The Emperor's parents, Emperor Marcellus, and Empress Aurelia, had been a formidable couple, ruling the kingdom with an iron fist. They had been driven by a singular ambition: to secure their family's legacy and ensure their dynasty's continued reign.

But their methods had been ruthless, and their actions had been motivated by a deep-seated fear. They had been haunted by the prophecy of a great and powerful sorcerer, one who would bring about their downfall and destroy their kingdom.

Determined to prevent this prophecy from coming true, Emperor Marcellus and Empress Aurelia sought out any means to eliminate potential threats. They had crushed rebellions, executed dissidents, and even made pacts with dark forces to ensure their power and security.

But their greatest fear had been the friendship between their son, Cassius, and Arin, a commoner. They had seen the bond between the two boys as a threat, a potential weakness in their armor.

And so, they had set out to destroy it, to drive a wedge between Cassius and Arin. They had manipulated events, using their power and influence to turn Cassius against his friend.

Their actions had been successful but at a great cost. Cassius had been forever changed, his heart hardened and his spirit crushed. And Arin, once a bright and shining star, had been forced into the shadows, his potential wasted and his future uncertain.

The Emperor's parents had thought they had won, that they had secured their legacy and ensured their dynasty's continued reign. But in reality, they had set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately lead to their downfall.