The Champion's Prophecy: A LitRPG Adventure (Kingmaker Saga Book 4)

The Mother Tree is dying.
When Darkness Sighs brings a prophecy from the Shades to Gneiss Glen, Terran wants to ignore the dreadful truth. Not only must he find a way to restore the Mother Tree, but if he can't the settlement—and the entire continent—will be razed by the Howling Wind. But will the price for saving the Mother Tree and all his friends be too high for Terran to pay?

Prologue

One minute Darkness Sighs was walking through the corridor arm in arm with her father, Pools of Blood, and the next thing she knew he had collapsed on the floor, eyes rolled back in his head, body spasming, murmuring. She had seen this happen to her father a few times when she was young, but it had been many years since his last bout and what was going on did not immediately register.
“Help!” she called out in a panic, trying to tamp down her distress, lest she appear weak as she cradled her father’s head as he continued to spasm.
Running feet echoed down the hallway as the priest made his way to the pair. A scowl formed on the Shade’s face as he took in the scene. “What have you done to him?” he asked through narrowed eyes.
“Nothing,” she cried. “He just collapsed like this as we were walking.”
Raven of the Fifth Doom let out a huff of breath after assessing her father's condition. “He is just having a vision. You would know that if you weren’t addled with Offworlder blood, Darkness Sighs.”
Her face reddened. “Then leave us. I’ll watch over him,” she said through gritted teeth.
“No,” he said simply. “It is always better to have more witnesses available when the vision is complete.”
Darkness Sighs turned her back to the priest, refusing to challenge his disobedience. She knew her power to command only existed because of her father’s strength. The council had never taken her seriously since her mother was an Offworlder. They claimed she had seduced and entrapped Pools of Blood into a relationship, but Darkness Sighs knew better. She’d grown up hearing the stories her father told of her mother. He clearly loved her and missed her immensely.
An uncomfortable silence continued for several minutes until her father’s eyes fluttered open. He sat up, placing his hand on the floor to steady himself.
“Father…”
“Shh. Hush, child. I am fine. Assemble the council,” he said, looking up at Raven of the Fifth Doom. “We have decisions to make.”
Raven turned on his heel and marched back down the hallway as Darkness Sighs helped her father up from the ground. He took her hand, but the look in his eyes remained far away, and he seemed to still be swimming in his vision. As the pair continued down the hall arm in arm like nothing had happened, Darkness Sighs remained silent, knowing the importance of not interrupting her father’s thoughts.
They had been heading towards her father’s chambers before he collapsed, but she wasn’t surprised when he changed course and led them to the council chambers. Raven had been busy, as several of the council members were already gathered, whispering amongst themselves in the large room. A hush descended as Pools of Blood entered with his daughter on his arm. The Shades bowed to him, and he waved them off, indicating they should take their seat along the curved wall of the hand-chiseled cavern.
Darkness Sighs glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on a carving depicting the Howling Wind army with their bone bird masks facing off against a horde of Offworlders. The gruesome battle scene was intricately carved into the wall. It was so detailed that she thought if she touched it her hand would be covered in the blood from the wounded and dying that littered the battlefield.
Her father sat quietly with his hands in his lap, waiting for the entire council to arrive, eyes focused on nothing in particular. The only sound that was heard was the shuffle of feet as more councilors arrived and took their seats. Once all the seats were filled, Pools of Blood rose from his chair and addressed the group.
“I have been given a prophecy,” he said simply, and the room erupted into a cacophony of questions.