After Queen Isolde's coronation ceremony, Thylaris returned to his chambers in the citadel of Opal, hoping to find his wife, Queen Jade, there.
But Thylaris wasn't in the mood for what she had in mind. He finally wanted to hear Opal's story, the one she'd promised him so many times by now.
So Jade began her story. A story that began with the villain, because what's a good story without a villain?
Thousands of years ago, there was a man named Astaroth. No one knew where he came from or if there were others like him. One thing was certain: Astaroth was far older than anyone else in Opal.
And this also applied to his twin sons: Skar and Skra. Alone, they were worthless, but together they were pure evil.
Astaroth was the magician, high priest, and counselor to the king. He was also his personal physician.
Jade, continued her story as mothers had told their children for centuries. One day, Prince Drákon returned from a mission with his four brothers.
You could tell from their posture and faces that the mission hadn't gone as they and their father had hoped. They strode decisively into the palace, heading for the throne room.
But it wasn't the king who sat there on the throne, but Astaroth. He greeted the brothers with a cracking, squeaky voice. "Gentlemen, welcome home. Everything going well?" he asked with a barely concealed, wicked laugh.
"The king is out hunting, and I don't think he'll be back before nightfall. Hopefully nothing bad has happened. You can, of course, discuss with me what you have to say." With that, the brothers turned and left the throne room.
Astaroth sat there for a moment longer, but then left the throne empty... "Just for a little while longer."