The frozen realm.
The land to the West of the demonic realm where the high elevation and unique weather patterns created a land of ice.
Blizzards were a common occurrence. Snow often painted the land, and it was a rarity for the grass to show through the thick layers of snow.
Beyond this realm was a range of mountains, separating the frozen realm from the demonic realm of darkness.
In such an environment, even demons preferred to stay away from this area. It was not that the demons were unable to live in such a place, but rather that they preferred not to.
However, there was one specific type of demon which chose to live in such a climate.
Elementals.
Specifically, elementals of frost, water, ice, and wind elements.
The elemental demons of the world had been split into two groups, depending upon their preferred environment.
The elementals of fire, earth, magma, and stone properties gathered within the land of fire- a hellish landscape where lava flowed throughout the area and fires burned without reason.
Each elemental was composed primarily of natural elements in of themselves. These elements acted as their skin and muscles, covering a basic crystalline frame which acted as a skeleton of sorts.
However, despite being made from their respective elements, these elements which the elemental demons were made from would not react with the physical environment in the same way that one would expect.
For example, if an ice elemental were to be coated with lava, nothing would happen.
The ice would not melt, for physical heat alone cannot effect the ice which an elemental is composed of.
Instead, only magical energy which was associated with an element could produce such effects on an elemental.
If a fire elemental were to use a flame attack on an ice elemental, then they would be able to melt the ice which such an elemental is composed of.
If a water elemental were to use a water attack on a flame elemental, then they would be able to put out the flames.
The difference between such an attack and the physical environment was the presence of mana.
Elemental demons were beings of mana, and as such only elements infused with mana could harm them.
Therefore, while elementals of ice and such elements preferred to remain in the frozen realm, there was no law binding them to such a place. Theoretically, an elemental of ice could live in the land of fire without issue, or vice versa.
A city of ice spread across the frozen planes, the buildings themselves made from the glassy blue substance.
This frozen city loomed in the shadow of the mountain range, as if being protected from that which lurked beyond.
Within this city, peace reined.
This was Iciclaris.
A light snow sprinkled across the city, just enough to put the people within at ease.
A large wall of ice surrounded this city, and on this wall a number of elementals patrolled it with eased expressions.
"Been a while since anything happened. Don't you ever get bored of sitting on this wall?"
A water elemental whose body took a mostly liquid form approached another elemental who had the appearance of the wind itself, the man's body swirling about like a mini tornado.
"If I get bored of my job, then it just means there's nothing wrong. No news is always good news."
The two men nodded with a light chuckle, looking onto the mountain in the distance.
"Have you ever left this city to see what's beyond it?"
"Nah. Have you?"
The wind elemental looked up to the water elemental from his seat, questioning his comrade.
"I've been around a little bit. The city of devils is actually quite a nice place. It's a little dark without the sun, but that sorta puts me at ease. You know?"
The wind elemental nodded with a smile.
"I see... perhaps I'll travel around some day then. After all, we're in an era of peace. What better time is there to tour from place to place?"
"You got that right. Well, right now I have to focus on my duty as a knight."
"And I as well."
The two looked onto the city of ice with a kindness in their eyes.
"It's a wonderful place, isn't it?"
"It's one that I'm proud to say that I serve here as a knight, protecting the people."
People could be seen traversing the streets of the city from this point, heading from one place to another with haste.
Even so, the people were certainly at ease.
The landscape was filled with the happy faces of mothers, fathers, children, workers, and everyone in between.
"It's all because of Captain Evelyn. She may claim to be nothing special.... but she is much more than that. She looks back on her past too harshly, don't you think?"
"Haha.... you're right about that. If it weren't for her.... who knows where we would be?"
"I know where you'd be. Drunken at the tavern, wasting your life away."
"Haha! And wouldn't you be right by my side?"
The two men chuckled together with gleeful expressions as they looked upon the people of the city with nostalgia.
"How's the wife?"
"She's doing great. And you? How's the search?"
"Not going too well. I'm already 150 you know. My days are numbered."
"You say that but you still got at least another 250 in ya! You're still young. Don't worry about the details. Just find one and stick with her. Right?"
"I would do that, but it isn't so easy to find the right one."
"Haha.... I know what you mean. Sometimes I wonder if I picked the right one.... but the fact that I can even wonder that probably means I didn't pick the wrong one. No?"
"I guess you're right there."
Standing up, the wind elemental looked over the edge of the walls, in the direction of the mountain.
"But I'm not going to rush myself into anything. If the right one comes along, I'll know.... I hope."
"I'm gonna return to my post. I'll catch you around. Don't work too hard."
With a nod, the wind elemental watched as the water elemental walked off with pride.
'Traveling around the world, huh? I wonder what I would find if I opened my horizons a bit?'
----
A frozen elemental woman with her icy hair tied back into a short pony tail walked through the city of ice with a kind smile on her face.
She walked with pride, carrying herself well before the others. Many people waved to her as she passed through, to which she waved back with a smile.
