"Etelor, the capital of men, was built on an ancient elven city, which explains its unique architectural style that other races have never managed to reproduce."
Galäm wore a loose silk cape made from the abundant malane plant when he strolled through the streets of Yomanra. Grown in the southern regions, malane resembles violets, yet its white, sugary berries are incredibly nourishing. From malane stems, human weavers create beautiful garments with distinct green veins.
Galäm often daydreamed, gazing at ships slowly traversing the calm sea, offering him a feeling of freedom so rare in daily life. Donovan, Galäm's mentor and friend, accompanied him. Donovan's sole purpose was instruction, a duty he carried out with patience and trust in Galäm. The young man had never shown disinterest, engaging actively in his teachings, leaving Donovan confident to continue.
Galäm broke the silence in a serene tone. "What topics were we to study today? You wished to seize the opportunity here to teach me about the east, did you not?" Galäm wore a soft cape of malane silk as he strolled through the streets of Yomanra. Malane is a plant that grows in abundance in the southern regions. It resembles violets, but its white, sweet berries are very nutritious. The fibers of the malane plant are often unraveled and used to weave beautiful clothes that are popular in human cities. The green veins in the fabric give the clothing a distinct appearance.
Galäm often liked to discover new things, and he found the ships sailing slowly on the calm sea to be a source of freedom that he rarely experienced in his daily life. Donovan, Galäm's mentor and friend, accompanied him. Donovan was there only to teach Galäm about his responsibilities, but he remained silent because he knew that the young man enjoyed these moments. Moreover, Galäm had never shown any signs of disinterest in their lessons, making Donovan confident in his ability to continue teaching him.
Galäm broke the silence with a calm tone. "Where did we leave off in our studies today? You wanted to take advantage of being here to teach me about the history of the eastern lands, didn't you?"
Donovan was surprised, for he hadn't mentioned anything to the young man. He wondered if Galäm was attempting to guide the day's lessons. So, Donovan laughed in response.
"You're quite good at guessing, young man. Today, we will learn how the province of Enamareke, of which Yomanra is part, has managed to resist centuries of wars through its famed, invincible maritime power. And how the pirates of Isa have managed to sabotage many of Yomanra's warships."
Galäm felt an infinite boredom spread through his entire body. Although understanding history was essential for him, he much preferred topics unrelated to wars, which he had always found ridiculous. To him, wars were merely a means of asserting power and dominance over other peoples. In his eyes, genuine and sincere collaboration was always a better, simpler and far less bloody solution. However, he still made an effort not to show his feelings to his tutor. He knew Donovan had little choice in the matter, just like Galäm did.
Donovan began, saying, "You see, Enamareke has experienced countless wars. Being in the center-west of the continent, this province is surrounded by three neighbors, that is, if we don't count Hagalaz to the north and Teneke to the southwest, with which the province of Enamareke only shares a common plot of land."
He continued by detailing the conflicts Enamareke had had with all of its neighbors. "Historically, Enamareke has been one of the most warlike human provinces. Although Gebo to the west and Isa to the north were not to be outdone in this regard." As Donovan detailed one conflict between Gebo and Enamareke, Galäm found amusing the anecdote called "Anak molnara aten", or the rebellion of the builders of Anak. Here, "molnara" was placed ambiguously and could also mean "creator of Anak". This anecdote explained that after long wars, Anakia, a city near the center of the continent, was divided into two distinct cities. One belonged to the province of Gebo, Anak, and the other to Enamareke, Anakia. This was the case for centuries. However, after numerous rebellions, struggles, and wars, economic and military pressure on the city as a whole had reached its climax. The city went to war with all authority in the middle of a bloody war between Gebo and Enamareke.
Of course, one might think that a few well-armed soldiers could have faced off against a group of citizens, armed with pitchforks and struggling as best they could in a city in ruins. However, whether one calls it Anak or Anakia, it was a city that could not be entered without crossing a bridge. Although that bridge was sturdy, it was destroyed many times over. Thus, no army could engage in battle against another. The city had won. Of course, the stubborn soldiers had tried every trick in the book, but their losses were so heavy on both sides that they were forced to sign a ceasefire. Thus, a group of civilians with knowledge ended a long, ruthless war between two former foes. Of course, the region of Isa, home of the pirate kingdoms of the north, had greatly contributed to this growth, as pirate ships sank many Enamarkian trading vessels. This amused Galäm, who saw in this anecdote proof of his still immature thoughts.
