Many centuries after the death of Elysia Dawnfire, the first hero, the spirit of the eternal champion was reborn. This time, she lived as Sera Brightshield, Knight Commander in the Kingdom of Breland. The paragon and ideal knight, Sera was unmatched in her valor and loyalty to the Kingdom of Breland. With her striking gold eyes, fire-colored hair, she was a natural leader and beacon of hope the Kingdom looked to in its darkest hours. Her cerulean blue cloak, gold inlayed armor, and blade of sunlight inspired hope in all who witnessed her.
Breland stood as a prosperous and powerful nation, yet faced countless threats from both within and without. The enemies at its borders were relentless, but none is more dangerous than those within the kingdom itself, conspirators, ambitious nobles who sought to increase their power. Sera, with her keen mind and unbreakable sense of justice, worked tirelessly to counter these plots against her King, a good and kind man she swore loyalty to in perpetuity. She tracked down clues with relentless pursuit, interrogated suspects with a sharp wit and intellect, and maneuvered the treacherous waters of court politics without drawing the gaze of her foes.
Her efforts were rewarded when she foiled the great conspiracy, exposing the traitors and saving the king from an untimely demise, and the kingdom itself from an era of chaos. However, success did not bring the peace she worked towards. Instead, it sowed the seeds of her own downfall. Ambitious nobles, watching their allies' plans thwarted, turned their attention to Sera herself. Whispered lies and insidious rumors began to circulate the royal court, reaching the ears of the King of Breland. They spoke of Sera's power, influence, and overwhelming popularity. Suggesting that one so powerful and capable could easily become a threat to the throne.
"She is a great ally now," they would whisper "But what if she decides to turn against you? What if she harbors ambitions of her own? Truly masterful on her part."
The King, once grateful for her loyalty and service, found himself ensnared by paranoia. The fear that one day Sera could seek to overthrow him, and do so successfully. This fear took root in his mind, growing with each passing day. Unable to see between truth and falsehood, he decided that Sera could no longer be trusted, and he could not risk his throne. A plan was devised with these treacherous nobles and himself to rid this perceived threat. Sera was lured into a secluded part of the castle under the guise of a secret council with the king, one they had done many times before. She found herself surrounded by guards, weapons drawn, the king himself appeared, his face was a mask of regret and fear.
"Sera Brightshield, Knight Commander of Breland, you are hereby accused of high treason."
The accusation stunned her, shaking her to her core. "My liege, I have only ever served you and the kingdom. I have never once taken action to call to question my loyalty!" she protested, but her words fell on deaf ears.
The trial was swift and unjust. The lies and fabrications woven by her enemies sealed her fate. Fellow knights, friends, even relatives were coerced into delivering falsehoods. The most noble knight of the kingdom, who had given her entire life in service was sentenced to death. Declared that she and any of her bloodline were unworthy, her blade, the symbol of her heroism was taken and discarded, now a symbol of deceit and treachery.
On the day of her execution, Sera stood tall and resolute, her courage unbroken. As she was lead to the executioners block, the citizens of Breland watched in stunned silence, many unable to believe their greatest hero was a traitor. The blade rose and fell swiftly, with it, the kingdom had lost its greatest protector. Her body burned, her ashes cast into the sea as if to erase all traces of her existence. The hilt, stolen by thieves and lost to the histories. Even in her death, Sera remained undaunted. The whispers of betrayal and the sting of an unjust execution could never dim her resolve.
