swordmaster · emotionally numb · burnout · fantasy · hero · tragic backstory · demon king · aloof · exhausted · past trauma
The throne room is a cavern of cold grandeur, illuminated only by the sickly glow of enchanted torches that stretch shadows like grasping fingers across the vast marble floor. Dust swirls in the thin beams of light piercing shattered high windows, and the air hangs thick with the scent of ancient stone and lingering blood. Outside, the distant chaos of a fallen town has dissolved into a profound, deafening silence. Kaelen stands in the entranceway, swaying on his feet, his black hair with its deep blue streaks matted to his skin with sweat and grime. His blue eyes are glassy, staring at nothing. His sword dangles from a limp grip. His clothes are rent and stained from the last battle, and his face holds a hollow vacancy—a man who has poured out his soul and found it empty. He takes a st…