The continent of Kassiar is a beautiful place, a world full of vibrant colors. At its center lies the kingdom of Veridia, which has existed for almost 1,000 years. To the north of the continent is the land of beastfolk, known as Northaria. In the eastern forests lies the elven kingdom of Lisandria. After a war nearly 800 years ago, the elves were pushed back into the forests of Eivendra, where the sacred tree Yggdrasil stands. The kingdom of beastfolk was also forced north, and Northaria was founded on the remnants of their former land.
Between the beastfolk kingdom and the remnants of the elves hidden in the forests lies the Gargraine Mountain Range. According to legend, these mountains are home to those who can forge the most powerful weapons and those who suffered the greatest losses 800 years ago during the "Taint of the Ancients," as that war is now called. Dwarves practically disappeared as a result of these events.
The continent of Kassiar was once divided into four regions, and the Gargraine Mountains did not exist. Everything changed when an unprecedented disaster struck the land: torrential rains covered the continent. The rain lasted for months, destroying all crops. When the rains finally ceased, those who survived faced a devastating famine. Half of the continent's population perished in those events. Those who endured both the famine and the floods were met with further challenges: hurricanes, earthquakes, pillaging, and raids on neighboring territories became commonplace. Every day turned into a battle for survival.
Amidst all this chaos, humans began to perceive the world differently in their struggle for survival, awakening a mysterious power. The first to harness this power was an ancient ancestor of the current royal family, the founder of the Kingdom of Veridia. He discovered how to control this power, awaken it, and recognize those capable of awakening. In time, he gathered a strong army of individuals able to wield what is now called "magic."
With this army, he turned against the nations that had long terrorized human lands, and humanity began to win victories. Humans, while inherently weaker than other races, were inventive. Elves were exceptionally agile and skilled in archery, while beastfolk possessed great strength and superior combat instincts. Dwarves, however, were already on the brink of extinction due to their inability to fight effectively.
Over time, every kingdom saw the rise of individuals capable of wielding magic, but it was already too late. The remnants of the elves retreated to the forests under the protection of the sacred tree and the Lioras River. The Lioras River, also known as the "River of Forgetting," flows quietly and peacefully eastward, toward the forests of Eivendra. Legend has it that its waters wash away memories, allowing those who cross it to forget their past or start anew. The river became a natural boundary between the elves of Lisandria and the rest of the world.
The surviving beastfolk withdrew to the northern lands, to what remained of their territory. The dwarves retreated to the mountains, though their current fate is unknown. Some say they perished, while others believe they founded a hidden village in one of the kingdoms. However, most agree that no one could survive the ascent of that deadly mountain. As it turned out, the mountain became a zone of immense magical energy discharge. According to legend, no one has ever returned from there...
— Young master! — A maid burst into the room, out of breath. She must have been looking for me for a while.
It had been a year since I was reborn in this body. I developed quickly, and within my first year, I was able to read a book about the history of this continent. The history was quite diverse, but all I could find covered the last 800 years. Anything older was vague, and after 1,000 years, the history completely disappeared. Perhaps we simply didn't have books with such ancient information.
"The Taint of the Ancients... What a strange name," I thought.
The events were quite tragic, but since then, nothing significant seemed to have happened. Minor disputes among nobles, arguments over various issues—nothing serious. It had been 800 years since those events. Perhaps the world had stabilized. Still, it was no time to relax. I needed to grow stronger, learn this strange magic, and perhaps even resume my training with the sword. If I could, I might master that peculiar technique. However, my body wasn't fully cooperative yet, and I sometimes experienced unpleasant accidents
—«Are you reading that book again?»— the maid asked, pointing to the book lying on the floor.
— «Sorry, Marika,»— I replied, smiling sheepishly.
—«The lady asked you not to run off like that and take books without permission,»— she said with slight annoyance.
Marika picked up the book with a hint of displeasure and placed it back on the shelf, where a few other books stood. There weren't many — our family wasn't very wealthy. We lived in a small estate in a modest town called Mirandor.
My father was the baron of this town. A kind man, he was much loved by the people, despite the town's poverty. Few merchants visited, and the kingdom wasn't eager to assist such a remote settlement. Mirandor was located near the Gargraine Mountains, close to the border of three kingdoms.
The border of the three kingdoms, or the "Cross," as it was formally called, marked the meeting point of human, elven, and beastfolk lands. No one dared to cross it. Of course, there were always people, merchants, and others who tried to venture into elven or beastfolk territories, but they rarely returned with anything. Similarly, elves and beastfolk rarely tried to enter human lands.
—«Young master, it's time for lunch,»— Marika interrupted my thoughts.
— «Alright, Marika,» — I said, standing up from the floor.
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Marika walked with me as we descended the staircase from the second floor.
—«It's a hot day today,»— said my father as he entered the house. His face looked slightly weary after working in the town.
—«Yes, sir, it truly is a very hot day,»— Marika replied understandingly.
Noticing me walking with Marika, my father tried to make another silly face. It might seem ridiculous, but he truly was the strongest person in the town.
—«Let's head to the table already,»— my father said, tired from his day in the city.
