In the beginning, there was chaos. Within this chaos, the first Titans came into being. These beings, composed of pure mana energy, found themselves in a state of not knowing where they were going or where they were within the chaos.
The chaos persisted for centuries. The Titans found each other within this chaos and came together, vowing never to part again. The Titans, now grouped together, began searching for others within this endless chaos.
After who knows how many centuries of this chaos, the Titans finally found a place free of chaos, the first galaxy in their universe to have found order. The Titans gathered in this galaxy, unaware of what the future might hold.
After several thousand years, the Titans sensed a difference in this galaxy; they looked back at where they had come from and realised they were very far away. Where there had once been endless chaos, there were now countless galaxies. And the galaxy they were in was moving towards infinity much faster than the others. They were now too far away to return, even if they wanted to.
Some Titans blamed the Firstborn who had led them, accusing them of deceit, but there was no turning back now. Desperately, the Titans began circling the galaxy. Their only 'entertainment' now was observing the stars, planets, and asteroids within the galaxy, in groups—groups they never dared to leave. Perhaps in a cycle lasting millions of years.
Until one day, the creatures on a planet caught their attention. A race that called themselves 'Serathi'. Compared to other races, they were tall (approximately 2-2.5 metres), had four arms and two legs. Their skin was pure white, but gradually darkened from their shoulders to their hands. Their small lips were barely visible from a distance. Their ears were just tiny holes, almost invisible. Below their ear holes were two lines each for breathing. They had one eye almost right in the centre of their faces. The insides of their eyes were a bluish-black colour, but if you looked closely, you could see sparkles like stars, scattered, irregular, unique.
Their planet was divided into two continents. They lived on the small continent that covered one-sixth of the planet. The Titans saw things here they had never seen before, strange tools that looked like piles of iron. Despite having travelled around the galaxy countless times, they had never seen anything like this before. For the first time in millions of years, they were curious.
The Serathi lived alone on their own continent. They had no contact with the other continent, never venturing there. Their empire covered the entire continent.
On the other hand, on the other continent, many different races lived in the ways the Titans were accustomed to seeing, with small countries constantly at war with each other.
The Titans began to orbit the planet and observe them for about a century. Until one Titan, overcome by curiosity, went and entered the roof of the Imperial Senate, where the Serathi ruled their empire, during a session.
A great panic ensued within the Senate. There were no soldiers present except for a ten-person unit of the Emperor's Special Guards, who were permitted to enter the main chamber of the Senate. The panic intensified when the Firstborn, who had come to stop the Titan that had suddenly entered, also entered. Until the Serathi Emperor silenced everyone and asked the Titans that question.
'Who are you?'
The Firstborn explained the situation to the Serathi Emperor, and the emperor made them an offer.
'Help my race with your immortal wisdom, and my race will satisfy your curiosity about your immortal lives.'
The worst thing that can happen in an immortal life is to lose your purpose in life or for that purpose to never have existed. The Firstborn said they would discuss this with the others and left. They left behind a great question in the senate.
-What just happened?
When the Titans returned to their groups in orbit, they recounted everything. Although the Council of the Firstborns did not wish to accept the proposal, the others insisted they should. After all, the proposal could add meaning and enjoyment to their eternal lives. Following a debate that seemed brief to the Titans but lasted several months to the Serathians, the Titans decided to accept the proposal. They went to the Serathi Emperor and conveyed their answer.
The Serathians and Titans lived peacefully on the Serathi continent for about a century. The Titans told the Serathians about the stars. The Serathians, in turn, satisfied the Titans' curiosity and entertained them with their new devices. Over time, the mana emanating from the Titans spread into the air and even passed to the Serathians. The Serathians tried to understand this new substance. They learned to use it for themselves and in their machines. But nothing could remain the same. With each passing day, more Titans left their tours of the galaxy and came to the Serathians' planet. And with each passing year, the Serathians' population continued to grow.
The Serathi Empire had not left its continent for centuries. The noble houses in the Senate could never find common ground, even though new lands lay on the other continent, in the hands of weaker races; fragmented, undeveloped, constantly at war with each other.
When the Titans returned to their groups in orbit, they told them everything. Although the Firstborn Council did not want to accept the offer, the others wanted them to accept it. After all, the proposal could add meaning and enjoyment to their eternal lives. After a debate that seemed short to the Titans but lasted several months to the Serathians, the Titans decided to accept the proposal. They went to the Serathi Emperor and conveyed their answer.
The Serathians and Titans lived peacefully on the Serathian continent for about a century. The Titans told the Serathians about the stars. The Serathians, in turn, satisfied the Titans' curiosity and entertained them with their new devices. Over time, the mana emanating from the Titans spread into the air and even passed to the Serathians. The Serathians tried to understand this new substance. They learned to use it for themselves and in their machines. But nothing could remain the same. With each passing day, more Titans left their tours of the galaxy and came to the Serathians' planet. And with each passing year, the Serathians' population continued to grow.
The Serathi Empire had not left its continent for centuries. The noble houses in the Senate could never find common ground, even though new lands lay on the other continent, in the hands of weaker races; fragmented, undeveloped, constantly at war with each other.
The complexity of the Senate seemed meaningless to the Titans. The issues raised between the houses were seemingly aimless.
Who would lead the invasion? How would the lands be divided? Where would the war expenses come from? Whose soldiers would fight?
Whenever these questions were asked, they remained unanswered. The Senate never found a middle ground. Or perhaps they did not want to. That was until Serathi Emperor Korvath En'Nai II ascended the throne. The new emperor was only 32 years old when he ascended the throne. He was young by Serathi standards, intelligent, cunning, but most importantly, ambitious. And he gave the Senate the answer that would allow them to set aside the questions that were hindering their progress.
'Why are we discussing these questions now? The continent is there; we can debate them after we've taken the entire continent. And we needn't limit ourselves to just this planet. We've been listening to the Titans' tales for a century. There are other places we can go. All we need to do is invent a machine that will take us there.'
The Senate members fell silent in astonishment. Never before had an emperor proposed invading another continent. Never before had an emperor been so ambitious as to speak of conquering the stars. Amidst the silence, the Chief Engineer stood up.
'Your Majesty, what you say is impossible. We may have flying machines, but none of them can reach such heights.'
In response, the emperor said with an almost mocking tone.
'Impossible? Or is it that you lack the skill to do it? Chief Engineer of the Empire.'
And the emperor added.
"You are aware of the empire's population and its rate of increase. Not only you, but everyone, from the richest noble to the poorest peasant, from the most successful academic to the ordinary person who cannot even read or write, is aware! At this rate, there will be a famine in a few decades. What do you think will happen then? We will be at each other's throats for a few scraps of food. And don't think I don't know that your households are secretly stockpiling weapons! I am now initiating a special vote based on the Imperial Law. During the vote, going outside is prohibited, and votes must be cast within the specified time; otherwise, you have no right to object. Do you approve of the invasion?"
The Senate members were stunned by this resolve and determination. The Emperor began the vote without giving them time to think.
And the result was 'yes.'
The Serathi Empire was going to war for the first time in centuries.