The campfire crackled between them, casting dancing shadows across Juno's face as he settled into what appeared to be storytelling mode. His violet eyes reflected the flames, taking on an almost otherworldly quality that made Kai's newly developed danger-sense tingle with unease.
"Alright, Atsuya-kun," Juno began, his voice losing its usual playful edge. "Since you're so curious about our world's delightful history, let me paint you a picture of why everyone lives in constant, barely suppressed terror."
Kai leaned forward, captivated despite himself. Something about Juno's tone suggested this wasn't going to be a pleasant bedtime story.
"More than fifteen hundred years ago, this world looked very different from what you see today. There were no kingdoms, no great cities, no organized governments. There was only darkness, and the thing that ruled over it all." Juno paused, feeding another branch to the fire. "His name was Lucifer, and he was the most powerful being who had ever existed."
The way Juno spoke the name made the air itself seem to grow colder. Even the forest around them appeared to quiet, as if the very mention of that ancient evil demanded respectful silence.
"Lucifer wasn't just strong—he was the embodiment of every dark attribute that exists. Shadow, space, storm, metal, venom... he commanded them all with absolute mastery. Imagine someone who could manipulate reality itself, bend the laws of nature to his will, and do it all with the casual ease of breathing." Juno's expression grew distant, as if he were seeing those ancient horrors play out in the flames. "For centuries, he ruled over everything. Humans, elves, dwarves—everyone bowed before the Dark King's power."
Kai felt a chill run down his spine. "How did anyone survive under someone like that?"
"Barely," Juno replied grimly. "It was an age of absolute despair. People lived like cattle, existing only at Lucifer's whim. Some say he kept the various races alive purely for entertainment, watching them struggle against impossible odds while knowing their efforts were meaningless."
The blonde knight picked up a stick and began drawing patterns in the dirt between them—rough maps, crude figures, anything to illustrate the scope of the catastrophe he was describing.
"Then, when hope seemed completely lost, a figure appeared who would change everything. His name was something that we never truly know of but still today we know him as Solarus Lux, and he was unlike anything the world had ever seen." Juno's voice took on a note of genuine reverence. "Lux-sama was the first and only person in recorded history to master all seven light attributes simultaneously. Fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, ice, and sound—he wielded them all with perfect harmony."
"All seven?" Kai interrupted, unconsciously touching his chest where he could feel his own pathetic sound magic core humming weakly. "That's actually possible?"
"For Lux-sama, apparently it was. Though 'possible' might be the wrong word—what he accomplished was so far beyond normal magical theory that most scholars today believe the historical accounts must be exaggerated." Juno shrugged. "Of course, those same scholars have never seen the aftermath of what he was capable of."
The fire popped, sending sparks spiraling up into the dark sky. Juno watched them rise before continuing his tale.
"The battle between Lux-sama and Lucifer lasted for days. Some records say three days, others claim it was seven, but everyone agrees on one thing—it was the most devastating conflict in the history of existence. The very fabric of reality warped around their clash. Mountains were reduced to dust, oceans boiled away, and the sky itself bled with their unleashed power."
Kai tried to imagine such a battle and found his mind simply couldn't process the scale. "How did anyone survive something like that?"
"Most didn't," Juno said matter-of-factly. "The battle was so intense that it reshaped the world's geography. The event became known as End's Day, and it marked the dividing line between the old world and everything that came after."
"But Lux-sama won, right?"
"Eventually, yes. But victory came at a terrible cost." Juno's expression darkened further. "Just before his final defeat, Lucifer performed one last act of malevolence. He split his essence into five separate fragments, each one containing a portion of his power and malice. These fragments became known as the Dark Spirits—or as some call them, Lucifer's Seeds."
The way Juno pronounced those words made them sound like a curse. Kai found himself unconsciously scooting closer to the fire, as if the warmth could protect him from the implications of what he was hearing.
"Each Dark Spirit contained one of Lucifer's elemental attributes along with a fragment of his consciousness. They scattered across the world, seeking hosts who could contain their power. And unlike the benevolent Children of Light that would come later, these spirits actively corrupted anyone they touched."
"What happened to them?"
