The second significant change that introduced multiple species into this world also ensured that the world adapted to the shared living spaces. What was once known as a domain of humanity has now become the hub for the existence of every species whose world was connected to ours.
Think of it as an extensive network of worlds in different spaces connected through these cracks and portals. The ability to interact with each other led to this transformation, which led to many changes in the past.
However, the real reason behind the second change's impact on everyone was the greed that drove the advancement. While humans lusted to expand their power and wealth, they were previously limited in various ways. However, this change resulted in the scope expanding exponentially. That was how inter-species interaction started to take place. Humans knew that even though they had the power to grow, everyone would hit the ceiling after some time. Evolution was the only way forward cause the world ran on the "Survival of the Fittest" principle. As creatures who had experienced the privileges of power, they could not give up hope of becoming even more powerful.
They started to gather other species. These were beings ( can be thought of as monsters since humans tend to categorize everything they couldn't comprehend as being one) whose power varied from humans. Some were better than humans in managing abilities or growing more muscular, while others had unique talents that humans couldn't use. They had qualities that every human aspired for but couldn't get. For example, the elves were wielders of great magical strength, beautiful, and ageless. The allure of long life eventually led to a quest towards immortality.
The orge and other monsters like them were known for strength; orcs were known for defence and healing capabilities; black leopards and bird-type monsters were known for their flight ability and speed, and so on. Human beings, the greatest of all, began experimenting after capturing monsters from these species. Some were easy to defeat, while others had intelligence on par or even more significant than humans. Thus began the quest to conquer or ally with a different world.
The idea was simple. To enhance the primary human body to the next level. This began the advancement of humanity into the third change of era. This era was also accompanied by inter-species marriages, bloodline generations, family creations, modification in the government system, major wars, and so much more. The Earth, as our ancestors once knew it, was no longer there. It had morphed into another world altogether. The energies from all those connected worlds began to seep into each other and brought massive changes.
As I said, I was a product of the second and third changes. I was born into one of the most prominent knight families in the world. Do you know what knights are?
Contrary to what some dumb bitches might think, they aren't sword-wearing dudes in armour. Knighthood was a system introduced in the human species after the second change. It was due to its presence in all other species and its history in our past. It was a belief system based on courage, strength, integrity and brotherhood. A system that was built to protect and prosper together.
Knights of a species were charged with the protection of that species. Their motto was, first and foremost, to protect what they considered as their home and fellow specimen. They were the first line of defence for their species while also being considered the heralds of development. All the species formulated these groups to have a structured military strength and a barrier from outside attacks. Humans introduced this system after the third change, and prominent families who took on the charge of being knights for generations to follow began to appear.
However, the concept of such a degree needed a lot of investment and the assimilation of a wide range of talents. Some species also had other popular tiles such as Mage, Weaponsmiths, Bureaucrats, and Royalty. In our world, while democracy was still held in high stature, a complex arrangement based on power and privilege took control. While people were allowed to elect their representatives, those being elected were the ones who indeed held power in their midst. That was how families of Knights appeared.
These Knight Families were all part of that elected Bureaucracy and played a huge role in protection, decision-making, policy formation, and so on.
If the human faction was considered, the six most prominent knights' families were regarded as at the top of the food chain. These were Avalon, Steelguard, Valaryon, Pendrake, Richman and Nightshade. These families were at the forefront, protecting the human species from what lay outside.
While the strength of humanity grew, so did the segregation—families who wanted to horde the resources to increase their strength. No matter how good one wanted to become, they were no match for the cruel structure of society, and hence, they were forced to adapt. That was why all the knight families introduced interspecies marriage. This helped them gain allies and make their heritage stronger as well. While all this was happening, the disparity between the rich and the poor grew wider and wider.
As time passed, the bloodlines began to mix, and they tried their best to grow stronger. The thirst for power grew stronger daily, as did the danger they faced. Portals began to appear, and so did dungeons and even cracks, which led to even more fantastic worlds. This felt like a never-ending quest for conquest and discovery.
Soon, we managed to understand that we were not alone in this. Other worlds, planets and galaxies were also experiencing the same phenomena. They were undergoing the same changes. As Earth, they were preparing in the same way.
But before we go into that, you must be waiting to know my identity. As I said, I was born into the Avalon family of knights. But as you have expected till now, I wasn't a pureblood human. You see, the family of Avalon was famous for its magic capabilities. The first patriarch was a grand mage, achieving many previously unknown fets. However, as time passed, the family soon began to intermix with other races to inculcate more powers into their bloodlines. They began to mix with sworders, Healers, Weapon Master families, elementals and any profession that was of use and in demand. Even inter-species marriages started to take place in the family.
The reason behind it was simple. A family that wanted to rule the human species had to continue their growth spree to keep up with humanity. This was one of the more innovative ways to do so.
I was born to the then patriarch of the Avalon family, Reich Avalon. He was the seventh-generation patriarch of the family and also the strongest knight to have appeared in the family in all its existence. His strength also attracted strong beings from other species, who came along to copulate with him to birth a strong inter-blood that could surpass its parents.
Given he was a man of power, he had many suitors who wanted to marry him to their bloodline as well as his. As such, he took in many wives. My mother was, unfortunately, one of those. No matter what you say now, she married that vermin and gave birth to me. I guess I have to thank both of them because I wouldn't have been born today if they had not been present. It's alright.
My mother herself was mixed blood between Elves and Trolls, being the inheritor of both of their bloodlines. My father was someone who had inherited many bloodlines as well. When I was born, they said I had no aptitude. You can imagine the next part of the story very well; hence, I have no obligation to bore you by telling it.
For the idiots who didn't manage to understand what I faced, I was branded as a waste and bullied just to be kicked out of the family. My mother died. How else would I gain any knowledge (regular storyline till now)?
But a twist happened after all.