As I walked through the castle's opulent halls, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the grandeur that surrounded me.
The ten-minute journey from the throne hall to the library seemed to fly by, and before I knew it, I was standing before the library's imposing doors.
The handle clicked softly as I turned it, and the door swung open, releasing a wave of musty air that was both familiar and comforting.
As I stepped inside, my eyes adjusted to the soft light that filtered through the windows, illuminating the rows upon rows of bookcases that stretched out before me like sentinels guarding ancient secrets.
The titles on the spines of the books seemed to dance before my eyes as I made my way towards the history and geography sections, driven by a sense of purpose.
My fingers trailed over the spines of the books, pausing at titles that caught my attention.
"The Forgotten Eras of Eridoria,"
"The Djinn Wars: A Historical Account,"
"Eridoria's Hidden Landscapes," and
"A Traveler's Guide to the Realms of Eridoria" were just a few of the volumes that drew me in.
As I delved into the pages of these books, I felt the world of Eridoria coming alive before my eyes.
The connection between the virtual world of "Aetheric Chronicles" and the reality I now inhabited was both astonishing and humbling.
As I read on, I felt the boundaries between fantasy and reality blurring, and I began to see the world of Eridoria in a new light.
As I immersed myself in the pages of the book, the world of Eridoria unfolded before me like a vibrant tapestry.
This super-earth, larger in scale than our own, boasted a diverse array of landscapes and cultures. With only 60% of its surface covered in water, the remaining land was home to a multitude of races, each with their unique characteristics and traditions.
Originally comprising seven continents, Eridoria had undergone significant transformations over the centuries.
Two continents had been lost during the cataclysmic event known as the Great Transgression, while a third had sunk beneath the waves during the first Human Djinn war.
The four remaining continents stood as testaments to the world's enduring diversity.
The Western continent, also known as Eurazania, was a realm of contrasts, where beastmen and dwarves coexisted in a delicate balance of power.
The beastmen, with their distinctive physical traits, dominated the Rastag Kingdom, while the dwarves, renowned for their mastery of blacksmithing and fiery tempers, ruled over the kingdom of Darv.
Knights and Unique types were the most common system archetypes among the beastmen, whereas the dwarves tended to be Unique or Mage types.
In stark contrast, the Eastern continent, known as the Silver Moon, was a land of breathtaking beauty, teeming with lush vegetation and inhabited by the enigmatic elves.
United under a single empire, the elves were celebrated for their remarkable longevity and profound connection to nature.
Their culture was characterized by a deep appreciation for serenity and harmony with the environment.
The Northern Continent, shrouded in mystery, was the realm of the enigmatic Djinn.
Little was known about this land, except that it was once inhabited by humans, and that it was the site of the Djinn's first appearance in ancient history.
The continent's dark past was marked by the Djinn's invasion, which had far-reaching consequences, including the sinking of another continent.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of the impending second Human Djinn war, knowing that I would soon be embroiled in the conflict.
Shifting my focus to the Southern Continent, my new home, I was struck by its vastness. Only the Dark Continent, home to the Djinn, surpassed it in size.
The Southern Continent, also known as Heidal continent, was a land of plenty, rich in ores and minerals that were highly prized by the dwarves.
In exchange for these resources, the dwarves shared their exceptional craftsmanship, creating a prosperous trade that benefited both parties.
The continent was unified under the rule of the powerful Heidal royal family, with four prominent dukedoms serving as guardians of the empire's borders.
To the north lay the domains of the Ainsworth family, known for their unwavering and unshakeable resolve.
In the east, the Silva Family held sway, their cunning and strategic prowess earning them a reputation as master politicians.
The west was the realm of the Mendea Family. They were skilled tradesmen. And were the ones mainly in charge of stabilizing the economy.
And in the south, the Vermillion family stood watch, their military prowess and bravery in battle inspiring awe and respect throughout the land.
But there existed one notable exception to the United Human Empire's dominion over humanity: the enigmatic Island Nation of Jistav.
This mysterious archipelago remained the only human territory to maintain its independence.
It was also the home of Jason Hunt, the protagonist of Aetheric Chronicles.