✦ Before the main story begins… we must return 2000 years into the past. To an era of gods, monsters, and fallen empires. This is how it all began :
The sky was no longer blue for a long time.
An ash veil covered the world, as if the heavens themselves had been deprived of light. Funeral winds swept the valleys, carrying the whispers of a dying age.
On the heights of the ancestral home of the Ingriss, in an almost sacred silence, a man with silver hair and red eyes, stared at the dark horizon, where the moving shadow of the Forest of a Thousand Wonders, corrupted by evil, was emerging.
Raiden sat alone in the middle of a field of flowers, which he took care of for a long time.
As he looked at the horizon, he got up gently and slowly drew the blade of his sword. He remained silent for a few moments staring at the blade of his sword, before approaching it from his forehead and whispering:
"Potentia et lux ducant eum qui voluntatem gladii mei hereditabit. "
After saying these words, he planted his sword in the middle of the flower field. She then began to release a huge wave of mana over the entire field, emitting an intense golden light, while runes appeared on her blade.
Shortly after, his sword, which contains enormous power, took on a modest form, as if to fall asleep.
While he stood there, observing the forest of the Milles Merveilles where the fallen god "Yshvar" lives, a black rain began to fall gently, washing away the still fresh blood of an abyssal creature shot down a few hours earlier.
Then, suddenly, he heard steps approaching him.
"From today, this field will be the representation of the power of the Ingriss. Here, only those who will be worthy will be able to afford to plant their swords in this place," he said in a calm tone.
He turned around and saw his son and daughter kneeling silently in the rain.
He approached them and stared at them intensely:
"Tomorrow we will launch the ultimate offensive against the fallen god Yshvar. As you know, your sister Aryna will go with me to the battlefield, and you, Kephran you will become the new emperor." he said in a calm tone with an imposing presence.
"I have confidence in your ability to manage our empire and I know that you will lead it to a bright future. So, don't put too much pressure on yourself, and take care of your mother," he added in a calm voice.
The young prince with white hair and red eyes was still trembling slightly, but he was proud, and his gaze shone determination.
"It's understood, father!" He replied firmly.
Raiden smiled slightly when he saw her determination, then turned his gaze to his daughter and said:
"Aryna. Are you sure you want to come with me to the front? You can stay here and support your brother. "
Aryna, who had silver hair and red eyes, looked up at her father and answered calmly:
"As you know, father, fighting alongside my hero is one of my dearest dreams. So let me fight by your side, please"
After his words, Raiden slowly moved away from the field of the sword he had just created and said:
"Don't forget to plant your sword in this place. You deserve it, my daughter," he said with a slight smile on his lips, leaving his children behind.
A few minutes later, Raiden arrived in front of the large doors of a huge fortress. The wind slowly rose around him, lifting his black cape.
Upon entering the fortress, he saw soldiers training tirelessly for the coming fight, their gaze hardened by fear and resolution. Red banners with a white symbol representing a sword piercing the head of a dragon, slammed in the black winds of DarknessDays.
He crossed the large courtyard, greeted with a respectful silence by his soldiers.
As he walked calmly, crossing the interior gardens of the fortress, he watched entire elite squads training.
He stopped in front of a high arch, watching a group of young knights recite oaths in front of their captain. Their voices trembled, but they did not weaken.
When suddenly, a figure emounces next to him, a bright flash in the corner of his eye.
"Hey Raiden! You absolutely have to come and see what I just created"
Raiden turned his head slightly and saw Valen.
Valen, the youngest of the group of five heroes, was also the powerful magical genius. He wore a long blue coat, blonde hair falling in light locks on his face and deep blue eyes. On the left side of his face, there was a mark of blue stars.
"I guess it's another explosive magical experience," he said with a chuckle.
Valen smiled proudly, and answered by tapping his chest.
"Better than that. Follow me and you'll see. "
Raiden followed Valen and they went down into the depths of the palace, crossing sealed corridors, guarded by golems of light. Raiden said nothing, but he felt the energy. Something powerful and gigantic.
When the heavy doors opened, the spectacle that was offered to him was grandiose.
A gigantic underground hangar, carved into a mountain of black crystal, housed three colossal ships, engineering masterpieces combining magic and technology. The golden arches, crystalline thrusters and winged mana wings made the air vibrate. A heavenly light flowed from them like waterfalls of energy.
At the entrance of the room, Valen turned to Raiden and said:
"Here, Solarian, Nebulae... and there... Atherion." he said with an excited smile.
