The Kingdom of Stars, one of the first and most illustrious kingdoms ever built by humans, stood as a beacon of arcane mastery.
Its towering spires and shimmering walls seemed to merge with the starlit sky above, reflecting its ancient heritage and boundless ambition.
The kingdom was a haven for mages, known for its unparalleled focus on magic and ruled by Queen Peremedis, an enigmatic and powerful mage whose influence shaped the kingdom into a hub of arcane excellence.
At the heart of the kingdom was the Mage Tower, a colossal structure that pierced the heavens like an obsidian spear.
The tower's upper floors were reserved for the most gifted students, and on the highest level, Trisha — a young prodigy — stood in the center of a grand, circular chamber.
The walls were adorned with ancient glyphs and floating orbs of light, softly humming with energy. Trisha's eyes glowed faintly as she absorbed the complex spellwork being taught to her.
Around her, the air crackled with magic as her instructors, some of the most esteemed mages in the kingdom, guided her through intricate spell formations.
Their voices, calm and authoritative, echoed through the chamber as glowing runes floated in the air, forming the foundation of the incantations they were teaching.
Trisha's focus was unyielding. With a wave of her hand, she summoned a vortex of starlight that swirled around her like a celestial ribbon.
The other recruits, scattered along the edges of the chamber, couldn't help but glance at her in envy. While they struggled to master even the simplest spells, Trisha's command over the arcane seemed effortless.
"Look at her," one of the recruits whispered, her tone a mixture of awe and resentment. "She doesn't even break a sweat."
"She's the queen's favorite," another sneered, crossing his arms as he watched Trisha channel a burst of lightning from her fingertips, the energy dissipating before it reached the floor. "No wonder the instructors are all over her."
"I heard she's been betrothed to Cedrick," one of the recruits whispered, her voice laced with frustration.
"What? Our great Warlock?" another recruit gasped in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. Apparently, the Queen arranged it to make sure she stays here in the Kingdom," the first recruit replied, bitterness seeping into her words.
"Damn it. I hate her even more now. Cedrick was supposed to be for everyone!" a third recruit chimed in, his fists clenched in silent anger.
Cedrick, the legendary warlock who dominated the magic category in the last Eternian competitions, was sought after by every mage in the land.
His power was unrivaled, and his reputation had spread across all of Eternia. To be his partner was to be bound to greatness.
"With Trisha's talent, she's definitely going to dominate the rankings this year," one recruit muttered, glaring at her from the shadows. "She's a Rank-S sorceress. The moment her stats hit triple digits, she's got a 100% chance to evolve into something even more powerful."
"Some humans are just born luckier than the rest of us," another recruit growled, his envy palpable. "Why can't I be an S-Rank? If I was, my whole fate could have been different."
The murmurs grew more hostile, but none of them could deny the truth. Trisha wasn't just talented — she was destined for greatness.
STR: 10
INT: 80
CONS: 30
DEX: 20
CHA: 50
LCK: 40
|| E N D ||
Satisfied with her progress, Trisha was about to reach for one of the ancient tomes resting on the shelf when a flash of red light suddenly flooded the room, casting eerie shadows across the stone walls.
"What? What is that?" a voice trembled from the corner.
"What just happened?"
Panic spread through the tower as the students murmured in confusion, their eyes drawn to the windows.
Trisha, too, stepped toward the glass and gasped along with the others. Hanging ominously in the sky were the twin moons, now bathed in crimson.
"The Red Moon!" one of the professors shouted, their voice sharp with urgency. "Everyone, quickly! Get down to the underground chambers! Hurry!"
While the rest scrambled, Trisha stood in awe, captivated by the sight.
The crimson light of the Red Moon glowed fiercely, illuminating the sky like a bloodstained omen. She could hear it — roars, distant but powerful, echoing through the air.
Dragons.
Their colossal forms began to descend, their presence heralding chaos and destruction.
For a moment, Trisha's heart raced with fear. At her current level, she couldn't even dream of standing against such monsters.
Not yet.
But one day . . . one day soon, she would be among the legends, a name etched into history as one of the mighty dragon slayers who had felled a beast from Drakha.
The professor's desperate shouts finally pulled her back to reality. With one last look at the Red Moon, glowing like an ancient prophecy in the sky, Trisha turned and joined the others, fleeing the tower and heading for safety.