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Niphus

Not long after the birth of the cosmos, all that existed was darkness. None but one race could survive within this void. The race of entities that lived within the void were called Ancient Titans. They possessed powers so dominant, that they could dismantle the very fabric of causation. However, they were not without flaws. Their brilliance was tainted by unquenchable greed. In order to satisfy their ambitions for domination, they engaged in conflicts that lasted ages, resulting in ongoing turmoil in the universe.

Throughout the eons, the numerous factions of deities diminished until merely two powerful houses persisted: The house Aeus, dubbed the rulers of mana and the lords of magic, and the house Eheia, the masters of aether and the progenitors of life. The Aeus focused their magic on creating destructive spells and impressive devices of annihilation, while the Eheians formed powerful beings, enlivening them with their aether, to unleash chaos in their honour.

During these times of chaos, an unimaginable phenomenon took place.

Niara Roland Eheia, the radiant heiress of aether, and Phos Valorin Aeus, the prodigy of mana, had fallen in love. It wasn’t a mere romance; it was an unshakable, forbidden bond. Their union was an affront to the very existence of the Titans. However, their love didn't bow to the hatred of their houses, and Niara and Phos refused to continue the cycle of war and decided to flee.

Their vanishing seemed to upset the delicate balance between the houses and triggered a disaster. Furious over the treachery, the two factions unleashed their entire might against one another, leading to mutual destruction. The formerly grand pantheons of Aeus and Eheia were diminished to emptiness, leaving Niara and Phos as the only entities remaining.

Devastated by the unfathomable loss and the ruin wrought by their kind, Niara and Phos resolved to atone. In their grief and unity, they created a new world—a planet unlike any other. With Niara’s touch, life blossomed, vibrant and eternal. With Phos’s power, magic suffused the land, infinite and wondrous. Together, they moulded this realm, harmonizing life and mysticism in a divine balance.

This planet, born of the union between Niara and Phos, was named Niphus—a living testament to the fusion of life and magic and a promise of a new beginning.

Niphus is a gargantuan world, roughly 200 times larger than Earth, with seven sprawling continents, and vast oceans that cover nearly most of its surface. Its population includes not just humans—who number an astonishing 7 trillion—but also a diverse array of species such as dragons, elves, dwarves, fairies, spirits, demons, monsters, and beastmen.

Vestian's home lies within the Fern District of Prophia City, a metropolis about five times the size of New York City, housing 20 million inhabitants. Prophia City is the outermost urban centre of the Arctoth Duchy and borders the Excarres forest. The city is arranged in the form of concentric circles. At its core stands the City Lord’s manor, a towering symbol of authority. Encircling the manor is the Allyria District, home to the city’s nobility and wealthy. It is composed of five sections numbered from section-1 to section-5, with section-1 being closest to the manor and houses the city’s essential offices and workspaces. section-5 is the lowest tier of the Allyria district and houses the estates of some lower nobility and some wealthy commoners. Its opulent estates are shielded by a high, circular wall.

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Encircling Allyria lies the Financial District, bustling with trade and commerce. This is where the merchants trade, where the blacksmiths hold their forges and where the majority of the city’s commerce takes place.

The outer ring of the city is divided into two parts: on the east lies the Fern District, a primarily agrarian area with a population of around 4 million. It boasts sprawling farms, lush fields, and a rustic charm that contrasts with the urban core. On the west side is the Adventurers’ District, which borders the legendary Excarres Forest. This mythical woodland is approximately seven times the size of Europe and serves as a natural border between the Aslelon Kingdom and neighbouring territories.

The Aslelon Kingdom itself is a vast realm, four times the size of Russia, with a population of 4 billion people. Its social structure is rigid, dividing its inhabitants into seven classes:

The Royalty

The Nobility

The Clergy

The Pseudo-Nobility

The Commoners

The Slaves and Serfs

While social mobility is difficult, it is not impossible. Individuals can elevate their status through wealth or power. Magicians of the 5th class or higher, as well as knights who achieve the same rank, may request the title of viscount, alternatively, those who can amass a fortune greater than 1 million gold crescents may purchase the rank of baron from the imperial household. The title of nobility can also be sold to commoners or other nobles at one’s discretion.

There are 7 types of nobles in the Asleon kingdom:

The Grand Dukes, The Dukes, The Marquises, The Margraves, The Counts, The Viscounts, The Barons and finally those who hold the title of a Baronet.

Those of noble birth who don’t possess territories are known as pseudo-nobles. This includes the nobles who lost their territories and the children of noble birth who lost the fight for succession.

Only the nobility and pseudo-nobility are permitted to bear house names, leaving commoner families like Vestian's without one. His family resides in a comfortable two-story home in the Fern District of Prophia city. The house, though modest compared to the estates of the nobility, is well-suited for their needs.

The house consists of two floors, with a lawn in the backside of the building and the front.

The first floor includes a kitchen, a dining room, a meeting room, a bedroom where Vestian’s parents sleep, and a hall for relaxation. Whereas, the second floor houses two bedrooms: one for Vestian and the other for his younger sister, Alea. Each room is modestly furnished but comfortable, with simple wool beds, desks, and shelves for personal belongings.