The Winds of the New World-Chapter 3: Prologue

The waves of Valtheon's harbor reflected the silver glow of the moon as ten ships prepared to set sail into the unknown. Edmund Oakforest, standing at the prow of the flagship, gazed at the grand city he was about to leave behind. His expression was firm, but his heart bore the weight of dishonor and uncertainty.

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His crime? Loving the wrong woman. Kiera Draven, daughter of King Garrick IV Draven, was promised to the ambitious Ashton Velroy, heir to House Velroy and commander of the royal navy. But fate had drawn a different path, and Edmund had surrendered to a forbidden romance with the princess. The news spread like fire through dry fields, and the king's wrath was swift.

Summoned to the great hall of the castle, Edmund faced the king's cold stare as he sat upon his golden throne. The court murmured around them, reveling in the spectacle of his disgrace. At the monarch's side, Ashton Velroy wore a satisfied smile, while the queen kept her gaze lowered, unable to contest her husband's decision. Duke Aldric Velroy, Ashton's father, merely nodded in silent confirmation that punishment was inevitable.

— Edmund Oakforest — the king's voice echoed through the hall, laden with fury and contempt. — You have dishonored the crown and defied the will of your sovereign. As punishment, you will be exiled beyond the Zafira Sea. There is no place for traitors in Valtheon.

Edmund clenched his fists but said nothing. Protesting would be futile. His father, Edric Oakforest, stood present, his posture firm and his gaze impassive. But Edmund knew his father too well not to recognize the restrained fury beneath that steel façade.

Edric Oakforest had not uttered a single word during the trial, but his eyes burned like embers, seething with indignation. His locked jaw and the veins pulsing at his temples betrayed his suppressed anger, a volcano on the verge of eruption. He had dedicated decades of loyalty to the crown, spilling the blood of his men in the king's wars, and now his firstborn son was being cast aside like a mere pawn.

When the sentence was declared, the duke stepped forward, his gaze piercing Garrick IV like a sharpened blade.

— How convenient a punishment, Your Majesty — his voice was as cold as steel. — A knight who fought in your name, treated worse than a common criminal. My son will pay for his mistakes, but remember this, King of Valtheon: the Oakforests do not forget.

The hall fell into silence. The veiled challenge was there, heavy with unspoken promises. The queen clasped her hands over her lap, her eyes wide in silent plea that things would not escalate further. The king merely nodded, ignoring the underlying threat, and ordered Edmund to be escorted to the ships at once.

What the king did not expect was Duke Oakforest's response. The patriarch would not allow his son to be cast into the unknown unprepared. In an act of defiance, he sent not just a single vessel, but a fleet of ten well-equipped ships. A hundred elite soldiers of House Oakforest, shipbuilders, blacksmiths, healers, cooks, masons, architects, and seasoned sailors would accompany Edmund on his uncertain journey. If exile was the price, then so be it—but his son would at least have a chance to build something new, far from the crown's grasp.

But the greatest secret of that night was yet to be revealed. As the ships began to drift away from the harbor, a hooded figure emerged from the shadows, running across Edmund's deck. As the hood was lifted, shock spread among those present: Kiera Draven, the princess herself, was there. She did not hesitate. Her voice, soft yet resolute, broke the silence.

— There was no life for me in Valtheon without you. My place is by your side, Edmund.

The sailors exchanged glances, some whispering in surprise, others fearing the consequences. For a moment, Edmund did not know what to say. But then, a smile formed on his lips, a mixture of disbelief and acceptance. If fate had condemned them, then they would face it together, defying both gods and kings.

With the winds at their backs, the sails were raised, and the Oakforest fleet set course for the unknown. The moon illuminated the waters, sealing the beginning of a new era—a journey that would change the destiny of Edmund Oakforest and all those who dared to follow him beyond the horizon.