The land of
Arethil has long forgotten
The Forbidden City. It is in these sands that the Wight Knight was born, raised, and grew to power. Born into a mediocre family of blacksmiths, The Wight Knight always had a connection to the royalty of the land. He did business with them. But The Wight Knight had always wanted to wield swords, not just craft them. So, when he came of age, he joined the legion and dawned the coat of arms.
The Wight Knight's talent with a blade was unmistakable, and this drew attention, some unwanted, some unwarranted, and some pleasant. The princess was a beautiful woman, but more than that, she was unbelievably kind and humble. Serah was her name, and she took more of a liking to The Wight Knight than anyone else before her. The two easily fell in love, spending many nights in the courtyard, or in the library, or in the sheets. It was a forbidden love, but a true one. A pure one.
Talent on the battlefield was not enough, however, for the Wight Knight to rise in the ranks and come of a position high enough for him to be allowed to marry Princess Serah. Desperate and lovestruck, he sought out the guidance of a witch hidden in the woods outside of town where he begged of her to bestow upon him the gift of changing his past. Changing his upbringing. The witch agreed to grant him the highest rank in the legion under the sole condition that she is given his soul. The Wight Knight agreed without hesitation and returned to Serah to find his wish was granted.
After six days and six nights as the commander of the legion, The Wight Knight was set to marry Princess Serah. The entirety of the land as far as the eye could see was in celebration of a long-lasting happiness and a symbol of love and triumph. However, in those six days and six nights, darkness crept over the land. Vile creatures and a horrid plague struck without warning, leaving all who had cause to celebrate to hide in their ill-protected homes to rot away.
The witch of the woods approached the king and queen on the morning of the sixth day to inform them she had placed a curse over them all, one that could only be broken if their most powerful soldier could best her in battle. The Wight Knight was left with no other choice. The night before the wedding, he left on his horse with the promise of his return to face the witch that had claimed his soul. Upon meeting her and accepting her request of battle, she reached her hand into his chest and took out his heart. In front of The Wight Knight's forgotten eyes, she crushed it and he fell.
What came of the land when he woke was nothing more than sand. There was no kingdom, there was no witch, and there was no Princess Serah. He hadn't a clue how much time had passed or how he was alive without a heart, but he swore to the sky and to the moon and to the stars that he would find the witch that had taken his life and his land and his love and return the favor.