Upon the ever rolling plains of a vast expanse of land sat a small outcropping of a forest. The trees within gave off a dim light throughout the dusk that had plagued the land for many years.

At the edge of this forest stood a large being, covered in a suit of armor from head to toe. This cover was of a peculiar origin, it absorbing all light and leaving a faint trace of dark energy wherever the being moved.

It stood staring off into the distance, out across the plains to a large decrepit structure. Suddenly the being turned and shuffled into the forest, leaving inky footprints wherever its large feet tread.

Creatures of the bright forest fled as the creature wandered through the depths of the forest, their garb absorbing the light of which the trees had released.

The being paused in his movements for a moment, seeming to take in the surrounding area. They seemed to exhale heavily, their head sinking to look at the ground in front of them before pressing on through the forest.

A loud snap echoed through the very fibers of the surrounding trees, and this same noise brought the beast to its knees. The noise had come from a large metal trap that had been placed in the forest many years prior, now long rusted and lost to time.

Reaching down the large creature pulled the razor-sharp talons of the trap free from his legs and watched as the crimson blood ran from it's ankle, staining the bright grass around it.

They released their grip upon this item, and it closed quickly, another snap ringing through the trees. The beast began again, the blood still spouting from the holes buried deep into it's flesh through the shroud.

The light of the distant star shone over the ridges of the rolling hills in the distance, dusk was upon the creature and the land in which it roamed.

The armorous shroud that covered their features now radiated more energy, as if empowered by the coming night. This energy, though it absorbed the light around it, put off a faint violet glow.

The sun crested over the hills and vanished, plunging the world into a dim light of the full moon now rising on the other side of the valley.

The glow of torchlight bobbed in the distance, but this did not deter the beast's path. Pushing on towards their goal the creature now limped from the great pain of their leg.

The sound of thundering hooves behind them caused them to cease in their motion, instead standing lifeless.

The creature felt a burst of pain from their shoulder, following a strong click and the force of a heavy impact. Reaching to this point they pulled the large bolt of a crossbow free from their back, turning and staring at the man in which it came with deep blood-orange eyes.

The man, terrified by this sight turned his horse around, and under the cover of night, fled in the opposite direction.

The creature, now heavily bleeding laid within the long grass of the plains, falling into a sleep not to be woken.

Hours passed, and the beast stirred, having heard the midnight crow's call. The ground around them smelled of death, stained with the deep red of their blood.

They rose slowly, the wounds filled with the dark energy of the shroud upon them, stemming the flow of blood. Within seconds the wounds closed and scared over.

The beast began to shuffle forth, ever onward to their goal.

They trudged over the countless hills, ceasing at the cusp of dawn, the ominous energy retreating into the shadows and leaving faint traces on their armor.

In front of them stood a ruinous bridge leading into a shattered city, showing signs of extreme decay and damage. The beast stood for a moment, sighing deeply before beginning their march across the structure.
They moved forward with a burning motivation, pushing them further and further, no matter what. Dragging the creature across the bridge of shattered stone and brick.

As the beast trudged along across the monumental structure glowing apparitions appeared before them. These whisps appeared to be human, frozen in time, unable to feel the effects of the new world.

As the creature passed them, the beings faded away, vanishing as quick as they came, leaving behind a feeling of sorrow in their place.

The shrouded beast was now across the bridge, walking between two rows of decrepit homes and shops, towards a monsterous castle.

Signs laid scattered through the street, some still attached to the rusty chains that once held them high. Doors lay rotten, splinters of wood strewn about the cobbles below.

The creature pushed forward, onward up the countless steps to the castle above the large buildings and sweeping streets, past the apparitions still appearing around him.

The beast's pace slowed, arriving at the gate of the grand palace. Taking a small breath in the shrouded creature pushed through the large gate, feeling a rush of musty, stagnant air from within.

Feeling a rush of nostalgia he slowed further, now walking towards the thrones that sat in the center of the far wall. The stood tall, gilded with gold and silver, the fabric a dull velvet red.

The creature knelt at the base of the right-hand throne, placing a glowing white and blue orchid on the dusty fabric. The creature lowered it's head in respect, placing their hand on the edge of the dusty throne.

The beast sat this way for a few moments, rising up afterward, and shifting to the opposite throne.

Reaching in their cloak once more, they pulled out a magnificent crown inlaid with glittering gems and jewels and placed it on the center of the throne.

The beast shed it's cloak, showing a withered old frame of a man. Taking off his upper shroud, the man knelt once more, placing his head instead in his palms in front of the grand seat.

Hundreds of apparitions now appeared around the man, bowing as he had done in the direction of the throne, bowing in respect to an unknown source.

The man rose slowly, turning to face the many shining blue spirits that had gathered to join him in the throne room.
The man released a great sigh, turning to pick up the shimmering crown, and in doing so, drawing the attention of the many apparitions before him.

The man knelt before them, slowly bringing the piece to his head, before letting it fall on top of his gray locks of hair.

Time seemed to pause for a moment, flooding the throne room with a blinding light. This light spread throughout every crevase of the castle and the streets below, transforming it into a glowing utopia as it once was.

Suddenly  the apparitions before him were corporeal, standing from where they knelt they looked upon the man in a way of hope.

The king had returned, he had returned to correct the wrongdoings of the king prior half a century before.

Looking beside him he felt a twinge of regret, seeing that the throne beside him still sat empty, void of his mother.

The orchid still held the faint blue glow that it had shown before however, giving the man the hope to continue onward and rule as not a tyrant, but a kind monarch, assisting his kingdom not for self-gain, but for the survival of his citizens.