Pov Aria
I was born in Luna, a picturesque and secluded village, nestled far away from the turmoil and cruelty of mankind. Founded over a century ago, Luna has always been a haven for those seeking peace and rest.
This village traces its origins back to a troubled era, right after a devastating war lost by the Liberation Alliance a coalition made up of all those who refused to submit to the worship of the goddess Hamnesia. Among its members were representatives of many races: demi-humans with extraordinary abilities, demons, vampires, elves, and many other fascinating creatures. Together, despite their differences, they sought to preserve their freedom and cultural diversity in the face of growing oppression.
After the war, like so many other races, we were forced to seek refuge far from the eyes of men, in remote lands where their presence had never reached. This great exodus led my clan and me to an ancient, mysterious, snow-covered forest, untouched by humans, located far beyond the borders of any known kingdom, more than three years' journey from civilized lands.
Within this expanse of white wilderness, we established our sanctuary, hidden and protected from outside intrusion. We raised two types of magical barriers to ensure our safety: a camouflage barrier, weaving an invisible veil around our domain to render it undetectable to prying eyes, and a protective barrier, an impenetrable shield repelling any hostile force attempting to enter our refuge. Thanks to these defenses, we were able to preserve our culture and traditions in a fragile yet precious peace, in the heart of the forest that became our home.
My family had always been at the head of the village of Luna since its founding. Today, that responsibility rested on my father, Rice, a wise and respected leader. By his side was my mother, Elie, his unwavering support, sharing the burdens of governance with insight and kindness in the daily management of village affairs.
Being their only child, the weight of Luna's future rested on my young shoulders. It was understood that I would succeed my father as leader, a destiny I had been preparing for since early childhood. Until the age of ten, my life seemed similar to that of any other child my age, though with an exceptionally rigorous and diverse education.
I was taught many disciplines essential for my future role. The history of our people and the surrounding lands was recounted to me, weaving the tales of our ancestors and their struggles. Hunting was an integral part of my training, sharpening my senses and knowledge of nature. Magic a vital skill for the protection and well-being of our community was passed down by the village elders and teachers. And lastly, the art of writing opened the doors to knowledge and communication, both essential for a leader.
It turned out that I had a strong affinity with the element of ice, a trait shared by all members of our tribe, the Snow Wolves, or Lunarians. We were easily recognizable by our beautiful white fur and deep gray-blue eyes, traits inherited from our ancestors and perfectly adapted to our frozen environment. To my great surprise, however, I also discovered that I had a particular affinity with the element of water a rare gift that added a fascinating complexity to my magical training.
Hunting was both tradition and pleasure across the vast expanses of forest surrounding our village.
I remember my first significant hunt with my father, an experience that marked the beginning of my transition from childhood to maturity within our tribe. As we silently ventured deeper into the snow-covered forest, a lone wolf emerged from the dense bushes, its piercing eyes fixed on us. With a fluid and precise motion, guided by my father's teachings, I invoked my magic and formed an ice spear, hurling it with deadly precision at the beast. The wolf collapsed, the ice piercing its thick fur.
My father, ever vigilant, watched carefully, ready to intervene should the situation turn dangerous. Almost immediately, another wolf, drawn by the commotion, lunged fiercely at me. Acting on instinct, I coated my right hand with a layer of razor-sharp ice, forming icy claws. As the animal leapt, I slashed through the air with my frozen hand, cutting it into pieces as blood-spattered shards of ice flew around us.
"So, Dad, what do you think?" I asked him with a smile.
"Not bad at all, my daughter!" he laughed, ruffling my hair.
The years drifted by gently, wrapping the village of Luna in an almost unreal tranquility. During this time, I continued my studies with the other children of the village. Our education embraced both the arcane arts and the stories of our tumultuous past.
One day, as we sat in a circle around our teacher in the great hall adorned with tapestries depicting the feats of our ancestors, she asked a question that immediately sparked our curiosity:
"Now then, who can tell me about the former Demon King?"
I eagerly raised my hand, ready to share the stories passed down by my father.
"The former Demon King was the charismatic leader of the coalition of non-human races during the wars against humans. He united many clans demons, elves, vampires, even some renegade humans all with the single goal of surviving a common threat. He was renowned for his exceptional mastery of all existing elements, a power that gave him an imposing presence both on the battlefield and in negotiations."
"Who can remind me what the existing elements are?" asked the teacher, scanning the room as several hands shot up.
"Yes, Téilo," she said, designating one of the most enthusiastic students.
Téilo stood and replied confidently:
"There are many elements. The primary ones are fire, capable of consuming and warming; water, which can both soothe and devastate; earth, our solid and fertile foundation; and wind, invisible yet powerful. Then there are the derivative ones: lightning, bright and swift as thought; wood, which symbolizes growth and life; and ice, cold and relentless."
He paused briefly, seeking the teacher's approval before concluding:
"Finally, the specific elements include light, the source of clarity and revelation, and darkness, mysterious and often misunderstood. However, it is important to note that others exist but are extremely rare and poorly documented."
The class nodded, some scribbling furiously, while the teacher smiled in satisfaction at the accuracy of his answer.
"Very good, Téilo. You may continue, Aria," the teacher encouraged.
