#polnalyubvi

For centuries, the House of Valancius had risen above the lands of the Duchy of Koronus. Their roots stretched back to the times of the Saints, and on the fields of Mars, they had rendered memorable services to many domains, for which they were revered above all others throughout the Duchy. Their ancestral castle, Dargonus, was the heart of their holdings, but many other castles also belonged to them. In time, the family divided, and relatives would only gather for tournaments or councils, where each could assert themselves if they were influential and wealthy enough. The descendants of the first blood continuously ruled the family, like the sea. But the year of great storms marked the invasion of foreign hordes. War broke out on the borders, and, as they say, when news came that part of the Duchy’s troops had been defeated and the enemy was burning villages, the old lady’s heart gave out.

Lavish funerals brought together all the nobility of Coronus. After the mourning ceremonies ended, the deceased's will was read. To the great surprise of those present, the matriarch named her young niece, Medea von Valancius, heir to Dargonus and all its lands. She entrusted the guardianship of the family until marriage, imploring her relatives by their honor and memory of their ancestors to protect the girl. "…May those who have loved me, and returned love with love, do the same for my heir. And in times of malice and treachery, when no one is safe, they will protect her in my memory." But the words of the will caused controversy, and murmurs arose among relatives, for many wished to claim the rich land and property, cursing the departed benefactor as a bandit and heretic…

Accusations of witchcraft and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Matriarch Von Valancius did not go unnoticed by people. Rumors spread and soon attracted the attention of knights of Lord's Throne. A shadow loomed over Dargonus, as everyone waited in anxious anticipation, wondering what banners of the Holy Inquisition would bring - salvation or ultimate doom. “The enemy who never dies returns, and thus my vigil is eternal. It will not end until the Devil and his servants are cast down. I rise against the sins of the flesh. I will not take gold, nor wear a crown, nor seek worldly glory. I will not conceal a sinner, nor will my hand falter before a servant of Hell. I will live and die guarding the Throne of God.”

Music — Fairytales by Serenity