-----
Prologue - Unhallowed
-----
Igarian Calendar, Year 10000
The skies were painted in an ominous azure, emanating gentle hues. There was not a single cloud within the boundless horizons, leaving only the bright red sun to oversee the lands with its piercing radiance.
It was an unusual day marking the new millennium on Igarium, the most northern continent within this realm of space. Light rarely saw the lands that far north, even during the summer months. It seemed as if today, however, that the entire continent was forcefully drawing upon all the light in the boundless skies… as if painting a prelude of unprecedented proportions.
Annals of Estel
------
Within in a small, unremarkable village at the peninsula of northern Igarium, an equally banal festival was slowly transpiring. The villagers celebrated with an exquisite roast and aged wine, reminiscing of past reveries. It was the mark of the new millennia, which gave excuse for the villagers to splurge the excess wealth they've accumulated through the years. It was difficult to accrue much wealth in such barren and isolated lands, however occasional merchants allowed the villagers to mutually profit.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Alcohol was a rather rare commodity in the north, where not even the most tenacious grains could be cultivated - however nothing could quench the thirst of the northerners as they soon discovered an icy wildgrass as a substitute for their ales. Such a unique catalyst gave their alcohol an equally unique taste; a smooth, chilling flavour and an addictive, stinging aftertaste. Accompanied by its steep alcohol content, it soon became the favoured drink of nobles and commoners alike.
“Hahahah! Drink my friends, drink til there's naught. Glory to the holy emperor!” yelled a villager.
A reverberating chant resounded from the other villagers as they continued dancing with fervorous glee. Echoing beats through a hollowed drum gave to a natural resonance whilst a fiery hearth elicited further fanaticism within the villagers.
Some would say drinking was simply a way of borrowing happiness from tomorrow, and with these villagers that would certainly pertain as true.
------
Yet away from all the bustling festivities, a solitary shadow could be seen overlooking the frozen river.
Taking a brief respite, the figure gazed up towards the boundless skies, fixating upon a dim star off in the distance. Its wistful, azure radiance was seemingly fading into the darkness of the starry canvas; forever to be forgotten in the vast expanses of the universe.
“Hah… my time is up...”
And as if through providence, the figure ascended upwards and vanished into the moonlight, leaving only the sharp winds to witness this act of god.
------