The garden was bathed in soft light.
The wind rustled the leaves, and the smell of damp earth hung in the air.
Miria sat across from Asher, her eyes bright.
"I'm ready for my history class," she declared in a decidedly jovial tone.
Asher sighed, crossing his arms.
"Very well… but before we begin, let's get this right.
"You know, just because I said class doesn't mean you have to explain it to me like a boring professor," she replied with a smile.
— Sorry, but you'll be happy with it.
Miria rolled her eyes.
"So, first of all," Asher said, "it's imperative that you understand this.
You already know the clans: vampires, werewolves and wizards. But there is a fourth species.
"Supernatural hunters," Miria added.
- Exact.
And there are also humans... even if we don't really count them, since they have no power.
Miria frowned.
— Wait… hunters have powers, then?
- No.
—So how are they different from humans?
Asher smiled slightly.
— Their senses are extremely developed. They have no magic, but they excel in physical combat.
They can detect a supernatural almost instantly.
And above all… they know our weak points.
Miria turned pale.
—So… they are dangerous.
— Very dangerous.
Unlike other clans, their role was to protect humans.
She nodded slowly.
— Okay... but before peace, how did it all work?
It must have been chaos, right?
Asher's gaze darkened.
—Thousands of years ago... a war broke out between the clans.
A war so violent that it decimated all four species.
- For what ? Miria whispered.
— Because each clan had ended up hating the other.
Fear, pride, jealousy... everything got mixed up.
He paused.
— But against all odds, four young girls put an end to this war.
Miria raised her head abruptly.
— The founders?
Asher stared at her, surprised.
—Where did you hear that name?
— Since I trained with you.
I became curious… about this world which is also mine.
Asher nodded slowly.
— The founders are responsible for the end of wars... and the birth of peace between species.
But they were not of royal lineage.
- What ?! How is this possible?
— Because they were... just common people.
With one difference: they refused the old laws.
Miria leaned forward slightly.
— What laws?
— It was strictly forbidden to befriend, or worse... to love, someone of another species.
The penalty was death.
Miria's breath hitched.
—It's horrible...
— Entire families were decimated.
But these four girls, linked by a forbidden friendship, refused to submit.
They fled.
— Where?
—In Eldermyr Forest.
An ancient, wild place, forgotten by the kingdoms.
He continued:
— There, they trained day and night.
Their body, their mind, their powers... until they become formidable.
Miria whispered:
—And then?
— Then the War of Ashes broke out.