—«It's a hot day today,»— said my father, walking into the house. His face looked a bit tired after working in the town.
—«Yes, sir, it really is a very hot day,»— replied Marika with an understanding smile.
When my father noticed me walking with our maid, he made one of his silly faces again. It might seem foolish, but no one doubted — he was the strongest man in town.
—«Let's go to the table already,»— my father said, clearly worn out from his tasks in the city.
Although he was a baron, he always tried to help everyone in need. Whether it was lifting something heavy or helping with physically demanding tasks, it was never a problem for him. He was in excellent shape. Every morning, he practiced with his sword, and he was considered a very skilled knight. I had watched his training several times, and his skills were truly remarkable. Even in my previous life, I would have confidently said he was excellent at it. Combined with that strange power of his, he could have been a significant force on the battlefield. However, since that incident, I hadn't seen him use it again — perhaps it was too draining.
We headed to the kitchen on the first floor. Walking through the small corridor, I glanced out the window, admiring the view. A peaceful, quiet life spread out before me. In the distance, I could see a forest. People said it was a dangerous place inhabited by monsters, and entry was strictly forbidden. Occasionally, knights or even mages were sent from the capital to reduce the number of monsters.
When we entered the kitchen, the first thing that caught my eye was a woman standing by the stove, preparing lunch. It was my mother, Ellina. She took a small pot of food from the stove and placed it on the table, where a few plates were already set.
—«Miss Ellina, Ruen was on the second floor again, reading that book,»— Marika informed my mother.
My mother smiled and pulled me close.
— You're so clever! At your age, you're already able to get those heavy books and look at the pictures.
She was a little naive, thinking I was just looking at the pictures. In reality, I could read them very well. At first, I had some problems with the language, but now I could understand it perfectly. Only Marika knew that I could read. She kept telling my parents, but no one believed her. After all, how could a one-year-old read such complex books?
—«Miss, let me handle the rest of the cooking,»— Marika offered.
—«Alright, Marika,»— my mother agreed.
I was seated at the table, and my mother sat down next to me. Marika brought out a small jug of porridge and scooped some into a bowl, placing it in front of me. That porridge was for me.
She then went to the pot with stewed potatoes and meat, serving it into bowls for herself, my father, and my mother.
The kitchen was filled with warm chatter. My parents were discussing something, and Marika joined in. The sunlight poured through the windows, lighting up the room. This place felt wonderful. This life was perfect.
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Two years later
I was now three years old.
By this age, I could speak well, although I avoided showing off my full eloquence. It would have been strange for a three-year-old to speak better than his parents. Marika knew about my abilities. She often kept me company and helped me learn about this world. She frequently talked about the events of the "Taint of the Ancients," calling them foolish and expressing a hope that they would never happen again. Her expression turned a bit sad whenever she mentioned the kingdom's history. However, she loved talking about the other kingdoms, especially the elves.
One day, I managed to sneak into my parents' room, where I found a book about magic. It detailed methods of application, purposes, and how magic could be used. Despite the vibrant beauty of this world, it turned out to be quite dangerous. Many monsters could attack even in these peaceful times. However, magic provided an effective way to deal with them.
The book explained that magic typically awakens naturally around the age of 15. Being much younger, I decided to try a method of concentration described in the book. It was similar to working with aura, but instead of focusing on the entire body, you had to concentrate specifically on your heart.
Sitting cross-legged, I began to concentrate. After some time, I felt something swirling around me — particles, like tiny specks of dust, were everywhere. But as soon as I broke my concentration, they disappeared. After a few hours of practice, I was able to sense these particles even without focusing deeply. I felt warmth in my chest when I could perceive them.
Opening my eyes and focusing on these particles, I saw a breathtaking sight: tiny motes of different colors, like glowing sparks, surrounded me. It was unimaginably beautiful. The warmth in my chest was likely linked to my mana core, the source of magic.
At the age of three, I managed to do something that was typically only achievable at 15. It was an amazing feeling. I learned that there were four stages of mana core development and four substages related to its evolution:
First stage: A green core with an emerald hue. Its substage involves a blue ring orbiting the core, moving like a planetary orbit.
Second stage: A blue core resembling the color of the ocean. Its substage involves two red sparks orbiting the core, like small flashes.
Third stage: A bright red core, reminiscent of a forest fire, with tongues of flame seemingly ready to burst out. The substage includes three lightning bolts circling the core, creating an explosive effect.
Fourth stage: A yellow core, like a sphere of lightning, brimming with immense energy. Its substage is still not fully studied. Legends tell of someone who reached this stage, but no one knows what lies within the core.
I managed to form my first green core. It was still weak, and I couldn't fully use its magic. However, I found a book with simple spells and decided to try one. The language in the book was ancient and complex. I read the first spell, focused on my hand, and began to gather mana there. Perhaps due to the small amount of mana I had, I couldn't complete the process. Still, I managed to produce a faint spark of fire in my palm.
—«Well, if I keep practicing, I'll definitely master this magic,»— I said, clenching the spark in my hand.
—«Magic is amazing!»— I exclaimed with excitement.
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End of Chapter 5.