Where should I start in Grailand? Perhaps the Obsidian Stone is the best place to begin. It has been known to people since the Elder Humans first walked the thick forests and fresh green fields of Grailand. Where it came from remains a mystery, though it was never a question of where but a question of why.

The Obsidian gave people magic. Different kinds of magic.

Arcana was the oldest. It allowed those blessed with it to cast spells, create lightning bolts out of thin air, light fires with bare hands, and much more.

Then came Augmenta - a magic that required deep dedication. Augmentors were able to bend reality itself with the power of thought, move objects, possess and control people, and communicate with nature.

Soon after that, their younger sister was born by the Stone. Alcemea - the wisdom of merging elements to create talismans and potions - ones that could poison and ones that could heal.

Three kinds of magic coexisted for millennia. But as it happened, just a few hundred years from the events of this tale, a new kind of magic was born from the Stone.

Mechana.

It allowed people to breathe life into machines. A complex mechanism with gears and springs could make a metal rabbit jump for a minute. But with Mechana, the rabbit could jump forever.

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Magic was never a skill to obtain, but a birthright. Those who saw the light of the new world "touched by the Obelisk" were taken into one of the four citadels, according to the kind of magic they possessed. There they learned the ways of becoming a wielder, and none of the known wielders ever could control more than one kind of magic.

It was the rule of the Obelisk - Balance.

Unlike magic, people can't follow this rule. There is always power, and where there's power - there is always greed. Wars, famine, destruction, obliteration, that is what was unleashed on those who lived in Grailand.

There were, of course, times of peace. But they were but a short rest before another war.

Kings, Emperors, and Otmans changed and shifted the face of Grailand, yet, no one went as far as to proclaim himself the Reign Supreme - the King of Kings. The one to rule all the lands from Smogy Islands in the north to High Hills in the south, from the eternal Grenaton Forest in the east to Bittery Cliffs in the west.

No one, until Queen Kamilia Freye.

Queen Freye was born blessed with Arcana. Growing strong, she fought many wars and eventually brought all of Grailand under one foot. Her foot. Knowing that magic was both a blessing and a weapon, she formed a Council of Citadels, inviting all three High Wielders to bow and join her in ruling the united Grailand.

Many moons had passed since Queen Freye. Her kingdom fell into feudal disputes, torn apart by civil wars. It was only the fear of the Council, now joined by Mechana High Wielder, that held the remaining pieces together.

And this is where our tale unfolds.

As with many tales before and after, it all begins in a small room, where people of power gather to decide the future.