(Ps, this chapter contains a lot of worldbuilding so sorry in advance.)
After finishing my morning run, I quenched my thirst with a few deep gulps of human blood not the best tasting out of all the options but it'll suffice. The Forge was alive with the rhythmic clang of metal and the muffled voices of those training or working. Today, I wanted to try something different. My curiosity burned brighter than usual, and so, I decided to explore.
With my heightened hearing, navigating the Forge had become second nature. I no longer needed to click my tongue to create echoes. Each subtle shift in the air painted a picture in my mind; every creak of wood, every flicker of movement became a thread I could follow. It was like the world itself whispered its secrets to me, and I only had to listen.
As I wandered, my steps brought me to a vast hall. The scent of aged parchment and ink lingered faintly in the air. I tilted my head, taking in the towering shelves stacked with what had to be books or scrolls. This had to be the library. A place like this must hold some important information ... and maybe some answers, I thought.
Still, time was a factor. I stepped further in, my footsteps muffled on the stone floor. There was a presence near the center of the room—seated, calm, and steady. I approached what I assumed to be the librarian's desk. "Excuse me," I said, clearing my throat. "Could you tell me the time?"
"It's 9:17, young lad," came the response, the voice aged and deliberate.
I nodded to myself. That gave me about three hours before I was expected back at the arena. Enough time to dig into something worthwhile. "Sir," I began, "do you have a book—or anything, really—that covers the major races of Gaia? Their strengths, their weaknesses, where they live?"
The man chuckled softly, the sound like the crackle of a hearth on a cold night. "Curious, aren't you? A good trait to have." I heard the scrape of a drawer and the faint clink of something being set on the desk. "Here. This device contains detailed information on the major races. Just channel some Aether into it, and it'll narrate everything you need to know."
I took the device, its surface smooth and slightly cool to the touch. "Thank you," I said, bowing my head slightly. With that, I left the library and made my way back to my quarters. Settling into the worn but sturdy chair in my room, I channeled a small thread of Aether into the device. It hummed softly, then came to life with a clear, crisp voice.
"Gaia," the voice began, "is home to a multitude of races with eight being the most dominant races, each contributing to the delicate balance of power across the continent. These races, while unique in their strengths and weaknesses, have carved territories that reflect their nature and societies. Each race uniquely uses Aether; vampires, dragon-born, and werewolves use their aether to fuel their racial abilities. Humans, witches, and dwarves use Aether through various Aetherial spells. The power of spells varies but they are about as powerful as racial abilities. Fairies and elves mix the two due to their excellent attunement with aether. "
The first race it described was the dragon-born, the undisputed apex predator of Gaia. "Dragon-born," the voice intoned, "are the mightiest of all races, their strength and resilience unmatched. They possess incredible physical power, far beyond that of any other race, and are natural masters of Aether. Their unique abilities include dragon fire and draconic form. They have similar appearances to all humanoid races with the difference being their horns and tails. Their draconic forms are a mystery."
The narration continued, "Dragon-born have very few weaknesses. Their most notable flaw is their low numbers due to low reproduction. This, combined with their inherently solitary nature, prevents them from dominating the world outright. They inhabit the southernmost part of the continent, a vast and treacherous land filled with volcanic peaks and molten rivers. Few dare venture into their territory."
Next came the vampires, my kind. I leaned forward instinctively as the device continued. "Vampires are a close second to the dragon-born in terms of power. They possess exceptional speed, strength, and agility, and their ability to manipulate Aether rivals that of dragon-born. What sets them apart from dragons are their main weaknesses. Vampires are weak to sunlight, holy Aether, and Aetherial Silver. This only affects the weakest of vampires. The strongest abilities are their charm, regeneration, and a random ability depending on the blessing rank."
It explained how Charm worked. "Charm does not work on beings with strong mental defenses or those with certain blessings, such as the dragon-born. Vampires also have physical vulnerabilities. While sunlight does not outright kill them, as myths suggest, it burns and weakens any vampire with a blessing weaker than rank B. Their need for blood to sustain their strength is another limitation, making them dependent on others."
