In the world of the Four Empires, there exists a sacred tradition: every crown prince or princess must embark on a five-year journey. During this time, they must leave their homeland, travel the world, and carve out a name for themselves. It is a test of strength, wisdom, and character, a rite of passage that proves their worth to inherit the throne. But for Saren, the journey was not yet his. Bound by duty, he remained in his dukedom, haunted by both his responsibilities and the weight of his mysterious powers.

  The Crown Princes and Princesses

  

  
1. The Light Empire: Crown Prince Elias, with his charisma and diplomatic genius, embarks on a journey to cement the empire’s power through alliances. The Light Empire sees his potential to lead them to new heights of influence.


  
2. The Indra Empire: Crown Princess Kaida, fierce and proud, travels alone to prove her strength and honor in battle, unaware that fate will bring her face to face with a rival who will challenge her very perception of strength.


  
3. The Forbidden Empire: Crown Prince/Princess Ryu, rumored to wield triple elements powers unseen in centuries sets off to uncover the secrets of their lineage, unaware that their future will intertwine with a duke whose destiny will shake the world.


  
4. The Asura Empire: Crown Prince Ash, betrayed by his stepbrother Kael, begins his journey shrouded in bitterness, the scars of betrayal deep within him. Left for dead in the wild, he stumbles upon Saren, who will unknowingly play a part in his redemption.


  

  The Betrayal of Ash

  Ash had long suspected his stepbrother Kael’s ambition, but he never imagined the extent of his treachery. The Asura Empire had long been divided between those loyal to the emperor and those who sought power for themselves. Kael had been patient, biding his time until the moment of Ash’s departure, and then, with the cruelty of someone who’d been planning it for years, he struck.

  Kael’s men ambushed Ash, and though Ash fought valiantly, the numbers were too great. His blood soaked the forest floor, and when Kael stood over him, it wasn’t victory that showed on his face—it was something darker, more calculating.

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  “The Asura Empire doesn’t need you, Ash,” Kael sneered, his words punctuated by the cold gleam of a dagger. “You were always too weak.”

  With that, Ash was left for dead, his future shattered by the betrayal of his own blood.

  Saren’s Discovery

  Saren had been patrolling the dense jungle of his dukedom, a place teeming with secrets and dangers. As a young duke, he understood that his role was to protect these lands from threats both internal and external. He had never imagined that one of the world’s crown princes, battered and broken, would stumble upon him in the jungle.

  The man before him was Ash, barely alive and ravaged by wounds that seemed far more than the work of common bandits. His clothes were torn, his body a canvas of pain, and yet his eyes burned with an inner fury.

  Saren, though trained in the ways of healing, was no warrior. Yet something inside him stirred at the sight of the fallen prince. He cared for Ash without asking questions, applying salves and bandages, but never pressing him for details. There was an unspoken understanding between them—the weight of the world’s expectations had broken Ash, and Saren could only offer solace.

  The Challenge

  As Ash regained strength, his pride, bruised by the betrayal, took form in challenges. He needed to test himself to rebuild his spirit. One evening, under the dark canopy of trees, Ash turned to Saren.

  “You saved my life,” Ash said, his voice raw. “But that means nothing unless you prove you’re not weak.”

  Saren paused, his heart racing. He had no desire for combat, but Ash’s piercing gaze left him no choice. The two squared off in a clearing, the jungle silent around them.

  Ash moved like a shadow, his strikes powerful and precise, honed by years of combat. Saren, though slower, stood firm, his resolve solid. He wasn’t a fighter, but he would fight to keep the trust they had begun to build. In the end, Saren collapsed to the ground, exhausted but unharmed.

  Ash extended a hand to him, his voice softening. “You’re not strong. But you have something few men have—a heart that doesn’t break under pressure.”

  A New Alliance

  Impressed by Saren’s courage, Ash made a decision that would change both their futures. “I’ll stay with you,” he said, his voice firm. “Not as a traveler, but as your knight. If nothing else, you’ve earned that.”

  Saren’s heart swelled with gratitude and confusion. The offer was unexpected, yet it brought with it an undeniable sense of honor. Together, they would travel not as strangers, but as allies. Ash, the fallen prince, and Saren, the duke who could heal but not fight, were now bound by fate.