The map was not large, nor was it particularly beautiful.
It was drawn on a wide parchment stretched across a wooden table, its edges held down by small iron weights so it would not curl. Thick ink lines marked coastlines and mountain ranges. A few symbols had been added with careful precision, each one representing a nation.
For a moment, the room was quiet.
The students gathered around the table, leaning in slightly as they studied the unfamiliar world laid out before them. Ren stood near the front, arms loosely crossed. Beside him were Rika and Daigo, while Sayaka and Noa whispered quietly to each other on the other side. Tora rested his hands on the table edge, and Hinata lean on the back wall, squinting as if trying to memorize every detail.
Behind them stood Master Era.
She watched them silently for a few seconds before speaking.
"This," she said calmly, tapping the parchment with a slender wooden pointer, "is the world as the Kingdom of Altherion understands it."
Her pointer moved toward the center of the map.
A symbol marked with two bold letters stood there.
K.A
"The Kingdom of Altherion," she continued. "Your current home, whether you like it or not."
A faint smile flickered across Daigo's face at that.
Era ignored it.
"Altherion is a relatively young kingdom compared to the other nations on this map. Barely five centuries old. But in those five centuries, it has grown quickly."
She traced the borders surrounding the symbol.
"Strategic location. Fertile land. Strong trade routes. And a long history of capable rulers."
Ren studied the map carefully. The kingdom sat near the center of the continent, surrounded by rivers and mountain ranges that looked almost like natural walls.
"So we're basically in the middle of everything," Daigo muttered.
"Correct," Era said without looking at him.
Her pointer shifted westward across the parchment.
The next mark was written simply.
V
"Verdantia," she said. "The Land of Green Life."
The ink lines around Verdantia showed dense forests stretching across most of the territory.
"Verdantia is older than Altherion," Era explained. "Much older."
"How old?" Noa asked.
"Older than most written records," Era replied. "Even our oldest scholars disagree on its true age."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"It is a land dominated by ancient forests. Trees that have stood for centuries. Some say even longer."
Rika tilted her head slightly.
"So… who lives there?"
Era glanced at her.
"Elves."
A few students exchanged surprised looks.
"And druids," Era added. "Forest guardians. Magic users who draw power from nature itself."
She tapped the Verdantia region again.
"The elves of Verdantia are not united under a single king the way humans prefer. Instead, their lands are divided among ancient clans and councils. They rarely interfere with the politics of other nations."
"Rarely?" Daigo said.
Era's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Rarely does not mean never."
She continued.
"Verdantia's people are deeply tied to the forests they inhabit. Their druids maintain ancient rituals meant to preserve the balance of nature. It is said that the forests themselves respond to their magic."
Ren imagined towering trees, mist-covered woods, and quiet villages hidden beneath massive canopies.
"They sound peaceful," Sayaka said softly.
Era gave a faint shrug.
"Peaceful when left alone."
Her pointer moved south.
The next symbol was written in sharper letters.
Ig
"Ignivar," Era said. "The Empire of Fire."
Even on the simple map, the land looked harsher. Mountain ranges dominated the region, many of them drawn with small flame-like markings.
"Ignivar sits upon volcanic lands," she continued. "Much of its territory is shaped by fire and stone."
"Sounds fun," Daigo said dryly.
Era ignored the comment.
"The empire is ruled by an emperor and supported by a powerful military structure. Discipline and strength are valued above all else."
She tapped the mountains.
"Volcanoes, lava flows, and ash plains dominate much of their territory. Living there requires resilience."
"So their magic is… fire?" Tora asked.
"Mostly," Era replied. "Fire magic is common among their people. Their warriors are trained to wield it with frightening efficiency."
Hinata leaned closer to the map.
"They fight a lot, don't they?"
Era considered that for a moment.
"The Empire of Ignivar does not avoid war," she said.
That was answer enough.
Her pointer shifted eastward across the map, toward a region marked by long coastlines and scattered islands.
T
"Thalvaron," she announced. "The Kingdom of the Deep Seas."
The ink showed waves drawn along much of the coastline.
"Unlike the other nations, Thalvaron's power does not come from land."
She pointed toward the water surrounding it.
"It comes from the sea."
Noa raised an eyebrow.
"They're sailors?"
"Among other things," Era said.
She continued explaining.
"Thalvaron controls many important sea routes. Their fleets are among the strongest in the world, and their ships travel far beyond the waters most nations dare to cross."
Ren noticed several island chains marked near the kingdom.
"Are those theirs too?" he asked.
"Some," Era replied. "Others are contested territories or independent settlements."
"And the people?" Rika asked.
"Humans, mostly," Era said. "Though coastal cultures there are heavily influenced by ocean traditions. Some say their mages can even control tides and currents."
Daigo blinked.
"That sounds unfair."
Era simply moved the pointer again.
This time toward the northern edge of the map.
The region there was shaded darker than the others.
Instead of a simple letter, its name was written fully.
Maldrath
The room grew noticeably quieter.
Era's voice lowered slightly.
"Maldrath," she said. "The Domain of Dark Power."
No one joked this time.
Ren studied the area. Unlike the other nations, the borders of Maldrath looked uncertain, as if even the cartographer had hesitated to define them clearly.
"What's there?" Hinata asked.
Era rested the pointer against the parchment.
"Very little reliable information."
"That sounds reassuring," Daigo muttered.
Era ignored him again.
"Maldrath is a land surrounded by rumor and fragmented records. Ancient ruins. Dead cities. Dark magic."
Sayaka folded her arms slightly.
"So nobody lives there?"
Era looked at her.
"People live everywhere."
That answer did not make anyone feel better.
"The true rulers of Maldrath remain unclear," Era continued. "But history records that powerful dark sorcerers once rose from those lands."
Her gaze swept across the students again.
"Many scholars believe that whatever forces exist there prefer isolation."
Ren glanced back down at the map.
Five regions.
Five powers shaping the world.
And somehow, he and the others had been dropped directly into the center of it.
Era tapped the map once more.
"These five lands form the foundation of most political tension on this continent."
Her pointer returned to the middle.
"The Kingdom of Altherion sits between them all."
Daigo scratched his head.
"So basically we're the middle child of the continent."
"An overly simplified description," Era said.
"But not entirely wrong."
Some quiet laughter spread through the group.
Era stepped back slightly from the table.
"You were summoned here for a purpose," she continued. "But regardless of that purpose, you now exist within this world."
Her eyes moved from Ren to Rika, then to the others.
"Understanding the forces that shape it will increase your chances of survival."
"That's always good," Daigo said.
Era crossed her arms behind her back.
"In the coming weeks, I will teach you more about these lands. Their magic. Their histories. Their conflicts."
She nodded toward the map.
"This is only the beginning."
Ren looked down at the parchment once more.
Verdantia.
Ignivar.
Thalvaron.
Maldrath.
And at the center of it all—
Altherion.
A world he had never imagined now felt suddenly, dangerously real.