Millennia ago, during the Destras Cataclysm, the land of Spheraphase was drenched in the blood of Mortals and Immortals, two races destined to share the world but unwilling to coexist.
Immortals, with their near-eternal lives, believed themselves superior and natural rulers of the realms. Mortals, quick to anger but quicker to innovate, refused to bow to what they saw as oppressors. Pride and resentment festered over centuries and what began as whispered grievances soon erupted into an all-out war.
The battlefields were a vision of hell. Immortals unleashed fury upon their enemies. Entire forests were burned to ash, rivers turned to steam and mountains crumbled beneath the weight of their wrath. Mortals, fragile but fiercely determined, retaliated with ingenuity.
They built war machines that could topple giants, forged weapons imbued with destructive power and fought with a ferocity that stunned even the Immortals. The body count climbed higher with every passing day.
Both sides suffered unimaginable losses. The Immortals, though harder to kill, were not invincible, and the Mortals' relentless assault proved devastating. The Mortals paid the heavier price. Entire generations were wiped out in the blink of an eye. Fathers fell before they could see their children grow and children perished before they could even understand the world they lived in. Yet the Mortals fought on, driven by the belief that they could, somehow, bring their eternal adversaries to their knees.
In the midst of this chaos rose a singular figure, Minafallen, a Deity born of both realms. His origins were shrouded in mystery. Some claimed he was the child of a Mortal and an Immortal who defied their races to love each other, while others whispered that he was forged by the cosmos itself to end the bloodshed. Whatever the truth, Minafallen was a being of unparalleled power and compassion, standing above the petty grievances that had fueled the war.
At first, Minafallen fought for the Mortals, believing their cause just. He led their armies with a courage that inspired even the most battle-weary soldiers. Wherever he went, victory followed. His presence alone was enough to turn the tide of battle. Songs were sung in his honor and Mortals began to see him as their savior.
But Minafallen was no blind warrior.
As the war raged on, he saw the pain it caused, not just to Mortals, but to Immortals as well. He saw the tears of Immortal mothers who had lost their children and the despair of warriors who had fought for centuries with no end in sight. He began to question whether any victory was worth the cost.
In his heart, Minafallen dreamed of a world where both races could coexist. He knew it was a near-impossible dream, but he also knew that someone had to try.
And so, he did the unthinkable. He turned his wrath on both sides.
He stormed the Mortal camps and the Immortal citadels, breaking their weapons, dismantling their armies and forcing them to listen. He stood before kings and queens, generals and warlords, and demanded an end to the bloodshed. His words were like fire, burning away the hatred that had clouded their hearts for so long.
But words alone could not end the war.
The final continental battle was a cataclysm fought on the desolate plains of Anqerise. Both sides unleashed their full strength, desperate to emerge victorious. However, an Overlord Krepsuna appeared, attracted by their bloodshed, almost annihilating both sides. Minafallen, knowing that both sides would lose, made the ultimate sacrifice.
He summoned all the power he possessed and unleashed it in a single, devastating act. He tore open the fabric of reality, creating a rift that swallowed the creature and separated the two armies.
But the effort cost him his life.
As the rift closed, Minafallen fell, his body turning to dust that scattered across the heavens. Both the mortal and immortal sides saw the sight of a Deity from both realms stopping a force none of them dared to stop because they wanted it to ravage one side.
The war ended that day not with a treaty, but with silence. Both Mortals and Immortals mourned the loss of Minafallen, a Deity who had fought for them, bled for them and died for them. His dream of coexistence seemed like a distant hope but neither side could forget his sacrifice.
And how could they? No Immortal would risk their lives for Mortals and no Mortal would do the same for Immortals. But he did.
To honor Minafallen's memory, the two races came together to build a place where Mortals and Immortals could learn, grow and understand each other. They called it Minafallen Academy. The academy was built on the very plains where Minafallen had fallen.
At Minafallen Academy, students from both races would come together to study, train and share their cultures. It was a place where old wounds could heal and new friendships could form. Over the millennia, the academy became a symbol of hope. And though Minafallen was gone, his dream lived on in the hearts of those who walked its hallowed halls.
Little did they know that Minafallen was still alive and had taken another role, just like he has done for all of history. But that's a story for another long, long time.
°°°°°°
As the spaceship descended through the clouds, Vastarael leaned closer to the window. He had heard stories of Minafallen Academy but nothing prepared him for what lay before him.
