500 years ago...
The Great Empire of Nexus was a land that thrived under the rule of the Mages, who governed through a system that made the words "balance of power" sound like a catchy slogan for a mediocre soap opera. The Fire Mages and Water Mages would take turns ruling the Empire, like kids swapping out controllers during a video game, hoping the next level would go better than the last.
But then Emperor Kai, a water mage, got assassinated during his own coronation, which, to be honest, is a pretty rude way to say, "Welcome to the throne." Alongside him, Empress Lian and the Crown Prince Shen and Princess Mei were also murdered, which made for one very awkward reception afterwards.
The assassins were sneaky too, using only Air and Earth Magic, which left everyone scratching their heads—and looking very suspiciously at each other.
Naturally, the people of Nexus went into full-blown panic mode. The balance of power between the Mage factions was thrown out the window, and instead of just letting it be, everyone decided to start pointing fingers. Of course, Fire Mages and Water Mages accusing each other of treason is kind of like watching two toddlers argue over who gets the last cookie—it's loud, there's a lot of crying, and nobody really wins.
Enter Chancellor Nereus, a water mage with a grudge the size of the Empire itself. He was quick to declare that the assassins must've been Fire Mages because who else would be audacious enough to take out his favorite water emperor? Nereus was the kind of guy who could turn a minor parking violation into a full-blown conspiracy theory, so naturally, he sent his soldiers and Water Mages straight into battle against Azar, a fire mage who, until this moment, was just minding his own business and probably thinking about what to have for dinner.
Meanwhile, in the sleepy village of Marok, Azar and his family were about to get the worst door knock of their lives. Soldiers barged into Azar's cottage, and he did what any reasonable Fire Mage would do—he set everything on fire. Not exactly the warm welcome the soldiers were hoping for, but hey, it's the thought that counts.
"Move in, Water Mages!" the commanding officer shouted, as if that would solve anything. Water started splashing around everywhere, and soon the cottage looked more like a scene out of a chaotic water park. Steam filled the air, making everyone wonder if they were fighting or just participating in a really intense sauna session.
Despite his best efforts—and some pretty epic pyrotechnics—Azar was eventually overwhelmed. Icy chains wrapped around him, dragging him to the ground. At this point, things were looking pretty grim for our fiery protagonist.
Enter Chancellor Nereus, the man of the hour, who looked down at Azar with all the compassion of a tax collector. "It's over," he declared, as if delivering the final line in a particularly bad action movie.
Azar, ever the misunderstood hero, spat back, "I didn't do it!" But Nereus wasn't buying it. Why let evidence get in the way of a perfectly good grudge?
The execution of Azar and his family was carried out with all the subtlety of a hammer to the face. As Azar's ashes cooled, the Fire Mages erupted in fury. If Nereus thought this would be the end of it, he clearly underestimated just how much Fire Mages hate being wrongfully accused (and executed).
Enter Vulcan, a Fire Mage who decided that the best way to handle this injustice was to go on a rampage that would make a volcano blush. Hundreds of Water Mages were turned into steam in what historians would later call "a slight overreaction."
Of course, the Water Mages weren't just going to take this lying down. Poseidon, a Water Mage with a knack for making a splash (literally), stepped up to defend his fellow Mages. The resulting feud between Vulcan and Poseidon was the kind of rivalry that could only be described as "petty" and "likely to end the world as we know it."
The battlefield became a disaster zone, with flames and tidal waves crashing together in a battle that was less about strategy and more about who could throw the biggest tantrum. Villages were obliterated, mountains were reduced to rubble, and bystanders were left wondering if moving to a nice, non-magical country was still an option.
Just when it seemed like Nexus would be burnt to a crisp or drowned in a tidal wave, Military Chief Minister General Zuko—who had apparently read a book on conflict resolution at some point—proposed that maybe, just maybe, splitting the Empire in two could be a solution. You know, like dividing a pie, except with a lot more bloodshed and magical devastation.
And so, the Empire of Nexus was divided, not out of wisdom or foresight, but because everyone was just too tired to keep fighting. Aquapolis became the kingdom of the Water Mages, and Ignis the kingdom of the Fire Mages. Peace was restored, but only because the two sides couldn't stand the sight of each other.
As for Vulcan and Poseidon? They vanished, probably to find somewhere less chaotic to settle their differences, like the bottom of the ocean or the inside of an active volcano.
And thus, the Great Empire of Nexus was no more—torn apart by stubbornness, grudges, and one very inconvenient assassination. The people were left to pick up the pieces and wonder if maybe, just maybe, they should've let the humans without powers take a turn at ruling.