"They're still out there," Juno replied with chilling casualness. "Waiting. Growing stronger. Passing from host to host whenever their current vessel dies or proves inadequate. The demons you're so worried about? They're organized around those five Dark Spirits. Each one rules a territory in Tenebris, each one commanding legions of lesser demons who serve their corrupted power."
Kai felt his mouth go dry. The implications were staggering. "So the demons aren't just random monsters—they're organized under Lucifer's fragmented consciousness?"
"Exactly. Which is why they're so much more dangerous than simple wild beasts." Juno stirred the fire with his stick, sending more sparks dancing upward. "But I'm getting ahead of myself. After defeating Lucifer, Lux-sama had to deal with the aftermath of their battle. The world was in ruins, most of the population was dead, and reality itself needed time to heal from the damage they'd inflicted."
The blonde knight's voice took on a tone of genuine admiration as he continued. "Lux-sama could have declared himself emperor of everything that remained. Instead, he gathered the surviving demons and forced them into the furthest corner of the world—what we now call Tenebris. Then he set about rebuilding civilization."
"He created the three kingdoms?"
"Not directly, but he laid the foundation for them. Lux-sama chose his most loyal and respected allies from among the survivors and granted them the authority to rebuild their respective peoples. The humans formed what would eventually become Lichtreich, the elves established Tir Airgid, and the dwarves founded Eisenberg."
Juno paused to take a drink from his water skin before continuing. "For a time, it seemed like the world might actually recover. Lux-sama guided the reconstruction efforts, helped establish trade between the new kingdoms, and generally acted as a benevolent guardian over everything he'd fought to protect."
"But something went wrong," Kai guessed, recognizing the setup for inevitable tragedy.
"Something always goes wrong," Juno confirmed with a bitter smile. "As Lux-sama grew older, he realized he needed a successor. Someone who could continue protecting the world after he was gone. So he chose a man named Kashin—brave, powerful, seemingly incorruptible. Lux-sama began training him, sharing knowledge and techniques that had never been taught to anyone else."
The fire seemed to dim as Juno's voice grew quieter, more ominous.
"What Lux-sama didn't know was that one of the Dark Spirits had been watching, waiting for exactly this opportunity. The Spirit of Storm saw Kashin's potential and slowly began corrupting him from within. By the time Lux-sama realized what was happening, it was too late."
"Kashin became evil?"
"Worse. He became the first Demon Lord." Juno's violet eyes met Kai's across the fire. "The Dark Spirit of Storm had completely possessed him, turning all of his strength and knowledge against everything he'd once sworn to protect. Kashin launched a surprise attack against Lux-sama, nearly succeeding in killing him before the battle had even truly begun."
Kai found himself holding his breath as Juno continued the tale.
"The fight between Lux-sama and the corrupted Kashin was almost as devastating as the original battle with Lucifer. By the time it ended, both combatants were dying. Lux-sama had won, but the victory had cost him everything."
"He died?"
"Not immediately. Lux-sama realized that his physical death was inevitable, but he also understood that the world still needed protection. The Dark Spirits were still out there, still growing stronger, still seeking ways to complete their master's work." Juno's voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "So he made the ultimate sacrifice."
The blonde knight stood up, walking to the edge of their small clearing and gazing up at the star-filled sky. When he spoke again, his words carried the weight of absolute reverence.
"It is believed that With the last of his strength, Lux-sama transformed his dying essence into a protective barrier around the entire world. His spirit became a veil of light that guards against the Dark Spirits' influence, preventing them from spreading beyond their corrupted realm. Even in death, he continues to watch over everything he fought to save."
Kai stared at Juno's silhouette, trying to process the magnitude of what he was hearing. "He's still out there? Still protecting us?"
"If the tale is true then in a way, yes. But even then his power isn't infinite, and it grows weaker with each passing year." Juno returned to his seat by the fire, his expression grave. "But one thing is for sure , Before his transformation, Lux-sama performed one final act of preparation. He created seven spirits from his own essence—one for each light attribute he had mastered. These became known as the Children of Light."
"And they choose vessels, like you mentioned before?"
