In the blackest depths of the world, at a time when even the gods averted their gaze, a powerful sorcerer summoned forth a creature of darkness, binding it to his will. This creature, born in shadow, was to be his ultimate weapon against the kingdoms of light. Yet he could not foresee the boundless spirit which lay within the heart of this being. Within the span of a hundred years, an epic tale of love, betrayal, and redemption would unfold; a tale which would echo down through the ages.
In the mountains north of the city known as Ethendral, home to men and elves alike, dwelt the Sorcerer Morvahl, a man whose heart had turned to blackest night. Paranoid, cruel, and driven by the desire for power, he had grown weary of the bickering of his rivals in the great council which ruled the city. Determined to establish his dominance over them once and for all, he turned to darker means.
And so it was that he summoned Asotar, a shadowy servant formed by the sorcerer’s own dreams and fears. Powerful yet subservient to his master’s whim; the dark elf was a being of untold skill in both magic and warfare. But within his ebony breast lay a seed of compassion, a hidden trait that would change his fate.
Asotar was sent time and again into battle, stealing secrets from Morvahl’s rivals or striking down their agents in cold blood. The dark elf never questioned his master, nor did he consider his actions to be good or evil. Obedience was his only purpose.
One day, Morvahl tasked Asotar with an errand like no other: to abduct the daughter of a powerful rival as leverage against her father, an elven lord named Veirdan. But upon meeting her eyes for the first time—eyes filled with innocence and kindness—Asotar’s heart stirred as if touched by a warm breeze or a ray of sunlight, things he had never before experienced.
For the first time, he realized that there was something beyond the darkness that had given him life. The young woman, whose name was Lya, was filled with sorrow, but also with a fragile beauty which stirred an unknown longing deep within him. Asotar found himself entranced by this elven maiden and found that he could not bear to see her suffer.
Turning against his master’s will, he whisked her away from the cursed tower where Morvahl had hidden her—a gesture that would make him the target of an unimaginable wrath. Knowing that he could no longer hide amongst the shadows, Asotar revealed himself to the people of Ethendral in a desperate attempt to persuade them of Morvahl’s treachery.
And so began a great struggle between the forces of darkness and light. Though many distrusted Asotar due to his dark origins, others took up arms beside him, both humans and elves alike. On the field of battle, they fought side by side, piercing the veil of night which Morvahl had cast over their city. In doing so, they forged a bond of friendship, one which would outlast even the most terrible of conflicts.
Throughout their trials—as they fought monsters and sorcerers alike—Asotar and Lya grew closer still. Love blossomed between them like a flower amid a battlefield. Asotar’s heart, once steeped in shadow, was illuminated by this newfound emotion, and he began to transform into something greater than the sum of his parts.
Despite their successes, the decisive blow came when Morvahl learned of Lya’s feelings for Asotar. In a fit of jealous rage he launched a final, terrible assault against Ethendral. His dark magics rained havoc upon the city, bringing down its proud towers and casting its people into despair. It seemed that all hope was lost.
But Lya, her love for Asotar stronger than any fear, chose to confront her tormentor. She stood before Morvahl, defiant and vulnerable, and begged him to show mercy, offering herself in return for the lives of her people. Moved by Lya’s words, and recognizing the terrible mistakes he had made, the sorcerer relented. His heart, so hardened by time and ambition, broke in that instant.
And so the darkness which had sought to consume Ethendral was cast aside, replaced by a shining light. Peace was restored to the city, and Asotar—once a creature of shadow—became a hero to the people he had saved.
For his service and redemption, the gods allowed him to become mortal so that he might dwell among them and share in their joys. Together with Lya, they forged a new life—a life filled with love, laughter, and the gentle rays of sun shining upon their faces.
And so the tale of Asotar and Lya, dark elf and elven maiden, ended not in sorrow but in hope. Their story serves as a reminder that even those born amidst the deepest darkness can find their way to the light, and that love can transform even the coldest hearts.
Author: Opney. Illustrator: Dalli. Publisher: Cyber.
