In the world of Falstne, the Human Realm lies at the center, bordered by the Elven Realm to the west, a vast forest teeming with ancient magic, and the untamed Beastmen Realm to the east. The three realms, home to the major races of Falstne, are divided by ancient, impenetrable barriers—boundaries whose origins have faded into legend. Over centuries, these barriers have come to be known as the Boundaries of the Great Realms.
For hundreds of years, the realms lived in isolation. The elves sought communion with nature, the humans pursued knowledge and technology, and the beastmen yearned for unbridled freedom. Each race followed its own path, unaware of the disaster looming on the horizon.
No one could have predicted the day a deadly plague would strike all three realms, ravaging their populations and leaving millions dead.
In the Human Realm, power and influence were divided between 5 great kingdoms and 29 cities, each classified by its military strength and wealth. The kingdoms ruled over vast territories, while the cities operated with varying degrees of autonomy under their rule. Lydia, one of the five great kingdoms, had once ranked lowest among them. But that changed when King Ferius, alongside his champion, Holy Paladin Reimus, vanquished the malevolent soul behind the Plague of Demons. Lydia's prestige soared, solidifying its place as the most powerful kingdom in the realm.
King Ferius's victory not only brought stability to his kingdom but also ushered in a fragile peace among all five kingdoms. An alliance was formed, and every two years, the rulers of the Human Realm gathered for the Congregation of Kings in Lydia to discuss matters of state, settle disputes, and ensure the prosperity of their realm.
Today, two decades after the Plague of Demons, preparations were underway for the tenth Congregation of Kings. In Lydia's grand castle, the Great Hall of Kings was being readied for the arrival of the 34 rulers—5 kings and the 29 city lords—along with their closest advisors.
"King Ferius has arrived!"
A voice boomed through the hall as the massive doors swung open. All 66 attendees—five kings, 29 city lords, and their trusted aides—rose in unison. King Ferius, clad in a resplendent violet robe and crowned in gold, entered with deliberate, measured steps. Each footfall echoed like thunder. In his right hand, he carried a gleaming staff, its white gem pulsating with radiant light magic. To those gathered, he embodied the very height of human power—the king who had once saved them all.
Walking beside him was Holy Paladin Reimus, his golden armor gleaming under the hall's flickering light. With his golden hair, sharp eyes, and a face both noble and severe, Reimus was a figure of legend. Draped in a red cape adorned with a crimson cross, he was the Protector of the Human Realm and King Ferius's right hand, second only to the king in might and renown.
King Ferius took his place upon the grandest throne in the hall, and Reimus stood behind him, ever vigilant.
Raising his hand, King Ferius conjured a shimmering barrier around the room. "The tenth Congregation of Kings shall now commence."
The hall fell silent as the king's voice echoed through the chamber. "Though there have been no further sightings of the Enigmatic Soul since the Plague of Demons, we must remain vigilant. The threat is not gone. The kingdoms and cities have strengthened their forces of mages, priests, and paladins trained in Holy Magic, but we cannot grow complacent."
The mention of the Enigmatic Souls—beings of immense dark power that had once claimed millions of lives—cast a heavy shadow over the assembly. The kings and city lords exchanged uneasy glances, knowing all too well the devastation these entities could bring.
Without warning, a beam of light shattered the barrier Ferius had erected. A shadowy figure appeared at the center of the room, coalescing into the shape of an old woman. Panic rippled through the hall as the rulers and their guards began to prepare for battle.
"Children, your magic is insignificant to me," the old woman's voice reverberated through the hall. With a single word, "Dispel," she neutralized every spell being cast. The rulers were frozen in place, bound by an unseen force that left them powerless.
Fear gripped the room. Whoever this woman was, her power was overwhelming.
She moved toward the center of the circular table, leaning on a wooden cane. Her frail, weathered appearance was a sharp contrast to the awe-inspiring force she commanded. Though she wore crude, tattered robes, those in the room knew they stood before no ordinary woman.
"G-Granny Zisa!" King Ferius stammered, his voice trembling. At once, more than half of the kings and city lords dropped to their knees. Only the youngest among them, rulers who had ascended after the Plague of Demons, remained standing—confused, yet cautious.
Granny Zisa was no myth. She was the second-in-command of the World Government, a shadowy council said to reside in the heavens above Falstne, composed of beings far beyond the strength of any mortal. Legends told that these protectors of the world guided the realms from afar.
"What a pitiful sight," Granny Zisa muttered, her gaze sweeping across the room. "Rise. I'm not here to waste time. I've come to deliver the prophecy of Malzahar."
The kings and city lords returned to their seats, their terror momentarily subsiding. But Granny Zisa's next words struck the room like lightning.
"Oh, and Lydia will need a new king soon. In 5 years, Ferius will come with me. His time here is done. Find a good successor."
Gasps filled the hall, even from Reimus, whose stoic expression faltered for the briefest moment. The idea of King Ferius stepping down was unthinkable.
The silence stretched on as the weight of her words sank in. Then, her tone shifted. "Now, listen carefully, children. Not all of you are worthy to hear what I am about to say."
With a flick of her hand, a barrier far stronger than the one Ferius had created enveloped the room. Her eyes darkened to pitch black, and a crimson aura crackled to life around her frail body.
A voice, deep and otherworldly, thundered from her mouth. "For the humans have sinned again, they shall perish. Blood shall flow once more, and death will consume all. When the black moon rises, the darkness that once roamed Falstne shall return."
A single crimson tear slid down Granny Zisa's cheek. All who could hear her words prostrated themselves in terror.
"But the heavens are not cruel," her voice softened, though its power remained. "Fate offers a chance at salvation. Whether humanity is saved or destroyed lies in the hands of those chosen by destiny."
As the last word left her lips, the crimson light faded, and her eyes returned to their normal hue. She collapsed to her knees, coughing blood.
"Ferius," she rasped, her gaze sharp despite her frailness. "Do you understand?"
King Ferius bowed his head and spoke telepathically to Reimus. 'Investigate the summoning of the Enigmatic Soul. We must find out who is behind this.'
Reimus vanished from the hall, leaving behind a chilling silence. Only eight people had heard the prophecy: the kings of the five great kingdoms, Reimus, the Prime Minister of Serdin, and Arch Mage Elena of Villnore.
Granny Zisa's voice cut through the stillness. "Not a word of this leaves the hall." With a final wave of her hand, white flames consumed her body, and she disappeared without a trace.
King Ferius sat in deep thought, his mind clouded with fear and suspicion. He looked to the rulers still seated around him. Among them, he knew, lurked a traitor.
Raising his staff, he sealed the room once again with a barrier.
"Let us resume," he said quietly, though his heart was consumed by the coming storm. The Human Realm stood on the brink of disaster, and the flames of chaos were ready to ignite once more.