In the magical world of Aerth, eternal conflict has shattered peace. Since the Dark Ages, when Aetherium—the source of Aerth's natural power, magical energy, and technology—began to dwindle, two great factions, East and West, have been embroiled in bloody war. Centuries of conflict have claimed countless lives and left deep scars on both sides. Now, on the verge of destruction—as magic fades and ancient technology disappears—the West is ruled by a mysterious figure known only as "The Despot." Obsessed with world domination, he seeks to control all remaining sources of natural power and Aetherium.
Though no one has ever seen The Despot directly, he is infamous as a cruel and ruthless tyrant. His territory is a stage for a criminal orgy—a haven of gambling dens, bustling brothels, and drug black markets. The raucous laughter of gamblers mingles with the screams of victims, creating a horrifying symphony that epitomizes The Despot's power. Fear permeates every corner of his cities, forming the foundation of his oppressive empire. This makes him and his power a symbol of tyranny for many.Two years ago, a fragile peace agreement, meant to bind the factions, was shattered. Not by the clash of swords on the battlefield, but by poisonous whispers among the leaders. Cunning tongues, operating under the command of Euros—The Despot's loyal right-hand man—sowed seeds of discord within the East. Suspicion spread like a toxic fog, poisoning former alliances. Subtle yet effective propaganda, disseminated through secret channels, fractured alliances and ignited internal conflict. Divide et impera—divide and conquer—became their strategy, widening the chasm between the Eastern factions.Princess Cino Shikai, one of the Eastern leaders, strives with all her wisdom to maintain the East's integrity. However, the coordinated attacks launched by the West from both within and without—demonstrations, riots, and divisions—erupt everywhere. One by one, Eastern allies falter and crumble. Some regions are drawn into the West's influence through bribes, threats, and empty promises. Border territories fall into Western hands without a significant battle, even without military force. The East, with its diverse races and ethnicities, suffers a landslide of losses due to internal division.One year after the East's defeat, amidst the shadows of The Despot's renewed intrigues, a new puzzle emerges: a mysterious young man. He arrives like the wind—unexpected and elusive. Even Euros' normally efficient and ruthless intelligence network is frustrated by him. Report after report conveys the same information: failure. Infiltration, sabotage, and intelligence gathering attempts are consistently thwarted by mysterious and precisely timed interventions. His tracks vanish before Euros' pursuers can approach, leaving a perplexing question: who is this young man?Tension rises again.(Flashback, one year after the East's major defeat)Dust swirled in the dusty streets as Sean Devan first entered the Eastern region. No fanfare of troops or luxurious procession marked his arrival, only a worn backpack and eyes that observed every detail. He came like the wind—mysterious, unpredictable, and unexpected. His first steps on Eastern soil brought him to a small border village. There, amidst the bustle of the morning market, his gaze fell upon a woman helping an elderly mother carry her shopping basket. The woman smiled warmly, a smile that radiated throughout the surrounding atmosphere. This was Aisya Liaoning.Her kindness captivated Sean, and he felt a sense of calm emanating from her. Aisya moved with grace and agility, showing she was no ordinary woman. Intrigued, Sean approached her."Excuse me," Sean greeted politely. "May I help?"Aisya turned and looked at Sean with clear eyes. Her smile widened. "Of course," she replied. "Thank you very much."The brief interaction left a deep impression on Sean. There was something special about Aisya, something that made him feel at ease. Without realizing it, this first meeting became the beginning of a strong bond.Several evenings before Sean's arrival, Aisya Liaoning had a dream. In her dream, she saw the silhouette of a young man, vaguely visible amidst the ruins of an ancient building. The details of his face were blurred, but his eyes… his eyes left a strong impression, a blend of peace and storm. Aisya saw strange artifacts around him, their shapes difficult to identify, yet they felt foreign and not of this time. She saw the young man leading the East towards a distant horizon, but at a great cost. Among the ruins, Aisya saw familiar symbols, reminiscent of ancient legends of Aerth—a story about a young man who would rise when the world was on the verge of destruction. "Could the man in my dream be connected to that legend?" she whispered to herself after waking, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Those symbols… those artifacts… they seem not to originate from this world." She felt a powerful mix of warning and hope, that the fate of the East and this young man were intertwined. When Sean first arrived in the East, and their eyes met for the first time, a jolt went through Aisya. After knowing him for a few days, Aisya's certainty solidified. Her intuition told her Sean was connected to the man in her dream, and she immediately introduced Sean to Cino, whispering what she had seen.Hearing the whispers of someone she deeply trusted, Cino observed Sean with a scrutinizing gaze. She saw honesty in his eyes and a calm aura surrounding him. Seeing this potential and hearing Aisya's words, Cino decided to give Sean a chance."Very well," said Cino. "You may stay here and prove yourself."From this point on, Sean was often assigned to spy and scout missions—given his unfamiliar face—and he consistently succeeded, even achieving significant victories. In just a few months, Sean successfully countered several Western movements, strengthening Cino's trust in Aisya's intuition and her dream.
