In the world of Altherea, a world of swords and magic, lies the continent of Valamera, a powerful human continent locked in fierce battle with the Demons of the demon continent Demonia.
Kingdom of Velmire, Year 912 of the Second Age
The bells of Astralis rang gently over cobblestone streets as the morning sun bathed the capital in golden light. Merchants shouted about fresh bread and sun-brewed wine. Bards tuned their lutes on every corner. It was a day like any other.
Prince Caelum Valerius hated it.
He sat high atop the silver spires of the royal tower, legs dangling off the ledge, boots tapping against polished marble. His personal guard, Ser Riven, stood a few paces behind—tight-lipped and sweating through his armor.
"Your Highness," Riven called, "if you fall and die, I'll have to follow you. That's the code."
Caelum smirked without turning. "Then you should've stopped me from climbing."
"I tried," Riven said.
"I didn't listen," Caelum replied.
"And yet here we are."
Meanwhile, in the throne room, King Vladimir Valerius and High Mage Serena Vaxahldan were deep in discussion when a breathless messenger burst in, dropping to one knee.
"An urgent message, my lord. From the battlefield."
He held out a sealed parchment. Serena took it and passed it to the king, who opened it swiftly. His eyes scanned the contents—and as they did, grief and dread darkened his face.
Serena noticed. "What is it, my liege?"
"We've lost Fort Stregger to the demons," Vladimir muttered, voice low. "Three thousand of our soldiers... gone."
Vladimir sighed. "You may leave"
The messenger bowed and departed.
"The demons are accelerating their conquest," Serena said grimly.
"Ever since the Demon King Vortigon took command, we've stood no chance. His army... it's unnatural," Vladimir replied, his voice heavy with despair.
"Perhaps Your Majesty should convene the nobles—"
"There's nothing to discuss, High Mage. Most of them refuse to leave their lands, fearing an attack."
He stood up, regal and resolved. "We are out of options. High Mage Serena, I grant you permission to perform the Hero Summoning Ritual. Only a hero can save our kingdom—no, our entire continent—from destruction."
Serena bowed deeply and departed.
At the Grand Cathedral, the capital's greatest mages had already gathered. One look at each other said all that needed saying.
"We had hoped it wouldn't come to this," Serena began. "But with Fort Stregger fallen, it's only a matter of time before the demons breach our walls. We need a hero—like the legends of old. And to do that, I need your Rem."
The mages nodded solemnly. One by one, they began channeling their Rem—pure magical essence intertwined with their life force—into Serena. It was a dangerous and painful process. Several mages collapsed from exhaustion, their bodies trembling. Giving more would mean risking their lives, their youth, their very souls, turning them into a living husk.
Glowing with concentrated Rem, Serena floated into the air. Arcane syllables echoed from her lips, her chant rising in volume as her body radiated like the sun. The cathedral shook. The magic circle beneath her pulsed violently.
A beam of pure light shot into the heavens.
High above the royal tower, Caelum had climbed to his feet. Walking on the ledge. Riven stood there watching anxiously.
The world had gone strangely quiet. He looked up.
"Do you hear that?" he asked.
"Hear what?" Riven frowned.
"The world… humming. Like it's holding its breath."
Riven scowled. "Don't start talking about stupid stuff like Arcane Currents again. You know—"
"No," Caelum interrupted, eyes locked on the cathedral and the light coming from it. "Something else."
Whispers had swirled about the King and High Mage's secret meetings. Hushed voices, silenced rumors. Something was brewing, and it was bad.
But none of that was public. Not yet. Velmire was at peace. Or so the nobles liked to pretend.
A snap thundered across the sky—soundless yet deafening. The clouds split, not by storm but by sorcery. The ground trembled more violently than the strongest quake they had experienced. Magic stuttered in the air, saturating the land. Birds froze in mid-air. Beasts across the kingdom howled.
Riven staggered, gripping the rail. "What in the Gods' names—"
They saw it.
Structures—tall, glass and metal—loomed in the distance. Towering far beyond any outpost or castle. Roads unlike cobblestone twisted in strange curves. Metallic carriages raced across them without horses.
"Are you seeing this?" Caelum whispered, stunned.
"Even I can't believe it, Your Highness," Riven muttered.
Without delay, Caelum rushed down the tower, Riven scrambling behind. This wasn't just magic—this was something that could shatter the world as they knew it.
Back at the cathedral, the light faded. Serena collapsed, breathing heavily. Her eyes locked on the now-dormant magic circle with fading light.
Empty.
No hero. No savior. Just silence.
Her shoulders sagged in disbelief.
"Maybe… maybe it takes time?" one of the surviving mages offered weakly.
Serena forced a calm expression, but inside, disappointment gnawed at her. After nearly draining the capital's arcane might, the summoning had failed.
She turned and pushed open the grand church doors.
What she saw froze her blood.
Flying metal creatures soared above—birdlike constructs with rotating wings. Smaller ones buzzed overhead, scanning the city, headed for it.
Panic shot through her. With what little Rem she could muster, Serena cast [Blink]—a short-range teleportation spell. She appeared in the throne room, staggering.
King Vladimir's face lit up at her arrival. "How did it go?" he asked hopefully.
Before she could answer, Caelum burst in with Riven in tow.
"Father, what's going on?" Caelum demanded.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Now leave, I must—"
"Tell me, Father," Caelum cut in, voice hard. "Because I just saw an entire city made of glass and steel, with roads filled with self-moving carriages. This isn't just magic. This is something else, alchemy maybe."
The king stared at him, stunned. His wayward son, who couldn't be bothered about the affairs of the kingdom—finally speaking like a prince.
"Is this true, High Mage?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, my lord. I saw metallic birds headed for the capital. That's why I teleported."
"And the summoning?"
"No one appeared. It seems… it failed"
Vladimir took a deep breath, his expression unreadable.
"Did they appear hostile?"
"I couldn't tell. They were too high." Serena replied.
He turned to Caelum. "Ready the guards—but do not act. We will meet with these beings, these riders of metal birds, and determine whether they are envoys…
…or enemies