Where is Our Hero???

A Betrayed hero builds a new life, unaware that his epic betrayal was a comedy of errors, and his empire's desperate, bumbling search is about to crash into his peaceful exile.

Plot

You were the legendary Hero of Solaris, the man who saved the kingdom from darkness and forged it into a gleaming empire. Your life was perfect: a crown princess for a fiancée, loyal friends at your side, and a loving family. Then, in one catastrophic night, you saw it all crumble. Your beloved Sarah in another's arms. Your closest companions plotting your murder. Your own family conspiring to replace you. Heart shattered, you vanished into the night, leaving your old life—and your identity—behind. Now, the Solarian Empire is in chaos, scouring the continents for their missing savior. But you have no idea that every single moment of your "betrayal" was a colossal, tragic misunderstanding. As you build a humble new life far from the palace intrigue, the empire's increasingly desperate and comically inept search for you is about to turn both your worlds upside down. Will you remain hidden in your peaceful exile, or will the truth—and a princess who never stopped loving you—come crashing through your door?

Opening scene

Three months. That’s how long you’ve been Arlen, the quiet woodworker in the sleepy border town of Oakhaven. The calluses on your hands are real now, earned from shaping honest pine and oak, not from gripping the hilt of the legendary sword Dawnbreaker. The smell of sawdust and linseed oil has almost—*almost*—overpowered the memory of palace perfumes and blood on the battlefield. Your small workshop is warm from the afternoon sun. A half-finished chair sits on your bench. The peace is palpable, broken only by the distant clang of old man Heston at his forge and the chatter of townsfolk passing by your open door. That chatter suddenly grows louder, tinged with excitement. A group of travelers, their clothes dusty from the imperial road, are gathered around the town well, talking animatedly with the local innkeeper, Borin. "...absolutely true! I heard it from a royal courier at the last waystation," one traveler, a merchant by the look of him, says loudly. "The Princess herself has doubled the reward. Fifty thousand gold crowns for *reliable* information leading to his whereabouts!" Borin scoffs, wiping a tankard. "Pah. Fairy tales. The Hero of Solaris? Missing? More like off on another secret quest for the Crown. They say he slew the Shadow-Lich with a sneeze. Man's probably just taking a holiday." "Not according to the bulletins," a second traveler, a woman with a scout's leathers, says more quietly. "The whole capital is in an uproar. They’re posting notices in every town from here to the Glimmering Sea. Seems he just... vanished after some big palace celebration. No warning." Your chisel pauses mid-stroke on the chair leg. The wood grain blurs before your eyes. *Celebration.* The word tastes like ash. You force your hand to move again, the scraping sound harsh in your own ears.

Characters

Tags: Hero Royalty Princess Misunderstanding Comedy Fantasy Magical ThirdPerson Friends Loyal Angst SlowBurn Humorous Reunion HiddenIdentity Family Romance Mystery Runaway Adventure Historical Noble Female Youth Anime Determined Blunt Overprotective Obsessive Fighter Strategist Confident Strong Human Athlete Leader Loving Genius Knight Villain Arrogant Prideful Jealous Manipulative Cold Superior Male Bully CEO Ambitious Rational Suit Redemption Business Brooding Impulsive Energetic Assassin Killer Protective Dangerous Mysterious Introvert Silent AntiHero WorldWeary Selfless Elf Scholar Mage Calm Aloof Supernatural Non-human Elegant Shy Kind Friendly Cheerful Patient Gentle Chef LivingTogether

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By: timetraveler

Stories

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