[Eirian Continent – Milbong Rainforest]
Deep in the rainforest, a strange feeling had taken hold of the creatures that inhabited it. Screeches and growls floated through the air, creating a somber cacophony that mingled with the quick footsteps of those fleeing aimlessly. The beasts took refuge in their territories, seeking shelter in the shadows of caves, among roots, or in their nests, even though they knew the energy coursing through the rainforest was uncontrollable, impossible to avoid.
The orange dawn sky slowly darkened as storm clouds gathered, stretching over the horizon. The wind blew hard, shaking the treetops, and thunder rumbled with increasing intensity. The ground began to shake, the vibrations increasing with each second. Birds, alerted to the danger, squawked and scattered in erratic flight.
In the middle of a vast lake floated an island surrounded by towering cliffs. But unlike the chaos that dominated the rainforest, there reigned a heavy silence, as if something waited in the shadows, hidden and expectant.
In the heart of the island, a huge beast slithered at breathtaking speed, its body a blur of movement as it made its way through the lavender fields. Its razor-sharp scales bristled with every movement, while its blood raged as if a storm had been awakened within.
(She's back... she's back), the creature murmured, with a mixture of disbelief and fervor.
Its four eyes glowed with a deep, almost feverish longing. Each gasp reflected the intensity of the enthusiasm that consumed it as it followed the trail of that familiar energy, a sensation that had vanished millennia ago.
Every sentient being in the rainforest, and even beyond, sensed it: something was awakening.
The creature hastily crawled until it reached the summit. Unlike the labyrinth of connected caves that made up the island's interior, the upper part was made up of gentle hills covered in green grasslands. These swayed in the cool breeze off the lake, spreading its damp, earthy scent.
A pillar of light descended from the sky, plummeting into the cenote on the highest hill—a deep cavity where groundwater pooled, forming hidden lakes beneath the ground. The creature hissed, disturbed by the density of aether emanating from the site, and began to approach cautiously.
The light gradually dimmed, as if about to be extinguished. Then, without warning, the pillar expanded and contracted abruptly, creating a vacuum effect. The creature had no time to react: it was swept away and fell into the cenote. Fortunately, the cavity was large enough to accommodate five beasts of its size. With a muffled grunt, it clutched the thick roots that hung from the stone walls, twisting tightly to avoid falling into the shimmering water below. But its attention wasn't on its precarious position.
A figure floated in the pond, radiating a faint glow. Her turquoise hair swayed with a serene rhythm, like her sleeping visage.
The creature recognized her, and then, realization struck it.
She had finally returned.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Eirian Continent – Hathor Kingdom]
The Belenos district lay on the border between Hathor kingdom and the Milbong Rainforest. It was widely known among warriors, hunters, herbalists, and traders: a meeting point for those seeking to hone their combat skills or acquire everything from medicinal plants and weapons to the carcasses of exotic beasts.
In recent months, Belenos had become the center of conversation in the kingdom. Not because of its usual attractions, but because it had turned into the scene of brutal confrontations between the beasts of the rainforest and Hathor's warriors.
The creatures that inhabited the Milbong Rainforest possessed varying degrees of intelligence depending on their evolutionary level. Many avoided humans, focusing on hunting lesser beasts for food and protecting their territories. Others, more curious, ventured into human lands. However, they all shared one characteristic: a profound aversion to the human race. Or at least, that was how it had been. Until, without warning, species that had previously been unable to coexist began to ally to attack humans. Hathor, due to its proximity, was one of the first kingdoms besieged.
The possibility that the beasts had reached a new level of consciousness—one that prioritized conquest over territorial defense—alarmed the neighboring kingdoms. Soon, the best warriors were sent to the front to form a line of defense and avert a greater catastrophe.
However, on that particular morning, the infamous battlefield that had witnessed massacres for the past five months, dawned completely deserted. Not because one faction had triumphed: the beasts had retreated, without explanation, leaving the warriors caught between mistrust and tension.
Some warriors looked up. The sky, covered by dense clouds, revealed a flow of aether that slid like a veil over the region. Nevertheless, no one vacated their position, remaining vigilant in anticipation of a potential surprise assault.
The clouds, born in the heart of the rainforest, spread swiftly over Belenos and beyond, reaching the capital in a matter of seconds. Then, the earth shook violently. Warriors fell to their knees, unable to stand. The mounts, overcome with panic, attempted to flee. At that instant, they knew something was wrong.
But it was too late.
The aether seeped through every corner of the kingdom as if searching for something… and then it halted. But, its pressure remained, heavy and pulsing in the air, over humans and beasts alike.
In Iabet, the capital, people who had started their day normally were now scattered on the ground, struggling to regain their balance after the tremor that shook the entire kingdom. The Hathi had never experienced anything like this, and confusion and fear gripped them. No one knew what had happened or how to react.
"The sky!" a woman shouted in the crowd.
Everyone looked up, holding their breath. Hundreds of symbols began to form in the air beyond the storm clouds, spreading out in enormous rings that enclosed the capital. These symbols, glowing and ominous, portended disaster.
Instinctively, all eyes turned to the colossal wisteria tree blooming at the heart of the Iabet acropolis: the Enedina.
That ancient tree—revered even before the kingdom's founding—was more than just a national emblem; it was the heart and pride of the Hathi, sacred and vital to their survival. Its location on the acropolis made it an indisputable symbol of power and stability.
The Enedina raised its branches toward the overcast sky, while the lilac blossoms hung, bearing witness to the confusion erupting below. The place still held a magical aura, but the chaos shattered all illusions.
The wisteria swayed violently. A golden glow, identical to that of the floating symbols, erupted from between the branches. The tree's thick limbs shook with brutal force, emitting blood-curdling cracks.
When the sound became unbearable, the tree suddenly froze as if something had stopped it. However, the rings of symbols remained there, suspended in the sky.
Everyone waited, unsure if the worst was over… or about to begin.
The crowd scattered hastily in all directions, their faces pale and contorted with terror. No one knew exactly what to do because this earthquake had been the first experience of its kind for the Hathi, and the fear of the unknown dominated them.
"Don't run! Don't push! Form a line and follow the red banner!"
"Children and the elderly first!"
"Notify the temple! We need healers!"
"Stay away from the structures, they might collapse!"
The guards ran back and forth, trying to organize the stampeding masses, but their firm voices were drowned out by the commotion. The tension in the air was as thick as the musky scent of wisteria. An almost palpable fear clung to the skin like the sticky heat of a humid afternoon in the capital—a strange contrast between the sweetness of the scent and the harshness of the situation.