Year 907, Adarlan Island, Adarlan Kingdom, Eternity District.

The air carried the scent of damp earth and grass, while the sun remained relentless. Sitting beneath the shade of a towering tree was a welcome respite after laboring under the midday heat. Farming was a way of life for the people of Eternity, the largest district in Adarlan. Eve sat atop a pile of hay in the middle of the field, wiping the sweat from her brow. Beside her, Arthur stretched out lazily, hands behind his head.

"You know, Eve, if war truly breaks out, fighting with swords alone won’t be enough," Arthur mused.

Eve turned to him, frowning. "Of course, it’s enough. You just have to be the fastest and the strongest," she replied dismissively.

Arthur chuckled before sitting up, his gaze serious. "That’s what everyone thinks. But my father says the army that wins isn’t the strongest—it’s the smartest. Even before the battle begins, strategy has already decided who will survive."

Eve raised an eyebrow. "Strategy?"

"Yes. For instance, if we were attacked right now, what would you do?" Arthur asked, challenging her.

"Run, obviously."

Arthur sighed. "Where? Would you run to the main road? Or into the fields?"

Eve scowled, finding the question pointless. "Anywhere as long as it’s away from danger."

Arthur shook his head. "That might get you killed even faster. You need to know where to run."

Eve stared at him in disbelief. "You sound like a war commander."

Arthur smirked. "I just learn from my father."

"I get it. New topic." Eve swung her legs idly. "Arthur, why do generals always say that wars are fought to protect the people? If they truly cared, wouldn’t they try to prevent war instead?"

Arthur exhaled, his gaze distant as he looked toward the horizon. "Because that’s what they want to believe. If you ask any soldier, they’ll tell you they fight for something greater—justice, freedom, or honor. But the truth is, war often isn’t about any of that."

Eve turned to him, brows furrowed. "Then what is it about?"

Arthur’s eyes met hers. "Power. Resources. Politics. My father once told me that wars aren’t always won with weapons—they’re won with propaganda. If you can convince people that the enemy is evil, they’ll willingly fight and die for you."

Eve fell silent, trying to absorb his words. "So, you’re saying we might be deceived?"

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Arthur nodded. "Yes. That’s why critical thinking is important. Don’t just believe everything the higher-ups say. Question everything. Who benefits from this war? Who suffers? Are we hearing the truth, or just a story crafted to make us obey?"

Eve bit her lip. "But… if we start questioning everything, wouldn’t that be dangerous? We could be seen as traitors."

Arthur’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Thinking critically doesn’t mean rebelling without reason. It means gathering information from different sources, looking at things from multiple perspectives, and making your own decisions instead of blindly accepting what you’re told."

Eve stared at the ground, then looked up again. "So… if I were ordered to attack a village supposedly occupied by the enemy, I should first ask if the information is true?"

Arthur patted her shoulder. "Exactly. Sometimes, orders are based on mistakes—or worse, lies. A good soldier doesn’t just follow commands—they think."

Eve gave a small smile. "You sound like a philosopher, Arthur."

Arthur laughed. "My father says a soldier who doesn’t think is the first to die." He glanced toward the fortress standing tall in the distance. "I want to join the military academy—to become a soldier like my father."

Eve followed his gaze. That fortress was where noble and military sons trained. She smiled slightly. "Are you sure you want to live like that? Risking your life every day?"

Arthur chuckled. "It’s certainly more exciting than plowing fields every morning."

A brief silence fell between them, broken only by the chirping of sparrows and the whisper of the wind.

Arthur glanced at Eve. "What about you? Ever thought about becoming a soldier?"

Eve gazed at the horizon. "I… don’t know. I prefer peace like this."

But that peace shattered in an instant.

In the distance, the sharp blare of an emergency trumpet rang out. Thick black smoke billowed from the center of the district. Arthur shot to his feet. "That’s… from the town square!"

Dark clouds swiftly overtook the sky, a sign that something was terribly wrong. The wind howled, rustling the leaves in chaotic swirls. Eve and Arthur exchanged confused glances. The once-serene farmland felt eerie, and the air grew heavier.

On the towering walls that stretched across the horizon, the district’s garrison stood guard with swords drawn. They had been trained to protect the borders and believed the 146 years of peace would last forever. But in an instant, a surge of dark magic shattered that belief. From the misty gloom, an army of sorcerers emerged atop the walls. Their magic crackled with streaks of raw energy. In a flash, the southern wall—long held as their shield—crumbled into ruin.

Eve stood, her heart pounding. Their feet felt heavy as they tried to flee.

The garrison, prepared for conventional warfare, was caught off guard by this sudden assault. They fought with all their might, but their blades were no match for the overwhelming sorcery.

Panic-stricken screams filled the air as the once-peaceful streets erupted into chaos. The ground trembled beneath their feet.

"Stay calm! Don’t panic!" Arthur urged, pulling Eve through the debris.

"Don’t panic?! What do you mean?! Sorcerers are attacking our district!" Eve’s voice cracked with desperation.

Arthur forced himself to remain steady. "Don’t let your fear control you! Focus on escaping!"

The sorcerers transformed the beautiful landscape into a battlefield of destruction. Homes burned, fields lay in ruins, and the people of Eternity found themselves trapped in an unstoppable storm of magic. Explosions of energy erupted everywhere.

A sorcerer stepped forward, their entire left arm engulfed in blazing fire. Their face was concealed behind a black mask, shadows flickering across their features. Fiery scars ran along their skin, their attire black as night.

The district’s military commander swiftly took charge. "All units, to your positions! Infantry, hold the walls! Artillery, ready in the rear!" he bellowed, raising his longsword.

The infantry rushed forward, bows and arrows at the ready. A rain of arrows soared toward the enemy, but the sorcerers’ magical shields deflected most of them with ease.

Beyond the city walls, the great gates groaned open. The cavalry prepared to counterattack. Horses neighed anxiously beneath their riders, who gripped their lances and swords with firm resolve. "Cavalry! Strike their right flank!" the commander ordered. They surged forward like a storm, dust rising from their thundering hooves.

But the sorcerers struck back with unimaginable force. A dark vortex swept through the cavalry, throwing riders from their saddles. Eve watched in horror from behind the ruins, her breath hitching as soldiers collapsed one by one.

One of them was her father.

"Father!" she screamed, her voice drowned by the chaos.

Meanwhile, the artillery unleashed a barrage of heavy projectiles. The blasts from the ballistae shook the earth, crushing sorcerers caught off guard. But it wasn’t enough. Within minutes, magical retaliation rendered most of the artillery useless.

The district’s leaders fought desperately to hold their ground. Yet with every passing moment, Eternity District crumbled further into ruin. Eve could only watch, her body trembling, realizing that this was not just an attack.

This was the beginning of a nightmare.

Arthur yanked her arm, dragging her away before the sorcerers could spot them. "We have to go, now!"

Eve barely heard him over the ringing in her ears. Tears streamed down her face.

As they fled the burning wreckage of their home, only one thought burned in Eve’s mind: she would have her revenge.