The device described the vampires' territory—a frigid and unforgiving land in the northernmost regions of Gaia. The harsh environment didn't affect the vampires much since temperatures didn't matter that much to us.
The narration shifted to werewolves. "Werewolves are a race defined by their primal strength and adaptability. They are shapeshifters, able to transform into powerful wolf-like forms at will. In these forms, their physical abilities are amplified tenfold, making them nearly unstoppable in close combat. Their bite is particularly toxic depending on the Aether used."
However, their strength came with a cost. "Weaker werewolves are also vulnerable to Aetherial Silver—a material that disrupts their regenerative abilities. Additionally, their transformations, while powerful, consume immense amounts of Aether and inhibit their rationale, limiting their prolonged use in battle."
What intrigued me most was their relationship with vampires. "While werewolves and vampires are not sworn enemies, their animosity stems from a deeper, primal conflict. Werewolf blood is highly addictive and intoxicating to vampires, making it both a delicacy and a source of tension. This, combined with territorial disputes, has fostered a mutual disdain between the two races."
The werewolves' territory lay to the east—a land of spanning plateaus and rolling hills, wild and untamed, much like its inhabitants.
The elves were next, their description painting a picture of grace and unity with nature. "Elves are a diverse race, comprising forest elves, wood elves, and dark elves. All elves share a deep connection to nature and possess extraordinary longevity, living for centuries. They are natural-born Aether users, their magic attuned to the nature elements."
Dark elves, I learned, were not inherently evil as suggested in my old world. "Dark elves are simply aligned with different entities than their lighter kin. Their blessings often grant them mastery over shadow and darkness, but this does not make them malevolent."
The elves' territory spanned the western forests, a vast and lush expanse teeming with life. They shared this land with the fairies, though little was known about their winged neighbors.
The device then described the central territory, home to humans and dwarves. "Humans," it began, "are the most adaptable and populous race in Gaia. While they lack the innate racial abilities of others, their blessings allow them to mimic certain traits of other races via spells, albeit in diluted forms. This adaptability, combined with their relatively short lifespans, drives them to innovate and expand at a rapid pace."
Dwarves, on the other hand, were a study in contrasts. "Dwarves are master craftsmen, their ingenuity unmatched. They are physically strong and resilient, making them formidable warriors. However, their shorter lifespans compared to other elder races—just over two centuries—make them more aligned with humans in terms of perspective and ambition."
The two races shared the central territory, and their lands were divided equally. This cooperation fostered a unique blend of cultures and technologies.
"While the witch race is the most mysterious, the only known facts are that they use spells for alchemy and have lifespans similar to dwarves. Their island is restricted to most visitors."
The device fell silent, signaling the end of the recording. I sat back, my mind buzzing with the sheer complexity of Gaia's dynamics. Each race had its strengths and weaknesses, its place in the grand scheme of things. But one thing was clear: power in this world was balanced on a razor's edge.
I was lost in thought when a sudden, sharp blow to the back of my head jolted me forward. Pain flared, and my senses went haywire. I spun around, heart pounding, only to find my grandfather standing there, arms crossed and an amused smirk on his face.
"H-How did you do that!?" I stammered, still reeling. I hadn't heard him approach at all.
He raised an eyebrow. "I used Aether to suppress my presence. It's a basic technique, but effective against someone so distracted."
I clenched my fists, embarrassment, and frustration swirling within me. "I didn't hear a thing…"
"That's the point," he said, his tone turning stern. "Now, why aren't you in the arena? It's already noon."
"Noon?!" I shot up from my chair, panic setting in. "Alright, I'm going. Are we sparring again?"
"Of course," he said with a slight smirk. "Now get moving before I decide to make your afternoon even harder."
I rushed out of the room, my thoughts still spinning. This world is less dangerous than I'd imagined.
Little did I know, these words would come back to haunt me in ways I could never have imagined.