Character IntroductionsAmong the Eastern leaders stands Cino Shikai, a beautiful and mature princess with short, fiery red hair and a strong aura of leadership. She observes Sean with a discerning gaze. It's not just Sean's friendly demeanor and interesting abilities that capture her attention, but also the spark of intelligence she sees in his eyes. As Sean practices in the palace courtyard, Cino watches him from a distance. Every movement, every swing of his wooden sword, reveals hidden potential. After his practice concludes, Cino approaches him."Your movements are adequate," Cino says in a calm voice. "But there is still room for improvement."Sean turns, offering a respectful smile. "Thank you for your assessment, Lady Cino."Cino's eyes narrow slightly. "Just Cino," she corrects. "And I expect to see you training again tomorrow."From that point on, Cino begins mentoring his training. During these intense sessions, Cino occasionally glimpses a different spark in Sean's eyes, as if he harbors knowledge beyond his years. However, whenever Cino tries to inquire, Sean simply offers a mysterious smile and changes the subject.A respected magic knight, Aisya possesses sharp intuition and a compassionate heart. She sees kindness in Sean and senses that he can make a significant contribution to the East. One starry night, Aisya speaks with Cino.However, not all allies share sincere intentions. Baron EstoMido Eastya, a source of trouble within the Eastern Party, frequently acts for his own self-aggrandizement, exploiting situations and even creating chaos for personal gain. His presence breeds distrust and doubt among the members, a stark contrast to Aisya's character.As the closest and most influential figure in Sean's acceptance into the Eastern Faction, Aisya Liaoning stands as a unifier and beacon of hope in this divided world. She is not only a reliable warrior and talented healer, but also a capable mediator, embracing differences and building bridges between groups. Aisya possesses extraordinary charisma, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, defusing disputes, and fostering mutual respect—an ability rooted in her belief in the inherent goodness and collaborative potential of every individual. Sean's presence strongly resonates with Aisya's dreams, a shared vision binding them together. Based on this harmony, Aisya firmly believes that their shared national ideals will soon be realized.On the other hand, a young woman wearing a black Breton hat, with a distinct red scar visible on her snow-white cheek, is Arisu Astranova, captain of the Northern Squad. Her icy gaze sweeps across the crowd of Eastern soldiers, pausing briefly on Sean before moving on. She stands apart from them, a captain from the North, not truly among them, like a cheetah among lions.Whispers ripple among the soldiers near Sean. "The Northern Squad," one soldier hisses, his tone a mix of respect and fear. "They say one of them can take down a mountain troll single-handedly." Tales of the hardy northern soldiers, who choose isolation behind icy mountains, have long been legendary. They rarely involve themselves in the affairs of other factions. Arisu's presence in the Eastern Party raises a significant question: what compels the Northern Squad to send a representative?Her presence on the Eastern side is a shock, sparking speculation among the officers. Why would the Northern Squad, so fiercely detached from the outside world, suddenly involve itself in this conflict? Sean doesn't know the answer. He has only witnessed Arisu openly challenge decisions from the higher ranks. Her disregard for hierarchy and military protocol is striking. One evening, by a crackling fireplace, EstoMido, the acting captain, orders the burning of an enemy village—a tactic intended to weaken the opponent's morale. Some officers nod in agreement, a gleam of fire in their eyes. However, Arisu responds in a cold, flat voice, "War is not extermination." Her piercing gaze focuses on EstoMido and the other officers present.That night, after the tense meeting, Sean finds himself standing near the fireplace, trying to warm himself from the cold night air. He senses someone beside him: Arisu.Without turning her head, Arisu says, "You seem troubled." Her voice is low, almost a whisper, yet still cold.Sean turns, slightly surprised. "Just thinking about the… implications of that order," Sean replies, referring to EstoMido's command.Arisu shifts her gaze from the fire to Sean. For a moment, their eyes meet. There's something in Arisu's gaze—a difficult-to-interpret flash—before she returns her attention to the fire. "Implications… or morality?" she asks, her tone still flat, but with a slight emphasis on the word "morality."Sean is silent. He feels as though he's being tested. "Both, I suppose," he answers honestly.Arisu gives a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Morality is a rare luxury in war." She pauses for a moment before adding, "But that doesn't mean it should be abandoned entirely." She glances at Sean once more, her gaze brief but intense, before walking away, leaving Sean by the fireplace.A few days later, Cino issues a different command: to capture a small, isolated enemy group alive for interrogation—a more reasoned and humane tactic. However, Arisu once again objects. This time, she provides a more detailed explanation. "Imprisoning them will only become a logistical burden and cause problems later. Let them go," she says in a cold tone. "Spreading news of our strength, and rumors that we show mercy to those who are not guilty, will be far more effective in weakening the enemy's morale." Cino falls silent, doubt clearly visible in her eyes, before finally giving a slow nod.