The continent of Aethelia was split in two by the Great Mountain Range that ran right through its center. On the far eastern edge of the continent lay the Palsur Eastern Empire, while the far west was home to the Farsas Western Empire alongside various nations, both large and small. Nestled between these great powers, occupying a strategic valley at the northern tip of the mountains, was the Kingdom of Kayşahr.
Kayşahr was a protected natural wonder hidden behind steep slopes. The imposing mountains surrounding the valley had shaped the character of its people; the locals were as proud and rugged as the peaks themselves, yet deeply bonded to one another. Stepping into the cities, the first thing that welcomed you was the kingdom's renowned stone and woodwork. Kayşahr's artisans carved the rough mountain stones as if they were fine cloth, adorning mansion facades and marketplace arches with handcrafted engravings.
The streets were always bustling; shouting merchants called out in covered bazaars where the scent of spices mingled in the air, and heated chess matches took place outside coffeehouses. Guards glided through the crowds in their light chainmail and flowing military robes, while the spirit of ancient tradition and discipline unique to this land could be felt in every corner.
Rising along the hillside and overlooking the capital, the royal palace stood as the pinnacle of this aesthetic. With its expansive courtyards, high-ceilinged pavilions, and tile-covered walls, the palace looked from the outside like a symbol of grandeur and unshakable power. It resembled neither the suffocating stone palaces of the east nor the cold fortresses of the west; it was a center of governance where intellect and elegance blended seamlessly.
Yet, behind this glittering facade lay a harsh reality driven deep into the heart of the kingdom. In stark contrast to the artificial vibrancy of the streets, the prices of basic foodstuffs in the shops had skyrocketed, leaving the common folk quietly struggling to make ends meet. Behind the grand gates of the palace, the state treasury was almost completely empty.
Despite occupying a critical buffer zone right between massive geopolitical forces, Kayşahr lacked the economic flexibility to counter the looming external threats and burgeoning military dangers along its borders. Though the country appeared to be an unyielding fortress from the outside, it stood on the brink of a massive economic and political collapse that could bury it in the dusty pages of history.
Time to Leave the Academy
The morning after the graduation party began with a familiar sound echoing through the corridors of the Muruıre Academy guesthouse.
Tap... tap... tap.
Not a sound came from the room. Three seconds later, the notorious pounding arrived, announcing that someone's patience had entirely run out:
THUD! THUD! THUD!
"Kaahn! Get up already, the sun is high in the sky!"
The massive heap of blankets on the bed shifted subtly. Having raised glasses with his friends until late last night—amidst well-wishes of "So you're leaving, huh? Don't forget this place!"—Kaahn was utterly exhausted. Trying to bury his head under the pillow, he let out a series of incomprehensible groans:
"Haaaagh... hoogh... heeegh... Five more minutes..."
The door handle clicked down sharply, and Akça burst in holding a parchment scroll containing their travel plans. Rolling her eyes, she marched over to the head of the bed and crossed her arms.
"Ugh, you're still in bed! You've grown into a mountain of a guy, and I'm still dragging you out of bed."
The moment Kaahn heard Akça's disciplined voice, he bounced up as if struck by lightning. Eyes half-open and hair completely disheveled, he sat cross-legged on the bed. Looking at Akça standing before him, he gave a sleepy grin and placed a hand over his heart:
"If I knew I'd see an archangel the moment I opened my eyes, I would have stopped dreaming of heaven, Lady Akça. Good morning to you."
Akça didn't buy the sudden flattery for a second. She knit her brows slightly but couldn't entirely hide the faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Listen to me, Crown Prince. If you think you can smooth-talk your way out of this so early in the morning, you are sorely mistaken," she said, leaning forward to catch Kaahn's ear between her fingers and giving it a sharp twist.
"Ow, ow! That hurts, stop! This is a royal ear, have some mercy!"
"Do you have any idea what time it is? The coachman downstairs is exhausted from feeding the horses, the luggage is loaded, but our crown prince is still enjoying his morning lounge. Besides..." Akça let go of his ear and waved the parchment right in front of his nose. "...I believe you're forgetting there's one last place you need to stop by before we head back to our homeland? Or were you planning to leave our little songbird behind without even a goodbye, just saying 'I'm off, see ya'?"
Kaahn rubbed his ear and exhaled a deep sigh. Akça was right; no matter how much he wanted to laze around, he owed a proper farewell to those two lunatics he had shared his academy years with. Dangling his legs off the bed, he looked up at Akça and muttered:
" Seriously, Akça... instead of wishing me a blessed morning, you've completely wrecked me. I'm only human, you know, not made of stone! If I had even a quarter of your energy, I'd have walked all the way to the valley by now."
As Akça walked toward the door, she turned back and winked: "You're all talk when it comes to boasting, but when it's time for action, you vanish under the blankets. Come on, you've got five minutes."
Kaahn raised his hands in defeat: "Alright, alright. I surrender. T-T."