Joyfully humming, I admired the birthday gift I received—a bronze sword. I repeatedly sheathed and unsheathed it, marveling at the way sunlight danced on its surface.
As I considered testing the sword's sharpness with my hand, a sensible thought prevailed, dissuading me from any foolish action. I carefully returned the sword to my room, but on my way, I came across a rock. With a mischievous idea in mind, I positioned the sword upright and let the rock fall onto its blade. My breath caught in my throat as I witnessed the rock split cleanly into two pieces. I felt immense relief, knowing that I had avoided a potentially dangerous situation.
After my father's lecture on the world, he excused himself to continue with his work. Intrigued by the tantalizing glimpses of this vast world, I resolved to seek knowledge firsthand from the oldest source within our mansion—the esteemed books.
Stepping into the library, I approached the librarian and politely requested directions to the History section. Equipped with a starting point, I embarked on my quest for knowledge.
One particular book captured my attention, its green cover adorned with a depiction of a wizard engaged in magical endeavors. Its title, "Memoir of the Hero," instantly piqued my interest, promising tales of adventure and accompanied by vivid maps and illustrations.
Within the introductory chapters, I discovered the existence of numerous continents. However, my focus honed in on the continent that encompassed my home—the Kingdom of Arcane—a collection of kingdoms, empires, and forbidden territories.
In this kingdom, authority flowed from the King, followed by the Duke (directly related to the royal family), the Viscount or Count, the Marquis, and finally, the Baron. Nobles were the only ones entitled to surnames, while commoners went without.
The book emphasized the significance of bloodlines in this world, along with the presence of formidable individuals who held great influence over the world's heritage. Martial Masters, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, Sword Masters, who had achieved mastery in the art of swords, and the Supreme Magus, who had ascended to the apex of magic. These titles carried not only prestige but also immense power capable of moving mountains.
Furthermore, the book explained that the title of hero was bestowed upon the strongest individual who protected the citizens. An accompanying image depicted the renowned Hero, symbolizing bravery and protection.
Immersed in my reading, I lost track of time. As night descended, I closed the book, returning it to its designated place, and made my way to dinner, feeling both enriched and exhausted. Naively, I believed the day had come to a close.
However, as is often the case with birthdays and surprises, the night would not pass without a session of tears.
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(Author's note: Now that you have a solid grasp of the world's setting and an introduction to Ray and his family, I won't keep you waiting any longer.
(1) All hail books, if you catch my drift.
(2) I may have slightly exaggerated for effect.
(3) If you happened to read "country" instead of "county," consider it a playful trick. Zing!
(4) Definitely among the best reads.
)