It was 1,067 years ago when humanity was blessed by an unknown god. This god, filled with love for mankind, gifted them magic—a power to protect themselves and bring an end to the endless wars that plagued the land.
To ensure peace, 1,000 individuals known as mages rose to wield this divine power. With their intervention, wars gradually ceased, and a golden era of peace spread across the world.
According to historical records, the god blessed humanity out of love, believing they could use this power to create a harmonious existence. For decades, that belief seemed justified.
But everything changed 67 years later when a catastrophic war broke out between humans and demons. The mages fought valiantly to protect humanity, their power the last line of defense against annihilation.
However, a mysterious and horrifying phenomenon began to occur. Mages started to burn alive, consumed by the very magic they wielded. One by one, they perished, unable to control the power that was once their salvation.
Amidst the chaos, the Demon King delivered a chilling proclamation:
"Your god has abandoned you because you misused the gift that was meant to protect you."
"Power is not eternal—it can be taken away as easily as it was given."
"Because of the recklessness of one, your entire world now collapses under my rule."
Despair and paranoia spread among humanity. Fearing further destruction and believing the Demon King's words, humans turned on the surviving mages, blaming them for the god's abandonment. The remaining mages were exiled, hunted, or killed, until only a handful survived.
The war eventually ended. The few surviving mages disappeared into obscurity, while humanity rebuilt, severing ties to magic entirely.
To this day, no one knows the true reason the war between humans and demons began or why the god who once loved humanity seemingly abandoned them.
---
"It's not enough!" the Duke roared, his voice thick with frustration and grief, his eyes wild with panic.
The old priest, his face grave with concern, nodded slowly. "We are using all of our strength, Duke. We have to keep trying."
The priests gathered around Selene's still form, their hands glowing with holy light. The entire room seemed to hum with the power they were channeling into her, but still, her body lay motionless.
The bleeding had stopped, but there was no sign of her waking.
The Duke, his voice trembling with desperation, remained at her side, gripping her hand tightly.
"Selene, please... you can't leave me. I don't know why you did this, but I will do anything to bring you back. You're not alone anymore. You have a family now. You have me. Please..."
The room was thick with silence, and everyone was lost in their own pain, praying for her recovery.
Tears flowed freely, the maids kneeling in desperation, their voices low and filled with sorrow.
The young priest, unable to bear the strain, suddenly vomited blood and collapsed, unconscious.
"Take him away!" the old priest barked. "Keep going, the rest of you!"
The other priests continued their work, sweat dripping from their faces as they fought to heal her.
Meanwhile, Serra knelt on the floor, frantically scrubbing at the blood that had pooled there.
Her hands trembled as she worked, her voice breaking as she mumbled, "The lady is afraid of blood... she doesn't like it... it will scare her..."
"Serra, stop! You need to rest!" Clara tried to pull her away, but Serra refused, sobbing uncontrollably as she scrubbed harder.
The Duke's hands were shaking as he cupped Selene's face, tears falling onto her cold skin. His voice cracked as he spoke again, his words breaking through the silence.
"Selene... my sweet girl. Why? Why did you do this to yourself? I don't understand, but I will find the ones who hurt you. I'll make them pay."
"For seven years, I've searched for you, fought for you. I've failed you as a father, but I won't fail you again. Please, come back to me."
He leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers as the words spilled out in a desperate plea.
"I'm not giving up on you, Selene. You are my daughter, and I will protect you—always. You still have so much to live for, so much love waiting for you. Don't leave me like this. I need you, please..."
The room was silent for a moment, the only sound the steady hum of the priests' holy power, as if the very air was holding its breath.
"Don't leave me, Selene," the Duke whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I can't lose you now. Please... come back to me."
The old priest placed a hand on the Duke's shoulder, his voice softer now, carrying the heavy weight of his sorrow and caution.
"Duke, she may-
At that moment, the priest checked her pulse again, and this time, his eyes widened with cautious hope. "Her hand... it moved!"
The Duke's heart leapt. "Is she waking up?" he asked, his voice thick with anticipation.
The old priest nodded slowly. "Her body is starting to respond. But her mind still needs more time.
"She's locked away in herself right now, in pain and confusion. You must reach her. Speak to her heart. Talk about the people she loved, remind her of the life she has yet to live."
The Duke swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "I will do whatever it takes. Selene, you were never meant to suffer like this. You were meant for happiness, for love. You're not just my daughter... you are everything to me. You are the reason I keep going."
---
In this world, everyone and everything has a place they belong, a sanctuary where they can thrive.
The birds, with their wings slicing through the endless sky, belong to the heavens themselves. Perched on the highest branches, their songs fill the air as they build their nests, resting in the embrace of the tallest trees.
The fish, shimmering scales reflecting the sunlight, belong to the depths of rivers, oceans, and lakes. Their lives are woven in currents, dancing between coral reefs, weaving through clear waters as if the seas were their own secret world.
The trees, ancient sentinels of the earth, belong in forests and meadows, their roots tangled deep within the soil. They stand proudly, untouched by time, their branches offering shelter to those who need it most.
The bees, small and diligent, belong in their hives, collecting nectar, pollinating flowers. Their world is one of busy harmony, creating life with each fluttering wing.
Wolves, noble creatures of the wild, belong in packs, roaming the forests in unity. Together, they find strength in numbers, their howls echoing through the woods as they track through the moonlit shadows.
The cats, independent yet affectionate, find their places in cozy homes or hidden corners of bustling cities. Whether curling up by a fireplace or exploring the alleys of a quiet neighborhood, they carve out their territories with grace and mystery.
Rabbits, with their soft fur and quick paws, belong to the earth itself. They dig burrows in meadows or gardens, hopping through fields as they hide from the world, safe in their secretive warrens.
Elephants, magnificent in size and spirit, belong in the vast savannas or lush forests of the world. In herds, they travel together, their massive feet creating a rhythmic dance across the land, leaving footprints that last for generations.
And then there are the owls. Mysterious and silent, they belong to the night. Perched high in trees or on abandoned ledges, their keen eyes see what others cannot, their quiet wings cutting through the darkness, keeping watch over the world below.
Humans, too, find their place. They belong in the homes they've built, in the bustling streets of cities or quiet corners of the world where their hearts can find solace among their own kind. In the company of loved ones, they carve out their existence, a fragile balance of belonging and seeking.
In this world, every living thing has its place, a home to belong to, a purpose to fulfill. And for each, that place becomes a haven, a reminder that no one is ever truly lost.
But I don't belong anywhere. Not even in my own house, a place where the walls should have embraced me. I've always been the unwanted child, a shadow in rooms I should have called home.
The space that was meant to nurture me only served to remind me of my place—one I never truly had. There was always a distance, a coldness lingering in the corners where love should have been.
It felt as if I was never meant to exist, never meant to fit into a world that others had claimed as their own. Even in the shelter of the walls that should have protected me, I was nothing but an outsider.
I am a lost soul, adrift in a world where every living thing has its place—except me. I wander aimlessly, without purpose, a stranger to everything around me, forever searching for a home that doesn't exist.
I belong nowhere, neither in the places I've been nor in the places I long to go. I am a hollow echo in a world full of belonging, a soul without sanctuary.