In the past hundreds of years, only two continents were explored, only because they were near each other. The vast oceans, and the powerful beasts living within them, made exploration extremely hard, almost impossible.
The bigger continent is called Solmara, a name it received after being conquered by the Human Emperor. After he took control of roughly 60–70% of the land, he renamed it the Solmara Continent, in the name of his empire: the Solmara Empire.
The smaller continent is called Varis Minor. During the expansion of the Human Empire, the entire world turned its eyes toward Varis Minor, where one of the strongest factions lived, an isolated society centered around highly raised magicians. Because it could only be reached by water, conquering it was considered extremely difficult. It was also an incredibly rich land, ruled by a single bloodline: the Varis Family.
Everyone expected a brutal war between the Human Emperor and the Varis Family.
But to everyone's surprise, they surrendered immediately.
Even though they possessed a strong ability that could prevent anyone from entering, creating a powerful "chain" around the continent, when combined with their magicians, it became nearly impossible to break through. And yet, when war began, they gave up at once. That single moment increased the world's respect and fear of the Human Emperor even more. A mission others considered impossible took almost no time. Varis Minor was taken without a battle.
However, the Varis royal family demanded conditions.
They would remain in power, but they would answer to the Human Emperor. They would give him their riches. They would even allow a royal family member to live among them. But they would stay on the throne.
The Human Emperor agreed.
Many years later, he married one of their royal family members to strengthen the alliance and make it undeniable. He did not kill them because he saw great value in their ability, and because their heritage was deeply rooted in that land.
To secure control, he sent two royal family members to live there, and he built a branch of the Central Bank on Varis Minor to control their riches and monitor them closely. Varis Minor kept strict rules that made entry nearly impossible, its throne and its inner systems guarded with extreme severity.
The two royals residing there right now are the Third Prince and the First Princess.
And within their residence stands the strong magic guild.
Most people across the continents focus on the physical path, enhancing the body, refining it, strengthening it, because magic, the power of the soul, is far more difficult.
Magic demands years of study. Slow discovery. Control built piece by piece. Few choose it, and fewer still survive long enough to become truly skilled.
An entire guild dedicated to magic was very rare.
That is why they are feared.
That is why they are difficult to challenge.
There are ten levels of magic. Ten stages. Some call them levels, others call them ranks, minor soul masters, higher soul masters, and beyond.
When a magician reaches the ninth or tenth level, they stand equal to a Soul bound Champion on the physical path.
And after that point, the distinction collapses.
Physical and spiritual no longer matter.
They become one.
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The Vice Captain turned toward the faceless man.
His "face" was not a face at all, only three black dots drifting where features should have been, circling in slow, deliberate orbits, like something deep beneath water.
"Do you understand?" the Vice Captain asked.
His tone was calm, but the air tightened around the words.
"People cannot interfere. They cannot infiltrate. That is why it is nearly impossible for me to work around their rules and enter."
A pause.
"But you can."
The three dots slowed.
Their orbit tightened, then steadied, settling into a crude arrangement that resembled eyes and a mouth, not carved, not formed, but implied by placement.
The "mouth" opened.
Inside it was not flesh.
Not teeth.
Only void, blackness so absolute it looked like the world had been cut away.
"I understand, sir," Scarecrow said.
His voice came out hollow, like sound dragged through an empty depth.
"That is the reason we are born."
"That is the reason we are kept alive."
A pause.
"I will fulfill your ambition… and the Crown Prince's."
The void-mouth remained open a fraction longer, swallowing the light around it.
"You can count on me."