The Blackwoods gathered in their grand hall, feasting and laughing as they always did. But even as they enjoyed their opulence, they couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment toward their lowly son-in-law, Markus. They snickered at his shabby clothes and mocked his lack of refinement. "You're nothing more than a peasant," sneered Lord Blackwood, the head of the family. "You'll never amount to anything in this world. You're lucky we even let you marry our daughter.""I may not be as refined as you, but I have something you'll never have," replied Markus, his eyes flashing with defiance. "I have the favor of the gods. You can mock me all you want, but you'll never be able to touch me. I'm beyond your reach.""You arrogant fool!" snapped Lady Blackwood, her face reddening with anger.The Blackwoods were among the wealthiest and most powerful families in the land, and they looked down on Markus with scorn. He was of humble birth, and his lack of wealth and status were an affront to th

Celeste's heart sank as she listened to the sound of silence on the other end of the line. She held her breath, hoping against hope that he would speak. But as the seconds ticked by, the only sound she heard was the faint buzz of static on the phone.Finally, she hung up, her hands shaking and tears welling in her eyes. She had never felt so alone.Celeste's wedding day dawned, and she felt like a prisoner in her own body. She had tried everything to escape her fate, but her parents had left her no choice. She would be married to Bradford, whether she liked it or not.As the ceremony began, she felt her heart sink. She was about to lose everything she had ever cared about. But just as the priest was about to pronounce them man and wife, a thunderous roar echoed through the hall.A great shadow passed over the assembled guests, and all eyes turned upward to see a dragon descending from the sky.The rumors were true - the god of war had returned, and he had come to stop the wedding. As t

As Markus approached the governor's office, his injured leg throbbed with pain. He knew that he was in no shape to fight, but he also knew that he had no choice. The governor might have respected him for his courage and resolve, but he made it clear that there was still a long road ahead."You've shown great bravery," the governor said, "but you still have much to learn. You must train hard, and prove yourself worthy of the power you wield. If you fail, you could endanger us all."The words struck a chord in Markus."I know," said Markus, his voice heavy with exhaustion. He was still reeling from the battle, and the governor's words only added to his fatigue. But he knew that the governor was right. He had a lot of work ahead of him, and he could not afford to falter. He would have to train harder than ever before, to become the god of war that his people needed."You have the potential," said the governor, his voice firm but not unkind. "But you must be willing to put in the effort."

Celeste looked at the king, her eyes cold. "I will never submit to you," she said, her voice trembling but resolute. "I would rather die than be with you."The king's eyes flashed with rage. "So be it," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You will starve in this room until you are nothing but skin and bones."I know you want to break me," said Celeste, "but you won't succeed. I am stronger than you think. You may starve my body, but you will never break my spirit."The king growled in frustration. "We shall see," he said. And with that, he stormed out of the room, leaving Celeste alone, locked in the library.She looked around the room, her mind racing. She had to find a way out, a way to escape. But the windows were barred, and the door was locked. She felt like a caged bird, trapped and helpless....Markus set off on his quest, determined to find Celeste and free her from the king's clutches. But as he ventured into the wild lands outside the city, he encountered strange and ter

Finally, she spoke. "I cannot go back to my old life," she said, her voice trembling. "But I cannot stay here, either. I must find a new path, one that will allow me to help those who are suffering."As Celeste stood, silent and still, she considered her options. She could return to her parents, and live a comfortable life of ease and privilege. Or she could stay with Markus, and face a life of danger and uncertainty. The choice was not an easy one, but in the end, she knew what she had to do."I will stay with Markus," she said, her voice shaking. "I know it will not be easy, but I cannot turn my back on what is right.As the Blackwoods left, their expressions were full of anger and resentment. They did not approve of Celeste's choice, but they could not force her to come back with them. So they left, their departure marked by an air of bitterness and disappointment.But in the city, the people were celebrating. They had heard of Markus's bravery, and they were grateful to him for sa