BEGANING ARC
In a quiet town nestled within the borders of Lalantia, there lived a proud and noble family of knights. The parents, Clara and Adham, were among the highest-ranking officers in King Charles the Tenth's royal army. Brave and loyal, they had earned their titles through years of battle and dedication to the crown.
They had one daughter — a spirited girl named Alexandra. Even at the young age of five, Alexandra dreamed of becoming a knight like her parents. Strong. Honorable. Fearless.
One evening, as the orange sun dipped behind the hills, Clara and Adham sat with little Alexandra beneath a flowering tree in their garden.
"Sweetheart," her father began gently, "do you know the tale of the masked hero who fought the Demon King Prime a thousand years ago?"
Alexandra's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "No, Daddy. Tell me!"
Adham smiled. "There was once a boy, young like you, who wore a blue scarf and a mask that covered his mouth. Though only a child, he stood bravely against the Demon King Prime. The battle was fierce... and in the end, both hero and demon perished. But his sacrifice saved our kingdom."
Clara rested a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "That hero's courage is what inspires us to serve and protect Lalantia to this very day."
Alexandra's face lit up with wonder. "Do demons still exist?"
Her father's smile faded slightly. "Yes. But since the Demon King died, they've gone into hiding. Without their ruler, they are scattered and broken. Still dangerous... but leaderless."
From that day on, Alexandra trained harder than any child her age. With her father's guidance, she practiced swordplay against wooden dummies in the courtyard. Her mother often watched, a mix of pride and concern in her eyes.
"Be careful, Alexandra," Clara warned gently one afternoon.
"I will, Mama," the girl said confidently. "But I want to be like the hero in the stories — no, even stronger. I want to surpass them all!"
Adham chuckled. "Then train hard, my little warrior. I believe in you."
Weeks Later
One morning, Clara and Adham were summoned to the royal palace. A mission awaited — one too dangerous to bring their daughter along. They entrusted Alexandra's care to her uncle, a retired knight named Gareth.
Uncle Gareth was kind, with a long beard and a hearty laugh. He continued Alexandra's training, and the two bonded quickly.
"Why do you train so hard, Alexandra?" he asked one day as she swung her wooden sword with determination.
"So I can be strong and protect people," she replied without hesitation.
"You're already strong."
"Then I'll become even stronger," she said with a fire in her eyes. "Stronger than even the hero with the blue scarf!"
Gareth smiled. "Good luck, little knight."
"Thanks, Uncle."
AT THE ROYAL CASTEL
King Charles the Tenth stood tall on his golden throne, flanked by guards. When Clara and Adham entered the grand hall, the king's face was grim.
"You came quickly. Thank you," he said.
Adham bowed. "You summoned us, Your Majesty?"
"There's trouble in the South," the king explained. "People are being attacked by… something. Not demons. These creatures seem… created. Artificial. Like experiments gone wrong."
Clara's eyes narrowed. "Then we'll need snipers, heavy weapons, and a full squad."
King Charles nodded. "I'm sending you both — and a battalion. Will you lead them?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the couple replied in unison.
With orders given, they mounted their steeds and led the army southward.
But it was a trap.
Monsters, lurking in the shadows of the forest, ambushed the soldiers as they crossed a narrow valley. They were like no creature ever seen before — twisted forms, stitched from magic and machinery.
Clara and Adham fought fiercely, protecting their men with unmatched skill. But the enemy was overwhelming, endless in number.
And far away, in her uncle's home, Alexandra awoke with a chill down her spine.
Something terrible had happened.
WITH ALEXANDRA 11 YEARS LATER
It had been eleven years since Alexandra last saw her parents.
The memory of that day still lingered — the way her father smiled with calm resolve, how her mother gently embraced her before leaving. They rode off to the South and never returned.
Now, at sixteen, Alexandra was no longer a helpless girl. She had grown strong — stronger than most. And she was determined to uncover the truth behind what happened that day.
She now trained at Lalantia's Hero Academy, a prestigious school known for forging the next generation of warriors, mages, and guardians of the realm. The halls echoed with the clash of swords, the chant of arcane spells, and the passionate cries of students training to protect the kingdom.