Raiden remained frozen for a while when he saw the ships and approached the Atherion. More elegant, less massive, but in its motifs, there was an almost living nobility. It was the only ship that had really caught his eye.
"These ships will be able to..."
While Valen was talking and explaining how they worked, Raiden was no longer listening to his explanations and thought:
"With these ships, the first lines will suffer fewer losses before the start of the real battle. "
As Valen continued his explanations, Raiden approached him and put a hand on his shoulder:
"Well done Valen. With your ships we will be able to move forward with fewer losses." he said calmly, with a smile on his lips.
Valen surprised by this reaction, rubbed his neck lightly with one hand and said shyly:
"Thank you Raiden, but you must not forget, as I said, the Atherion is the only one currently unfit to fly. His magical heart must still synchronize with the rest of the ship"
Raiden looked away and coughed slightly, aware that he had not paid attention to Valen's explanations.
"It's good. Even if a ship is unavailable, the other two will allow us to advance greatly on the battlefield," he said in a calm voice, observing the ships.
Valen smiled and replied:
"I also hope that these ships will help us for our last battle," he said in a soft voice.
Raiden smiled slightly and walked away.
"We will leave tomorrow at dawn. Make the last changes you find necessary," he said, waving his hand.
When he came out of the hangar, night had fallen. In the main courtyard, Aryna trained in silence.
Her silver hair danced in the night rain while she sliced the air with unreal fluidity. Each sword stroke was precise, imprinted with a golden aura. A mana barrier floated around her, forming a golden spiral protecting her from the world.
Dozens of soldiers had stopped to observe it. Some looked at her with admiration. Others with fear. But everyone knew she was the hero's daughter. And that tomorrow, she would walk by their side.
Raiden watched him for a moment from a high place. He sees in his movements the reflection of his own youth. And, above all, he saw this light in his eyes, this will to fight not for glory, but for his dream.
Hours later:
The dawn had barely risen on Ingrissia.
The bells of the capital sounded in a serious rumble. The sky remained gray, covered with powerful purple flashes. Millions of soldiers were already gathered outside the royal palace, lined up by squads, by battalions, their silver armor reflecting the light of the lightning. Ingrissia's banners floated proudly in the wind.
The two colossal ships, the Solarian and the Nebulae, were positioned on two giant magic platforms, ready to rise into the sky. They vibrated slowly, each capable of embarking more than fifty thousand soldiers.
Their black and gold hull, their reactors engraved with ancient runes, gave the impression of heavenly ships out of legends.
But at the center of this technological greatness, the Atherion, motionless, remained at the dock. His sacred veils and his sleeping crystal heart testified to a power today left to the people. He would not leave. He would remain here, as the last living memory of Raiden.
Raiden appeared, mounted on a black horse with glowing eyes, his cape beating in the wind, his dark armor marked with white patterns. By his side, Aryna, his daughter, in a light but elegant white armor, shone with determination. His gaze stared at the horizon, but his hands firmly held the reins. A princess, but above all a warrior.
Behind them the other 4 heroes:
- Kaelis Nyxar, the swordsman of darkness, with purple eyes and black hair, being calm and ruthless.
- Sylpha Madnork, the spirit dancer, with brown skin color and burning green eyes.
- Valen Grancia, the mage with blue arcana, torches of power in the eyes. His blue eyes shone with a supernatural glow.
- Garran Femtra, the martial artist with golden eyes and brown skin color. His punches capable of killing dragons.
Behind his four companions, armed and ready for battle, was in an infinite line, an army of one million men on foot or on horseback, composed of the several elites and several extremely talented young people. More than fifty thousand magicians accompanied them, dressed in white tunics. A titanic army, ready to face the fallen god Yshvar.
The people watched in silence.
Children threw flower petals on Raiden's path. Old people were praying. And parents said their last goodbye to their son and daughters being in the army.
The bells rang again.
Raiden turned his head one last time towards the royal palace. A sweet smile appeared on his lips.
"Take care of yourself son. And never forget me." he whispered as he saw the silhouette of his son accompanied by his wife on the balcony of the palace.
And when he raised his arm, the big start was launched.
- "On the move! " shouted General Alvyn.
"For the salvation of the world!" "Screamed a war magician.
— "FOR INGRISSIA! FOR THE WORLD! "
A tremor shook the earth as the first steps of the army were launched. The two ships began to rise slowly, their magical engines howling in the sky. The war cries resounded, carried by the wind.
Raiden heeled his mount, Aryna on heels...
And there, an army of about one million one hundred and fifty thousand men, left for the South.
Towards the Milles Merveilles forest... which will later become... the Black Forest.
TO FOLLOW...