Galäm therefore noted that Isa had simply taken advantage of Enamareke's merchant ships' weakness. The province, having invested too heavily in its army and being too divided in its wars, had forgotten that military targets were not the only ones during a confrontation. The economy of Enamareke's maritime cities had suffered greatly from excessive losses, and this even before its warships could act. This had paralyzed them, forcing Enamareke to adopt a defensive posture. However, the Enamarekians eventually gained the upper hand over Isa, as, following several naval wars, during which the city's large, deep-draft ships had particularly distinguished themselves, acting as true floating fortresses extending the borders like lighthouses illuminating the horizons. The city had managed to gain ground and secure its borders against the pirates.
However, as the young man could not absorb any more information that day, or perhaps because he realized that Donovan was also beginning to doze off, he proposed to end the lecture here. He reassured Donovan by saying that in exchange, he could show him, if he wished, those famous warships that only left the military ports when necessary. Donovan smiled politely at him. He knew well what his student thought, but still, he appreciated the gesture. Besides, he told him:
"My prince, I fear that you cannot enter the military quarters without your uniform."
Galäm avoided that attire as much as possible. He greatly preferred to remain discreet, as once spotted, everyone hesitated to speak to him, or at the very least, everyone paid close attention to what he said. However, no one recognized the prince by his face, but rather by the royal image that his attire exuded. Jewelry made of clear kwartz, imbued with a royal emblem crafted by the high human mages, the only ones capable of molding this stone. Even the dwarves could not mold this stone. Clothes in the color of the six kingdoms, intertwined with the symbol of Etelor, the capital of men, everything to remind him of his rank, his place in society. However, his father, the first human high king, Entalar Armodens, was indeed the first to unite all men, promising the human kingdoms a long-awaited era of peace. But he was also a man who was feared and respected, a man known to be better off respecting his word. Entalar ruled over Etelor and rarely left. Galäm did everything to avoid him. His old father had little time for him anyway. He had always known how to inspire fear in Galäm. His stern demeanor gave him the impression that nothing would be good enough. That's why the idea of wearing his uniform did not appeal to him. He did not like the image it gave him. That's why he went back on his word, instead proposing to explore the city.
After all, it was his first time in Yomanra, as well as his first time straying from Etelor. In other words, everything about life outside the capital was unknown to him, except for the pure and cold theory that Donovan taught him. His tutor gave an approving nod, although he would have preferred to fully fulfill his role that day. But time was of the essence, and the heart of the wise old man could not say no to a child eager for knowledge. After all, he had to respect all knowledge, and the culture of Yomanra was no exception.
The city was magnificent, the powerful sandstone buildings reminiscent of a mix between ancient Greek cities and those of the French Renaissance. This did not leave the heart of the young man indifferent, who wondered how builders could create such facades, as sophisticated as they were sober in appearance. A large circular wall surrounded the port, which, illuminated by a lighthouse at its entrance, had a high level of human activity. Everyone seemed to be descending into the street and trading with the fishermen who had just docked at the port. The hubbub of the crowd took on almost the form of a sweet melody for the prince, that of life.
Galäm proposed to his friend to taste one of the city's specialties. He agreed and did not fail to demonstrate his great knowledge by selecting the fish himself. The creature had the horrible appearance of a mixture between monkfish and an octopus. The prince did not say a word. He could have been uncomfortable, like any man facing such a monstrosity for the first time, but he instead smiled at the idea that Donovan was challenging him. Donovan liked to stimulate the curiosity of his disciple, which is why he had chosen a dish that was only appreciated by the fishermen themselves or the rare connoisseurs who did not shy away from the appearance of the fish and allowed themselves to enjoy it heartily. He also took the opportunity to specify to Galäm that this strange creature lived far from the coasts of Enamareke. In fact, following a famine caused by the wars of Isa, the people of Yomanra had dared to venture so far from the shore. The open sea was usually far too dangerous, even for the bravest sailors, and the fish itself was simply poisonous. At least for all those who did not know the few cooking secrets of Yomanra.
