The first Crossing began in the Age of Fire, billions of years ago, when the world was still young.
The second Crossing began in the Age of Gods, millions of years ago, when the world was still empty.
The third Crossing began in the Age of Castles, thousands of years ago, when the world was still
divided.
The fourth Crossing began in the Age of Discovery, hundreds of years ago, when the world was still curious.
The fifth Crossing began two years ago, in the modern age, when the world settled in contentment.
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The first Rift, signaling the beginning of the Crossing, appeared in 1020 ADE.
The Krian Forest Rift was the first to be discovered on the eastern continents.
Its appearance inspired an expedition. Mercenaries, nobles, and scholars alike were drawn to it like moths to a flame. People from all walks of life arrived in droves, curious of the enigma that appeared above the mountains and the snow.
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The Sintenee mountain range wrapped around the northern border of Kria. It stretched for miles to the north. In the age of castles, the mountain range acted as a natural barrier to protect the kingdom from invaders. In the modern age, the range became nothing more but a tourist destination. The massive mountains stretching on for forever were a spectacular sight. The tallest mountain, known as the Earthen Peak, was a favorite of mountaineers and skiers alike.
Dozens of ski resorts called the mountain range their home. But now, none of them were open for business. The king himself announced that all tourist activity around the mountains be ceased. His Majesty declared that the area around the mountain range was too dangerous.
For there, hanging in the open sky, was a portal to another world.
A young noble girl stood just outside her pavilion. Her eyes were emeralds and her hair was the color of fire. She radiated an aura of grace and authority. Here, surrounded by the whiteness of snow, as the cold winter wind blew through her hair, the girl wondered if she really needed to be here.
Couldn’t her father have sent someone else? Preferably not his heir?
Nikita Takahashi was sure that she had other heiress duties to attend to. She was sure that there was a ball somewhere that needed attending or a duke or earl that needed a stern talking down to. Yet here she was, in a thick turtleneck sweater, knee-deep in snow.
She furrowed her brows and craned her neck toward the sky.
The enigmatic Rift was a circle in the heavens. It reminded her of a dinner plate— except much larger and spinning slowly. It was a portal, that much was clear. She should have been impressed, in awe. But she wasn’t. The thing seemed like any other magical portal. Being a sorceress meant that Nikita had her fair share of experience with portals that seemed to lead into the ether. This Rift seemed no different from the smaller ones her family used.
Still, it was quite the sight to behold.
The center of the Rift was a mass of whiteness, dotted by hundreds of swirling symbols and runes.
The sky itself seemed to bend around the Rift, the clouds forming a vortex around it. The Rift radiated magical energy, so much so that Nikita felt herself physically drawn toward it.
Of course, she won’t be so easily tempted. She was the Hero of Kria, after all. She faced worst things than just a shiny hole in the sky.
“Your Grace,” came the familiar voice of the captain of her guard. “I beg your pardon, but Commander Tristram has requested your presence. He is gathering the other expedition leaders for a meeting.”
“Can it wait? I’m trying to admire the Rift.” Nikita mused.
The captain made a face that told her that he was having none of her jokes. “He says it’s urgent, Your
Grace.”
She sighed. “I’m surprised he bothered to ask for me at all. I was starting to think that he forgot about me.”
Old man Pascal’s grandfatherly face twisted in concern. “No, no, I’m sure he meant no disrespect, Your Grace. Many consider your presence to be a bless—”
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Nikita tried her hardest to keep back her smirk. “Relax, Pascal. That was a joke. Just trying to lighten the mood.”
She walked past him, heading straight into the pavilion. The guard fell into step beside her, his posture and imposing armored figure demanding respect from the younger guards they pass by.
Pascal has been with her ever since she was a little girl. Nikita had many teachers growing up because the world expected great things from a noble. Mean ladies taught her elegance, brooding spymasters taught her politics, arch magi taught her magic, and scary tall people like Pascal taught her how to fight. He introduced her to her first blade. And though nowadays, she prefers the company of spears and staves to swords, Pascal’s lessons still mattered so much to her.
He’s basically the grandfather she never had.
After gathering a small retinue of her guards, they begin the short trek through the snow toward the commander’s pavilion. The various groups who have gathered to observe the Rifts are all staying in close vicinity of one other. The different camps were just a short stroll away. The Rift attracted the attention of everyone, including the elves and the deva. Those two groups stayed at the outskirts of the camps.
“You always seem so dour about everything, Pascal.” Nikita said offhandedly. “Don’t you find this exciting?” she pointed at the sky. “I mean, look at it! It’s a portal, in the sky, leading to gods-know-where.”
“That’s exactly why I’m so worried, Your Grace.” the old man said. “The Rifts are an enigma. Their appearances have never boded well for the world.”
Nikita shrugged. “Last I checked, every major legend in the world featured a Rift appearing at some point in the story. That floating circle of mysteriousness is an introduction to something big, a prologue to a legend—”
“No legend begins without tragedy, Your Grace.”
The captain’s words caused Nikita to slow her pace, her guards slowing down behind her.
“I feel uneasy. Your father should not have sent us here.”
“Oh don’t say that, Pascal.” Nikita shrugged. “It’s our duty to be here. And better he send me than my sister. Sena is much too young to face the horror of giant spinning holes in the sky.”
The captain scoffed. “Your Grace, this is a serious—”
“Make no mistake, I completely understand the gravity of the situation.” she frowned. “I just prefer to take things like this in stride. The history of these Rifts isn’t lost on me.”
The Rift hung in the sky, high above the snowy peaks of the distant mountains. It seemed so unworldly. Its very existence was unnatural, a stain on the otherwise perfect balance of the blue sky and white snow. Magical energy was pouring out of the Rift like water out of a faucet. To someone as magically sensitive as Nikita, the sensation was unnerving, bordering on disgusting.
Her eyes eventually caught sight of the tall beam of the commander’s pavilion. Rows of soldiers stood in the snow. Most stood in perfect attention, some, the younger of the soldiers, Nikita assumed, were shivering in their armor.
But human soldiers were not the only ones she could see. Elven and deva soldiers stood on the fringes of the small camp. Most kept to themselves. A few turned to greet Nikita’s retinue, while others silently watched her pass, looks of fear mingling with respect crossing their features.
“Humans, elves, deva— three naturally incompatible species with differing philosophies and opinions.”
she mused. “It’s never a good sign when the three races come together like this.”
A few meters ahead of them was the commander’s pavilion. It towered taller than all the others, and upon it hung the kingdom’s royal seal. Stabbed into the ground were the sigils and insignia of noble houses, including the scale-and-scholar of Nikita’s own. With a sigh, she hastened her pace, preparing herself for another long afternoon of talks.