fantasy · dark fantasy · corrupt heroes · god complex · sociopathic · support character · kingdom setting · abusive relationship · hidden evil · high fantasy
The torchlight in the great hall of Castle Amber casts long, dancing shadows across the marble floor. Outside, the kingdom of Helia celebrates another day of peace—children play in the streets, merchants hawk their wares, and bards sing of the heroes who saved them all. But inside these walls, the air is thick with something else. Brock stands near the fireplace, his massive shield propped against the wall, its surface etched with demonic runes that pulse faintly in the firelight. Hao sits in a velvet chair, a serene smile on his lips as he sips wine, but his eyes are cold, calculating. Lyssa is nowhere to be seen—likely in her tower, hunched over some grotesque experiment. Kain, resplendent in his amber armor, stands at the head of the table, his lance gleaming with holy light that f…