Say “Open Map”, and a map of the entire world should open up.
“Open map.”
Instantly, a familiar, bright light blue box materialized before me, displaying a two-dimensional geographical map. On the left were a series of seven islands, isolated from the mainland. Collectively known as "The Fiendish Isles," they share a common theme of blackened terrain, marked by numerous lava flows and active volcanoes. The ocean acts as a “natural” barrier separating these islands from the mainland, which is further blocked in by a gargantuan man-made border. The mainland, positioned on the right side of the map, houses the three kingdoms: Myrkwind, Pisthara, and Gravenor. Gravenor, the largest of the three, is situated adjacent to the border and occupies the central region of the mainland. Its expansive farms benefit from the seemingly endless grassy plains, with long rivers and creeks threading through the land to sustain these said farms. A few hills are scoured throughout, but the majority of the land is covered in flat grass. To the north and slightly to the east of Gravenor lies Pisthara, a kingdom whose villages primarily line the coast and thrive by the ocean. While Gravenor excels in agriculture, Pisthara specializes in fishing and harbor management, with its towns and villages leveraging the ocean for both sustenance and commerce. Adjacent to Gravenor is Myrkwind, the kingdom where I reside. Myrkwind is characterized by its extensive, dense forests, which dominate the landscape with a lush green expanse. The terrain is marked by rivers, mountains, hills, and open plains, all of which are interspersed within the forested areas. The darker regions on the map indicate areas densely covered by trees, while the lighter patches represent the open plains. Due to the abundance of trees and the existence of huge forests, foraging and hunting are the main sources of food here. Farming is limited because of the thick underbrush, invasive weeds, and small critters that disrupt crops. Tree logs and other natural resources, along with the food foraged, are the main sources of income for Myrkwind. Below Myrkwind is “The Desolate Dunes”, a barren wasteland covered in mainly sand and gravel. Dotting the region are deep craters and the scattered remnants of dried-up rivers, emphasizing its barren and inhospitable nature.
“Sys, what’s the deal with The Desolate Dunes?”
The Desolate Dunes was once the vibrant and prosperous country of Lunaria, renowned for its lush forests, serene ponds, and bustling communities that rivaled those of Gravenor. However, when the “Abyssal War” began, Lunaria was the main location of a ferocious battle, “The Demonic Siege”. The Demon King, driven by a desire for Lunaria's rich resources and an opportunity to exploit its unarmed populace, launched a merciless assault. Demons overran the land, plundering and ravaging the communities with unprecedented brutality, leaving a legacy of destruction and death. The innocent civilians suffered horrific fates, their lives extinguished in the wake of the invasion. When reinforcements from neighboring kingdoms finally arrived, the Demon King, realizing he might not fully conquer Lunaria, resolved to ensure that the land would be left uninhabitable. He unleashed his devastating "Hell’s Judgment" spell, turning Lunaria into the desolate wasteland it is today. The once-thriving country was reduced to a barren desert, scarred by the ravages of war and the catastrophic spell that sealed its fate.
“Okay, hold up. If the Demon King was capable of using a spell as powerful as that, how on earth did the demons get pushed back?”
Hell’s Judgment is an extraordinarily potent spell, demanding both considerable time and immense mana to cast. The Demon King, because of its drawbacks, reserved its use for monumental, single-instance assaults. This was precisely the case during the siege of Lunaria. But, the Demon King was not the only one capable of wielding such an overpowered spell, since the past hero King Edrius, alongside his formidable party, proved to be a significant counterforce. King Edrius, blessed by Luxaris, the god of light, possessed unparalleled mastery over light magic. This divine blessing enabled him to learn "Divine Execution," a devastatingly powerful slash capable of cleaving through entire mountains. Like Hell’s Judgement, the usage of Divine Execution requires a substantial investment of time and energy. The two of them understood the other’s powers and exercised caution in using theirs, making sure to not accidentally end up destroying the world. Think of it as the Cold War, with both sides having the power and knowledge of what would happen if they carelessly attack the other. With that being said, given that demons are particularly vulnerable to light magic, it was only natural that they were repelled by King Edrius and his allies. Despite the Demon King’s destructive capabilities, the presence of light magic and its inherent power to counter demonic forces played a crucial role in pushing back the invaders.
