Long ago, before this creeping darkness, the world known as Aethelgard was a vast green expanse, bathed in sunlight. Rivers flowed clear, forests sang, and human civilization soared to great heights, adorned with advancements now existing only in ancient myths. Humanity lived with ease, perhaps too easily, until they forgot a universal truth: every light casts a shadow, and every blessing can become a curse.
Then came the Luma Mist.
No one knows precisely where it originated. Some legends claim it was the wrath of forgotten gods; others attribute it to the consequences of human greed draining the planet's essence. What is clear is that the Luma Mist is a living entity, a dense grey shroud that slowly but surely swallowed everything. It is more than just fog. It is a cold presence that absorbs light, extinguishes life, and from within its swirling depths, it births horrors.
From the womb of the Luma Mist emerged the Shadow Blight. These incorporeal entities, forged from concentrated fear and despair, hunger for the essence of life—especially Lumen. They are specters relentlessly attempting to breach humanity's last protections. The Soul Murmurers who whisper hatred, the Mist Hunters who raid in the dark, and most terrifyingly, the cunning and powerful Eclipse Princes, manifestations of an ever-growing evil.
On the brink of extinction, humanity retreated. They constructed the final strongholds, pockets of civilization now known as Lumina Points (Beaconholds). Of the remaining dozen, such as the mighty Pillar of Dawn, the unyielding Jade Citadel, or the rare Oasis of Light, each is an island of hope in an ocean of darkness. Their walls are reinforced with Lumen-infused technology, radiating an artificial, unceasing light, the sole barrier repelling the Shadow Blight's invasion.
Survival is the only currency. Purified Lumen Crystals, extracted from difficult and dangerous sources, have become the most precious commodity, driving the remnants of the economy alongside bartered supplies and service credits. Technology from the past is largely lost, replaced by pragmatic Lumen-centric innovations—ranging from illumination and energy shields to weapons and simple vehicles that struggle to penetrate the grey veil.
However, true hope doesn't emanate from stone walls or technology, but from within. Every living being possesses a faint spark of Lumen in their soul, yet only a fortunate few, or perhaps cursed, can manifest and control this power. These are the Lumen Users, individuals who can summon light from within themselves to fight, heal, or sense the darkness.
Among the Lumen Users emerged the Lumina Explorers—frontline heroes who bravely step out of the Lumina Points' safety, challenging the Luma Mist to seek resources, ancient artifacts, and uncover the mysteries behind the ever-spreading Eclipse. They are trained at the Pillar of Dawn Academy, a rigorous institution, forging their bodies and souls to confront unimaginable terror.
This is a world where the sun is a legend, and every step beyond protection is a gamble with life and death. A world ravaged by eternal war, yet holding a spark of hope within those who dare to shine their light.
And among them, amidst the whispers of the mist that constantly tries to consume him, there is one soul that emits the wildest and most uncontrollable light. A light that might save them all, or burn the world to ash.