"How much longer?" Mei asked, her voice tight with impatience as she fidgeted in her seat, her legs bouncing nervously. She gripped the edge of the carriage, her eyes darting ahead, searching for any sign that the ride was almost over.
"A few more hours," Kai replied, his voice calm and slightly flat, though a hint of weariness betrayed his patience with his sister's restless energy.
The brother and sister were moving in a luxurious carriage at that moment, its seats covered with soft velvet cushions, while two beautiful mustangs pulled the carriage along the dusty road.
"I'm bored…" Mei whined, trying to find some entertainment in the monotonous ride. She couldn't hide her frustration.
Kai just took a deep breath.
An hour later.
"Are we there yet???" Mei sighed, eyes full of boredom, twisting on the carriage seat and constantly moving her legs up and down. Her hands played with the tassels on the cushions, and her gaze wandered relentlessly ahead.
Kai slowly lifted a bag full of coins from the floor of the carriage and carefully set it on Mei's lap. "Count the gold coins," he said calmly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, knowing his sister would react immediately.
"Yay!!!" Mei exclaimed with delight, her eyes sparkling as she began taking the coins from the bag and stacking them carefully in front of her.
A few more minutes passed as she counted, completely forgetting the boredom and fatigue of the journey.
"97… 98… 99… 100… Kai! Kai!" Mei began shaking his hand, unable to hide her excitement. "There are 100 gold coins!" she said, grinning widely, almost bouncing in her seat with joy.
"Good…" Kai simply nodded, his expression calm, though a quiet amusement flickered in his eyes at his sister's enthusiastic reaction.
The carriage began to slow down, the wheels creaking over the rocky road as the mustangs eased their pace. Finally, it came to a complete stop.
"Looks like we're here…" Kai said, then opened the door.
Kai stepped out of the carriage, his legs stiff from the long journey, and Mei followed him step by step, holding the bag of gold coins tightly. Her eyes still sparkled with excitement, though exhaustion from the long hours of travel was visible on her face.
They both took a deep breath of the fresh air, carrying the scent of the forest and the damp, rocky path. They had been riding for hours, and their bodies were weary.
"What time is it…?" Mei asked, stretching her arms and rubbing her neck. Her thoughts were still a bit muddled from fatigue, but also excited at the prospect of arrival.
"It's about to get dark," the carriage driver said.
"Huh? Already?" Mei's eyes widened, surprised at how quickly time had flown during their ride.
"Let's find somewhere to sleep… Driver, is there an inn nearby?" Kai asked, turning to the man holding the reins of the mares.
"An inn…?" The driver thought for a few moments, then shook his head. "Not in this part of town…"
"So where are we going to sleep?" Mei asked, tilting her head as she looked around, eyes scanning for any sign of lodging in this unfamiliar part of the city. Her frustration and exhaustion blended into an impatient tone.
"You could sleep in the carriage, if you like…" the driver replied, glancing at the brother and sister.
"Hell no!" Mei exclaimed, looking at the carriage.
"Let's see if someone would let us stay the night," Kai said, turning to Mei with a faint smile on his face. "Come on!"
Mei, not missing the chance, stuck her tongue out at the driver, giving him a smile that couldn't go unnoticed. Then, clutching the bag of gold coins tightly to her chest, she followed her brother.
Kai reached the first door, paused for a moment, and took a deep breath, preparing to knock. His hands were slightly tense as he thought about how to approach the situation as calmly and convincingly as possible, while Mei stood behind him.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The door slowly opened to reveal an older man, an Elf, whose face was lined with years, and whose eyes glimmered with a gentle golden light. "Yes…" he said in his old, trembling voice, carrying both weariness and unexpected warmth.
Kai gently stepped Mei in front of him. He stood behind her, her back turned to him. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he leaned slightly forward and murmured just loud enough for the old man to hear: "Look at this cute little face…"
Then he softly cupped her cheeks and stretched them lightly to each side. Mei's surprised reaction was adorable, like a tiny angel had fallen from the sky. Her eyes widened, and her lips awkwardly curled into a smile as she tried to wriggle out of her brother's hands.
"She and her little brother have nowhere to sleep," Kai added quietly, observing the old man's reaction.
The old man's face filled with tears. His hands trembled slightly as he stepped aside, making way for them. "Come in, come in!" he said, his voice full of warmth and relief.
The brother and sister bowed deeply, showing respect and gratitude, then carefully stepped inside. The atmosphere in the small house was warm and inviting.
