The Fourth Nation War had begun.
It sparked quietly at first but soon, fire swept across the land known as Ycracuse, scorching fields, shattering mountains, and silencing centuries of peace.
The Areise, the noble people of Ycracuse, had lived in harmony with the Sun and Moon Elves since the first cycle of the moons. Scholars often said the three races were the threads of a single tapestry—different in color, but one in spirit.
But from across the sea came the Imperials—humans from the land of Galasun, hardened by steel, conquest, and their doctrine of domination. They saw the Areise as weak, the elves as aberrations, and the land of Ycracuse as rightfully theirs.
Outnumbered and outmatched, the Imperials would have failed—until they made a pact with the demon lord Kaizer.
In exchange for dark power, Kaizer asked for one thing: The death of Eclipse, Queen of the Elves, the guardian of both Sun and Moon bloodlines.
With her death, the balance would break.
To protect Ycracuse, King Edward of the Areise allied with Eclipse, and the war for peace began.
---
A leather-bound history book shut with a heavy thud, the echo filling the modest classroom like a final heartbeat.
"—and that," the instructor said, standing tall with her hands behind her back, "was how the Fourth Nation War began."
She let the silence settle. Dust motes swirled lazily in the warm afternoon sun, drifting between shelves stacked with scrolls and old battle maps.
The children's faces were mixed:
One boy raised his fist and shouted, "When I'm older, I'll gut a demon myself!"
A moon elf girl twisted her fingers anxiously, staring at the drawing of Kaizer.
Others whispered among themselves, too young to understand what a war truly meant.
Only one child remained unmoved.
He sat quietly in the corner, half-turned toward the window. White hair like fresh snow. Eyes like distant amethyst stars. A boy named Martin.
The instructor's voice softened, "Is something the matter, Martin?"
Martin didn't respond at first. He simply watched the trees outside sway in the breeze.
"When will my father's expedition… come to an end?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
The instructor's expression grew somber. She walked over and gently knelt beside him, "Until our land is free," she said, and wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug.
---
The final bell rang.
Children poured from the building, laughing, yelling, chasing each other with wooden swords.
Martin exited last, walking slowly down the cobblestone path—until a sudden splash drenched the back of his head.
"Again…?" he sighed.
Behind him stood an elven girl, her golden hair shimmering under the sun, a mischievous smile lighting up her freckled face. Rose, a sun elf, barely eleven, and Martin's best friend since they could walk.
"Rose..." he murmured, half-annoyed.
"Not until I see a smile!" she declared, wrapping her arms around him in a playful hug.
Her skin radiated warmth, as a soft wave of heat dried his clothes.
Martin cracked a grin at last.
"That's better." She leaned her head on his back. "What's wrong?"
"I was thinking about my dad," he said. "Mom's been getting worse. I think she's waiting for him to come home."
Rose's smile faded, just a little, "If anything happens, you can stay with me," she said softly. "Our house is empty since my father left for the front. Sometimes… I wish my mom was still here too."
They walked in silence for a while. Just the sound of the breeze, the distant murmur of birds, and the quiet rhythm of feet on stone.
"When we turn eighteen," Martin finally said, "we might never see each other again."
Rose blinked, "What do you mean?"
"I'll be drafted into the royal army. You… you'll probably be sent to magic evaluation or training based on your grades."
Rose rolled her eyes and pinched his cheek, "I'm a terrible student. They'll probably send me to some nursery to have five kids for the next generation of war puppets."
Martin froze, startled by her bitterness. But Rose quickly smiled again, brushing her bangs aside.
"Sorry," she said. "I just… sometimes I wonder if we're just growing up to die."
Martin didn't know how to respond. He looked up at the sky instead.
"What would you do," he asked quietly, "the moment the war ended?"
Rose didn't hesitate. "I'd travel. Paint every color the world still has to offer. Mountains. Cities. Even the ocean."
She turned to him, golden eyes gleaming.
"And you?"
Martin's voice was calm. Steady.
"I want my family to live a peaceful life. I don't need anything more."
Rose was silent for a moment. Then, slowly, she smiled—sad and hopeful all at once.
"Then let's make sure the war ends… so we can chase our dreams before they fade."
They stood there, two children beneath a sky split between sunlight and cloud, promising each other something neither fully understood.