The night sky shone brightly, clear and majestic, accompanied by the grandeur of the moon. Beneath the magnificent full moon, the vast Great Therondia forest lay in serene silence, possessing a beauty of its own. The moonlight cast shadows upon the Great Therondia forest, causing a certain area to emerge from the mist-like a figure stepping onto a stage. Half-buried broken walls and shattered white pillars stood as remnants of once-glorious structures, now aged for centuries yet still retaining their grandeur.
With no human presence in sight, this place remained a hidden mystery of Great Therondia. Near a collapsed building, amidst the grass, a broken piece of iron wire glimmers under the moonlight, as if mourning the battles of the past. The still-standing white ruins hint that this place must have once been magnificent.
Amidst the pale, dignified ruins, a dark, ominous presence blended into the mist. The shadow of the past wandered, seeking something unknown. Cloaked in tattered armour, this entity gripped a dull, chipped sword, moving as if searching for prey.
*
For the first time in centuries, war reaches the great continent of Anata. It all began two years ago when the Emperor of the Land of Flowers declared an unprovoked war against all other nations. The emperor's army was divided into three battalions, launching an attack on Balahan, a bordering nation, with two battalions, while the small nation of Ohnmat faced an invasion by the third.
Although Alandra, located opposite The Land of Flowers, had yet to face confrontation, it was evident that if Balahan fell, Alandra would be the next target. Foreseeing this, Queen Ema Froststin of Alandra made a crucial decision. She dispatched military aid to Balahan, sending:
Alandra's Defense Unit 1, led by the Holy Saint
Alandra's Defense Unit 2, led by Sir Severus Argus
Alandra's Defense Unit 4, led by Sir Norman Green
Alongside with 300 mages
Under the command of Sir Clayman White aka White Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Queen Ema, along with the Third and Fifth Defense Units and Alandra's famed "War Maiden," Ancel Lilian, remained behind to safeguard the homeland.
*
An unfamiliar place… A grand palace adorned in white and gold… A tea room surrounded by vibrant flowers…
Inside the tea room, a young girl with white hair, fair skin, and a mature expression sat on a small chair. Beside her stood a tall man with a strong physique, long hair tied neatly behind him, smiling gently at the girl. In her small hands, she held a newborn child with golden eyes, a moment of pure familial warmth.
"… I'm sorry, my dear child…"
Abruptly, I woke up. My heart clenched as if gripped by an invisible force, suffocating me with an overwhelming sensation. As I became aware of the tears trailing down my face, I wiped them away with my hand.
"What a strange dream."
Feeling the sunlight touch my face, I stood up and gazed out the window.
"It's already evening. Grandpa hasn't returned yet?"
Earlier, Grandpa Thomas had told me that he would meet Big Brother Marglas around 2 PM. I walked to the dining room, drank some water, and tried to shake off the lingering drowsiness and recall my dream.
"Such a lovely family… But why do I feel so sad about this dream?"
I wanted to recall more details, but only fragments remained, filling my thoughts with unanswered questions. Frustrated, I stopped trying to remember.
"I need to train—to become a Knight like Grandpa!"
I grabbed the sword that was placed on a corner of the door and stepped outside. Under the shade of the old tree, I prepared myself, recalling the swordsmanship techniques Grandfather had taught me. There are three Power Sources in this world: Aura, Magic, and Relics. Both Aura and Magic required Mana to use, divided into two categories: Mages and Non-Mages. Mages used Mana to cast spells, while non-magic warriors—such as swordsmen, archers, and tanks—used Aura to cover weapons for combat. Technically, anyone with sufficient Mana could become an Aura Knight, but becoming a Mage required far more Mana. Some people, despite having enough Mana to be Mages, chose to become Aura Knights because they preferred close combat. Relics, unlike Magic, possessed unique, powerful abilities without requiring Mana. The mystery behind the relics' abilities is still unsolved. Many Relics were discovered within the ruins of The Great Theondia Forest, and some believed their abilities were akin to ancient powers.
My grandfather, Thomas, had once been a Knight and owned a Moonstone Ring Relic. Though exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship, he lacked Mana, preventing him from becoming an Aura Knight. Despite his natural limitations, he had trained tirelessly to push his limits. Knowing this, I felt sorrow for my grandfather and frustration at the unjust nature of the world.
Lost in thought, I continued training for 45 minutes before finally resting under the old tree.
"Hah… I'm exhausted. The sun is already setting."
I wiped my sweat with a cloth and gazed toward the path where Grandfather was supposed to return from. The time was already 5:37 PM, and the sun was halfway below the horizon. As I watched, I spotted Grandfather Thomas approaching.
"Grandpa, you're a bit late today… It's already getting dark."
"Ah, my son… I was discussing something with Marglas and the others. We're heading into the forest in two days."
"Really? Uncle Marglas and the others are coming too?"
"Yes. They recently discovered a ruin and suspect there might be Relics inside, so they invited me to join them."
"Really, Grandpa? Can I go too?"
Grandpa looked at me carefully, seemingly deep in thought without saying anything. Then he said,
"Of course… You're about to turn 15 years old soon..."
"Yay…! Thank you, Grandpa!" I cheered in excitement. Then Grandpa continued,
"Son… You have talent in swordsmanship. I can feel it. I've also noticed your progress. The only thing you're lacking now is real experience. But I don't really want to take you into Theondia Forest as much as I can avoid it. Gaining real experience in Theondia Forest is extremely dangerous. That's why, when you're in the forest, always stay alert and listen to what I say."
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Alright, come on, son. Let's have dinner together…"
I followed Grandpa into the house. I couldn't wait for the next two days. Why? Because I was finally going to set foot in Theondia Forest for the first time—the place I'd always seen every morning during my sword training.
Theondia Forest was very important to me. It was also the place where Grandpa found me. Ever since I was young, I have read many stories about Theondia Forest and admired the heroes within them. This felt like my first adventure. With that thought in mind, I glanced out the window. The evening had arrived. The town of Limart was coming alive with glowing lights from houses and streets, while music, cheers, and laughter of adventurers resonated from the taverns.
---
"Clang…"
Amidst the silent surroundings, the sound of two swords clashing echoed through the air.
In the darkness, two figures were engaged in an intense battle.
The first warrior, dressed in samurai-style armour, wielded a black katana and fought fiercely.
The second warrior, wearing white armour, held two white daggers and clashed against the first with equal determination.
"There are only a few people who can fight me this well… You should be proud, Clayman."
"Tsh… I don't feel good about this. My mind feels heavy. Even though Lilian is still in Alandra, I'm worried about my Queen. I must kill you, ArakawaKuzuryu, and return to Alandra as soon as possible."
"Even while fighting me, your mind is somewhere else… Looks like I have to take this seriously, [Warrior]."
The samurai warrior swiftly adjusted his stance and delivered a Vertical Slash toward his opponent in white. Suddenly, multiple katanas erupted from the ground like towering mountains, all targeting the white-armour warrior in a diagonal attack.
"...Flicker."
Tiny white feathers scattered into the air as the white armour warrior vanished in an instant. The feathers transformed into magical particles that faded as they touched the ground. In the blink of an eye, the white armour warrior reappeared in midair and then hurled one of his daggers directly at the samurai warrior. Just before the sword could hit its target, the white-robed warrior disappeared again—only to reappear where the dagger was.
"I've been waiting for this move, White Phoenix… [Defender]..." said the samurai warrior.
Immediately, countless sword slashes materialized within a ten-foot radius around the samurai warrior. The battle was growing fiercer.