“Hmph. I guess we’re lucky that Edrius was a hero, and that he didn’t go through some betrayal that caused him to go on the wrong path. It’s a good thing that this isn’t one of those stories.”
Yeah, and instead, we get the story of an infant duck-walking and playing hide and seek. How entertaining.
……..Below the mainland, separated by a stretch of sea, is another island, “The Draconic Peaks”. This island is mostly enveloped by rugged mountainous terrain, with numerous peaks and ridges that resemble the jagged spine of a legendary dragon. The island is both cloaked in dense forests and dotted with serene lakes. The island also features a notable section of desert, covering roughly one-quarter of its total area. From the name alone, I’m pretty sure that this is the home of the dragons.
Not only dragons, but other formidable creatures also inhabit The Draconic Peaks, including wyverns and drakes, which rival dragons in their danger and strength. In the arid desert regions, rocs and giant sandworms thrive, adapting to the harsh conditions. Meanwhile, the surrounding treacherous ocean is home to krakens and leviathans, which flourish in its perilous depths.
“Then, do creatures like dragons not live on the mainland? If I were to ever wish to see one, would I have to travel to the island?”
The majority of the dragons live in the Draconic Peaks, but there are a few remaining ones that live on the mainland. However, they are extremely rare, and they have only been seen a single number of times through all of history. Their whereabouts are shrouded in mystery, along with the origins of why they chose to stay here.
“Why did they move? To the island, that is.”
The Draconic Peaks was not always the domain of the dragon-like creatures, nor did the island always exist as the “The Draconic Peaks”. Originally, the island was merely a retreat for these beings, a sanctuary where they could mate and rest. Dragons and similar creatures primarily lived on the mainland, where they made their homes in caves, mountains, lakes and such, living life on their own terms. At times, they terrorized villages, while at other times, they would slumber for weeks undisturbed. However, as humans began to master summoning and taming magic, they became strong enough to capture and tame dragons and other formidable creatures. These beings were used as familiars, enhancing human strength and military power. But, humans were not alone in their efforts; demons, elves, and other magical races also sought to control these powerful entities, resulting in a world-wide fluctuation of power. The villages, kingdoms, countries, and all people in general began to notice a shift in the balance of the world. A tension started to brew around the world, as each race worried if the others would try to conquer the other with their newfound familiars. Eventually, the ice tipped as the Demon King led his army to conquer the other races and land. The usage of the dragons, wyverns, and other mythical beings affected the war so much to the point that the hero, King Edrius decided their powers were too great. After they pushed back the demons, King Edrius knew that no one should have the power of these creatures. With this in mind, along with the help of allies all across the world, he forced the beasts to relocate to a faraway island. He then formed a barrier around it, preventing anyone from entering it. It’s the exact same type of barrier that King Edrius als created that surrounds the “Fiendish Isles”.
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“So he not only forced the dragons to relocate, but he also made 2 barriers, which are not only big enough to cover the entire islands, but that they're strong enough to last how many years?”
It's been 84 years since the Abyssal War.
“84- Holy shit. How strong was he?”
King Edrius was arguably the most powerful human to have ever existed in this world. He possessed complete mastery over all forms of magic and was renowned for his unparalleled swordsmanship and formidable physical prowess. Though the exact methods he used to force the creatures to relocate are not fully known, it is widely theorized that his cunning nature played an important role. It is believed that he had most likely devised a plan to do this, though as mentioned earlier, the specifics are not known.
“If this King Edrius guy not only was a master of magic, an unparalleled swordsman, and a genius no less, why was he only capable of pushing back the Demon King? Why didn’t he just kill him?”