They reached the table and sat down.
"Would you like some tea?" the old man asked, his voice gentle but full of concern as he looked at the weary travelers.
"Yes, please!" Kai said, smiling, his gaze softly drifting to Mei, who was already looking around, fascinated by the warmth and comfort of the place.
"You know…" the old man began. "I haven't had guests since the Demon Conquer…" His eyes momentarily drifted away, as if recalling distant and dark days.
"Demon Conquer… I think I've heard of that before…" Kai said thoughtfully, staring into the old man's eyes. His voice was calm, but curiosity lingered within it.
"You… don't know about the Demon Conquer?" the old man asked, placing a cup of warm, fragrant tea in front of the brother and sister. His voice carried a note of surprise, but also mild concern.
"They haven't taught us that in school yet…" Mei fibbed, trying to sound convincing, as her hand slid toward the cup, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The old man slowly stood and walked to a small wooden cabinet in the corner of the room. His movements were deliberate and careful as he pulled out an old map, slightly torn at the edges, and laid it on the table in front of them.
"Well…" the old man began, running his finger along the mapped lines. "As you know, the world is divided into three continents: the Empire, where we are now; Dravarn, the Demon realm; and Varell, a neutral land where the Elementals live…"
His voice was soft, yet full of authority and mystery. Their eyes widened as they absorbed every word, their fingers tracing the outlines of the continents on the map, feeling the weight and vastness of the world unfolding before them.
And so the story began:
At the very start of the war, the Demons were a force that no one could stand against. Wherever they stepped, the land burned, and cities fell to dust and ash. Their only desire was total domination – to make the world of Nytherra their empire and bring every other race to its knees before them.
Soon, the entire world was divided into three great powers, three factions that determined the course of the war:
1. Empire – the force of good that rose against the Demons to preserve peace in the world. On this side fought Elves, Neko, and Humans.
2. Dravarn – the force of evil that wanted the world for itself alone. Among its ranks were Demons and Bloodbeasts.
3. Varell – a neutral faction that minded its own business, determined to stay as far from the war as possible. It consisted solely of Elementals.
For two long, bloody decades, war raged without pause. The land was soaked with the blood of all races. Every day, the Empire lost people and cities. Dravarn advanced relentlessly, until the last bastions of good were cornered.
And then… in the deepest despair… humans reached for forbidden knowledge. From ancient scrolls, hidden and sealed for millennia, they summoned what should never have been released – the Ten Calamities. Their purpose was clear: to destroy the Demons and turn the tide of the war.
But humans miscalculated. They could not control them. The Calamities were too powerful, too wild. Their presence turned battlefields into apocalyptic wastelands. It soon became clear – the threat they had summoned was even greater than Dravarn itself.
The Empire teetered on the brink of collapse. Once magnificent cities had turned into empty ruins, and the squares where festivals had been held were now covered in ash and corpses. Streets were deserted, save for the starving and exhausted bodies wandering in search of even a scrap of bread or a sip of clean water.
The Neko, worn down by hunger and fatigue, lost all faith in alliances with other races. Desperation drove them to extremes – looting Elf caravans, raiding their villages, killing without mercy, just to bring food to their families. Those who once stood side by side on the battlefield now hunted one another.
Yet humans fell even further. The winter that followed was the coldest in a hundred years, and food supplies ran out. Hunger pushed them over the edge – they began eating members of the Neko race, first secretly, then without shame. In the dark streets, the disappearance of a Neko child no longer shocked anyone; it had become routine.
Morale, honor, and unity vanished. Every family looked only after itself, every village barred its gates against strangers, and trust became a relic of the past. A world that once believed in heroes now sank into chaos, where only strength and survival mattered.
And just when it seemed the world would fall into irreversible ruin… he appeared.
Frieren – the most renowned Elf in the history of Nytherra. His power was legendary. Alone, he confronted the Calamities and, through magic surpassing anything the world had ever seen, managed to seal nine of the ten monsters. His act saved the entire world from total destruction…
Afterward, Dravarn was so terrified of the Empire that it agreed to a peace treaty.
.
.
.
This was like a bedtime story for Kai and Mei… No, really, they had fallen asleep at the table.
The old man smiled quietly, watching how fatigue had won over their curiosity. Slowly, he stood, went to the cabinet, and pulled out two soft, warm blankets. He gently draped them over the children's shoulders, careful not to wake them.
As he watched Kai and Mei sleep peacefully, the old man felt a wave of warmth and tenderness fill his heart.