It was a long time ago. A time drastically different from our own.

The world back then was in a constant conflict. War ravaged the lands, lands and kingdoms rising and falling. Blood was spilling like water, and heads of men were falling like apples from their trees. 

The sky of that time was said to be darker than ever, the world was cloaked in a veil of crimson. The ground was a lake of blood and flesh.

Among the carnage stood two men. Two men of equal might and battle renown.

The older of the two stepped first, clad in heavy armor from head to toe, with every step the armor resounded, like a march of one thousand soldiers. The man's raven hair and beard were only a symbol of his age and experience in the art of war. The red eagle symbol sprawled across the chestplate of his armor, a symbol of one's pride and devotion to their fatherland.

Across from him was a younger man, his unkempt blonde hair waved in the relentless wind, but his sharp gaze didn't falter. He gripped the golden spear in his hand, raising it in one fluid motion that left a streak of golden glow through the darkened firmament.

"Your reign of terror comes to an end right here, Heynrich." The blonde man spoke, pointing the golden spear at the older man's throat.

The response he got was only a laugh.

"Great General Eliyas, your might is spoken of in all of the lands." The older man brandished his blade and held it firmly, even against the spear of the younger one. "I had hope. Hope that you would understand what we wanted to achieve."

"What you want is not the right path, even I can see that." The golden spear spun in the hands of the young general with grace and technique, before being grasped tightly. "Only one man can get out of here alive."

"Well said." The two men then engaged in a long fight.

It wasn't clear who won and who lost. Maybe nobody had won. But only one thing was certain.

The world had seen light from that point onward.

The golden spear was the only thing found of the long battle, in perfect condition.

It was called the Spear of Destiny.

It is said that the Spear now lays dormant somewhere in the world, patiently waiting for it's new host, and when they find each other, the world will change once again.

"And that's the end." A young man with auburn hair and green eyes announced with a smile, looking at the circle of children of all ages and looks that had formed around him.

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"That was amazing, brother Ivan!" One of the kids with blonde hair shouted.

"Yeah! Where do you learn all of these stories?" Asked another, a girl with black hair.

"It's just what my mom told me." The young man named Ivan replied as he stood up. "That's the story for today, kids. Let's not worry your parents any longer, okay?"

"Okay." All the kids ran over in all directions, leaving a smiling Ivan, who turned around and went himself.

The setting sun painted the sky in bright hues as the young man walked towards a smaller house when compared to the rest in the vicinity. Its stone walls and wooden windows gave off a quaint and antique vibe, as Ivan went to the backyard near a smaller well.

Turning the handle with one hand, the young man scooped up some water from the well, and brought the wooden bucket up, taking it and holding it by the shoulder as he opened the wooden door.

"Mother, I brought the water!" Ivan announced as he closed the door quietly behind him. He set the bucket on the nearby table, making small droplets of water spill out of the bucket and stain the table and the floor.

He looked at his mother, a tall woman with long black hair sitting in a rocking chair and looking at a radio device with an anxious face. The stern voice beyond the device announced news that the woman listened to.

"According to the latest news, the Yugovian government has decided to accept all of the eight clauses proposed in the ultimatum given on the 11th of January by the neighboring Odenreich. All but one clause. Official response of the Odenreich's Kaiser has not yet arrived, but by the looks of it…"

"Mom!"

The sudden shout of the young man broke the older woman from her anxious trance, as her emerald green eyes looked at her son.

"Oh, Ivan." She said with a hushed voice. "You're back already?"

"Yup! I got the water, too." Ivan replied with a smile, but then his face morphed into one of worry as he looked at his mother. "Were you listening to that radio again? What did they say this time?"

"You're still too young to understand." Ivan's mother replied as she toned down the radio.

"Okay, then, tell me a story." Ivan plopped down on one of the chairs as he looked at his mother. "I know! Can you tell me more about Dad?"

"No, we don't talk about that man." 

"But why?" Ivan whined in response. "I mean, didn't he leave to find the Spear of De…"

"I said we don't talk about him!" The older woman snapped at her son. But he didn't lower the smile from his face.

"Okay, mom. I'll go to my room now." Ivan said with a nod, as he ran off to another end of the house.

"I'm sorry for yelling…"  The older woman said, but it fell on deaf ears.

She sighed, and turned the volume of her radio device back on.

Right on time to hear the most important news of her life.

While that was happening, on another side of the world, another equally important event was unfolding.

In a room that could only be described as marvelous.

Bright red walls decorated with paintings on each wall, each painting a masterpiece of its own, brought together to create a rhapsody of art wonder. The marbled floor was clear as the blue skies, where you could see your own reflection with ease.

In the center of the room stood a marvelous table, on each side of the table stood six individuals in military uniforms, with various appearances, but equal in might.

In the head of the table, sat an imposing figure. Clad in a military uniform lined with various medals and golden shoulder plates, a testament to various achievements of war, his cobalt blue eyes looked forward with the gaze of an apex predator eyeing his prey. The gaze directed at an unsuspecting soldier standing before the table.

"Speak." He said with a stern tone, that could imprint primal fear into the hearts of anyone.

"Kaiser Otto, I bring a message." The soldier said, quaking in his boots as he looked at the stern gazes of the Kaiser and the twelve others at the table.

"What is it?" The Kaiser asked as he eyed the soldier further.

"The Yugovian government won't accept all of the clauses of the ultimatum we sent them. The fifth clause, which states that Odenreich has authority to conduct investigation on all Yugovian natives on its land without any prior say." The soldier replied, beads of sweat running through his face.

The Kaiser and the other people looked between each other, before nodding and looking at the soldier.

"Relay the following message to the Yugovian government:"

"Today, Fifth of April, of the year nineteen forty one, at twenty thirty seven in the evening…"

"...Odenreich officially declares war against Yugovia."