As the sun began to set, casting a soft orange gradient on the colors of the eastern seas, Galäm let himself be lulled by this poetry of a thousand colors. However, he had little time left to enjoy the moment, as the guards were busy lighting the city's lights, and his friend Donovan reminded him that it was time to return to the embassy. Galäm resigned himself to his fate and followed his master, well aware that disobeying and alarming the city of his absence would not be in his best interest. On their way, he observed that Yomanra was composed of several distinct neighborhoods. Each of these neighborhoods was marked by social differences among men. Thus, the port consisted of small whitewashed buildings, tainted by the wear of time and the sea air, while the city center was adorned with a myriad of colors, gilding on the windows, made of steel tree wood with a flaming red dye, and a street paved with small slightly bluish stones. However, this was just the commercial center of the city. It was neither the mages' quarter nor even still the city's governance, where the prince was heading. Yet, Galäm did not dwell on these details. He was still too dazzled to have finally seen the sea illuminated by the warmth of the Nekean sun. And, although Yomanra was one of the richest cities on the continent, no gilding would be comparable to that of Etelor, his hometown. For him, this was therefore quite ordinary. He would even say it was a disguise hiding a reality similar to each kingdom, although Galäm had only seen two. However, he did notice the peculiar style of the mages' quarter. It seemed to be made of a single block, making it impossible to identify the different buildings that composed it; almost like a true fortress within the city itself.
Magi are rare among humans. As magic is a powerful source of energy, those few individuals capable of wielding it have become able to accomplish great things. A certain wisdom is attributed to them, followed by a title of nobility for the most powerful among them. Yet, most magi are arrogant young men trained in combat. On the battlefield, they make terrifying enemies. Just thinking about it makes the prince and Donovan's backs shiver with dread. If the magi of Etelor had not been favorable to his father, he would never have managed to keep control for very long. The prince wonders what his elder has promised them to convince them to support him. What Donovan does not tell the prince is that he himself is one of them, although considered weak among the magi.
Donovan had always devoted his life to understanding the world. He was more of a sage than a mage, and as such, he was a member of a guild that had taken a vow of neutrality in order to study each province before the unification of the kingdoms. At that time, the main interest of his guild was the lost civilization of the ancient elves, who predated humans. Although now extinct, there were still some remnants of their civilization. Not much knowledge had been gathered about their culture, and yet they had once been the most dominant species on the continent, as could be seen in the remains of their cities present throughout the continent. From what Donovan knew, it was a series of cataclysms and wars that had led to their extinction.
Etelor was once the capital of the elves, and the mages of the academy had chosen it as their stronghold. It was this event that gave the city its reputation for political neutrality, which greatly contributed to the involvement of Etelor in the diplomatic and economic lives of men in the centuries that followed. The mages had moved to Etelor long before it became the human capital, seeking to learn from the ancient elven civilization, and in doing so, had established the city as a center for knowledge and scholarly pursuits, drawing people from all over the continent. The neutrality of the city, and the political autonomy of its mages, had made it a hub for trade and diplomacy.
Galäm and Donovan were now near the Etelorian embassy. It was established next to the palace of Yomanra, where the count Ëmra Mara, the former king of the region, governed it through the orders of the human capital. The dome-shaped embassy building, with its white facade, still bore the marks of its recent construction. For the people, it represents the only way to register in the official administrative documents of Etelor and the kingdom as a whole. That's why so many merchants wanting to obtain various permits allowing them to stay in the capital and do some business were in line, waiting patiently for their turn. They formed a long line along the road. One could notice that they wore a wide variety of clothes in multiple shades of color, indicative of their cultural and ethnic diversity. People from the west stood out with shades of purple similar to the prince's cloak. However, they were not the majority, this is most likely because the port of Yomanra welcomes merchant ships from all corners of the continent and it is located on one of the most frequented trade routes. The majority of merchants were dressed in dark red, a rare but highly appreciated pigment from the region of Eseka. This pigment was actually made from steel tree bark and a few other components known only to the master craftsmen. One could also see in the crowd some shades of midnight blue, cobalt blue, and a few chestnut shades, a sign of each of the cities and tribes of the north and east.
Despite the display of popular diversity, Prince Galäm and his friend Donovan, wishing not to draw attention, passed through a hidden door in the garden where a guard was waiting for them. Upon arriving in front of the man, who stood tall and proud, the guard exclaimed, "The Yomanra guard salutes you," and bowed. He added, "The High King sends you a message from Etelor." And then handed over a letter, a sealed parchment, marked with the royal seal and adorned with a dwarven rune. The guard did not know its use, but suspected that it was meant to monitor the state of the message.