I was born in the Bennett District of Central Gustan. It was a peaceful area with a great leader, Lord Bennett, Marquess of Eastnding.

  My father was a soldier who served under Captain Albertt Bennett, the second son of the marquess. He was a great man and rumored to be the best swordsman in the Eiffel State. He talked to all his soldiers with respect. My father praised him a lot. I even had a chance to meet him in person. I would say he was the justice in personification and very handsome.

  My best friend, Dan, worships Sir Albertt. He always said, “When I’m old enough, I will join Sir Albertt’s training program and become his soldier.”

  “And what if you are not accepted into the program?” I would ask.

  “That’s why I am training every day! Feli, stop breaking my spirit!” Don would counter.

  We always pyed together in sword fights because we both wanted to serve the Kingdoms. I wanted to follow my father’s path.

  My father often trained both of us in fighting. He said, “Time has changed, Feli. With the new techniques adopted, more women will be allowed into the military. This will be a great way to secure your life. I don’t want you to belong to other men in the future.”

  “What do you mean by belonging? Don’t we all belong to House Bennett?” I asked.

  Now that I’ve thought about it, I think he didn’t want to marry me off, so he wanted me to be able to protect myself, but he would never have imagined that his wish actually come true, in a terrible way.

  After Captain Albertt got married, a series of events derailed the entire area’s stability. Captain Albertt was relieved from duty and exiled to the Longwall. House Eiffel got elected to be the next Elemental King. The northern nobles revolted against House Eiffel, for staging a fraud in the election. Sir Albertt returned as the enemy and murdered Duke Eiffel and Marquess Bennett.

  Father died in the conflicts. I don’t even know who killed him, or which side he was on.

  The banners changed overnight. Yesterday, we belonged to House Eiffel. Today, we belonged to Omenmia. Tomorrow, Elementia again.

  Everything was on fire. Soldiers were sughtering people and raiding our home. But we managed to survive. Dan’s family didn’t survive, so Mother took him in.

  In the following years, we moved to somewhere more secluded as the entire Eiffel States became the major warzone in the Civil War, as we were in the center of the continent.

  The north now cimed themselves as the Empire of Omenmia, using an ancient empire’s name.

  We had a few peaceful years, but then there were people who were exploiting the conflict’s wlessness.

  I still remember that day clearly.

  “Please don’t take them away. They are all that I have left.” Mother yelled while a group of wizards were trying to kidnap both Dan and I.

  Dan bit the wizard who was holding me.

  “Damn it!” He let go of me and smmed on Dan.

  “Run! Feli, RUN!” Dan yelled.

  I ran as fast as possible while seeing a fire hit right on Mother. I still kept running.

  I had to survive.

  Then, a shadow consumed me. A dark-cloaked wizard blocked my way. His eyes were like blood, terrifying.

  A bck vortex appeared out of nowhere and swallowed me up. I fell into a forever darkness.

  “Mother, save me!”