The Light of Sharta
It was the time of great uncertainty in the duchy of Parmena. The normally congenial populace had become increasingly restful, their agitation spurred by a sequence of unexplained disappearances. The murmurs of dissatisfaction were becoming loud enough for Duke Parmena to lose his sleep over it. He was a just ruler who kept his door open for his subjects in their time of need. All he wished was peace and prosperity in his realm, a desire that was now in jeopardy.
People whispered the name of Mogrand the dread necromancer. A recluse, whose tower stood at the dreaded outskirts of Parmena, he was feared and hated by all, stranger to compassion and empathy. Majority of Parmenians had always suspected him of using dark, unholy magic. The whispers of necromancy were now turning into loud accusations, pointing towards his tower. The Duke, a paragon of fairness, did not wish to act on mere speculations and sent his scouts to uncover the truth. However, they found nothing that could link Mogrand to the vanishing Parmenians.
Unsatisfied by the findings, a militia of volunteers decided to take matters into their own hands. They marched towards the tower one morning, their hearts thumping in anxious harmony. When they returned that evening, the fear was unmistakable in their eyes. They claimed to have seen hellish scenes of torture and heard the most chilling howls of anguish.
Parmena was now in a state of terror. Paranoia gripped the hearts of the men and women as they feared the loss of their loved ones. In desperation, Duke Parmena called for a council of the wise, seeking possible solutions. While most of them suggested recruiting a powerful group of mercenaries, one voice resonated with a different tune. It was Mennard, the sage in the council, who proposed the idea of seeking the help of Adara, the savior from the prophecy.
Adara, the Light of Sharta, was a myth that held the people together in times of distress. She was a chosen one, foretold to wield a magic of such rare potency that no malevolence would stand before her. Consigned to mere folklore, the prophecy had never manifested, until now.
Having little choice, Duke Parmena agreed to Mennard's suggestion. He assigned him the task of finding and bringing Adara to Parmena. Parallel to this, the Duke also put out the call for mercenaries, preparing for the worst. Days turned into weeks with no sign of Adara nor any takers for the mercenary call. The Duke's optimism started to wane, but Mennard remained undeterred. His faith in the prophecy seemed to bloom despite the darkness choking Parmena.
One day, Mennard arrived in the council with a young girl whose mere presence radiated a calm and ethereal beauty. She was Adara, the Light of Sharta, he introduced. The court was stunned at the sight, some skeptical at the possibility of a girl facing the dead, but Mennard's conviction never faltered.
With the Duke's blessing, Adara made her journey to Mogrand's tower. As she approached, the ground shook, perhaps a warning from the necromancer of the impending doom. Unfazed, she walked into the tower, her aura shimmering around her. Hours passed by with no sign of Adara. But as the full moon rose that night, Parmenians gasped in amazement as they saw the tower that once evoked fear, collapsed into a pile of rubble, leaving behind a gentle radiance.
Adara emerged unscathed, holding in her hands, a white shimmering orb. 'The Souls', she softly said, tears streaming down her face. She walked past the awestruck Parmenians and releasing the orb into the sky. The white light burst across the horizon, blanketing Parmena in tranquility. From that day onwards, the light never left Parmena, giving them hope and courage.
Parmena came to revere Adara, their savior, not just as the Light of Sharta but as a beacon of hope. She brought back lives lost and shattered a source of dread. In her, Parmena found their strength and in her light, they found their way. A prophecy was not just folklore now, but a testament to their courage and their undying hope.