Erman Lucindus

First Realm, Southeast Origin Continent

Forest of Sylph

"Oh king, oh king

We are but humble people of South,

We only wish for string,

For how we can solve this bout..."

Erman Lucindus was a simple man, who would sing and pluck the viola to the people in his town during prosperity. After years of being a commanding general in the Ignatus War and taking on dangerous escapades to the second realm, he finally decided to retire to the small land he owned.

Though he had one final irk, his newborn son had become sick. Strange concoctions and powerful herbs, some even collected from the Second Realm itself, and still no proper ailments to his unknown sickness, so he began to look at less conventional approaches.

"My final wish,

To those who struggle,

I shall give them a simple fish,

For evil will be gone in double."

Once the man had finished his ballad, the townspeople clapped and cheered, and soon, each family placed a cradle of fruits beside the Sun God's altar: a tradition that is said to bring luck to the land and the people.

The crowd quickly dispersed after thanking the baron. The season of the Sun God brought an ample harvest and gave plenty of work to all.

Behind Erman stood his butler; his eyebrows slightly raised in a worried look, and his hands clasped behind his back. The tapping of his black leather shoes resounded through the town.

"My sire, the merchant has found a dark magician from the Theodore Islands and has brought her here, but this woman, I do not feel any danger, but recent events related to the dark have been rather…sporadic," the butler said. "The kingdom has been prosperous for the last two years; perhaps my senses have dulled due to constant peace," the butler continued, insinuating less on this last statement.

"You and I have fought teeth to teeth with enemies far more powerful than even the likes of a Duke, and that merchant is a humble man and has done nothing but brought me good, and he will only bring me good, for I have faith in the almighty Sun not to bring trouble." Erman said in a high tone, "Come, Hunter, we will meet the mage; we mustn't leave her waiting," putting away his viola in a case and placing it on his back.

Erman and his butler arrived at the gates of his small villa abode, where they found a bald man with a chiselled face and maroon eyes. His red robes were streaked with silver and gold; the man smiled as Erman approached. A woman stood next to the man, covered head to toe in a silvery garment and her face enshrouded by a veil; she merely stood there facing the approaching two men.

"My lord, I have brought a dark magician who can promise to heal your child within the next year. Powerful magicians such as these are hard to find, but my informants have never failed me," said the bald man.

Erman reciprocated with a nod.

"Mage, may I know your name?" Erman asked politely.

"Yusa, my lord," the mage said in a low feminine tone.

"Very well, what must I do?" Erman asked.

—-

Second Realm, Outskirts of the Magical Abyss

A soldier with shining gold armour wearing a spartan-like helmet kneeled with one leg and rested his arms on the ground in a fist. His head faced down.

A distance away from the kneeling soldier stood a figure clad in an azure button-up shirt fit with golden swirls. He wore teal trousers and high boots, contrasting with his shirt.

"King, everything has been collected from the ancient ruins," the soldier spoke.

The king waved his hand, signalling the soldier to stand up and salute.

"Rivett, I have cleared the area of any creatures of the second realm, but more will quickly gather in. Make sure nothing is left behi-," the king abruptly stopped speaking; he raised his hand and gestured his index finger in a circle. Within a moment, a high pitch whistle sounded and then a thud.

In the surrounding forestry, a woman fell from a tree branch, blood oozing from a hole in her glabella. The woman's eyes were rolled back, and her mouth was wide open in horror.