Arc 0 -- Prologue: The Heart-Wrentching First Month Outdoors.
It has been 1000 years since the war with the humans ended. The world has changed much since.
By salvaging and utilizing the technology left behind after their defeat, in addition to the assistance of the machines that rebelled against the humans (long since accepted into society, now known as Automatoids) repairing the damage humanity caused had long since been a success; Global warming, resources, living standards, and overall population (considering almost every species is a long living one) are just a mere handful.
The world has since adopted a new way of life where they have integrated this technology into society and adopted a way of life where magic and technology have long since become one in the same. Of course, the teachings of the old ways as well as what the past war has taught the world have never been forgotten and no single entity has forgotten what they are and what it means to be what they are.
Speaking of the past, it has now been around 20+ years since the remaining human population had awoken from stasis. Across the world, they are refugees, and with how have become, there is virtually no way they can "start afresh".
In a stroke of luck though, a law was passed for this inevitable time, which protects humans from being targeted or hunted by the rest of the world, on the basis that history will not be repeated nor one species "degrade to the level of a human". Humankind has since tried there best to prosper in the new world and no major conflicts have occurred, save for the hostility and prejudice coming their way, which is expected and understandable ... so far.
Anyways, this Arc serves as the prelude to the story itself.
Our twin protagonists, Hiroshi and Amaye Karugame, who are also witches were born and raised in isolation, deep in the paradoxical woodlands known as the "Elderwoods" which is home to a number of Feral Beasts. Up until the age of 15, the twins were free to do whatever they wanted, except leave their home which was what they wanted most of all, for reasons never explained.
However, they were promised that they would be allowed to venture outdoors from the age of 15, which for a witch is considered the start of a witch's "coming of age" part of their lives. The path to adulthood and thus, no longer technically children, have the right to go from the nest.
Unfortunately, when the day came, it was far from how they were expecting.
Do you want to know more? If yes was your answer, then I insist that you read the tale that will now begin. A story of finding one;s place in the world, a world no one is ever truly ready form.