With one hand on her holster which was cut short, not large enough to hold a proper blade, she waltzed through the town as she witnessed a number of scenes.
A young girl coated in electricity- a storm elemental- rushed up to her with an excited smile.
"Are.... are you the Captain of the Knights?"
Behind the girl a mother rushed forward- an elemental made from clouds.
"Forgive me, Captain Evelyn. My child likes to run off all the time...."
The woman bowed her head and forced the child to bow as well in apology for disturbing the patrol of the likely busy woman.
"What are you doing, mom? I wanna see the knight!"
"It is alright. Let her come to me."
The frozen elemental- Evelyn- bent down with a kind smile as the mother let go of her child.
"Do you know of me?", she asked.
"I know!! Everyone talks about you at the school! I can't wait to tell everyone that I met you!!"
"Is that so? I don't think meeting me is something to brag about. What do the people at your school say about me?"
The woman patted the head of the child gently, questioning her with a smile.
"Mmm..... well they say that you're strong.... and kind..... and that you help people!"
"I am honored to hear such words. However I don't think I am worthy of them. I haven't done enough for this city."
"What do you mean?"
The child looked at her with a confused face, but the woman merely laughed lightly.
"Haha.... well, do not think too much on it. What is your name?"
"I'm Hara!"
"Well then Hara, I want to say thank you. Thank you for thinking so much of me. Please tell your friends from the school that I want to thank them as well."
"Um.... ok!"
The young girl nodded with a cheerful smile, the purple electricity sparkling around her.
"Um.... I want to become like you when I grow up! I wanna be strong! I wanna protect people! I wanna help everyone!"
"Is that so? That's a great goal. I might be a lot older by then, but I hope to see you join the ranks of the knights some day."
"I will!! I'll work hard and join you!!!"
With a refreshed nod, Evelyn stood up and looked over to the mother.
"You have a wonderful child with a bright future."
"Ah... thank you, Captain Evelyn.... you are too kind...."
The child walked back over, grabbing the hand of her mother as she waved goodbye.
Evelyn walked away with a sense of relief, seeing that the children of the city were cheerful and optimistic.
'How wonderful it is that they hold such hopes within them.... surely they will shine brightly as time moves forward. They will grab onto those threads, moving into the future with great expectations.... if I can influence even a few more children to work hard for their goals.... then perhaps I can atone for the ones whose destruction I wasn't able to stop.'
Evelyn looked up at the white clouds with an expression of concern.
'Peace is such a wonderful thing. However, I cannot let up on myself due to the times of peace. I must continue to train myself, honing my skills so that I may protect those smiles.... even if a time of war comes someday.'
----
Evelyn continued through the town, headed to the training grounds.
'If nothing else, I must always continue to become stronger. I cannot allow myself to believe that I am strong enough, because there will always be someone stronger than myself.'
With a serious expression, Evelyn made her way through the frozen city, greeting many who waved.
'I cannot betray the smiles of these people..... as I have before.'
As she came upon the training grounds, before Evelyn was a large open area surrounded by a low fence- of course made from ice, just as everything else in the town was.
Inside this training ground, a large numbers of knights were currently training. Some were engaged in sword battles with one another, while others were using magical spells and abilities to fight.
Evelyn smiled on seeing so many of her knights diligently working to become stronger.
"Men. At arms."
Speaking out in a bolstering tone, Evelyn captured the attention of everyone in the area quickly. Many men who were interlocked in battle immediately ceased their fighting, saluting their captain.
"Good morning, Captain!", they shouted in unison.
With a light smile, Evelyn's expression relaxed and she lowered her own hand from her head.
"As you were. Continue training for the sake of protecting the people of this city. We never know what threats we face. Even in these times of peace, it is our duty to remain diligent!"
"Yes ma'am!"
The men continued their training, however a few approached the woman.
"Captain, how are you doing today?"
"I am doing well so far. And yourselves?"
"I couldn't be better. I am ready to face any challenge that comes our way."
"Then remain ready. Never allow a drop of arrogance to creep into your heart. We must understand two things as knights. The first- we must give our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies in the service of those who are weaker than ourselves. It is our duty to protect and to provide. And the second- we must never believe for even a moment that we have reached an acceptable level of strength. There is always someone better. Period."
"Yes Captain."
"We've heard this a hundred times, Captain."
The two men laughed it off, heading back to continue training.
"Sigh.... well, they aren't slacking off, so I cannot exactly reprimand them...."
Evelyn Frostbringer.
154 years old, equivalent to 27 in human terms.
She currently served as the Captain of the knights in the frozen realm.
The knights.
A battalion of warriors from the frozen city, and the only people in the city who underwent combat training.
For a city within the monster realm which had not fought any wars for over a century, the knights were the one and only combat force among the frost elementals.
Their current role was more of a police force than anything.
The city was at peace, but that did not mean that everyone was peaceful.
Criminals did exist, just as in any urban area.
Even if there were no wars or external threats, the knights were not reduced to a meaningless existence as a result of the exact two precepts which Evelyn lived by.
She had a duty to protect the innocent.
