Once upon a time, your Majesty, the world was ravaged by humans. There was only bloodshed and war, anywhere you could see. It was then, in that era, that a certain saint from this nation, which is called the Sixth Sea now, rose up.
Ironically, he was also a human. However, he was wise. In that disastrous age, he emerged as a saviour after having received a blessing of God, called Arcanes.
Arcanes are the embodiment of a monster's soul as you might know already. And that saint, whose name was Alief had supposedly the strongest Arcane with himself. Thereupon, with the power of that, he summoned thousands of monsters from another world. All the monsters we see now, are merely them or their children. We were brought to this world by Saint Alief to bring wrath upon the miserable humans.
So then, a war began. The world views Saint Alief as the worst of creation, but he only desired to save the world from the greed of humans. If he was not there, the destruction of the world was inevitable either ways. We, the children of Astagha have secured a number of authentic quotes from Saint Alief, which I might show you whenever you want. But I wish to quote one now.
"Among humans, there are merciful, the kind. But soon enough, faced with enough fear or reward, he will turn his back. Man is created with the element of greed. However, some among men are still wise. They have saved themselves by killing themselves."
Don't look surprised, your Majesty. What I tell you is the truest of words.
Then with the emergence of Saint Alief from the Sixth Sea, who beholded the blessing of Arcanes, the rest of the world felt as though there was a need to unite, otherwise their doom was obvious.
And they did so! But did that help them?
Within just a few years of Alief's regime, most of the kingdoms had surrendered. Millions upon millions of lives had been lost.
But yet again, at this dire moment, from the first sea arose a devil. Who claimed to have also received a blessing of God. In truth, that was a lie! It was merely that he had killed a monster whose Arcane was extremely strong. Very strong, in fact.
It said that he turned the tides of the war. He is Faidan Mairalas, and the devil as we call him. To the humans, he is revered with many titles. From "The Hero", "Father of Arcanes" to even "The Saviour".
That is because, he was the first to study the science of Arcane magic. He discovered a lot of things in a small amount of time. Like how humans and monsters are the only being capable of consuming an Arcane, while spirits and humanoids are not. The concept and rules that bind an Arcane Lock.
Arcane Lock? Oh, your Majesty, that's for another time. It will take much more time to explain.
It is believed that by the end of the war, Faidan Mairalas had consumed seven Arcanes and declared that humans are unable to consume more than seven Arcanes. He helped to create a strong resistance against Saint Alief by distributing Arcanes to the army of First Sea.
While Faidan fought with everyone behind him, Saint Alief, your Majesty was alone. Alas, how fate overtook his noble cause. Humans, they never understand.
This forest of Astagha, your Majesty, is where Saint Alief first summoned the first batch of monsters. Who are also deemed to be the strongest monsters. And you, are among them. The Arcane of Holy Apple, ever since the defeat of Saint Alief took it upon itself to be the guardian of this forest, and save its master's memoirs.
Centuries had passed by then, but your determination never shattered. I was the first among your companions, that is why I know this lot.
Why are spirits here? That's a good question your Majesty. Monsters usually have nothing to do with spirits, but you are unique. We believe that it is among your powers that you attract spirits.
After you died in the hands of the treasurous human few years ago, the spirits lost their will to be in the forest anymore, for other than a few of course, like Mar Hast. Others are loyal to you, I believe, because they have been overwhelemed by your aura. But as soon as you rewoke, they flocked over, just like before! In fact, more spirits are coming. They will be coming from all over the world, your Majesty. Until the day you are no more. You are truly the King of spirits, alongside of being the guardian of Astagha.
Mar Hast, you ask, your Majesty? That is another history. Several centuries after the martyrdom of Saint Alief, there was another war that took place upon the Sixth Sea. It was a civil war, actually. Because of your presence, the Forest of Astagha was considered to be a dungeon, meaning it is a lair of all kinds of harmful creatures against humans. I guess they are not wrong though, sre they? It is the civil war that Mar Hast was forced into the Forest of Astagha while fleeing from an enemy fleet. As he entered, you by your grace, killed his enemies, but he died as well, unintentionally, I must mention. Nonetheless, he took it as a mercy and is among your most loyal companions.
Due to your disappearance for the last few years, the Royalties of Sixth Sea deemed that the guardian of this dungeon, which is this Forest, had suffered from something. To benifit from this 'opportunity', that is why they had been regularly sending humans, called adventurers to come and dare clear the dungeon. Clearing the dungeon effectively means to kill you, the guardian, your Majesty.
Ever since the death of Saint Alief, no humans had ever been graceful to us monsters again. They are hostile to us, so we are hostile to them. Now I say, as you are our King. Our priority is to subdue the coming of adventurers and ensure our safety in the Forest.
Lastly, your Majesty. I believe it is important to mention that I am a human myself.