"The Demon King was accompanied by several generals of different races—elf, vampire, demon, dwarf, beast, dragon, and even human," I explained, trying to recall every detail I had learned from my father's tales.
"You forgot a few races, but that's alright you named the main ones," the teacher said with an encouraging smile, always fostering understanding and curiosity among us.
"Madam, humans fought by our side?" one student asked, his face etched with confusion.
"Yes, even humans. Never forget that not all humans wish us harm. Some are good and fought alongside us for justice and freedom. It's an important reminder that in every people, there are individuals capable of greatness and compassion—just as there are those capable of committing the most atrocious acts," she said with a serious tone, capturing everyone's attention.
Then, with a gesture toward the blackboard, she added:
"Now, let me teach you something new. Open your notebooks and get ready to write."
As she spoke, she began writing carefully on the board so we could take note of the new lesson. The pages of our notebooks turned quickly, the scratching of quills on paper filling the room as we dove into a new aspect of our rich heritage.
"The Demon King was not only the leader of the coalition; he also claimed to bear the power of another divinity. However, no additional information has been found. It's as if parts of history had been deliberately erased. This war took place over 95 years ago, but some accounts speak of an even older war, written in an ancient language where the current goddess is also mentioned. Yet, as I said earlier, these stories seem to have been intentionally erased. It is difficult to recover or retrace a forgotten era or perhaps one someone is trying to hide. And maybe we will never learn the truth."
She scanned the class before continuing:
"During that war, heroes from another world were summoned by order of the goddess. All the countries, even enemies, allied to fight the Demon King. Except for one country, which has remained neutral to this day and accepts interspecies coexistence while worshipping no deity: the Kingdom of Ria. After the Demon King's death, dungeons began to manifest, and as the years passed, they caused increasing trouble. Now, this is information we have recently obtained thanks to our still-hidden allies. The different kingdoms are preparing to proceed with a new hero summoning soon to fight the dungeons."
"Madam, why didn't they summon them earlier?"
"Our understanding is limited, but it is certain that hero summoning is only possible under specific conditions," explained the teacher, her voice heavy with gravity.
She walked toward the window and observed the sun's position in the sky.
"It's noon. Class is dismissed for the morning. Combat training will be at 4 p.m. Be present as usual."
Every day followed the same rhythm: mornings dedicated to academic learning, afternoons to physical training. Téilo and I had developed the habit of slipping into the forest after the morning lesson, exploring hidden paths and the mysteries of the surrounding nature until combat class.
It was our routine a perfect balance between study and adventure—until that fateful day that changed everything. As we wandered through the snowy woods, enjoying the tranquility, we never imagined that our village, until then hidden and protected, was about to be discovered. The events that followed forever altered the course of our lives and that of our community.
A deafening noise tore through the air, followed immediately by a thunderous explosion that shattered our protective barrier. Fragments of magic briefly lit up the sky before thick clouds of black smoke obscured it.
"That's smoke!" I cried out, my eyes widening at the scale of the disaster.
Almost instantly, an explosion of blue energy engulfed the sky, casting an ominous light over the surrounding forest. Téilo and I knew all too well what it meant.
"Humans have found the village! We need to flee through the forest!" Téilo shouted, fear clear in his voice.
"No! My mother and father are there! I can't abandon them like this!" I replied, anguish tightening my chest.
"Don't be reckless! We're only fourteen we can't do anything. If they catch us, we'll end up as slaves!" Téilo insisted, trying to hold me back.
Ignoring his warnings, I ran toward the village with fierce determination, my steps echoing against the snowy ground. When I arrived, the sight that awaited me was heartbreaking: the village was ravaged by flames, chaos reigning everywhere. The bodies of my kin lay scattered, bathed in pools of blood and ice a testament to their desperate struggle. Their faces were frozen in expressions of final terror, while the crackling of fire and distant screams formed a macabre symphony.
At last, I spotted some members of my village still alive, though all of them were tied up, surrounded by men.
"Chief, we found another one," one of the men said, grabbing me violently.
"Put her with the others," said the man who seemed to be their leader as he addressed my father.
My father saw me but didn't give me a glance or a word for disobeying the emergency escape orders. As I grew older, I understood that he did this to avoid making things worse for me. I dare not imagine what they would have done had they known I was the chief's daughter.
They then raped my mother before my eyes, terrified by fear, I could only watch as my body trembled. Then they slit the throats of all the adult men while the women and children screamed at such a display of barbarity. My father gave me one last smile before he was beheaded. And that's when my tears started to flow as I watched him bleed out, and fear took over me as I thot I was next.
"Ah, this bitch pissed herself," one of the men sneered as he struck me violently.
Their leader, wearing a satisfied smile, glanced around as if admiring his handiwork.
"Vengus, what do we do now?" one of his men asked, inadvertently revealing his name.
"Separate everyone and put them in cages. The young boys will be used as labor, or experimented on whatever their new owners decide," Vengus replied coldly.
"As for the women, they'll serve as playthings in brothels until we decide to toss them away."
"And the young girls?"
"We'll make a fortune off them especially beast-girls with white fur… and virgins at that," he added with a vile grin.