Alexandra was among the Academy's elite — the leader of a powerful group of five. Each of them stood out, not only for their skill but for their unbreakable bond.
Alexandra – The Swordswoman
Tall and athletic, Alexandra carried herself with natural authority. Her jet-black hair, tied high in a battle-ready ponytail, flowed behind her as she walked through the training grounds. Her violet eyes, sharp and calculating, missed nothing.
She wore a white and gold combat uniform, adorned with the Academy's crest — a lion surrounded by stars. A lightweight but deadly sword was strapped across her back, humming slightly with enchantment.
She was calm. Confident. A leader through and through.
Ceila – The Mage
By her side stood Ceila, the group's mage — and perhaps the most powerful spellcaster in the entire Academy.
Her long silver hair shimmered like moonlight, cascading to her waist. Her pale-blue eyes glowed faintly, a sign of the immense magical energy stored within her.
She wore a flowing blue-and-silver arcane robe, inscribed with ancient runes that pulsed when she cast spells. Her staff, always at hand, crackled with restrained power.
Quiet and analytical, Ceila rarely spoke unless necessary — but when she did, everyone listened.
Selena – The Archer
Lean and agile, Selena had a predator's focus. Her short blonde hair was tousled, and her sharp green eyes scanned her surroundings like a hawk.
She wore sleek black leather armor, flexible and fast, with green accents that blended into the forest. Her custom longbow, carved from dragonwood, hung across her back, and two quivers were secured at her thighs — always ready.
She didn't care for small talk. She didn't need it. Her arrows spoke for her.
Sharika – The Brawler
Where Selena was quiet, Sharika was thunder.
Her spiky red hair flared like fire, and her amber eyes burned with intensity. She was muscular and powerful, her movements loud and fast. She wore a sleeveless crimson tunic, and her reinforced combat gauntlets sparked on impact when she trained.
She loved fighting. Hated boredom. Always eager for action.
"Let's go already!" she would shout before every mission. "I didn't wake up today to sit around!"
Cassie – The Healer
And then there was Cassie, the heart of the group.
Her chestnut-brown hair was braided loosely over her shoulder, and her hazel eyes shone with kindness. She wore a traditional white-and-gold cleric's robe, its collar marked with protective sigils. Around her neck hung a glowing crystal pendant — a gift from her mother.
Gentle and quiet, Cassie rarely raised her voice, but when her friends were in danger, her spirit burned with unwavering strength.
She healed wounds with a touch and courage with a word.
The five girls were known across campus as The Rising Stars, admired by younger students and respected by instructors. Together, they had faced monsters in training missions, aced exams in battlefield strategy, and even fought off a rogue elemental attack that once breached the Academy's barrier.
But Alexandra's true goal lay beyond the walls of the school.
She still remembered the words of her uncle, the day he gave her her first training sword:
"You're already strong, Alexandra. But if you want to find the truth, you'll need to be stronger than anyone else."
And so she trained. Every day. Every night. Waiting for a sign.
That Sign Was Coming
It was a cloudy morning when Headmaster Grenald summoned the five girls to his office.
Grenald was an old man with a long white beard and armor beneath his robes. A former war general, now turned mentor, he rarely called students to his personal chambers unless something serious had happened.
"You called for us, sir?" Alexandra said as the group entered.
Grenald looked at them gravely. "Yes. I have news. Disturbing news."
He paused, letting the tension settle.
"Three villages to the South have gone silent. No messages. No survivors. Scouts we sent... never returned."
Ceila's eyes narrowed. "Demon activity?"
Grenald shook his head. "No. Something else. Something darker. The patterns are similar to the incident... from sixteen years ago."
Alexandra stiffened.
"Twelve years ago," Grenald repeated, locking eyes with her, "was when your parents vanished."
Sharika clenched her fists. "So you think whatever got her parents is back?"
"It's not just back," the headmaster said. "It's growing."
He handed Alexandra a sealed scroll. "This mission isn't for students. But I'm giving it to you five. You're the best we have. If something is returning from that time… you need to be ready."
Alexandra looked down at the scroll.
And she made a vow:
"I'll finish what my parents started."