Title: The Ashes of Velmoria Once, the kingdom of Velmoria shone like a jewel between the Storming Peaks and the Amethyst Sea. Its banners-woven with golden thread and bearing the sun crest-fluttered across five provinces, each ruled by a noble house sworn to Queen Elirya Velmorne, the last of her name. She was said to speak with the wind, tame fire with a glance, and see into men's hearts as if reading a book laid open. But no kingdom burns forever with glory. And some flames, once left to flicker alone, can wither into smoke. --- It began with whispers-small things, barely noticed at first. Farmers near the border of House Irondale reported strange lights in the woods. Livestock vanished, and trees bled sap as black as pitch. The court mage, Lysarion, dismissed it as superstition. He was more concerned with his experiments, stitching bone and shadow beneath the royal crypts. Elirya's council had grown old and tired. They feared the queen's curiosity, her growing closeness to the mage whose eyes glowed faintly with a sickly blue hue. When she extended her reign beyond the normal rites-refusing to name an heir despite being barren-the nobility began to stir. Then came the Ninth Eclipse. A day without sun. Not just hidden by clouds, but gone. The sky turned violet. Birds screamed and dropped dead in mid-flight. In the western province of Yll, children were born with milky white eyes and teeth like needles. And then...the dead began to walk. Queen Elirya, far from panicking, welcomed it. She called it The Renewal. She stood on the balcony of Velmoria's high tower, her voice booming unnaturally, and proclaimed that death was no longer the end. Her people would be eternal. But not all souls rose. Only the loyal, or the damned. Knights who had died in her name returned with their armor fused to rotting flesh. They called her the Mother of Return. Cities fell not to invasion, but to internal collapse. People fled in horror from their once-dead loved ones, twisted now into loyal, wordless husks. House Irondale rebelled first. They marched upon the capital with twelve thousand spears-and were met by five thousand of the queen's fallen. In one night, the grasslands blackened. The Irondale lords were flayed, resurrected, and bound by iron chains to serve in the queen's court. Elirya did not age. Her hair remained dark as raven feathers, her eyes glowing softly with blue fire. Her kingdom was no longer ruled, but haunted. And she, enthroned among corpses and whispering shadows, ruled alone. --- It is said that deep beneath the ruins of Velmoria, in catacombs lit by candles made from human tallow, her voice still echoes. That she speaks to the bones of her court, giving counsel to those who can no longer speak. And that the mage Lysarion lives still, fused now into the throne itself, his body a lattice of bone and vine, his consciousness spread like roots through the kingdom's dead soil. Velmoria did not fall in the way kingdoms usually do. It withered, mutated, transcended. And in its stillness, it waits. For another eclipse. For another chance.
Once, the kingdom of Velmoria shone like a jewel between the Storming Peaks and the Amethyst Sea. Its banners-woven with golden thread and bearing the sun crest-fluttered across five provinces, each ruled by a noble house sworn to Queen Elirya Velmorne, the last of her name. She was said to speak with the wind, tame fire with a glance, and see into men's hearts as if reading a book laid open.
But no kingdom burns forever with glory. And some flames, once left to flicker alone, can wither into smoke.
---
It began with whispers-small things, barely noticed at first. Farmers near the border of House Irondale reported strange lights in the woods. Livestock vanished, and trees bled sap as black as pitch. The court mage, Lysarion, dismissed it as superstition. He was more concerned with his experiments, stitching bone and shadow beneath the royal crypts.
Elirya's council had grown old and tired. They feared the queen's curiosity, her growing closeness to the mage whose eyes glowed faintly with a sickly blue hue. When she extended her reign beyond the normal rites-refusing to name an heir despite being barren-the nobility began to stir.
Then came the Ninth Eclipse.
A day without sun. Not just hidden by clouds, but gone. The sky turned violet. Birds screamed and dropped dead in mid-flight. In the western province of Yll, children were born with milky white eyes and teeth like needles. And then...the dead began to walk.
Queen Elirya, far from panicking, welcomed it. She called it The Renewal. She stood on the balcony of Velmoria's high tower, her voice booming unnaturally, and proclaimed that death was no longer the end. Her people would be eternal.
But not all souls rose. Only the loyal, or the damned. Knights who had died in her name returned with their armor fused to rotting flesh. They called her the Mother of Return. Cities fell not to invasion, but to internal collapse. People fled in horror from their once-dead loved ones, twisted now into loyal, wordless husks.
House Irondale rebelled first. They marched upon the capital with twelve thousand spears-and were met by five thousand of the queen's fallen. In one night, the grasslands blackened. The Irondale lords were flayed, resurrected, and bound by iron chains to serve in the queen's court.
Elirya did not age. Her hair remained dark as raven feathers, her eyes glowing softly with blue fire. Her kingdom was no longer ruled, but haunted. And she, enthroned among corpses and whispering shadows, ruled alone.
---
It is said that deep beneath the ruins of Velmoria, in catacombs lit by candles made from human tallow, her voice still echoes. That she speaks to the bones of her court, giving counsel to those who can no longer speak. And that the mage Lysarion lives still, fused now into the throne itself, his body a lattice of bone and vine, his consciousness spread like roots through the kingdom's dead soil.
Velmoria did not fall in the way kingdoms usually do.
It withered, mutated, transcended.
And in its stillness, it waits.
For another eclipse.
For another chance.
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."