Solaris Temple

"We are hereby gathered to celebrate the long-lasting peace Zuphanon has enjoyed for the last ten thousand years. For that, I would like to give my deepest gratitude to everyone who works day and night to maintain the peace we have."

A man standing in a luxurious stage was giving a speech. Today marks the ten thousand years of peace the various empires and kingdoms across Zuphanon. In a famous legend, it was said that Zuphanon was filled with dangerous creatures thus making living filled with harsh conditions. The long season of rain makes defending territories very hard and to speak nothing for expeditions. Back then, only the fittest last longer to survive.

The legends spoke of various kinds of creatures that dominate areas across the whole of Zuphanon. These territories can sometimes be very wide which makes the living conditions of humanity not much. It also spoke of vicious beasts and man-eating tribes which added more to the harsh living back then. Until one day, a so-called destined person was born into one of the rainy nights of a certain human settlement.

The person was taught all knowledge, all arts, all skills any human can have with the hope that someday this so-called destined person can carry them into better living conditions. The person did not disappoint all these hopeful people. He learned fast, he remembers almost anything he needed to remember. The skills he got developed into better skills, the art he was taught blossomed into new heights until nobody is on par with him anymore. Humanity has finally born a so-called overlord class.

With the rally of the overlord, humanity started to rise. He led people to retake more land. He led people to acquire knowledge from other races and most of all, he created a space for humanity to exist in this vast world of Zuphanon.

He fought and fought until he started winning against the other overlords making the space of humanity continue to grow. The vast plains in which demons were said to occupy has been claimed by humanity in the end. The seas that humanity fear to venture into were finally visited and routes were made. Humanity started to show dominance with the help of the so-called destined person.

Soon, humanity was able to conquer all of Zuphanon. Humanity, in the end, was able to become the dominant species, but it did not come without a price. Just before the human race can claim the throne, the other races started to band together. They aimed to stop the steps of the human race and waged a massive war at the lost kingdom of Levianara.

When the ashes of war finally settled down, the other overlords of the other races were banished by a secret art by the destined person. The threat from the other races was finally over but the destined person needs to keep guard of the seal and must not let the banished overlords return to Zuphanon. From then on, Zuphanon became the human race's backyard.

Settlements became kingdoms, kingdoms grew into empires and Zuphanon finally attained peace as the human race finally got the leash.

"As you all know, the peace we have now is not without the price. The other races' ambition never ceased to exists. Nor the burning flame of revenge of many demons died. We must all remain vigilant and continue to work and maintain everyone's happiness and security."

The people invited by the Solaris temple started to clap. The Solaris temple is one of the big influences in the Ikrulan kingdom located in the farthest east of the Zuphanon. It is responsible for spreading the art left behind by the previous heroes of the east. There were many arts in which people claim to be one of the skills used by the previous destined person but the skill Rain Dance is one of the genuine. The skill was exclusive only to the people who contributed high enough towards the Solaris Temple.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Today is also a special day for the temple as one of the elders is stepping down his position and passing it on towards his daughter. Rebecca Flint is the treasured daughter of the seventh Elder Ashton Flint. She was crowned as the genius of her current generation. Her sword art has been compared to be on par with many famous persons in the past. Her learning speed can only be called monstrous as almost all teachers in the Ikrulan kingdom has already recognized her beyond them.

"Now, we are also here to celebrate the succession of Rebecca. I will miss Elder Ashton but I can finally not see his old face."

Everybody laughed at that including the man being joked upon. Aston just smiled but he made a sliding motion with his thumb to his neck while looking straight at the man in the stage. The man quickly felt cold for some reason. He gave an awkward laugh before looking at the beautiful face of Rebecca which was showing no emotion at all.

Yesterday I was looking into an old man's full of wrinkles on his face. It was ugly but now I will be looking at a lifeless beautiful face of a doll. Can't I get something normal?

The man thought while trying to somehow calm his nerves and not speak his mind.

"Ok... Joke aside, I welcome miss Rebecca to the stage to say something." The man stepped down so fast as if evading something.

Rebecca went up to the stage and looked around before her sights settled on her father Ashton. Ashton smiled at her but her expression did not even change.

"I worked hard," Rebecca said.

There was a long pause and people started to talk in hush voices. People are wondering where this speech will head into.

"Because I don't understand how people still have the time to celebrate when everything is about to blow up already."

People were a bit stunned. They knew that Rebecca has no reign on what she wants to say but to say something so ominous exactly in the date of celebration of peace.

"The northern dwarves started to close their territory. The elves closed their sanctuary. The beastman tribes started to be estranged towards us again. The north started to move sneakily and who knows what they are on. Now people already felt it but still denies it."

Everyone's turned splendid after hearing her words. Everybody already knows what she said but as of now, they are still doing festivities. Her words made them feel like she slapped them and it hurts but they don't know where exactly. It's not that they were not aware but it's not easy to move in these special times. An elder of the Solaris temple moving troops can mean many things and they are trying to look aggressive in any way.

"I know that you all are not stupid but I believe that trying to act passive will only land us in a more unfavorable situation. The dwarves closed their territory for human entry, why are dwarves still roaming our kingdom? The elves always ask for trades but refuse when we ask them things. The northern spies are having their field trip inside our kingdom and all of us still try to behave like little boys."

Everyone now has solemn expressions like they are trying to digest what Rebecca said.

"Me alone am not enough to change something. Even if I try my hardest, all I can do is make the Flint family move and we won't be able to do much when people try to impede our way." Rebecca looked towards the other elders in the room.

"I would like to start and do something. We behaving like lambs only paint more targets on our backs. How about I start to cut down these targets and you folks do what you think you must do."

An elder stood with an angry expression on his face and pointed towards Rebecca.

"Are you trying to start a war that has never happened in the past ten thousand years?" The man snarled.

There was still no change in Rebecca's face which only serve more coal towards the burning anger of the elder. He was about to say more when Rebecca beat him into it.

"Are you sure we are in peace?"

The sudden question cut so deep towards everyone. They all know that beneath the so-called peace, there were still skirmishes in some border of some kingdoms. Some rebellion from the other race which is trying to raise their glory once again. The peace is more on a mask than an actual blanket that covers the entirety of Zhuphanon. Small tribes being extinguished due to them trying to fight for discrimination. Businessmen trying to fight for power within the kingdoms are getting worse as time goes by.

"The war has already started long ago." There was finally a change in Rebecca's emotionless face. A spark of anger can be seen on her beautiful face.

"I dare not to lead you all into the battlefield but my Flint family will not behave like lambs towards these wolves hanging around our home." Rebecca paused and once again looked around the people. "I will eat them first myself!"

"Now... Are you guys the lambs or the hunters?"