Book 1 - The Curse Begins
(525 CE)

In the quiet valley of Ostangavia, the air is alive with light and song as the town celebrates its annual Lantern Festival—a tradition rooted in both joy and remembrance. At the heart of it is Ameldra, known to most as Mel, a powerful witch with a mysterious past and a deep connection to the Spirit Lantern passed down from her mother. As she walks among the glowing lights hand-in-hand with her beloved, Luca della Forza—the young steward of the town—Mel reflects on the comfort of this moment, even as her heart is stirred by the return of memories she thought long buried.

Whispers of the past begin to surface, pulling Mel into fragments of her childhood, when she shared a bond with Nyxian, a gifted yet enigmatic girl whose powers defied understanding. Once like sisters, their paths diverged when Nyx vanished into the shadows. Now, strange omens ripple through Ostangavia—animals act strangely, the forest grows restless, and Roman soldiers begin to disappear without a trace.

Behind these disturbances is Seraphis, a charming and intelligent figure slowly consumed by the allure of forbidden magic. Under Nyxian’s guidance and the influence of the ancient, malevolent spirit Moravok, Seraphis begins a series of dark rituals that steal the very souls of his victims. As fear takes hold of the town, Mel is drawn deeper into the mystery. Her path leads her to the Oracle—an ancient seer who reveals a grim prophecy and confirms what Mel dreads most: a dark force is returning, and her fate is already entwined in its rise.

Tensions mount when imperial forces arrive to investigate the disappearances, placing Luca under increasing scrutiny. Torn between his political duties and his love for Mel, he tries to maintain order as suspicion falls on the town’s more arcane inhabitants. Mel, meanwhile, is caught between her memories of Nyx and the growing realization that her childhood friend may now be a harbinger of chaos.

Father Vitus, the town’s spiritual leader, becomes an unlikely ally—his insight into divine forces and ancient lore helping Mel piece together the puzzle behind the encroaching darkness. As supernatural tensions clash with Roman authority, the delicate balance of Ostangavia begins to crumble.

When events reach their breaking point, Mel is forced to act. The truths she uncovers reveal a dark curse—one that binds her and Luca in a tragic cycle neither fully understands. With the forces of life and death hanging in the balance, Mel must confront Nyxian, face the consequences of Seraphis’s transformation, and begin a fight that won’t end with this lifetime.

The Curse Begins sets the foundation for an epic tale of love, memory, and destiny. It explores the collision of ancient magic with imperial rule, the unraveling of childhood bonds, and the slow revelation of a curse that transcends time. As the veil between worlds thins, Mel begins to understand that the struggle ahead will stretch across centuries—and that her greatest battle will not be against darkness, but against fate itself.