In a small cabin located in the great Candraquian Empire, to the north, near the great wall, a woman with white hair and golden eyes was reading a book to a child lying in bed.
"Once upon a time, before everything we know, there was a single being who ruled over existence. He was complete neither light nor darkness, just one. But, like everything in the world, even he came to an end. God died, and his essence split into two perfect halves. From one side came Light, bright and warm, bringing creation and life. From the other arose Darkness, silent and relentless, bringing destruction and the end. Neither could exist without the other."
As she spoke, her voice was soft to the ears of anyone who listened.
"Light raised mountains, and Darkness wore them down over time. Light lit the stars, and Darkness erased them without a trace. For ages, balance remained. But eventually, Light realized that no matter how much it created, everything would be destroyed in the end.
So Light devised a plan. It gathered the last fragments of God and gave them to special beings, chosen from different races, gifted with extraordinary talents. With that power, and with the help of one being from each species, it forged a seal capable of imprisoning Darkness for all eternity."
When she finished the last page, the child, eyes full of curiosity, asked:
"Mom… and the chosen ones? What happened to them? Where are they now?"
The woman covered her mouth with her hand, showing a faint smile.
"Cedric, my son… that wasn't written in the books. But many say that after Darkness was sealed, the chosen ones returned to their lands, and the fragments were passed to their children… and they remain so to this day."
Cedric widened his eyes, even more curious.
"So I could be one of the chosen?"
The woman pinched his cheeks as she placed the book on the wooden headboard.
"Of course. And even if you weren't, you would still be special. Now sleep well, my son."
She blew out the candle and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Cedric didn't know, but this would be the only memory he would keep of his mother.
***
In the forest near the village of Stonebrook, a young man crept through the underbrush. With white hair and golden eyes, Cedric was searching for another hunt. He had learned from his godfather, Maveric, captain of the guard at the Dragon Wall.
Crouching, he found tracks on the ground, very similar to those of a rabbit. He began following them, hoping to find a burrow. But a few steps later, his nose caught the strong scent of iron: blood. Soon he spotted a boar devouring the carcass of a horned rabbit.
Cedric became excited. Rabbit horns were valuable to alchemists, and boar meat could be sold to the tavern. He could probably earn between seven and ten lumis from this hunt.
He pulled his bow from his back, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the animal's belly. He took a deep breath and focused. When he released the arrow, it shot between trees and bushes, striking the boar's side with a deep thud.
Blood dripping, the animal turned to Cedric and charged fiercely. The boy had little time to react; with his eyes wide, he jumped aside, narrowly escaping the attack.
"Hehehe… you may be strong, but I'm fast."
He leapt toward a nearby tree, pulled another arrow, and fired, hitting the boar again. Swaying from side to side, the creature began to change. Its skin grew redder, and its body doubled in size, reaching nearly four meters.
"A mutation… just my luck."
With a thunderous crack, the tree Cedric was perched on began to fall, struck by the creature's horns and head. The boy jumped to another tree while the monster pursued him through branches and roots.
He knew he couldn't face that thing head-on. Fortunately, he had set traps around the area. He ran toward them, praying the enraged boar would fall into one.
Moments later, he reached the first trap: a pit camouflaged with leaves. Cedric leapt over it. The creature charged right behind him. The boy stopped beside the trap, hoping it would work. A second later, the ground gave way. The boar fell and was impaled on the stakes at the bottom. Its last grunt echoed through the forest.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Cedric dragged the boar's body, grabbed the rabbit horns, and tied everything to his back. He walked toward the village. Stonebrook rose ahead with brick houses, metal streetlamps, and Victorian-style structures mixed with the rustic medieval style characteristic of the empire.
Most residents were miners. The village was near the black-iron mines on the mountain ridge.
In the center, Cedric headed straight to the tavern. Upon entering, he found Will, the owner: bald, big mustache, formal clothing.
"What are you doing here so early, Cedric? Already back from the hunt?"
Cedric placed the boar on an iron table.
"Will, I got something big today. I think you'll like it. A boar—and a big one."
Will widened his eyes.
"Hmm… impressive. We'll have an excellent dinner today. I'll give you six lumis for it."
Cedric sat at the counter.
"Will, Will, Will… hunting a boar that size wasn't easy. Minimum is eight."
Will twitched his mustache.
"Seven, and I'm already losing money."
"Deal."
They shook hands.
Will pulled a crystal from his pocket. Its surface displayed the number sixty-seven. He pressed the crystal, and seven fragments dropped onto the counter. Cedric took out his own crystal, which attracted the fragments like a magnet. The number twelve glowed white before he stored the item.
"Pleasure doing business with you. Until next time. I still have to stop by Kerlin to sell the horns."
Cedric walked toward the door, but Will called again.
"Oh, that's right. You turned seventeen this year. The notice has already been issued. All youths must go to the field and register for the Wall Guard. Don't forget."
Cedric nodded and left.
All commoners who turned seventeen, every ten-year cycle, were required to enlist. For him, there weren't many options: either he became a miner or enlisted. The second option was better; with help from his godfather, it wouldn't be so bad. And with enough merit, he could earn between five and ten lumis per day, buy a house after retirement, and live peacefully.
After selling the horns, he gathered fifteen lumis enough to survive for three or four days.
At the training field, he saw guards in black uniforms with medals, knights in black armor marked with the imperial raven. Many commoners were lined up. A scribe wrote down names with his quill.
"Your name, please."
"Gustav, sir."
"Go ahead. Join the formation."
One by one, youths spoke their names and joined the group. Soon, more than one hundred and twenty people were gathered. In the distance, mothers, sisters, and girlfriends cried as they said farewell. Cedric had no one. No one waited for him. No promises. Nothing.
Until he heard the scribe's voice.
"Hey, you white-haired boy. What's your name?"
"Cedric, sir."
More time passed. The sun was at its peak. The sound of hooves echoed along the stone streets. Knights approached, carrying a banner: a black wyvern on a red background. The symbol of the Duchy of Draken. The symbol of his father.
They dismounted and climbed onto the platform. The first was a man in black armor, long blond hair, and blue eyes. Cedric recognized him instantly: Maveric, his godfather. The captain smiled at him.
"Greetings, everyone. My name is Maveric Ganhard, captain of the Allied Forces of the Dragon Wall. I will train and prepare you for the defense of the wall."
His voice was firm.
"But I won't be alone. A new commander of the imperial division has been assigned and will accompany us to the wall. I present to you the young master and heir of the Duchy of Draken: Kalandriel Draken. Applaud."
The recruits obeyed.
A figure stepped onto the stage: long red hair tied back; golden wyvern eyes; a black Victorian-style military uniform covered in medals. As he ascended, he cast a suffocating, cold, red gaze directly at Cedric.
The boy's heart tightened. He lost his breath for a moment, nearly vomiting.
"He recognized me? That's impossible. My godfather said no one knows I exist…"
One day earlier.
In a red military cabin, with a map spread across the table, Kalandriel struck the wood with his fist, consumed by fury.
"I want that white-haired bastard dead!"
The blond man kneeled.
"Sir, your wish will be fulfilled soon."
***
Lumis: A mineral artificially created by the ancient empire, made from mana crystals engraved with a unique magical seal that makes counterfeiting impossible. Due to its safety and stability, Lumis became the official currency throughout the continent.
Its production and circulation are currently controlled by the Merchant Confederation, headquartered in the Candraquian Empire's central province, with banks and vaults spread across the major cities. Because the process requires extremely pure mana crystals, Lumis production is limited, making large amounts rare.