Walking forward, the Captain grabbed the hilt from her sheathe.
Taking it out, it was just that.
A hilt.
There was no blade.
"Would anyone like to spar?", she asked.
A number of men stood forward.
"I'll spar you, Captain."
"I have been training hard, Captain. If you picked me I would be honored."
"I am unworthy to face you, but if you would so indulge me...."
The three pleaded with their eyes, not a shred of animosity among themselves.
They truly respected their Captain, whatever her decision may have been.
"Then, I will take all three of you on. I cannot allow myself to relax. I understand how arrogant it is to take on multiple opponents at once, however I must challenge myself. Please do not take any offense."
"None taken, Captain. After all.... compared to you, our skills will surely be put to shame...."
"That is the case. I have no complaints."
"Indeed."
The men complied quickly, and the four headed over to a fenced in area.
Holding open the gate, they allowed their Captain to go before them out of courtesy.
"There is no need to hold the door open for someone like myself."
"It is the duty of a knight to show chivalry to all, even to a fellow knight."
"Are you not overindulging me because of my rank? Or perhaps because I am a woman?"
"No such thing, Captain! We merely hold respect to you!"
"As for why you would respect someone like myself, I do not understand. Come forth. Let us spar."
The woman held forward her handle, and a blue glow surrounded her hand which danced about the handle like a miniature show of fireworks.
From the handle, a glowing blade of ice formed, pointed as if it were a real sword.
Closing her eyes and opening them, the Captain took on a new demeanor.
Just before she berated herself, claiming that she was nothing special, however her expression right now was one of great determination.
She had entered battle mode.
Swirling her sword around, the woman smiled as she awaited the three, who quickly took up positions, unsheathing their weapons as well.
"You accepted this duel knowing that you would be facing the three of us, Captain. Do not assume that we will hold back even if there is a disparity in numbers. After all, it is the duty of a knight to fight as many opponents as their abilities allow."
What followed was something which took the appearance of a blooming flower.
More particularly, a thorned rose.
Drawing a line in the air with her blade, a thorned spell of ice formed wherever the blade came into contact with.
In moments, the battlefield had been constricted with ice as it shot out, connecting itself to the edges of the fence and restricting the movements of the knights.
They had each been trapped in their own area, and their advances were halted as they pulled back their bodies from rushing straight into the mesh of thorns.
"You've become serious right off the bat, Captain. Thank you for that.", one man stated.
"It would be disrespectful to do anything else.", Evelyn replied.
This man- a snow elemental, which was a combination of wind and ice, held his sword with both hands and swung it down with all his strength in order to shatter the barrier which prevented him from moving forth.
His blade slammed into the ice with a light crackling noise, however there was no shattering.
Only the slightest dent had been made in the ice.
"It is terribly strong."
Clack.
Crack.
The swords of the other two had also been thrusted downward in an attempt to break the ice, to no avail.
Suddenly, shooting out from the blade of the elemental was a beam.
Or at least, it appeared to be a beam from the perspective of the three.
In actuality the sword of Evelyn had continued it's own icy formation, propagating forth and splitting into three paths, which then spread out in front of each of the men, grabbing them and ensnaring them.
"Agh...."
"We've been caught...."
"Well done Captain..... it was our own arrogance to think we would stand a chance."
The men gave up with respectful glances, bowing their heads to the one who ensnared them.
"Do you all not understand what this means?", Evelyn asked.
"Captain, we understand well.", a water elemental replied.
"Then tell me what it means."
"It means that we must continue our own training."
"For you yourself have not yet reached an acceptable level. Therefore, if we cannot even catch up to you, then how could we even call ourselves knights- protectors of the innocent and shields of the people?"
"Exactly so. I do not mean to belittle your efforts. They are great. However, if you cannot even break my own ice, how will you deal with the flames of the molten elementals, or the dark powers of a demon, or the hard scales of the dragonic people? Not that we have any conflict with any of these. We have remained at peace for years due to the agreement among them, which is preferable. Even so, the fact of the matter is that there are those out there who far outweigh myself. Therefore, we must continue to rise up together, training ourselves so that we may protect our people from any threat!"
"Yes, Captain!!"
With glee, the men shouted out in agreement, heartily saluting to their leader.
"I will be training in the yard by myself from this point on. Please continue building up your strength. You were able to crack my ice, which could mean one of two things. Either you have become stronger, or I have become weaker. I hope that it is not the latter."
"While it would be arrogant to claim that I have become stronger, I can say without a doubt that you have not become weaker, Captain.", one man quickly replied.
"Praising me ceaselessly will do no good. Train yourself."
With this, the knights within the training grounds all began to furiously train their minds and bodies, preparing for even the slightest trifle in their lives.
It was through the diligence and power of the Captain that the city had remained at peace for so many years, and that crime had been reduced to almost zero within the city.
And it was this exact diligence which allowed the people of the city of ice to continually be ready for attack.
However, a storm was coming.
A storm so great that no amount of training, no amount of preparation, no amount of humility, and no amount of good intentions would be able to stop.