Dhymeria, a vast land where empires flourish and cities expand, harbors not only diverse civilizations and cultures but also heroes whose feats echo through generations. When we think about the immensity of this continent and its myriad species, we feel as if we are in a fantasy world—a universe where the impossible seems just a thought away.
Despite its natural beauty and the pulsating life energy emanating from every piece of ground, there are remote and uninhabited places where mysterious and sinister forces act in the shadows. Some sages claim that this malevolent presence seeks to maintain a hidden order, a fragile balance, but it's always suspected that entities and beings beyond human comprehension lurk in the darkest recesses of the world, waiting for an opportunity to emerge. When speaking of evil, it's common among the people to believe that such creatures feed on souls and devour bodies, with armies that march in the shadows to consume villages and cities, reducing them to dust.
For humans, the arrival of night is a harbinger—a constant reminder that the void is not truly empty. Fear and anguish mark the skin of all men, permeating their hearts. Few are those who can say what happens when someone is taken by these creatures. There are rumors of an unfathomable abyss where these disappeared are cast, while ancient songs speak of a castle that reigns in the underworld—a fortress where darkness is the only law.
Humanity imagined that brute force would be the only requirement to rule in the underworld. However, the supreme court of the Empire of Deli revealed to the world that even the creatures of darkness have rulers—figures mentioned only in ancient texts and legends, never before seen by mortal eyes. Since the creation of all things, ancient books have always mentioned the need for a balance between light and darkness—that good and evil coexist to keep the world in harmony. "There can be no light where there is no darkness to be fought," say the words written in stone, reminding us of what we must fear and what we must follow.
Humanity, over the ages, has become accustomed to living under the weight of darkness, adapting to its presence. Only those blessed with exceptional physical and mental strength have managed to rise to fight against incarnate evil. These individuals, true elite soldiers, were chosen to defend villages and cities, being known as Sentinels. Possessing sharp minds, bodies forged in discipline, and indomitable spirits, they are often seen as "those touched by God," the only ones capable of sending the creatures back to the hell they came from.
But even the stories of Sentinel heroism have their limitations. There are frequent reports of entire villages and even cities being exterminated in a single night. Cries of pain and despair tear through the nocturnal silence, and when the sun rises, all that remains are traces—bloodstains or scattered body parts, silent witnesses of the horror that occurred there. Some of these places become ghosts—empty, desolate—a grim reminder that not even the Sentinels are invincible.
Irina, while walking alongside Dinis, observed the dark and desolate landscapes and commented on the Sentinels, explaining the rarity of those who reach higher levels. "It's very rare to see a Sentinel of the Shadow level or even above," she explained. "They are exceptions, living legends. Songs and tales are written about their deeds, and their stories are passed down from generation to generation."
Dinis, fascinated by Irina's words, absorbed every detail. The continent of Dhymeria was vaster and more dangerous than he could ever have imagined.