffer a worse fate than death. Pleased with Selena’s work, Lord Cael called her into his private chambers
to discuss their next steps.

“I’m most pleased with your work, Selena,” Cael spoke happily. “You not only shown me great loyalty,
but you followed my orders directly all while you thought for yourself,”

“Thank you, my Lord,” Selena bowed graciously. “I only exist to serve your will,”

“Good, now that we have dealt with Delmond, my influence can spread more easily across the kingdom,”
Cael stated his plans. “For that reason, I’d like you to head to Erclax, to rally some of my staunchest allies
in that region,”

“Yes, I’ll see to it immediately,” Selena nodded. “If I may make a personal request Lord,”

“Very well, I’ll allow you to take your sister along with you,” Cael granted Selena’s request. “Do be
careful, though your sister is currently imprisoned in the Dark Tower, she is still dangerous,”

“Of course,” Selena bowed. “Leave her to me,”

The Dark Tower was a prison where Lord Cael had sent the foulest of criminals to rot or to make an
example of. The prison itself was underground and filled with deadly traps preventing escape while the
prisoners were kept under the control of the warden, Radloff.