In the Emberfall Republic…
A group of men and women in lavish linen clothes were sending off their children that were departing in an entourage of carriages. At the head of the vehicles was a single carriage accented with gold and pulled by two flaming white horses. In the carriage was a group of 3 boys and 2 girls with golden inlaid clothing.
But a single girl in the carriage wore a linen dress more intricate and shiny than the others. She had dual braids of black hair that fell over her face. Her chestnut skin shone brightly in the glaring sunlight of the desert.
"I wonder if Pantheon Academy will teach us something good," said a boy with a sleeveless linen shirt that showed his muscles. "What do you think, Crescelia?"
The girl with beautiful braids turned her head to face the boy. Her eyes were a bright silver and they seemed to cut through anything that was caught in their crosshairs. "Ghabiun, do you think I would attend the academy if it didn't teach anything useful?"
A cold sweat broke out on the boy's brow. "N-No, of course not, Crescelia. I'm sorry for asking such a stupid question."
Another girl in the carriage laughed. "You're such an idiot, Ghabiun. You should start working out your brain instead of your muscles."
The girl had long, curly black hair with sky-blue eyes. Her linen dress was spread open at the chest to show off her cleavage.
"You can't talk, Vera," Ghabian retorted. "I saw how you were talking to the oldest son of congress-women Ulqui–"
"Enough."
Only one word from Crescelia was enough to completely stop their argument.
…
In the Maneblood Oligarchy…
"Do you have all your stuff, dear?" Asked a tall man with pure black skin. His green feline eyes were filled with worry as he pestered the girl in front of him. The man had short, black hair and broad shoulders with a large black kimono. "Did you grab the lunch your mother made for you? Also, make sure to–"
"Yes, Father. I'm sure I've got everything," said a short girl with pure black skin. Her features were similar to her father's and she had short, straight black hair. She also wore a black blouse and black shorts.
"Honey!!!"
A woman's voice rang out from the next room. She ran into the room the two were in and hugged the girl. "I'm going to miss you so much, Zelpha! You don't have to go, you know." She had her black hair up in a ponytail and shared the two's black skin and green eyes. She wore a black kimono with a red sash.
"You know I have to go, Mother," Zelpha said, stuck in her mother's hug. "I must become stronger." In the girl's eyes was firm determination.
…
In Netherbane Imperium…
"Do you understand?"
In a dark room sat a concealed man on a throne. His silhouette revealed broad shoulders and two protruding horns from his head. Before him was a cloaked figure that knelt on the ground.
"I will accomplish what the Overlord desires," said the kneeling figure.
"Remember, your family's lives depend on your actions now. Do not fail me."
The voice from the man was domineering and deep. It reverberated throughout the halls accompanied by a pressure that wouldn't allow for a single being to stand before him.
The kneeling figure flinched at the sudden pressure but still responded clearly. "Yes, my lord."
"Go."
At his order, the kneeling figure vanished from the throne room, leaving only silence behind.
"Ishthad," said the domineering voice.
A shadow grew next to the throne, forming a hulking figure of darkness.
"Yes, my lord." Its voice was the product of a thousand cacophonous whispers. It sounded like eternally trapped souls were screaming through to the living realm from the land of the dead.
"Follow him."
The hulking figure dissipated into thick black smoke and flew to where the cloaked boy had left from.
Silence once again pervaded the throne room.
"The time has come," The deep voice said. "Netherbane will be mine."
…
In the Ebonblood Empire…
"Gross. What a vile taste."
A beautiful girl with straight black hair and piercing red eyes spit out the sip of blood she had taken. She was sitting on a red throne and was wearing black and red royal clothes. To top it all off, she also wore a black crown.
At the girl's words, the chef standing next to her paled.
"Guards," She said.
The chef frantically looked around for the nearest exit and bolted. But, before he could make it to the door, a longsword completely severed him in half from behind.
The girl sighed. "Even the blood of an A-ranked mana beast tastes terrible."
A butler from beside the girl cleared his throat. "Y-Your Highness, your carriage is ready for departure."
"I don't know why Mother is so adamant about me going there. It's just a pride contest between races," She said with annoyance.
"Your Highness…"
"Fine."
The princess got up from her throne and left the castle of crimson.
…
In the Mithrilheart Republic…
"I'm off, Grandfather!"
A short boy with scruffy brown hair walked down the path away from his small house.
The house sat on a small mound of dirt under a large underground dome, encompassing the entire dwarven city the boy resided in.
"W-Wait, Morlan!"
An old dwarven man crashed through the front door and barrelled down the path straight toward the boy. But the short old man stopped abruptly before he knocked over the boy in his path.
"Take this," The man said, handing Morlan a necklace. "This was your mother's. She told me to give it to you once you were old enough. Don't ask me why, she never told me what it was for."
