Court of the Rogue

In the hub of the city of Eldoria where tales of enchantment and the smell of baking bread floated in the air there was a notorious place, infamous for its secrecy and risk—the Court of the Rogue. It was a secret world, a refuge for all the undesired, the beggars, cutthroats, and vagrants of the city. This organisation was headed by none other than its chief, a man who can only be described as Adrian.

Adrian was a man of myth, and his legend was teamed and told to the point where people forgot that he was real. He was tall and dark, with colorful blue eyes that could easily penetrate any falsehood and enchanting blinks. But beneath his play-boy persona, there was a man with a heavy load of shame and remorse on his heart.

One night, while the moon illumines the beautiful cobblestoned streets, a young man named Adrian, who preferred to be alone with his thoughts, was found sitting on the roof of an ancient cathedral. He stared at the view of the city that was lights down below and whispers of living. His thinking was cut short by the sound of footsteps a distance away coming closer.

“Adrian,” a voice whispered, breaking the silence as a beautiful song would.

He did a double take and spot a young woman with raven hair falling in her shoulders and greeny eyes full of vigour. She was called Elara: a talented thief who just entered the Court. Her abilities both as a singer and a performer were paired with boldness and passion which earned her Adrian’s respect.

“What brings you here, Elara?” Adrian asked, his tone having transitioned between curiosity and what she could only interpret as affection.

“I wanted to talk to you,” she said appearing closer to me. “But there is something you need to understand,”

Adrian looked at the man, and then he simply raised an eyebrow of curiosity. Until now, Elara had gone to him only regarding official business, never for a matter of the heart. She was always on their missions with a clear mind and always took time to calculate her next moves.

“Go on,” he encouraged softly.

Elara felt a somewhat anxious in her chest, keeping her focus on him. “Adrian, I have something crucial to tell you in which I did not come to the Court only to run away from the past.” Well, I got here because I am a seeker.

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly. ”Who are they?”

“My brother,” Elara voiced in a shaking voice. One day he vanished and now is considered dead and I think he could be in this country, Eldoria. Perhaps, he is in danger I suggested.

Adrian’s eyes met Amelia’s and what he saw there filled him with determination. He had experienced the sting of loss – of a beloved family member, nevertheless – and he flinched. The former strike me as brave especially when one said firmly ‘We’ll find him, Elara’. However, the Queen told her: “But you must tell me everything you know.”

Elara nodded and her facebead relaxed with relief. She started telling her story – how her younger brother Rowan was a powerful mage, how he disappeared one day, and how she decided to search for him having joined the Court of the Rogue.

Soon they developed rapport, a trust that is created when two people are in similar situations, looking forward to something and desiring something they cannot have. These two warriors fell for each other because Adrian was intrigued by Elara’s strength and her need for aid and Elara needed a protector and friend in Adrian.

They spent days, and sometimes weeks, chasing the leads based on the original plan and slowly peeling the layers of the conspiracy. They learned that Rowan had been abducted by a vicious sorcerer who called himself Malachai, and who planned to exploit Rowan’s magical powers for his own benefits.

Their move was rather risky, and every turn led them closer to the nest of Malachai. Thus, the love between Adrian and Elara became stronger throughout the course of the game. Forced to steal brief moments of joy and comfort, they began to draw nearer to each other with each day.

Late one stormy night, when they were making their camp right outside the borders of Eldoria, Elara couldn’t sleep anymore. There she sat by the fire with her head teeming with anxiety and optimism. Adrian came and sat beside her, his nearness soothing her anguish.

“Did you ever want to know what life would have been like if something changed?” Elara questioned quietly, her gaze focusing on the firelight.

Adrian let out a hefty breath, his eyes looking off into the horizon. Sometimes. But the past is a shadow that cannot be changed. The only thing that is certain is today and the prospect for tomorrow.

Seeing him, Elara could only look at him, tears stinging her eyes because of so many things she wanted to tell him, but could not. “Darling, I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but you should know that you mean a lot to me, probably more than I can ever express. ”

Adrian’s features relaxed and slowly his hand came up to cup her cheek. “Elara, you have opened my eyes and shown me life in ways I could have never imagined. I swear to you, we will find your brother and stop this curse.”

Their lips gently touched each other in a kiss of reassurance of their love and of the future wars to be fought.

The next day, they are able to pinpoint the exact location of the tower where Malachai was hiding – a formidable structure with dangerous mechanisms around it and an array of potent spells. Altogether, they entered the tower and their abilities checked each other well. Sly and speedy, Adrian complemented Elara’s sorceress abilities and her strong-willed personality.

Having fought their way through the castle, they finally came face to face with Malachai on the top floor of the tower. The sorcerer was powerful, a black aura around him as if he was a storm. Still, Adrian and Elara fought with the force that combined love and desperation.

And so it was Elara’s turn to land the fatal strike, her magic breaking through to Malachai and releasing her brother. Rowan, barely standing, but alive, let out a sigh of relief and hugged his sister.

Rowan nodded and whispered his appreciation, “Thank you.”

Naruto felt a tremendous weight lifted off his shoulders as he saw the joy on Elara’s face. "We’re together again, Rowan. That is all that counts.”

After they stepped out of the tower, with the first rays of the sun illuminating the sky over Eldoria, Adrian squeezed her hand and smiled.

“What next for us Adrian?” Elara questioned, her tone pregnant with expectation.

Adrian gazed at her; he looked at her and his eyes were full of love. ‘No matter what is in store for us, we will overcome it. The Court of the Rogue has its core now, and it is you, Elara.

They took Rowan back to the Court with Adrian and Elara and their growing love became a source of light in the darkness. Together, they built the new life where the love and courage prevailed over the dark forces.

Thus, in the obscure places of the Eldoria, the legend of the Court of the Rogue continued to exist; its biggest story being the story of a rogue and a thief who came and overcame the grim fate and who finally found their place by each other’s side.