Light leaned forward, his amber eyes reflecting the kitchen's glow. "You need to understand the scale of things, Alger. We are currently in the Orian Kingdom, specifically the capital city, Lithos. It's the heart of the world's technology, built on the back of the richest mana-mines in existence. It's mostly humans here, though you'll see plenty of other species attracted by the coin and the gear.
"To the north lies Frostheim, a tundra of eternal blizzards home to the Frostlings, who are as cold and hardy as the ice they live on. Then there's Oakhaven, a sprawling sea of ancient trees where the various tribes of Elves keep to their own territories.
"If you look to the skies, you're thinking of Whisperwind. It's a realm of floating peaks and deep caves where the winged races control the world's air travel. On the flip side, you have Nightveil, a land permanently shrouded in eclipse, crawling with creatures of the dark. Then there's Thundra, where the ground is literally charged with lightning.
"Far beyond the known maps are the twin realms: Sol and the Crescent. Their locations are myths to most common folk. For those who prefer the deep, there is the Oceanic Kingdom, an underwater empire that dictates every trade route on the surface. And finally, the Inferno Empire. It's a volcanic wasteland of lava and ash, populated by the Infernies, who are as volatile as the fires they breathe well that's what people say.
Light's expression darkened. "Every realm keeps the peace for the sake of trade, but that peace is rotting. A group called The Nihilists is working in the shadows, trying to spark a global war for reasons we don't fully understand. And standing against them—or sometimes causing just as much trouble—are the God's Descendants. There are thirteen of them, and they are the most powerful beings walking the earth."
"God's Descendants..." Alger repeated the words, the syllables feeling strangely heavy on his tongue. "Where are they now? If they're so powerful, why aren't they leading the realms?"
Lunara set her tea down, the clink of the porcelain sharp in the quiet kitchen. "That's the question everyone asks, Alger. But the truth is, most of them have vanished into the shadows. Some are in hiding, others are scattered across the ten realms under false names. No one truly knows where they are—or what they're waiting for."
"Right," Light added, his usual playful tone dropping into something more serious. "Their locations are the best-kept secrets in the world. You could walk past a Descendant on the street in Lithos and never know you were standing next to a living hurricane. They don't exactly advertise their bloodline."
"I see," Alger murmured. He looked down at his own pale, trembling hands. A strange, cold shiver raced down his spine, as if a door in the back of his mind had just creaked open an inch.