Jalahard looked over his kingdom. It was as prosperous as always. In the days from when he was just a boy, there was always this darkness that settled around the city, than made people unable to come out due to fear. Only later did he discover that this was a result of the Demon Lord Vriskaya's rebirth occurring right inside the palace of the Old King.
He chuckled. Back then, he would never have imagined becoming one of the seven (eight to some, including him) heroes that overthrew the previous king, combated the Demon Lord after his revival, and eventually ushered in a new era of prosperity for the Shirandi Kingdom. Half of his companions - the heroes - died and the ones that remained were all wanderers by nature; they refused to become king. So much to his surprise, the young bakers apprentice, him, at just seventeen years old, was crowned as the new king.
Four years have passed since then, and his power has grown considerably since, but still not on the level of Dutch, the deceased leader of the Heroes of the Lamp. Perhaps this was due to the fact that there was no longer anyone that could prove a challenge to him? He was once told that in order to get stronger, one must have a purpose and a rival. His purpose was to defend his kingdom, but there was none that could prove a worthy rival.
Jalahard sighed, and beautiful dark haired woman approached him. "Why so glum, my king?"
His wife, Shirone, a sorceress that he had rescued during the dark times. The sparks of love flew between them but both being stubborn, it took awhile for either to confess, and even longer for a proposal to happen - but that is a story for another time.
"I want to get stronger, but there is none in my Kingdom to give me that push I need . . ."
Shirone, who was never one to understand his love for battle, just nodded in acceptance. "Well, then perhaps you have to seek outside the kingdom?"
"That is an idea . . . but I cannot leave just yet. There is still much to do, and I am not so competent as to be able to solve the kingdoms problems from far away. No, if there is to be a worthy challenger, he is to come to me."