The human world had long known peace.
Ordinary people lived their days as they always had — some went hunting, others tended to the land, a few sought fortune in the crowded cities.
Five continents shaped the world, each with its own soul: dubbed the Continent of Ice, Norwind is where perennial icy winds blow over lands of snow so pure that they look like a sea of clouds.
Sysand, the Continent of Earth, with its endless deserts and stone oases scattered by Mother Nature as a reminder that even in the most hostile places, life endures.
Aestania, where forests stretched beyond sight and creatures of every kind roamed beneath their emerald canopy- the continent where Nature reigns.
Orsea, veiled in endless rain, where mirrored waters reflected the heavens themselves. The Continent where the sky itself seemed within reach.
The epicenter was Haertia, the White Continent: mild, silent, and mysterious.
Where whispers told of a power unknown to mankind.
Where the most influential family resides.
Like a Sun illuminating its lands.
Each land was ruled by its noble family, guardians of law, prosperity, and order.
Their power was strong, but granted by their families on the White Continent, like a moon reflecting the borrowed light.
On the surface, everything was perfect.
But beneath that perfection, darkness was already stirring, silent struggles for power and forbidden studies began to spread, while hidden pacts forged for unseen conquest.
Even perfection comes at a price.
Every discovery carries a burden to bear.
******
Aestania, Continent of Nature
The sky turned red.
Clouds swirled in shades of violet, and the sun vanished, swallowed by a void as black as ink.
The earth quaked. Cracks opened under trembling feet, spewing fire and dust.
******
Orsea, Continent of Sky
"Help! My son! He's under the rubble!"
The woman kept screaming, people avoided her gaze, running for their lives.
One of many looked up into the sky.
"What the hell is happening?!"
Another tried to pull people to safety.
"Stay away from the tall build-!"
*Roaaaar!*
A colossal shadow tore through the clouds: a dragon of fire, its scales gleaming like molten stone, its wings slicing through the storm. Behind it, the sky itself broke — a rift, like a wound in the heavens, from which countless flying beasts poured forth.
******
Sysand, Continent of Earth
Panic spread.
On the ground, more rifts opened, vomiting goblins, orcs, and pale incorporeal shades with arms like smoke.
In moments, the gold sand turned crimson.
Some fled, clinging to desperate hope. Others froze. Many simply knelt in tears, whispering:
"Is this the end…?"
It was the beginning of what history would call The First Eclipse: the cataclysm that nearly erased mankind.
But it was also the dawn of modern magic.
Those who survived began to awaken to new, superhuman power, they came to be known as magicians, the only users of the mana: the source of every spell, the weapon that could seriously wound and kill the monsters from the rifts.
With this new power, humanity got back on its feet, fighting for survival.
Days, months, and then years of battle followed.
Sacrifice.
Despair.
And at last, victory.
The final battle was fought on the White Continent, where a single man defeated the Fire Dragon, Nar.
The name of the man was Arthur Laplace, later known as the first "Magus", the peak of magic.
Yet, as the world rejoiced, he did not.
Looking at the sky darkened by the smoke, he stood still.
Not in relief, not in victory.
Only in awareness.
For him, each end follows a new beginning.
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A/N: Hi, I'm new to this world and I actually don't know how to write down my ideas for a decent story, I hope you appreciate it anyway, happy reading <3.
Any constructive criticism is appreciated ;).
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