King Edrius didn’t merely push him back, but rather he had meticulously cornered him and sealed him and his army within the Fiendish Isles. The Demon King was as formidable as King Edrius, if not, more. It was only because of the Demon King’s recklessness and undying hunger for conquest that he rushed his plans and strategies, which King Edrius seized perfectly. He had strategically stalled the war, whittling down the Demon King’s forces as much as he could, waiting for the perfect chance to seal the demons away. When that moment arrived, he acted decisively, channeling all his remaining mana into casting “Divine Diminution.” Divine Diminution is the highest form of sealing magic, specifically for light magic, which is why it was perfect for sealing away the demons. It worked just as planned, and that seal is now the reason why the world is still safe, even after hundreds of years.
“You already know what I’m going to ask, right?”
It is true that due to a long period of time, the seal has weakened. However, it is still unlikely that the Demon King will be able to resuscitate and come back. Even before the seal, the Demon King was already severely weakened due to his final battle with King Edrius and his allies. In short, don’t needlessly worry about the Demon King returning. At most, you might encounter a few, straggling demonfolk wandering around.
“Music to my ears. I just hope that I won’t have to get involved with any ‘hero’ affairs.” I then looked at the two remaining regions within the map. Resting in the rightmost section of the mainland, is The "Ancient Frost Heights". It’s an icy mountainous region bordering the ocean, where towering glacial peaks seem to touch the sky, and smaller snow-covered mountains line the landscape. The zone is locked in a perpetual winter, with no trace of green grass or fertile soil anywhere. Near the center, a massive crater resides, with the remnants of a volcano nearby, containing faint traces of magma. Most bodies of water are frozen solid, with only a handful left untouched by the relentless cold. There are no major kingdoms here, but a few small villages manage to survive in this harsh environment. The largest of these is Briarhold, a decently-sized village on the outskirts of the frozen volcano, likely drawing warmth from the lingering magma remnants.
The last region of this world is “The Elven Realm,” which rests below the Ancient Frost Heights and to the right of the Desolate Dunes. Its landscape resembles that of Myrkwind, characterized by dense, jungle-like forestry and undulating hills scattered throughout. Towering trees form lush canopies that obscure the bustling life within the forest. The elves take advantage of their height by constructing their kingdom high in the trees, using vines and other natural resources to create intricate bridges that connect their treetop dwellings and various small elven villages on the outskirts. Rivers and lakes meander through the kingdom, nourishing both the population and the thriving flora. Additionally, a series of clearings that resemble a circle-like pattern is spread throughout the region. Is it natural, or man-made?.......Or should I say, elven-made?
Did you actually think you sounded cool saying that?
Actually, I didn’t, but now I do feel kind of dumb because of that. Thanks, Sys.
De nada.
With all of that being said, I do feel like there’s something missing with my map. For a world as big as this, I would’ve expected more…..detailing on the regions. For example, what about any caves, waterfalls, labyrinths even?
I purposely removed all specific detailing on the maps, and I kept the bare necessities of the world that you should at least know.
“Why?”
You said you wanted to see sights with a blank slate. So, you can explore this world and discover new areas, without any preconceived notions in mind. You’ll be able to find never before seen places, and maybe even uncover some of the mysteries in this world……..at least, that is what you wanted, right?
……..I wasn’t expecting that. I know I had—I know I “vented” to Sys about why I so desperately wanted to explore. I know that it was programmed into it to at least listen to me…yap. But, was it programming that made Sys erase the map’s details? Was it programming that forced Sys to even think of doing this?.......If it wasn’t…..then is it possible for me to go against my own programming?
“Sys, uhm…..thanks.”
What for?
“For…you know, actually listening to me.”
You should be grateful. All I wanted to do was guide you on your journey, and here you go, harping about your dumb beliefs and wild dreams.
“Yeah, I’m never going to thank you again……and hold on, you were the one who made me contin-”
Stop living in the past. By living in the past, you become unable to see the future. You then spend your time in the present by preparing for an invisible future, without knowing you’re wasting the only time you have that you’re guaranteed to live in.
“Who’d you steal that quote from?”
Hmm, if I remember correctly, it was 3 people that came up with it.
“Wait, actually? Who were they?”
Me, myself, and I.
“I’m going to sleep.”