Dwarves were powerful artificers and blacksmiths so the two knew the necklace wasn't something simple.
The boy took the necklace with a distant expression. "Thanks." He hadn't known his mother, but he could feel that she was a missing piece of his life. The necklace reminded him of that.
"Good luck, Morlan," The old man said. "Your mother would be proud of the young man you've grown to become."
The boy smiled and brought the necklace over his head. "I'll be back soon, Grandfather."
He walked down the path and out the small gate of the wooden fence that surrounded his grandfather's property. A small, wooden carriage was waiting for him on the road with a dwarf driver assigned by the government.
…
In the deep sea of the Leviathan Empire…
"We hope you have a good time at Pantheon Academy, Marine. Your mother and I wish you the best."
A couple stood at the enormous entry to an underwater castle. It had massive towers and long hallways, as well as floating sea lanterns that lit the interior and exterior of the castle.
To the left stood a tall man with dark blue hair and a short beard. He was wearing a professional blue suit and pants that were accented with black. His expression was serious but had a hint of worry and anxiety for the future.
To the man's right stood a beautiful woman with light blue hair and sharp features. She wore a blue dress with silver jewelry and exuded an air of royalty. Her expression was also serious but was laced with worry and love for the girl in front of them.
"I'll be fine, Father," The girl said. "You don't have to worry."
The beautiful girl had long aquamarine hair that flowed in the water around her. She had bright blue eyes that were filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming stay at the academy.
The man sighed. "Just be careful. Land dwellers can be vicious and cruel to our people."
"The school has rules against discrimination," The regal woman said. "But don't let those rules make you think that you are safe. During my time there, multiple children harassed me outside of the teacher's watch. You will have your companions with you, but stay alert."
"Great, my companions," Marine said in annoyance. "Do they have to follow me around everywhere?"
"Yes," Marine's father said sternly. "It is for your safety. This isn't a choice."
Marine whined. "But Father, they are just greedy nobles that are going to pester me for my attention."
"You may be right, but you will have to sacrifice your solitude for safety."
Marine pouted and turned to the carriage behind her that was being pulled by a beluga whale. "Fine. I'll see you guys in a couple of months."
"We love you," The man said.
"Have a safe trip," The woman said.
The girl climbed into the carriage and sat down with her cheeks puffed. "Let's go."
…
In the Jawscale Regency…
"Good morning, Kervai," said a seductive female voice.
On a beach in the southwest of the mainland, a slender young man with black hair and pale, almost gray, skin surfaced from the waves onto the sand. He slicked back his hair with his clawed hands and glanced at the figure waiting for him on the beach.
"Silvia," The solemn-faced boy said with no evident emotion. "I didn't think you would wait for me."
A curvy woman with dark violet hair and piercing violet eyes looked the man up and down. "You've gotten a lot more handsome since the last time I saw you."
"And your tongue is still as poisonous as ever. You're my half-sister, so act like it."
Silvia's smile disappeared and she wore a dissatisfied expression. "I was just observing your changes, Brother. No need to act so hostile."
Her voice still had a seductive edge to it, which annoyed Kervai. "Let's hurry up. I'm not going to be late on your account."
"Ugh, fine."
The two walked up to a dark carriage that was emblazoned with the jaws of a shark.
…
In an ice cave somewhere in the Mana Realm…
"Are you sure, Olivia," said a quiet female voice. "You know how other races treat our kind."
On a throne of ice sat a beautiful woman with a light blue dress. Her hair was white and her eyes blue. Around her was a freezing atmosphere that no creature acclimated to the cold could survive in.
"I've been in this cave for too long, Mother. I want to go out and explore the world, regardless of how people treat us."
In front of the throne stood a girl with identical traits to the woman. But the hood of her tunic was pulled over her face, covering most of her features.
The woman sighed. "It is your choice. But never transform unless it is in front of someone you trust. If anyone with the wrong intentions ever finds out who you are, it will mean the end of our peace."
After her serious words, Olivia hesitated to answer. "I-I will be careful, Mother. No one will find out, even if I'm on my last breath."
"You do not need to sacrifice your life needlessly," the woman on the throne said, taken aback by her daughter's words. "If your life is endangered and you have no choice, do not sacrifice yourself to keep a secret. I'm strong enough to handle the consequences. And soon, you shall be too."
Olivia bowed in thanks. "Thank you, I will be careful."
"Have fun, Olivia. I'll be waiting for your return."
The mother and daughter pair smiled at each other and Olivia left the cave for the carriage waiting outside.
The woman's smile faded as her daughter left her. The air around her began to condense until it formed a small bird of ice that sat on her shoulder.
"Keep my daughter safe, Unjaku."
*Chirp*
The bird bowed to the woman and flew out of the cave and landed on the carriage that was being pulled by a white horse of ice.