"That's no academy. That's an entire city."
And he wasn't wrong.
Sprawling across the horizon, Minafallen Academy stretched farther than the eye could see. From their aerial view, it looked like a gleaming masterpiece of architecture and nature seamlessly blended together. Towering spires that looked like futuristic skyscrapers rose high into the sky. Wide roads of polished white stone crisscrossed the city, bustling with activity even at this early hour. At the heart of it all was a massive circular structure that must be the central hall.
His gaze followed the winding canals of shimmering blue water that flowed through the city, dotted with graceful bridges. Trees with silvery leaves lined the avenues. Adelasta, sitting with her arms crossed as usual, broke her silence.
"It's called Minafallen Borough for a reason. The academy itself is just one part of it. Mortals and Immortals alike live here, work here and study here."
"Well, if this is what they call an academy, I wonder what they'd call a palace. I feel like I should have brought a map just to navigate the place."
Adelasta didn't dignify that with a response, though the corner of her lips twitched slightly. Was that almost a smile? Lais, her maid, glanced at the city with a softer expression, whispering something Vastarael couldn't quite catch.
His attention snapped back to the view as they began their approach to the landing platform. Even from this height, he could see people bustling around below. Students dressed in flowing uniforms of various colors, marking their affiliations. There were markets and plazas, workshops emitting faint glows of mystic energy and residential areas where buildings seemed to float slightly off the ground.
"Does it ever stop?"
"Not really," Iona said, leaning forward to get a better look. "This city runs on its own rhythm. Day and night, there's always something happening. They say Minafallen's dream was to create a Borough where Mortals and Immortals can come together without barriers."
"Well, he certainly succeeded."
As their spaceship descended further into the city, the scene outside the windows grew even more chaotic yet breathtakingly mesmerizing. Sleek, metallic spaceships of varying sizes and shapes hummed quietly as they navigated invisible airways. Their routes were expertly coordinated to avoid collision. Even more impressive were the Praesits—flying trains that carved their own glowing tracks through the sky— that roamed the city.
"This is... amazing."
Adelasta followed his gaze.
"The city was built to honor Minafallen's vision of unity. Everything here, from the architecture to the technology, symbolizes the collaboration of Mortal and Immortal ingenuity."
"A bit poetic for you, don't you think?"
She ignored the comment, but her maid, Lais, let out a small chuckle before quickly covering her mouth.
The closer they came to the academy's heart, the more vibrant the activity below became. Vastarael could see crowds of people swarming the main courtyards. Students were dressed in uniforms of different styles and colors, marking their affiliations and origins. In the air, the chaos was no less. The Praesits hissed softly as they arrived and departed from elevated stations. Their passengers stepped off onto glowing platforms that hovered just above the ground.
"Our ship," Iona said, "is being guided. Look."
Vastarael's attention shifted back to their vessel as it subtly adjusted its trajectory. It was clear now that the spaceship wasn't being piloted by itself now. It was responding to some unseen directive, as though the academy itself was guiding them.
"It's as if the city knows where it wants us to go."
Adelasta nodded. "It does. Every ship and Praesit, everything is connected to the academy's system. It's designed to ensure seamless travel. You'd think it would feel intrusive but it works."
The ship descended further, heading toward one of the largest spires at the academy's center. This spire was surrounded by a massive circular platform as vessels landed and took off in perfect rhythm. Their spaceship slowed down as it approached the platform, tilting slightly to give its occupants a better view. Vastarael leaned closer to the window, taking in the sheer scale of the landing area.
Students and their families were everywhere, some unloading belongings from hovering carts and others embracing each other in teary goodbyes. Academy staff in flowing robes bustled about, directing newcomers and checking documents on floating screens. As their ship hovered into position, it gently lowered itself onto the glowing platform with a soft hum. The doors slid open, revealing the bustling world outside.
"Welcome to Minafallen Academy," Iona said softly.
Vastarael took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Let's see what all the fuss is about," he murmured, his smirk returning as he looked back at Adelasta. "Wear this."
Vastarael gave her a similar mask like the one he was wearing.
"Why?"
"Did you forget? We wouldn't want to reveal our cards too soon, right?"
Adelasta nodded as she took the mask and wore it. It fitted her face perfectly.
"Great. Let's go."