"Exactly. The Children of Light seek out individuals with the potential to become their partners. When they find someone suitable, they form a bond that grants incredible power in exchange for dedicating one's life to protecting the world." Juno's hand unconsciously moved to rest over his heart, where Kai assumed his own spirit resided. "These partnerships are incredibly rare—sometimes centuries pass between selections."
"How rare are we talking?"
"Put it this way—in the fifteen hundred years since Lux-sama's sacrifice, there have probably been fewer than a hundred total Sentinels. And they don't all exist at the same time. The spirits are very selective about when and why they choose to awaken."
Kai absorbed this information, trying to understand the implications. "But when they do awaken, they're powerful enough to fight the demons?"
"Usually, yes. Which brings us to the less pleasant part of our history." Juno's expression darkened once again. "The demons didn't just sit quietly in Tenebris after being banished. They spent centuries growing stronger, organizing themselves around the Dark Spirits, and planning their return."
"The Great Wars you mentioned?"
"Three of them, spread across the centuries. Each one triggered when the demons felt they had accumulated enough power to challenge the light kingdoms." Juno began counting on his fingers. "The First Great War happened about 1200 hundred years ago. The demons launched a coordinated assault on all three kingdoms simultaneously, led by hosts of the Dark Spirits who had grown incredibly powerful."
"But you won?"
"Eventually. The Sentinels of that era, along with the combined armies of the three kingdoms, managed to push the demons back. But the cost was enormous—entire cities were destroyed, countless lives were lost, and it took decades for civilization to recover."
Juno paused, staring into the flames as if seeing the ghosts of ancient battlefields.
"The Second Great War was even worse. The demons had learned from their previous defeat and came back with better strategies, more powerful champions, and absolute determination to succeed. That war lasted for nearly a decade and came closer to ending everything than anyone likes to admit."
"What about the third war?"
"Ah, the Third Great War. That one was... different." Juno's voice carried a note of profound respect mixed with deep sadness. "It happened about three hundred years ago, and it was the most devastating conflict since End's Day itself. The demons brought everything they had—all five Dark Spirits manifested simultaneously but only 4 took part in the war , leading armies that seemed to stretch beyond the horizon."
Kai leaned forward, captivated despite the growing dread in his stomach. "What happened?"
"For the first time in history, it looked like the light kingdoms might actually lose. The demons were stronger than ever, more organized, more ruthless. The Sentinels of that era fought with everything they had, but it wasn't enough." Juno's voice grew quieter. "That's when the greatest heroes of that generation made a decision that saved the world and doomed themselves."
"They sacrificed themselves?"
"Seven of the most powerful warriors who ever lived—Sentinels, master mages, legendary fighters—they came together and decided that if they couldn't defeat the demons, they would contain them instead." Juno gestured toward where Kai knew the massive wall stood. "They gave their lives to create the Hiro Wall."
"The barrier I saw when I first arrived?"
"The very same. Three hundred meters of magically reinforced stone and mud, but that's not what makes it special. The wall was created using the combined life force and mana of those seven heroes. Their sacrifice infused it with so much power that it doesn't just serve as a physical barrier—it actually separates the fundamental forces of light and dark magic."
Kai tried to imagine the scope of such a sacrifice. "They died to build a wall?"
"They died to save everything," Juno corrected firmly. "The Hiro Wall doesn't just keep demons out—it prevents the Dark Spirits from influencing anything on our side of the barrier. It's like a massive filter that cleanses the very air of their corruption."
"And it actually works?"
"For three hundred years, it's been absolutely impregnable. No demon has managed to cross it, no Dark Spirit has been able to extend their influence beyond Tenebris, and no amount of magical assault has managed to even scratch its surface." Juno's pride in the achievement was evident. "It's the strongest structure ever created, the ultimate expression of everything the light kingdoms could accomplish when working together."
Kai felt a surge of relief. "That's incredible! So the wall really is our savior."
Juno's expression shifted, the pride fading into something that looked disturbingly like resignation.
"However," he said quietly, his violet eyes reflecting the firelight with an ominous gleam, "that won't be for too long, it seems."
The words hung in the air between them like a death sentence, and Kai felt his brief moment of hope crumble into ash.